The writing of this page is still in progress however the following is worth relating as a start to the information on the organisation which I intend to present.
This "The Story of the Winfield Joint Committee" by Bill Knox appeared in the Official Programme for the International Car Race Meeting at Charterhall on 11th October 1952. In his book Ecurie Ecosse Graham Gauld credits Bill as having ghosted David Murray's biography Ecurie Ecosse.
Why do the twelve man committee who organised to-day's motor racing feast call themselves the Winfield Joint Committee when the venue is Charterhall ? The answer to your question is that motor racing progress in the Borders, which culminates in this first Scottish International meeting began at another ex-R.A.F. aerodrome some ten miles from here - Winfield Aerodrome.
Two farmers, David Swan and Alex Calder, with garage ownerJohn McBain , were seeking a place near their home village of Chirnside where they could carry on practice in their racing cars in preparation for taking part in English races. They found Winfield, an abandoned R.A.F. fighter training station, and traced out an ideal two-mile circuit along its tarmac runways and perimeter track. The two farmers who owned the ground were willing to help the three enthusiasts, who soon were speeding their cars round the make-shift circuit.
Then the idea struck them, "Why not give the Borders and the North of England a motor race meeting of its own, with Winfield as the circuit?"
Berwick and District Motor Club secretary Bill Martin was consulted, and the upshot of talks was that the Berwick club approached the Lothian Car Club and the Hawick and Border Car and M.C. Club with the idea. They met enthusiastic response, and a few weeks later the Winfield Joint Committee - twelve men representing the three clubs - held its first meeting.
There came an interval of much hard voluntary work on the track at weekends and in the evenings. Scores of unromantic jobs such as filling in holes in the circuit tarmac, clearing weeds, brushing and marking were carried out. The work was rewarded in full when in October, 1950, the first motor race meeting held in Scotland was run over the Winfield track. Other races followed during 1951, while the fame of the Border circuit and the reputation of its organisers for efficiency grew apace.
Near the end of last year the Winfield Joint Committee prepared to make the airfield their permanent home, and had plans to spend a considerable amount of money on track improvernents and other amenities. They were advised against this step, however, and were soon seeking a more permanent venue.
They found Charterhall. Charterhall was also an abandoned R.A.F. fighter drome, and it too, had a fine two-mile circuit easily traced over its network of runways. The committee approached the ground's owner, Major Henry Trotter, and the Major sportingly agreed to their holding race meetings on the drome. The farmers on whose land the circuit lay also agreed to co-operate.
At the same time as these negotiations were in progress the club heard that an application to motor sport's governing body - the Royal Automobile Club for a permit to run an International race meeting might be favourably considered. The application was swiftly lodged. and shortly afterwards the club found itself in the happy position of having a new, permanent home - and Scotland's first ever International racing permit.
Since that day the Winfield Joint Committee have been preparing for your visit here to-day, striving to provide you with the most spectacular racing ever seen in Scotland and the North of England.
The amount of work behind organising a meeting of this size is unbelievable to anyone who has not actually found himself in the thick of it. The result of it all, a magnificent one, is before you.
Mr. Bill Martin
The Berwick Journal in the week following the inaugural meeting at Winfield printed this very detailed congratulation to the secretary.
Heartiest congratulations are due to Mr W. A. Martin, who was indefatigable in his duties as secretary of the Winfield meeting. A native
of Ayton, he is the elder son of the late Mr. James Martin and of Mrs. Martin, Bleachfield, Ayton. Educated at Dollar Academy, he entered the banking profession at Ayton branch of the Royal Bank London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Berwick, Sanquhar, and has been in the Kelso branch since 1937. He served in the R.A.F. from 1942 to 1946. Mr Martin has always been keen on motor sport and he did some motor cycle racing with the Newcastle Club before going to London. He joined Berwick and District Motor Club in 1935, and has been secretary for the last 12 years. He is a member of the R.A.C. and Scottish Sporting Car Club. In 1940 he married Miss Minnie E. Smyth, formerly of Birgham and later of Broadmeadows, Hutton, who was on the teaching staff of Berwickshire High School. He has a family of two children.
Bill bought his first 3-litre Bentley for £30 in 1933, it remained in the family and was sold at auction in 2010.
This "The Story of the Winfield Joint Committee" by Bill Knox appeared in the Official Programme for the International Car Race Meeting at Charterhall on 11th October 1952. In his book Ecurie Ecosse Graham Gauld credits Bill as having ghosted David Murray's biography Ecurie Ecosse.
Why do the twelve man committee who organised to-day's motor racing feast call themselves the Winfield Joint Committee when the venue is Charterhall ? The answer to your question is that motor racing progress in the Borders, which culminates in this first Scottish International meeting began at another ex-R.A.F. aerodrome some ten miles from here - Winfield Aerodrome.
Two farmers, David Swan and Alex Calder, with garage owner
Then the idea struck them, "Why not give the Borders and the North of England a motor race meeting of its own, with Winfield as the circuit?"
Berwick and District Motor Club secretary Bill Martin was consulted, and the upshot of talks was that the Berwick club approached the Lothian Car Club and the Hawick and Border Car and M.C. Club with the idea. They met enthusiastic response, and a few weeks later the Winfield Joint Committee - twelve men representing the three clubs - held its first meeting.
There came an interval of much hard voluntary work on the track at weekends and in the evenings. Scores of unromantic jobs such as filling in holes in the circuit tarmac, clearing weeds, brushing and marking were carried out. The work was rewarded in full when in October, 1950, the first motor race meeting held in Scotland was run over the Winfield track. Other races followed during 1951, while the fame of the Border circuit and the reputation of its organisers for efficiency grew apace.
Near the end of last year the Winfield Joint Committee prepared to make the airfield their permanent home, and had plans to spend a considerable amount of money on track improvernents and other amenities. They were advised against this step, however, and were soon seeking a more permanent venue.
They found Charterhall. Charterhall was also an abandoned R.A.F. fighter drome, and it too, had a fine two-mile circuit easily traced over its network of runways. The committee approached the ground's owner, Major Henry Trotter, and the Major sportingly agreed to their holding race meetings on the drome. The farmers on whose land the circuit lay also agreed to co-operate.
At the same time as these negotiations were in progress the club heard that an application to motor sport's governing body - the Royal Automobile Club for a permit to run an International race meeting might be favourably considered. The application was swiftly lodged. and shortly afterwards the club found itself in the happy position of having a new, permanent home - and Scotland's first ever International racing permit.
Since that day the Winfield Joint Committee have been preparing for your visit here to-day, striving to provide you with the most spectacular racing ever seen in Scotland and the North of England.
The amount of work behind organising a meeting of this size is unbelievable to anyone who has not actually found himself in the thick of it. The result of it all, a magnificent one, is before you.
Mr. Bill Martin
The Berwick Journal in the week following the inaugural meeting at Winfield printed this very detailed congratulation to the secretary.
Heartiest congratulations are due to Mr W. A. Martin, who was indefatigable in his duties as secretary of the Winfield meeting. A native
of Ayton, he is the elder son of the late Mr. James Martin and of Mrs. Martin, Bleachfield, Ayton. Educated at Dollar Academy, he entered the banking profession at Ayton branch of the Royal Bank London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Berwick, Sanquhar, and has been in the Kelso branch since 1937. He served in the R.A.F. from 1942 to 1946. Mr Martin has always been keen on motor sport and he did some motor cycle racing with the Newcastle Club before going to London. He joined Berwick and District Motor Club in 1935, and has been secretary for the last 12 years. He is a member of the R.A.C. and Scottish Sporting Car Club. In 1940 he married Miss Minnie E. Smyth, formerly of Birgham and later of Broadmeadows, Hutton, who was on the teaching staff of Berwickshire High School. He has a family of two children.
Bill bought his first 3-litre Bentley for £30 in 1933, it remained in the family and was sold at auction in 2010.
from Johnston Press PLC's The Southern Reporter newspaper
I was able to visit his son a few years back and was loaned the programme for the 23rd August 1936 Speed Trials at Haggerston Castle Park, Berwick in which Bill competed and can be seen after 9 seconds of film running taking an inside line around the left hander with his No.42 Brough Superior 677cc. LINK to 3min Youtube video of stationary 1928 Overhead 680 motor cycle with engine running.
Mr. Arthur Edney, Newcastle, a committee member accompanied secretary Bill Martin on a visit to the B.RM. motor works at Bourne, nr Grantham, Lincs on Saturday December 16th. The visit was under a scheme arranged by the firm for members of B.R.M. Associations formed within the framework of Car Clubs throughout the country. Berwick Club was one of the first to start a B.R.M. Association and their two representative members were included in the first party under the scheme.
CAR RACING Saturday October 7th 1950 Presented by Berwick and District Motor Club, Lothian Car Club (Edinburgh) Ltd., Hawick and Border Motor Club. R.A.C. Permit B/545
Stewards and Officials
R.A.C. Steward : A.K. Stevenson, Esq., O.B.E. R.A.C.
Club Stewards : J.H.L.R. Miller Esq., L.C.C.; S.H. Gallon Esq., B. & D.M.C.
Assistant Clerk of the Course: Malcolm Smith Esq. L.C.C.
Judges: Rex De La Haye Esq., J. Campbell Spiers Esq., J.M. Edney Esq.
Time Keeping: George Marsh Esq. R.A.C. and Assistants
Scrutineer: A.G. Sinclair Esq., L.C.C.
Starter: J.A. Dick Peddie Esq., L.C.C.
Announcer: J.G. Stenhouse Esq., S.S.C.C.
Chief Marshal: J.R. McBain Esq., B. & D.M.C.
Deputy Chief Marshal: Norman Tippett Esq., B. & D.M.C.
Pits Marshal: A.E. Miller Esq., L.C.C.
Lap Scoring: W.J. Lamb Esq., and Assistants
Entrance & Car Parking: A. Riddell Innes and Members of the H. & B.C. & M.C.C.
Chief Flag Marshal: H. Brown Esq., B. & D.M.C.
Programme Distribution: F. Steven Esq.
Hon. Treasurers of the Meeting: W. Stoddart Esq., B. & D.M.C.; R.R. Aitken Esq., L.C.C. and T. Maney Esq., H. & B.C. & M.C.C.
Medical Officer: Dr R. Ross Hair, Chirnside
Clerk of the Course & Hon. Secretary of the Meeting: W.A. Martin Esq., B. & D.M.C., Norwood, Kelso
Acknowledgements
The Scottish Daily Mail for presenting their prize.
Mr. Waugh for presenting his prize, and the "Berwick Journal" for their prize.
Messrs. John Gibson and Sons, of Leith, for supplying mobile ladders.
Blackburn & Price Ltd. and Croall Bryson Ltd. for breakdown equipment.
Smith British made stop watches used in these races loaned by Sydney Latimer
Advertisers
The Motor
The Autocar
Joseph Potts of Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Agents for the New MG Midget Sports, Wolseley and Austin
Glendale Garage, Wooler, Main Dealers for Humber, Hillman, Sunbeam-Talbot, Standard, Triumph
John Brown and Company, Lochrin, Edinburgh: Healey & HRG Distributors
G. Luke & Hogg, North Street, Duns: Austin Main Dealers
D. Spouse, Winterfield Gardens, Duns: Haulage and Quarry Contractor
Northern Garages, Berwick & Tweedmouth, Agents for Hillman, Humber and Commer
Blackburn & Price, Palace Green, Berwick: Vauxhall Distributers
The Border Series Printing Works, Hide Hill, Berwick upon Tweed
Southern Cylinder Grinding Co., Nithsdale Drive, Glasgow, S1. Ask for Alex Reid
John McBain & Son Ltd., Chirnside, Javelin, Bradford & Singer Sales & Service. Main Fordson Dealers
Border Tyre Services, Chirnside
J.F. O'Connor, Stirling Crescent, Hawick, Electrical Installations
Sydney Latimer, Frederick St. & Lothian Road, Edinburgh, Gold & Silversmith, Watch & Clockmaker
Scottish Automobile Co. Ltd., Lothian Road, Edinburgh, Riley Agents
Halfords, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dumfries, Dundee, Glasgow, Kilmarnock
Regent Petrol
Mr. Arthur Edney, Newcastle, a committee member accompanied secretary Bill Martin on a visit to the B.RM. motor works at Bourne, nr Grantham, Lincs on Saturday December 16th. The visit was under a scheme arranged by the firm for members of B.R.M. Associations formed within the framework of Car Clubs throughout the country. Berwick Club was one of the first to start a B.R.M. Association and their two representative members were included in the first party under the scheme.
CAR RACING Saturday October 7th 1950 Presented by Berwick and District Motor Club, Lothian Car Club (Edinburgh) Ltd., Hawick and Border Motor Club. R.A.C. Permit B/545
Stewards and Officials
R.A.C. Steward : A.K. Stevenson, Esq., O.B.E. R.A.C.
Club Stewards : J.H.L.R. Miller Esq., L.C.C.; S.H. Gallon Esq., B. & D.M.C.
Assistant Clerk of the Course: Malcolm Smith Esq. L.C.C.
Judges: Rex De La Haye Esq., J. Campbell Spiers Esq., J.M. Edney Esq.
Time Keeping: George Marsh Esq. R.A.C. and Assistants
Scrutineer: A.G. Sinclair Esq., L.C.C.
Starter: J.A. Dick Peddie Esq., L.C.C.
Announcer: J.G. Stenhouse Esq., S.S.C.C.
Chief Marshal: J.R. McBain Esq., B. & D.M.C.
Deputy Chief Marshal: Norman Tippett Esq., B. & D.M.C.
Pits Marshal: A.E. Miller Esq., L.C.C.
Lap Scoring: W.J. Lamb Esq., and Assistants
Entrance & Car Parking: A. Riddell Innes and Members of the H. & B.C. & M.C.C.
Chief Flag Marshal: H. Brown Esq., B. & D.M.C.
Programme Distribution: F. Steven Esq.
Hon. Treasurers of the Meeting: W. Stoddart Esq., B. & D.M.C.; R.R. Aitken Esq., L.C.C. and T. Maney Esq., H. & B.C. & M.C.C.
Medical Officer: Dr R. Ross Hair, Chirnside
Clerk of the Course & Hon. Secretary of the Meeting: W.A. Martin Esq., B. & D.M.C., Norwood, Kelso
Acknowledgements
The Scottish Daily Mail for presenting their prize.
Mr. Waugh for presenting his prize, and the "Berwick Journal" for their prize.
Messrs. John Gibson and Sons, of Leith, for supplying mobile ladders.
Blackburn & Price Ltd. and Croall Bryson Ltd. for breakdown equipment.
Smith British made stop watches used in these races loaned by Sydney Latimer
Advertisers
The Motor
The Autocar
Joseph Potts of Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Agents for the New MG Midget Sports, Wolseley and Austin
Glendale Garage, Wooler, Main Dealers for Humber, Hillman, Sunbeam-Talbot, Standard, Triumph
John Brown and Company, Lochrin, Edinburgh: Healey & HRG Distributors
G. Luke & Hogg, North Street, Duns: Austin Main Dealers
D. Spouse, Winterfield Gardens, Duns: Haulage and Quarry Contractor
Northern Garages, Berwick & Tweedmouth, Agents for Hillman, Humber and Commer
Blackburn & Price, Palace Green, Berwick: Vauxhall Distributers
The Border Series Printing Works, Hide Hill, Berwick upon Tweed
Southern Cylinder Grinding Co., Nithsdale Drive, Glasgow, S1. Ask for Alex Reid
John McBain & Son Ltd., Chirnside, Javelin, Bradford & Singer Sales & Service. Main Fordson Dealers
Border Tyre Services, Chirnside
J.F. O'Connor, Stirling Crescent, Hawick, Electrical Installations
Sydney Latimer, Frederick St. & Lothian Road, Edinburgh, Gold & Silversmith, Watch & Clockmaker
Scottish Automobile Co. Ltd., Lothian Road, Edinburgh, Riley Agents
Halfords, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dumfries, Dundee, Glasgow, Kilmarnock
Regent Petrol
The Berwick Motorcycle that never went into production. From a pamphlet belonging to the late Mr. Bill Martin, Secretary of the WJC.
LINKS BACK to TOP PAGE INDEX 1950