Raymond Mays CBE (1899-1980)
School House 1917

The son of a wool stapler and fellmonger, Raymond Mays was born in Bourne, Lincolnshire, on 1st August 1899 and remained a resident of the town until his death.

Raymond's love of racing stemmed from an early age. His father was a pioneer motorist and his Napiers and Vauxhalls were often entered in local hill climbs and speed trials.  No surprise then that Raymond was "car-mad" too and his passion was indulged with trips to the racing car circuit Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey. Schooled at Oundle, his love for mechanics and engineering grew further, making good use of the School workshops and facilities on offer. His peer Amherst Villiers also went on to become part of the racing world creating the first supercharged Bentley. After Oundle, Raymond was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards and served in France and Germany before going to Christ's College, Cambridge to study engineering.

Whilst at Cambridge his father gave him a speed model Hillman, an extravagant gift in that era. Still with a passion for speed, the car was tweaked and in his first race at Brooklands Raymond won a two lap race outright. The Hillman was put in part-exchange against a new Brescia Bugatti and Ray continued to collect awards, including taking the Shelsey record to 51.9 seconds in 1923, beating Malcolm Campbell in a Sunbeam into third place at 54.8 seconds. Ettore Bugatti was so impressed that he donated a new 1924 model and the two Bugattis subsequently ran together as "Cordon Bleu" and "Cordon Rouge". Raymond was recognised as a driver of outstanding skill, winning literally hundreds of trophies from 1920 to 1950, despite the interruption of war.

Ultimately, Raymond's specialist area became the car he helped to make. In 1934 he formed E.R.A. (English Racing Automobiles Ltd) with Humphrey Cook and Peter Berthon, basing the workshops within his home-town of Bourne. With himself as number one driver, the ERA racing car made its first public demonstration at the Brooklands circuit in May 1934 and went on to represent Britain in international events, bringing regular success. He was the racing driver and star of his time and Ivor Novello, Norma Shearer, Amy Johnson and other famous personalities were all regular visitors to the parties held at Eastgate House, Raymond's Lincolnshire home.

At the end of World War II, work started on the new BRM (British Racing Motors) car. The BRM was one of the world's best known racing cars which gained many honours on international circuits. However after meeting numerous financial difficulties it was taken over in 1952 by Sir Alfred Owen of Rubery Owen and Co Ltd and developed by the newly formed Owen Racing Organisation. In 1962, the BRM, was the first all-British car to win the world championship and the company's leading driver Graham Hill became world champion.

 In 1978 Raymond was made a Commander of the British Empire. He was a man of great personal charm and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He died in 1980.