Henry Surtees was a hugely talented young racing driver in his own right. He was also the son of racing legend John Surtees, seven times motorcycle world champion with MV Augusta and Formula One world champion with Ferrari.

 

Henry started racing karts at the age of eight and, by 2008, had progressed up the motorsport ladder, winning races in Ginetta Juniors, Formula BMW UK, Formula Renault UK and Formula 3 UK National Class. In 2009 he entered the FIA Formula 2 Championship with high hopes of progressing to Formula One. However, tragedy dealt a cruel blow during a race at Brands Hatch when Henry was struck on the head by an errant wheel that had come off another competitor’s car. The force of the blow was immense as Henry was travelling at great speed and sadly he succumbed to severe brain damage later that day. 

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John Surtees could have been excused for wanting nothing further to do with motor racing but, instead, decided to create the Henry Surtees Foundation in his son’s memory. Using his inexhaustible energy and supported by the love of his wife Jane and daughters Edwina and Leonora, John used every contact he had ever made throughout his quite remarkable life to raise money for all those affected by accidental brain injuries. Not necessarily racing drivers, but everyday people involved in accidents. The Foundation was launched in 2010 and continued until soon after John’s passing in 2017, during which time it raised almost 2.4 million pounds for the Air Ambulance Service and the Blood Bikes transfusion service and various educational and medical training facilities around the UK.

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​When John Surtees accepted Andrew Swift’s invitation to open The Swift Gallery in 2012, Andrew vowed to dedicate the gallery, its events and facilities to raising money for the Henry Surtees Foundation. Over the years, courtesy of a series of VIP lunches, energetic auctions and evening functions, The Swift Gallery donated over £50,000 to the Henry Surtees Foundation, making it one of the Foundation’s principal benefactors. 

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“The Swift Gallery has been an avid supporter of the foundation since its launch, and we are incredibly grateful for their continued support.”

 

John Surtees, Henry Surtees Foundation

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​​PHOTOS:

Henry Surtees
Henry at speed
John Surtees on his MV Augusta
Henry and John Surtees
London Air Ambulance Service
John Surtees and his F1 Ferrari

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