Shropshire racing legend Norman makes Jaguar buff's Christmas
A classic car buff travelled 120 miles to have the boot lid of his car signed by legendary Shropshire racing driver Norman Dewis.
Rob Keymer and his partner Karen Kay made the journey from Bacup in Lancashire to Church Stretton to get the signature of Mr Dewis, who was Jaguar's chief test and development driver from 1952 to 1985.
He also signed a painting of Rob's E-Type which Karen had done for a Christmas present last year.
Mr Dewis, now 98, set the record speed for a production car when he drove a Jaguar XK120 to 172.4mph at Jabbeke, Belgium, in 1953.
Two years later, along with fellow driver Bob Berry, he drove a Jaguar D-Type in the Goodwood nine-hour race, taking fifth place.
He played a major role in overseeing the development of the C and D-Type racing cars into the E-Type production car.
The meeting was arranged through the Shropshire Star after Karen read a feature about Mr Dewis on the newspaper's website.
Rob, a retired barrister, had always dreamed of owning a Jaguar E-Type, and two years ago finally achieved his ambition when he bought a yellow E-Type convertible.
Karen said: "I do a bit of painting and Rob asked me to paint the car as his Christmas present last year which I did, putting his private number plate on it.
"After watching a film on Jaguar with Norman in a couple of nights ago Rob commented how fabulous it would be to have him autograph the painting as this year's Christmas present."
She contacted the newspaper which put the couple in touch with Mr Dewis.
As well as taking the painting along, Rob also removed the boot lid from his car which he took with him for the journey.
Karen added: "Norman was ever so friendly, and he signed the boot lid as well as the painting.
"He said it would be the only E-Type in the world with his autograph on the boot lid.
"He is also a keen painter himself, and showed us some of this paintings."
