Two-Time GP World Champion Tribute Unveiled
At the time of his passing in 2023, Cecil Sandford was the last living 1950s-era Grand Prix champion
The town of Shipston-on-Stour has unveiled a plaque this week, paying tribute to the two-time Grand Prix champion Cecil Sandford.
The plaque has been placed at the location of A R Taylor Garages, Sandford’s father-in-law’s business and where Sandford worked when not racing motorcycles in the World Championship. Around 50 people were in attendance at the event, including Sandford's wife, Pat, and two children, Ian and Mark. His brother-in-law and fellow director at the garage Richard Taylor was also present on the day.
Sandford cut his teeth in grassroots racing by taking part in off-road motorcycle scrambles and grass track racing. It didn’t take long though for him to catch the eye of his future father-in-law, who then supplied the young racer with bikes and support to enable him to go road and circuit racing.
He was later offered a place in the factory AJS team racing alongside the then World Champion Les Graham. The pair both moved to the factory MV Agusta team in 1952, a move which led to Sandford’s first 125cc World Championship. While racing for the Mondial factory team in 1957, Sandford claimed his second world title, snatching the 250cc crown and an Isle of Man TT victory in the same year. Mondial withdrew from racing at the end of the 1957 season, with Sandford opting to retire at that point, going on to work at the Shipton-on-Stour garage mentioned above.
Cecil Sandford passed away on 28 November 2023. Speaking about his father at the unveiling of the plaque, the BBC reports that Sadnford’s son, Ian said, “We're just very proud and honoured to have the plaque in my father's memory on his sponsor, mentor and father-in-law's garage.”
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
