On this day in 1961, thirty 356 owners gathered at Chateau Impney in Worcestershire for the first ever gathering of what would become Porsche Club Great Britain. Little did they know it would grow to become the second largest club for like-minded Porsche enthusiasts in the world with more than 22,000 members.
The story of Porsche Club Great Britain began when Jeff May returned his car to the Porsche Factory in Stuttgart to have it re-bodied. While there he met Roger Holliday, Porsche’s overseas public relations manager and a conversation struck up on the lack of a club in Great Britain and that maybe it was time to start one. Roger gave Jeff the name of Arthur Sheffield with whom he had held a similar conversation. When he returned to the UK Jeff contacted Arthur and they arranged to meet.
Following their meeting an advertisement was placed in Autosport magazine inviting those who were interested to a meeting at The Grand Hotel, Birmingham on 1 September 1961. Unfortunately this notice appeared in the edition that hit the newsstands on the day of the meeting meaning only a handful of people turned up. However, this small band were determined to make it happen and a second advert was placed, this time with plenty of notice!
“A club has been formed for Porsche owners, its title being “Porsche Club Great Britain”: a meeting is to be held on Sunday, 22 October, at 2pm at the Chateau Impney, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, when it is hoped to appoint a committee and officials. If anyone is interested, further details may be obtained J. F. May, Esq.”
By the time the first copy of the Club’s magazine was published in January 1962 there were already nearly a hundred members. Thanks to the hard work of countless volunteers, members and staff the Club has grown to become the largest Club for Porsche enthusiasts in Europe and the second largest in the world.
Tonight, we will be returning to The Grand Hotel Birmingham and toasting and 60 years of Porsche Club Great Britain with a celebratory Gala Dinner joined by special guests Derek Bell, Richard Attwood and Jochen Mass.
Guests will be among the first to see a video of Richard Attwood and Harry King returning to Chateau Impney and sharing what it means to be a Porsche Club member, although you can now watch it yourself below.
If you’d like to learn more about the history of Porsche Club Great Britain, watch Club Archivist Peter Cook’s guide to the first 50 years in the video below, which was recorded as a virtual event for Club members last summer.