He was known simply as 'Rivers' to motoring enthusiasts the world over and was successful in the sport both on and off the track.

Rivers started working with cars at the tender age of sixteen and whilst still at school, he was initiated to Brooklands. Malcolm Campbell, his neighbour, required a riding mechanic for his newly acquired 11/2 litre, 1 1/2 seater, straight eight GP Delage in the 1928 junior Grand Prix. Leo Villa was too large and so was everybody else. So with the solemn promise from Campbell to his parents he would drive very carefully and not too fast, Rivers was entered.

Needless to say, in the best Boys own tradition they won. Bill Boddy on his History of Brooklands once said "long tongues of yellow flame flickered from the fish tail on the over-run".

He was then apprenticed to Bentley Motors at Cricklewood and from there graduated as their junior salesman at the Hanover Street offices. Whenever Woolf Barnato required one of his Bentley’s from his persona! fleet of eight, it was his job to drive it to his flat in Berkeley Square.

Unfortunately, as we all know, Bentleys went into liquidation in 1931 so he approached Cecil Kimber for a job. Kimber did not have one but recommended a car sales firm in London which Rivers joined. Being a member at Brooklands he was able to drive many of the cars on demonstration runs down to Brooklands and use the circuit when it was not required for racing. Many an old lady looking for a stately Daimler was persuaded a quick trip and a few laps in a 35C Bugatti was essential!

Later he was to spend 18 years with the Owen Organisation as public relations officer with B.R.M. This took him to all parts of the world with Jim Clark, Graham Hill and all the other drivers of that era.

Few people could draw on more M.G. motoring experience than Rivers Fletcher. For he enjoyed over 60 years Safety Fast driving during which time he came to know the magic of the M.G. marque with affection, he even wrote a short book in the late 80's entitled 'My Favourite M.G.s, and two others featuring’ M.G.s

Rivers thought probably the most interesting M.G. he had driven was the 18/100 Tigress.

Before the 1930 Double Twelve race he reported to Brooklands to be part of the Bentley works team, but they were withdrawn unbeknown to him. When Callingham saw him looking enviously at the Tigress he suggested he might like to come with him for an hour’s driving around the circuit to run the engine in before the race. After half an hour Callingham said he was bored to tears and would Rivers take over, and complete the stint.

Rivers was also an assistant clerk of the course at the British GP and chairman of the ERA Racing Car Club, as well as a motorsport documentary film maker, writer journalist and broadcaster.

Rivers is survived by his wife, Penny, and sons, Peter and Jeremy.

Frank was an M.G. enthusiast first, last, and always. His TD and TC were seen at almost all of the T. Register’s events and his sense of humour made the gatherings fun. He was an accomplished pilot and very involved with the Masonic Order and its many charities. For many years he was the editor of "The Sacred Octagon," (his title) the newsletter/ magazine of the T. Register. "The Gathering of the Faithful," the name given to the T. Register's events was his idea also. His love of his cars was only matched by his love for the people associated with the T. Register and M.G.s. He was the pillar that one saw as you got to an event standing tall above the rest of the assembled group. When he greeted you with that great smile and hearty handshake, you knew you were "home." His "speeches" at the banquets, always interspersed with his Vermontism's, were a riot. He could be humorous, serious, or profound whichever he felt necessary for the occasion.

Everyone in the Register and the entire M.G. fraternity will be poorer for this loss. Frank was a special kind of person. He was an enthusiast, a friend, but most importantly a truly fine Gentleman.

It is just sad that so gentle a man could not leave this earth in a gentle way. He certainly deserved that.

Farewell Frank, and thank you so much for thirty wonderful years of friendship.
George Herschell

"We who remember raise our glasses to you for you deserve more honour than our tears"
W.H. Charnock

Formed on the original tooling and hand finished by craftsmen at the BMH Witney manufacturing centre, the bonnets will fit all MGB derivatives including the MGB GT V8. Early production MGBs were fitted with alloy bonnets as standard but steel took over in 1971.

The new alloy bonnet will appeal both to classic car owners and drivers of MGB race cars as it offers a considerable weight saving of 7kgs over the steel unit, in addition to exceptional resistance to corrosion. The bonnet will fit MGBs from 1962 to 1971 with no modification; other models may require very minor adjustments, for example, to the bonnet prop fixing.

The bonnet is supplied in body-in-white condition (unpainted) and is available from BMH approved M.G. specialists. In addition to the MGB, BMH has a finite stock of aluminium MGC bonnets, the tooling for which is no longer available.

For further information and details of stockists please call the BMH Customer Service line on 01993 707220.