Colin Francis

Published: 12/11/2015

The Directors of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs were saddened to learn of the death of their former colleague, Colin Francis.

Colin who died on Tuesday 10th November 2015 following an illness, had served the historic vehicle movement for many years and was only forced to retire from the FBHVC Board last year when it became apparent that his health was failing.

We offer our sincere condolences to Colin’s wife, Val

The funeral will be at St. Mary’s Church, Tetbury, Glos at 14.00 on Wednesday 18th November.

Colin Francis – 1935-2015

Colin Francis OBE, aged 80, sadly passed away on Tuesday 10th November 2015 following an illness bravely borne.

Colin is survived by his wife Val, his two daughters Helen and Avril, sons-in-law Derek and Terry and his two grand-children Heather and Connor.

Colin was born in October 1935 in Aberdare, South Wales where he grew up and was educated in Aberdare Grammar School.

His working life started in Customs and Excise in Llantrisant and continued in Wombourne, Staffordshire.  In 1978 he joined the Welsh Office in which he served until his retirement in 1995.  His time at the Welsh Office included a three-year secondment to the US for the Welsh Development Agency,

Colin was a great family man and a loving father dividing his time between them and his passion for rally organisation, administration, officiating, team management and navigation.  He was deeply involved in the rallying branch of motorsport for the majority of his adult life.  He enjoyed success at all levels of the sport from the early days of Club events up to heady heights of International events.  He even found time to manage the Dealer Team Vauxhall works rally team during the 1970s.  His family and friends will always remember him as a quiet, kind, capable and endearing person, with a mischievous sense of humour, who was always willing to give a helping hand to those less capable.

His expertise as a competent administrator, organiser, competitor, event official and wordsmith was put to good use by the historic vehicle community.  Colin was a member of the FBHVC Board with specific responsibility for events and also a member, and Vice-Chairman, of the FIVA Events Commission.

Colin - you will be sorely missed by your many friends from the world of rallying and historic motorsport; you will never be OTL again.