Rallying in Biggleswade for Ian

Members of the Berkeley Enthusiasts Club (BEC) honoured the late Ian Mantle by following a 45-mile route through Chronicle Country on Sunday (July 10).

Eleven Berkeley cars travelled through Biggleswade, Dunton, Eyeworth, Sutton, Potton, Gamlingay, the Gransdens and onto Everton as they remembered the late Ian Mantle.

Mr Mantle, who died in August last year at the age of 90, ran new and used vehicle retailer Mantles in Biggleswade, and was instrumental in developing and publicising the Berkeley sports car in the town in the 1950s.

His son John also followed the route in the 1966 Mini Cooper S that his father used to rally in, and presented prizes to drivers in a variety of categories at Mantles in London Road.

BEC chairman Geoff Toyer said: “We had a good turnout – Berkeley enthusiasts travelled from as far away as Kent and the Isle of Wight to take part.

“Biggleswade Town Council also kindly let us park the cars in the town square at the end so the drivers could chat to members of the public.”

Awards were presented to the driver who finished in the average time and to the two who took the best and largest number of pictures of items that organisers had flagged up along the route.

Geoff, who organised the rally with fellow enthusiast and club member Darren Jeff, added: “We gave them a list of features along the way, like grit bins and signposts, and asked them to take photographs from certain angles.

“The rally went swimmingly and John was very pleased – we hope to hold many more in years to come.”