Lord Brabazon of Tara

Lord Brabazon, known as “Brab”, was an outstanding sportsman who enjoyed nothing more than engaging in high adventure pastimes. He was a flier, motorist, yachtsman, and was equally at home on the Cresta Run, where he won the Curzon Cup in 1920, 1922 and 1927. He was also a scratch golfer and was described by former British amateur champion Roger Wethered as “the best bad golfer in England.” Brabazon celebrated his 70th birthday in a bobsleigh on the Cresta Run, and at 79, just six months before his death, drove in the London-to-Brighton car race.

In addition to his sporting prowess, Brabazon served as a Member of Parliament from 1918-29 and then again from 1932-42, when he entered the House of Lords as Peer. He served in Winston Churchlll’s war-time Cabinet as Minister of Transport (1940-41) and then Minister of Aviation (1941-42).

The son of Lieutenant Colonel J. A. H. Moor-Brabazon of Tara Hall, County Meath Ireland, Brabazon’s full title was first Lord Brabazon of Tara of Sandwich in the County of Kent. He was educated at Harrow and then Trinity College, Cambridge and at the end of the 19th century started to indulge in the new pastime of motoring. After leaving college he started racing cars seriously and became an amateur mechanic for his friend Charles Rolls, of Rolls Royce fame. Brabazon’s biggest motor racing success was in winning the 1907 Circuit des Ardennes in a Minerva. At the same time he started experimenting with flying and in December 1908 flew 450 yards in his own machine to become the first Englishman to fly such a distance. Having won various flying trophies, on 2 May 1909 he made history by being the first Briton to carry a passenger aboard a flight in Great Britain, and the following year, 8 March 1910, he had the distinction of receiving the very first pilot’s certificate (No.1) issued by the Royal Aero Club. During World War I it was no surprise that Brabazon served in the Royal Flying Corps (later the RAF), and was awarded the Military Cross and rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. After the War, he concentrated on developing aerial photography techniques, and in 1926 built the first truly effective air camera.

Over the years, Brabazon held some important posts. He was president of the Royal Aero Club, and between 1946-48 was president of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. He was also the one-time Commodore of the House of Lords Yacht Club. However, Brabazon held some important positions in the golfing world. He became a scratch golfer within months of taking up the sport and in 1938 became president of the English Golf Union, a similar post he held with Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) in 1954. He had the honour of captaining the Royal & Ancient (R&A), but spoke very little about “driving himself into office” at his inauguration, with a drive that was best described as being “lower than anyone expected”. Golf’s Brabazon Trophy, which is presented to the winner of the English Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, is named after Brabazon’s son Derek, the second Lord Brabazon of Tara.