We have to thank the father of Will for introducing Jaguars to him back in the 50's with an Easter visit to the Sussex motor racing circuit at Goodwood. With drivers like Mike Hawthorn & Ivor Bueb masterfully handling the glorious D Type, it set Will's mind on owning a Jaguar one day.

He had to wait until 1972 to own his first Jaguar, a 1964 Series 1 3.8 E Type Roadster - to him it was everything, but to others of a more discerning nature it probably was not the bees knees. From the time of its purchase it had left a trail of smoke from North London to the coast of Hampshire, always constantly patching things up, eventually the car had to go.

It was a visit to the Jaguar Spring Rally at Beaulieu in 1975 that Will regained his affection for Jaguar. He was so impressed with the event he immediately joined the Jaguar Drivers' Club, and on the way home bought a 1965 Series 1 4.2 Roadster - really the "bees knees", the car had a genuine mileage of 27,000 on the clock.

With careful preparation Will set about refining it to a factory fresh look and in 1976 returned to Beaulieu to gain his first ever placing in a concours. A few loose spokes and a dirty spare wheel put him into third place. Armed with greater knowledge he set about refining the car to the finest of detail and returned to Beaulieu the next year and took Overall Car of the Day. He was invited by Paul Skilleter to represent the JDC as an entrant in the 1978 National Classic Concours which he won. This placed him and his sports car as the UK's number 1, the first time for a Jaguar in the history of the event.

Will's effort and total dedication in the preparation of his car gained a further honour that year. His E Type won the 1978 Stoneleigh Festival of Motoring's top award as best overall British Sports Car. The car later went on to the NEC Birmingham and was exhibited at the October Motor Show. That was the last time that Will seriously entered competition and the car was retired.

It was at this stage that Alan Hames and George Gibbs of the E Type Register invited Will to join the committee. His expertise and knowledge of the E Type would be an asset to the fast growing concours events of the day. For the past 20 years he has been heavily involved in concours judging, publications and ensuring that an element of professionalism runs through printed material. He was responsible for the art and design of the first Directory of Vehicles and Owners back in 1981. Now in 1998 it is enjoying its Fifth Edition. Will would be the first to praise the efforts of his fellow members of the committee and although he has not got an E Type at present, still has the joy of owning other Jaguars such as two S Types, an XJS Coupe and a Daimler Coupe.

Will can be contacted by e-mail: will.athawes©jdc-etype.org.uk