END OF AN ERA

C J Hewett whom many of you will have met over the years passed away peacefully after a long illness on the 17th of March aged 75. Born on the 4th January 1951 so close to the 25th of December and during the Epiphany that he was christened Christmas John Hewett, but he was universally known more simply as John.

An avid lover of anything with a motor, he initially spent a lot of time with racing cars and hill climbs before turning his attention to classic motorboats. A consummate engineer he undertook restorations of important boats especially racing hydroplanes including Lyndora and the record breaking Rafale V from 1934.

I was very lucky to count John as a close friend, and we shared many good times together in Italy, France, Monaco, Switzerland and England messing about with boats. I first encountered John at an Helice Club de France boat rally held in Paris. It was my first boat rally and we being the only two Brits at the event we quickly bonded and formed a friendship that lasted 30 years. I learnt a lot from John about different types of boats and how to drive them – though never as expertly as he, despite breaking his back on Biscarosse near Arcachon in Southwest France when in he was ‘slammed’ in his hydroplane crossing the wake from another boat which should not have been there.

We even decided to buy a boat together – a Riva Super Florida, number 925, with which we had great fun enjoying many a memorable trip amongst others to St Tropez.

John was always a very generous host and a gentleman wearing his ASDEC tie as a matter of course, unless he was staying at his Club in London when he would wear his Brooks’s tie. I stayed at Brooks’s last November and even though he had not visited the Club for several years due to his illness he was still very fondly remembered by the reception staff.

He loved the finer things in life too, as well as the smell of engine oil, knowledgeable about art, wine, travel, and books; he was indeed the epitome of the well-educated Englishman equally at home with all manner of people in many different countries.

I shall miss him sorely as will all those who were lucky enough to have spent time with him either at a racetrack, in a restaurant, or on the water.