The Legend Derek Bell

Living a charmed life among charming people

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This column is being crafted from the comfort of a château in Bordeaux.

I am marvelling at the beauty of it all and wondering what my old friend Alain de Cadenet would have made of it. I am on holiday with loved ones, but came out here with a group of Alain's family and friends for what I guess you might call a memorial. I got to know 'de Cad' only relatively late in life, but we became great mates and the stories soon started flowing. Gordon Murray designed Alain's 1972 Le Mans challenger and he told quite a few stories about him, not least about how hard it was to get paid for his efforts!

That was the thing about Alain. Few people did more with less than this proud Brit with a French name. He hustled tirelessly to make his way in motor racing, and he won two rounds of the World Championship for Makes, let's not forget. He wasn't without talent. Most of all, though, he was a character like no other. He could charm the birds out of trees and even those who were frustrated by him would invariably be talked around. Despite their best efforts, they would get sucked into his orbit again. He had that effect on everyone. He was a great bloke and one whom I miss terribly. A lot of people do, of that I am sure.