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Wife and mother of world champions

11. Jun 2021 
by Ziv Knoll
4547 views

Bette Hill (1926-2017) occupied a unique position in Formula 1 history, as the only wife and mother of world champion drivers. Her husband Graham Hill won the title in 1962 for BRM and again for Lotus in 1968, son Damon did so for Williams-Renault in 1996.

Naturally, Bette, who married Graham in 1955, was a staunch supporter of both when they raced. She was often seen on the pit wall supporting and timing her husband when he was on the track.

Bette Hill is seen here-above behind her husband Graham and Lotus founder Colin Chapman in 1969.

When in 1975, Graham’s Piper Aztec crashed on Arkley Golf Course in North London, in foggy weather and all six occupants perished, she was very courageous. In the terrible weeks that followed, this extraordinary woman attended all six funerals.

She raised her three children, Damon and his sisters Brigitte and Samantha from then on, on her own.

Picture below: Bette Hill, next to her son Damon, when he started racing single-seaters.

Source: Rainer W Schlegelmilch

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