Club Triumph

A special message from Derek Pollock's family

Dear all,

We would like to thank all of you for your kind words on the passing of our father, Derek Pollock.   It is a comfort to know that he had so many good friends in the Club, which was such an important part of his life. We had a beautiful funeral service for him on Saturday, with a wonderful turn-out of Club Triumph members (and cars!).

Thank you to all of you who were able to join us, particularly those who travelled from far to be with us.  Our father would have been so happy to see all of you at his final send-off. Special thanks go to Dale for organising the splendid line up of cars at Enfield Crematorium and to Dave Shewry for his tribute at West Lodge.

We're planning to join you for the start of the RBRR 2020, and in the meantime, Happy Triumphing!

Susan and Louise

Derek Alan Pollock MBE 25/3/1926-3/11/2019

Derek Pollock’s love affair with Triumph TRs began in 1954 when he bought his first one, a TR2. That had to be substituted for a Standard Ten immediately prior to the arrival of his first daughter and was then itself replaced by a TR3A. Another daughter and a Standard Vanguard estate followed before the purchase of his beloved TR4 in 1963. He was to ensure that this car was kept constantly maintained, running and on the road until his death, and indeed, thereafter.

It was in 1961 that he joined the TAA, which led to the formation of Club Triumph, after which he duly used the TR4 through the next three decades on a variety of Club runs, tours, autotests and rallies, though never on the RBRR due to the availability of several ‘Works’ cars for his use and later, cars of his own including his 2500S and more particularly his ‘breathed on’ TR8. Derek owned, in his time, a great many Triumph cars including a Gloria Southern Cross, several Heralds and two TR8s, one a genuine UK model.

Derek on the RBRR in 1969 and 1971

During a Club visit to the Le Mans 24 hour race in 1966 he and his great friend Les Mills wondered whether it might be possible to drive all the way around mainland Britain in one go; not perhaps in 24 hours, but maybe in 48. They drew up their plans and successfully completed the run later that year with a handful of fellow Club members in six cars representing the six models then offered by the company. Since then the Round Britain Reliability Run, as it is now known, has grown into a much larger event with around 120 – 130 crews taking part every two years. In 1990 Derek came up with the idea of raising money for charity by getting crews to gain sponsorship for completing the event. Since then the event has raised over £750,000 for a variety of charities with over £100,000 raised on the last Run in 2018 alone.

Derek with his 2 daughters after receiving the MBE

Derek held various positions within the Club for many years including Secretary, magazine Editor (concurrently for part of the time) and latterly President and magazine proof reader as well as regularly contributing material of historical, technical and humorous nature. He was regarded by many of those who served the Club alongside him simply as ‘Mr Club Triumph’ for several decades although it is true to say that you would have to go a long way to find someone as gentlemanly, humble, approachable and funny as he was. Like many of his generation who, dare we say, ‘Triumphed through adversity’ in the 1940s, he will be sorely missed.

Derek with his TR4 which he owned and drove for 56 years

Derek Pollock MBE 1926-2019