The Service of Thanksgiving for the life and work of Sir Stirling Moss – a significant event in the motorsport community, was held earlier this year at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday 8th May. Sir Stirling Moss, a racing legend, passed away at the age of 90 in April 2020, following a long illness. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, any memorial for him had to be postponed. Read on to find out Wayne Scott’s (Editor of the JEC magazine) account of the event.
I was sure that the day was going to be significant as my friend Frank Richardson and I set off across a warm, sunny London headed for Westminster Abbey, but I was not quite prepared for just how much of a memorable occasion for the country it was that we were about to be a part of.
As we emerged from the tube station opposite Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, we were met with the sight of the other assembled guests gathering in the courtyard outside the Abbey. The gravity of the moment dawned on me as when looking around – I suddenly realised that we were surrounded all around by the familiar faces of motorsport’s great and the good.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and former Formula One world champions Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill were in attendance. Ross Brawn, David Brabham, Mark Blundell, and Juan Manuel Fangio Junior also gathered with us. We were all amongst the congregation of 2,100 people gathered to celebrate Moss’s life and remember his achievements, including landmark wins at prestigious events such as the Monaco Grand Prix, the Mille Miglia, and the Targa Florio which solidified his status as one of the most revered figures in motorsport history.
After some time spent sharing memories and enjoying the cars assembled in the courtyard, we went indoors for the ceremony to commence. A detailed programme on each seat contained the list of hymns and readings to come. These included the atmospheric performances from the Westminster choir and favourites such as Jerusalem and, of course, concluding with the National Anthem.
At the start of the service, Damon Hill, the racing driver’s godson, led the procession with Sir Stirling’s white helmet, ten British Racing Driving Club Gold Stars and the Monaco 1961 trophy. These were all displayed next to the High Altar during the service. The Monaco 1961 trophy is among the most brilliant of all his 16 Grand Prix victories.
The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle KCVO MBE Dean of Westminster, gave a humorous but thought-provoking blessing. Sir Jackie Stewart and Simon Taylor paid tribute during the service, with Sir Stirling Moss’s son, Stirling Elliot Moss, reading. The Duke of Richmond and Gordon, and Charles Shields gave additional readings, and Derek Bell said prayers.
Sir Jackie Steward said, “He drove well, presented himself well, dressed well and was just an amazing character. I don’t think in the history of the sport there has been somebody so well loved and who has continued to be so well loved. It is wonderful for Great Britain to have a Briton that is as famous as this. He will never be forgotten.”
The event was incredibly moving and gave friends, family and motor racing colleagues a chance to share their appreciation for his life. It was not only a momentous occasion for motorsport but also for British sport in general, where an incredibly inspiring personality for generations of sports fans was given a send-off in a venue and manner that was, quite literally, befitting of royalty – and rightly so.
As the throngs of guests spilt outside after the two-hour ceremony, everyone gathered around the unique cars he had driven to reminisce about their stories of how Sir Stirling Moss had touched their lives. For my part, it was the memories of numerous interviews that I had been given the honour of recording with Sir Stirling and some of the unforgettable moments when I got to see him race – like at the 2005 Le Mans 24-Hour Race when he piloted a C-type in the Legends event that preceded the main race.
The cars on display included the iconic Mille Miglia-winning Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR ‘722’; the Ferguson P99 Climax; Ferrari 250 GT SWB ‘2119’, a Cooper T53 ‘Lowline’; Jaguar XK120 JWK 651; O.S.C.A FS372 and Lotus 18 ‘912’.
The service left all of us who were afforded the honour of attending reflecting in admiration of Sir Stirling’s life as a racer, friend, father, gentleman, joker, and international icon. Throughout his illustrious career, he competed in numerous racing disciplines, leaving an enduring legacy that inspires generations of racing enthusiasts. As an icon of sportsmanship and dedication, Sir Stirling Moss captivated audiences with his thrilling performances on the track and his charismatic personality off it.
“Success is not determined by how much talent you have, but how effectively you use that talent.” Sir Stirling Moss OBE.
Words: Wayne Scott (originally published in our partner Club’s magazine: Jaguar Enthusiast)
Photography: John Lakey & Dean and Chapter of Westminster
