Alain de Cadenet 1945-2022

The man who might have been the inspiration for the phrase ‘lovable rogue’ was also the embodiment of charm and charisma. A peerless raconteur – most of it unrepeatable – he had many strings to his bow, ranging from organising world tours for Dire Straits to being a philatelist said to have advised the Queen on her private stamp collection.

For motoring enthusiasts, however, De Cad will be most fondly remembered as the man who fearlessly, and almost solo, flew the flag for Britain at Le Mans when UK interest waned and Brit success at La Sarthe was in the doldrums. Running on a shoestring budget and driving cars bearing his own name, the De Cadenet Lolas, his best results were third and fifth overall with Chris Craft in 1976 and ’1977.

Falling back on his encyclopaedic knowledge and natural poise, he later carved out a career as a television presenter, and his programmes on racing cars and aircraft remain the benchmark for access, knowledge and a boyish enthusiasm for the subject matter, whether it be two-wheeled, four-wheeled or airborne. Of course, the latter spawned the most viral f-word utterance by a broadcaster when Ray Hanna buzzed De Cad in a Spitfire. Splitting his time between the USA and his home in London’s famous car collecting mews (Queen’s Gate Place Mews), he proudly became as knowledgeable as a cabbie at piloting his Alfa Romeo 8C around London while avoiding all charges and cameras.

Always approachable and bursting with enthusiasm, humour and bonhomie – he once spent three days at Rétromobile in Paris and wrote his entire article about a wine-tasting – De Cad was at once a throwback to a former age and a thoroughly modern man who wholeheartedly embraced life and all its adventures and dangers. He lost a two-year battle with cancer on 2 July.