RUBERY OWEN BOARDROOM | Drive Design

My favourite place to have presented for drive, needs to be the Rubery Owen boardroom.

I even have been fortunate to be shown round many design studios in my time, from super yacht consultancies to major automobile manufacturers. In addition to being served a coffee in lots of their meeting rooms, but none come near the sensation of history expressed by this boardroom.

For many who don’t know what the connection Rubery Owen need to the automobile industry, Sir Alfred Owen was answerable for rescuing the BRM F1 racing team.  Saved from almost certain extinction his support saw BRM rise to take the Formula 1 World Constructors Championship, in addition to the F1 driver’s title with Graham Hill on the wheel.

Rubery Owen Boardroom

We were there, on the old Rubery Owen headquarters, with a team putting together a proposition to take the BRM name back into the limelight, with a supercar programme.

Steeped in history, the concept that just perhaps Graham Hill or Jackie Stewart had signed a contract or two here, a bit like an audience with Enzo Ferrari, fuelled my imagination.

BRM Trophies

BRM trophies and private mementos were lovely to take a look at and were such a rare opportunity for anyone to see.
I used to be in heaven.

The Bourne Heritage Trust Museum

The Bourne Heritage Trust Museum has been entrusted with lots of the BRM F1 race winning trophies, which were donated to them by Rubery Owen, allowing a much larger audience to view these pieces of motorsport history.

The old Rubery Owen & Co. HQ in Booth Street, Darlaston, remains to be standing today due to David Owen OBE and Accord Housing Association. Now named “The Rubery Owen Innovation Centre” the inside having been converted for small business use.

I’m so pleased that the Rubery Owen boardroom still exists within the constructing.

This 12 months Graham Hill would have celebrated his ninety fifth Birthday – seems nearly as good a time as any to recall my visit to Rubery Owen.

Bourne Town | Bourne Heritage Centre