The 'E' Type Forum

Hi All,

I was just informed this evening that Brian Wilkinson of Zealia Engineering died yesterday. Brian had been suffering from Cancer for some time now but continued working building Lightweight E-Type Jaguars replicas and D-Type Jaguar Replicas. My own car was built by Brian and for the past 12 years I have loved every minute of owning and driving this car. Brian was a fountain of knowledge on all aspects of building racing and rally cars. He will be missed by all who new him.

Thanks for that John. I spoke to him only a couple of weeks ago. He put up a good fight and sadly I knew before he did that he had cancer, but it wasn't my place to say of course. He was already booked in to see a specialist and we spoke shortly afterwards and discussed his diagnosis and the outlook. When I was able to explain some of his symptoms in mechanical terms you could see he understood exactly what was going on. I was privileged to stay with he an Mary when I was leaving for the US and on return visits. last Autumn. He was building a last lightweight with a gearbox of mine and his last two cars before those were his own and my D-type which are being finished off by a mutual friend.

Pete

Very sad to hear the news of Brian?s passing. He was a very good friend of my late father and a very clever engineer and innovator. Whenever they got together they would spend a not inconsiderable amount of time discussing all sorts of Lightweight E stuff and mods they would do to improve things. Just listening to one side was an education.
I was talking with him at Stoneleigh in October and for once not all about LWE?s. I had a similar conversation re his health as at that time didn?t seem to have got the system fully working for him unfortunately.
Peter, I know what you mean re explaining it in engineering terms, old school like my Dad, not wanting to make a fuss sadly.
He will be in good company!!

Michael