It is with deep sadness that we record the passing of John Warburton.
We are grateful to David Hales who has put together a few notes for this short obituary. John was a dental practitioner in Leigh from 1964 to 1999. He had been involved with vintage cars since his youth when he acquired a 1920 Star 15.9hp and joined the VSCC in 1960. He wrote up the history and restoration of this car in Veteran & Vintage magazine in October 1964, by which time he had become a founder member of the Star Register, together with David Evans and Jeremy Collins. John subsequently owned other Star cars but also a Crossley, a Vauxhall 30/98, an early Aston Martin, and a Gwynne.
John joined the VCC of GB dating committee in 1985. He was at one time its secretary, and later vice chairman, until 2008. He edited the VSCC Bulletin from 2001 to 2007, he was a frequent contributor to The Automobile, and in 2010 he wrote and published Rothwell of Oldham, about the company and its cars. He helped to restore the only surviving Rothwell car, owned by his partner Julie Dawson, whose great-grandfather Fred Rothwell had been one of the founders of the company.
Our thoughts and condolences go to John’s family and to Julie.
I am so sorry to hear of John’s passing I enjoyed a lovely holiday with him and Julie last year. He was a true gent and my thoughts are with Julie and family.
So sorry to see that John passed in 2020. I am currently doing some research on the Star Motor Co having recently acquired a Star 15.9 ….Interestingly the car I now own is I believe the actual car John bought and restored in 1960! NC1360 …
It is indeed in very good condition albeit I need to recommission the engine as it appears to need some tlc.