George Pearson Glen Kidston was an English record-breaking aviator and motor racing driver.
14 Facts About Glen Kidston
2.
Glen Kidston was a member of the well-known Bentley Boys of the late 1920s, and possibly the wealthiest of that already wealthy set.
3.
Glen Kidston was one of the four, core Grosvenor Square-based Bentley team drivers, whose day-long parties passed into contemporary legend.
4.
Glen Kidston served on several leading-edge British submarines, including the notorious X1, which he served on in North Sea trials.
5.
Glen Kidston competed in numerous motor races including the Monte Carlo Rally, Isle of Man TT motorcycle races, and Shelsley Walsh hillclimb.
6.
Glen Kidston entered the 1929 Irish Grand Prix Eireann Cup at Phoenix Park but was narrowly beaten by the Alfa Romeo of former Russian Imperial Guard officer Boris Ivanowski.
7.
Glen Kidston owned and raced the first Bugatti in the UK and entered the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1929 and 1930.
8.
In 1929, Glen Kidston was travelling from Croydon to Amsterdam aboard a German airliner when, 21 minutes into the flight, he sensed an imminent crash and assumed the safety position.
9.
On impact, Glen Kidston kicked his way out of the fuselage while his clothing was burning and extinguished the flames by rolling in the wet grass.
10.
Glen Kidston was the sole survivor, and was hospitalised with extensive burns.
11.
Glen Kidston was a renowned big game hunter and expert shot, and travelled on pioneering safaris in remote Kenyan districts.
12.
News of Glen Kidston's death broke in the London evening papers and Margaret Whigham and Barbara Cartland, both amongst Glen Kidston's lovers, claim in their memoirs to have fainted on leaving the theatre and seeing the headlines.
13.
Glen Kidston married Nancy Miriel Denise Soames in 1925 and had a son, Archibald Martin Glen.
14.
Glen Kidston's nephew is classic car dealer, collector, commentator and journalist, Simon Kidston.