Charles Jarrott

Charles Jarrott (26 March 1877 – 4 January 1944) was an English racing car driver and businessman. Jarrott raced from 1900 to 1904, winning the 1902 Circuit des Ardennes race and competing in the 1903 and 1904 Gordon Bennett Cup races. He was the chair of the Motor Cycling Club's Annual Dinner at the Trocadero on Saturday 12 December 1913. He co-founded a car import firm in 1902 and was a founder member of the Automobile Association (the AA), serving as chairman in 1922.

Family life Jarrott was born at 25 Hindon Street (now Wilton Road), Pimlico, London, to Martha (née Rosser) and Robert Jarrott, a blacksmith's labourer. He had three elder sisters. He implied that his education may have been schools in London, Cambridge and articled to a solicitor.

Jarrott married Violet Aline Vyner in 1903, the former wife of James St Clair-Erskine, 5th Earl of Rosslyn but the marriage was childless. With Ursula Jean Borlase he had a son, born on 16 June 1927, Charles who became a film director.

Career

Racing

Jarrott raced from 1900 to 1904, winning the 1902 Circuit des Ardennes race and competing in the 1903 and 1904 Gordon Bennett Cup races.

In 1901, he finished 10th in the Paris–Berlin Trail, driving a Panhard et Levassor No 13, and completing the 1,105 km in 19 hours and 59 seconds.

In 1900, Jarrott became the UK agent for Panhard et Levassor in partnership with Conservative politician Harvey Du Cros who was already a director of Dunlop Rubber and importer of French Clément-Gladiators.

In 1902, in association with W.M. Letts Jarrott founded the car import firm of 'Charles Jarrott & Letts Ltd', agents for De Dietrich cars.

In 1905, Jarrott was amongst those who founded the Automobile Association (the AA). He served as the Association's chairman in 1922.

WWI service During the First World War, Jarrott served with the Royal Flying Corps, ending up as Inspector of Transport. He was awarded the OBE in March 1918.