Pat Fairfield

Patrick Greenway Fairfield (26 November 1907 – 21 June 1937) was a British racing driver and cricketer.

Early life and cricket

Fairfield was born at Liverpool in November 1907. When his parents divorced, and his mother remarried, he moved to South Africa at the age of 15, where his family owned a citrus farm at White River. During his period in South Africa he was often known as Patrick Greenway Webster (using the surname of his stepfather).

After completing his education at St. Andrew's College, Fairfield's family believed he needed to gain a suitable degree to manage the farm, and so he applied to the University of Cambridge; average exam results at the time meant his application was unsuccessful. He left for England, where he attended a cram school in Eastbourne to prepare him for the Cambridge entry exams and was successful in entering Cambridge on the second attempt.

While studying at Cambridge, Fairfield made two appearances in first-class cricket for Cambridge University in 1929 at Fenner's, playing against Nottinghamshire and the touring South Africans. Fairfield scored 21 runs in his two matches and took 6 wickets, with best figures of 4 for 86.

Racing career

Fairfield met his future wife Jean Beckett at Cambridge and the completion of his studies, the couple returned to South Africa where they settled at White River and began farming. He failed to win a race in 1936, but did finish third at the South African Grand Prix during his winter return to South Africa. He went one better in January 1937 and won the South African Grand Prix, then being staged at the Prince George Circuit.

Memory

The Pat Fairfield Trophy was run in Fairfield's honour in South Africa during 1966 and 1967.

Motorsports career results

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1937 David Murray David Murray BMW 328 2.0 8 DNF DNF