Sir Ben Ball

Air vice marshal Sir Ben Ball C.B.E C.B K.C.B was president of the club from 1971-1977 far from being a presidential figurehead he was an influencer and encourager of the club’s promotions and activities and was often seen at Brands Hatch and Snetterton mixing with the membership.

The Sir Ben Ball Trophy, a scale model of a Singapore flying boat, especially made for and presented to the club by Lady Ball is to be awarded  for 1 year to the member whose race speed exceeds by the greatest margin the 1976 race speed or if that race speed is not exceeded by the race winner who’s speed comes nearest to 1976 race speed. This enables competitors in classes from the smallest to the largest and sidecars the equal opportunity of winning this magnificent trophy.

The reason for selecting a flying boat for the trophy is that Sir Ben flew these with No209 squadron from 1935 to 1939 (Taken from the 1977 program)

RAF career

Benjamin Ball joined the Royal Air Force as  a cadet in 1934. He served in the WW2 as a signals officer at RAF Bircham Newton and then at Headquarters RAF Reserves Command, as Chief Signals Officer in the Training Commands of the Royal Canadian Air force and as Group Captain, Operations with No 26 Group.

After the War he became Chief Signals Officer at Headquarters Bomber Command and then became Director of Signals in the British Joint Services Mission to Washington DC.  He went on to be Station Commander at RAF Debden in 1951, Deputy Director of Operational Requirements at the Air Ministry in 1953 and Chief Signals Officer at Headquarters Bomber Command in 1957.

His last appointments were as Deputy Chief Signals Officer at Supreme Headquaters Allied Powers Europe in 1960, as Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Technical Training command in 1963 and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Signals Command in 1966 before retiring in 1969. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of British Empire in the New Year Honours List in 1969.

Lady Ball presenting the trophy to the club's steward in 1977

The Winners of his trophy that we have recorded are as follows;

1977    Fred Huggett
1978    Barry Waters
1979    Derek and Peter Bailey
1980    Robin Dury
1981    Kenny Irons
1982    Robin Dury
1983    Chris Turner
1984    Chris Melen
1985    John Davis
1986    C Thomas
1987    P Baldock & J Taylor
1989    Kevin Day
2005    JP Scott
2006    Steve Mercer
2007    Pat Herron
2008    Adam Lyon
2013    Adam Cross
2015    Scott Grant
2016    Elliot Pinson
2017    Charlie Farrer
2018    Harry Fowle
2019    Lewis Jones