It was on this day in 1975 that one of Britain’s motoring giants, Graham Hill - a two-time Formula One world champion - was tragically killed at the age of 45 when a light aircraft he was piloting crashed on a Herefordshire golf course.
Five other passengers - including fellow F1 driver Tony Brise - were also killed in the accident which occurred in foggy conditions on a return trip from France.
Though an investigation couldn’t determine the exact cause of the accident, it later transpired that Hill’s pilot certifications had expired, rendering him uninsured. After the families of the other victims sued his estate, the subsequent settlements wiped away the bulk of his personal fortune.
Hill had become a big household name in Britain for his motoring exploits in the 1960’s which saw him win two Formula One World Championships (1962, 1968) as well as the Indianapolis 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Hill’s son Damon - just 15 at the time of his father's death - also became a successful racing driver, famously going on to win the Formula One World Championship in 1996.