Noel Macklin
Encyclopedia
Sir Noel Campbell Macklin (1886–1946) was an innovative British
car maker and boat designer. He was also the father of post-war sports car
and Formula One
racing driver Lance Macklin
.
He was a captain
in the Royal Horse Artillery
in the First World War. He was invalided in 1915 and on his return to England joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and served with the Dover Patrol
.
He founded two car assembly companies: Invicta
in 1925 and Railton
in 1933. He achieved some fame as the designer of these sporty motor cars before turning his attention to motor boats. The Fairmile Engineering Company took its name from the name of Macklin's country estate, Cobham Fairmile
in Surrey
. He used the garage at his home for manufacturing and assembly.
In 1939, inspired by an article on the need for small boats for the Royal Navy
he founded Fairmile Marine
for the design and serial manufacture of small naval boats
for the Admiralty
. Since the company did not have the necessary capital to meet the Admiralty needs it became a semi-independent department of the Admiralty coordinating the supply of parts to build the vessels at boatyards around the country. For the loss of his company Noel was paid a large sum and given a salary.
Fairmile boats served in the Royal Navy as motor boats, gun boats and torpedo boat
s throughout the Second World War
.
As the war came to the end Noel was made Director for the disposal of the small boats in RN service.
After the war Macklin was knighted for his war effort, but the Admiralty, who had requisitioned his Cobham site, didn't return it.
Today, Macklin-designed cars and boats are popular among model-building enthusiasts.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
car maker and boat designer. He was also the father of post-war sports car
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
and Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
racing driver Lance Macklin
Lance Macklin
Lance Noel Macklin was a British racing driver from England. He participated in 15 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 18 May 1952....
.
He was a captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
in the Royal Horse Artillery
Royal Horse Artillery
The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
in the First World War. He was invalided in 1915 and on his return to England joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and served with the Dover Patrol
Dover Patrol
The Dover Patrol was a Royal Navy command of the First World War, notable for its involvement in the Zeebrugge Raid on 22 April 1918. The Dover Patrol formed a discrete unit of the Royal Navy based at Dover and Dunkirk for the duration of the First World War...
.
He founded two car assembly companies: Invicta
Invicta (car)
Invicta is a British automobile manufacturer. The brand has been available intermittently through successive decades. Initially, the manufacturer was based in Cobham, Surrey, England from 1925 to 1933, then in Chelsea, London, England from 1933 to 1938 and finally in Virginia Water, Surrey, England...
in 1925 and Railton
Railton (car)
Railton was a British car maker based in Cobham, Surrey between 1933 and 1940. There was an attempt to revive the marque by a new company between 1989 and 1994 in Alcester, Warwickshire....
in 1933. He achieved some fame as the designer of these sporty motor cars before turning his attention to motor boats. The Fairmile Engineering Company took its name from the name of Macklin's country estate, Cobham Fairmile
Cobham, Surrey
Cobham is a town in the Borough of Elmbridge in Surrey, England, about south-west of central London and north of Leatherhead. Elmbridge has been acclaimed by the Daily Mail as the best place to live in the UK, and Cobham is a prosperous part of the London commuter belt...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. He used the garage at his home for manufacturing and assembly.
In 1939, inspired by an article on the need for small boats for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
he founded Fairmile Marine
Fairmile Marine
Fairmile Marine was a British boat building company founded in 1939 by the car manufacturer Noel Macklin.Macklin used the garage at his home at Cobham Fairmile in Surrey for manufacturing assembly which is why the boats he designed came to be called Fairmiles....
for the design and serial manufacture of small naval boats
Motor Launch
A Motor Launch is a small military vessel in British navy service. It was designed for harbour defence and submarine chasing or for armed high speed air-sea rescue....
for the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
. Since the company did not have the necessary capital to meet the Admiralty needs it became a semi-independent department of the Admiralty coordinating the supply of parts to build the vessels at boatyards around the country. For the loss of his company Noel was paid a large sum and given a salary.
Fairmile boats served in the Royal Navy as motor boats, gun boats and torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
s throughout the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
As the war came to the end Noel was made Director for the disposal of the small boats in RN service.
After the war Macklin was knighted for his war effort, but the Admiralty, who had requisitioned his Cobham site, didn't return it.
Today, Macklin-designed cars and boats are popular among model-building enthusiasts.