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Leslie Marr

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Sir Leslie Marr
Marr with a painting, 2019
Born(1922-08-14)14 August 1922
Durham,County Durham,England
Died4 May 2021(2021-05-04)(aged 98)
Gimingham,Norfolk,England
Formula OneWorld Championship career
NationalityUnited KingdomBritish
Active years1954–1955
TeamsPrivateerConnaught
Entries2
First entry1954 British Grand Prix
Last entry1955 British Grand Prix

Sir Leslie Lynn Marr of Sunderland, 2nd Baronet(14 August 1922 – 4 May 2021) was a British landscape artist, painter andracing driver.

Early life, education and military service[edit]

Marr was born inDurham, England,the son of Lieutenant Colonel andbrevetColonel John Lynn Marr (1877–1931),OBE,TD,of theRoyal Garrison Artillery,director of two shipbuilding firms and of the Sunderland Forge and Engineering Company,[1]and Amelia Rachel (1884–1971; known as "May" ),[2]daughter of Robert Thompson, ofOver DinsdaleHall,County Durham,a shipbuilder.[3][4]

He was educated atShrewsbury SchoolandPembroke College, Cambridge.In 1932, at the age of ten, due to his father's death the previous year he inherited thebaronetcyheld by his grandfather, shipbuilderSir James Marr, 1st Baronet,though he did not use the title.[5]He studied engineering atCambridge University,where he graduated in 1942. DuringWorld War IIhe served as a technician in theRoyal Air Force.His interest in painting developed during his posting toPalestine.[6][7]

Artistic career[edit]

Marr is recognised primarily as a landscape artist and painter.[8][9][10]After the war ended, Marr attendedlife classesatHeatherley's Art SchoolinPimlicoand subsequently studied underDavid Bombergat what was then known as theBorough Polytechnic(now London South Bank University). He allocated the upper floor of a bookshop he had rented as an exhibition space for Bomberg's students (who became known as theBorough Group). Following the Group's dissolution in 1950, Marr continued to paint and to travel across Britain and the continent, and it was at this time that Marr tried his hand at motor racing.[6][11]

Between 1983 and 1991, Marr lived and painted onArran,and later moved to a home and studio inNorfolk.[6]Artworks by Marr are held in the public collections of theBritish Academy,Imperial College Collection,Laing Art GalleryNewcastle upon Tyne, andPallant House Gallery,Chichester.[12][13]

Racing career[edit]

Marr participated in twoFormula OneWorld Championship Grands Prix, making his debut on 17 July 1954 at theBritish Grand Prix.[14]Racing in his privateConnaught,he finished in 13th place, but retired from his last world championship race in 1955, after a damaged brake pipe caused him to spin off.[15][16]Marr competed in several non-Championship races, with his best results including winning the1955 Cornwall MRC Formula 1 Raceand finishing fourth in the1956 New Zealand Grand Prix.[15]

Personal life[edit]

In 1948, Marr married artist Dinora Mendelson (1924–2010), daughter of London art dealer Jacob Mendelson and artistLilian Holt;Lilian's second husband was Marr's former teacher David Bomberg.[17]Marr and his wife separated after two years, and were divorced in 1956.[18][19][20]In 1962, Marr married Lynn Moynihan; they had two daughters, the elder of whom predeceased him. His third wife was Maureen Monk.[21]Marr died inGimingham,Norfolkin May 2021 at the age of 98, survived by his widow, daughter, and three grandchildren.[13]He was succeeded as baronet by hisfirst cousin twice removed,[22]Allan James William Marr.[3]

Complete Formula One World Championship results[edit]

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Points
1954 Leslie Marr ConnaughtType A Lea-FrancisStraight-4 ARG 500 BEL FRA GBR
13 		GER SUI ITA ESP NC 0
1955 Leslie Marr ConnaughtType B AltaStraight-4 ARG MON 500 BEL NED GBR
Ret 		ITA NC 0
Source:[16]

References[edit]

  1. ^The Foundry Trade Journal, vol. 45, Institute of Cast Iron Engineers, 10 September 1931, p. 168
  2. ^"Amelia Rachel" May "Thompson".
  3. ^abBurke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 2, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 2629
  4. ^"Robert Thompson".
  5. ^Vann, Philip (23 May 2021)."Leslie Marr obituary".The Guardian.Retrieved23 May2021.
  6. ^abc"Leslie Marr – A Painter on Arran – Voice for Arran".28 January 2018.Retrieved25 March2019.
  7. ^Isaaman, Gerald (11 May 2017)."Art dekko".Camden New Journal.Retrieved25 March2019.
  8. ^Jenkins, Richard."Where are they now: Leslie Marr".Old Racing Cars.Retrieved21 February2012.
  9. ^"Leslie Marr | Colony Art: Rochdale Art Gallery".Colony Art.Retrieved26 March2019.
  10. ^"Leslie Marr".Sothebys.Retrieved26 March2019.
  11. ^"Leslie Marr - Famous Galleries".www.famousgalleries.co.uk.Retrieved25 March2019.
  12. ^"Leslie Marr".Nick Waters Art.Archived fromthe originalon 26 March 2019.Retrieved25 March2019.
  13. ^abBrown, Allen."Leslie Marr".OldRacingCars.com.Retrieved10 May2021.
  14. ^"Leslie Marr profile".Grandprix.com.Inside F1.Retrieved21 February2012.
  15. ^ab"Drivers: Leslie Marr".ESPN F1.com.ESPN.Retrieved21 February2012.
  16. ^abSmall, Steve (1994).The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who.Guinness. p. 246.ISBN0851127029.
  17. ^Jewish Artists: the Ben Uri Collection, Walter M. Schwab, Julia Weiner, Ben Uri Art Society, 1994, p. 139
  18. ^Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 148th edition, ed. Charles Kidd, Debrett's Ltd, 2011, p. 678
  19. ^Tate Women Artists, Alicia Foster, Harry N. Abrams, 2004, p. 118
  20. ^"Mendelson, Dinora, 1924–2010 | Art UK".artuk.org.Retrieved10 May2021.
  21. ^"Leslie Marr obituary".TheGuardian.com.23 May 2021.
  22. ^Grandson of Leslie Marr's first cousin, Allan James Marr (1907-1989), CBE; see Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 2, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 2629

External links[edit]

Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Baronet
(of Sunderland)
1932–2021 		Succeeded by
Allan James William Marr
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