Racing Stars Caught Off-guard

Desmond O’Neill’s wonderful collection of Goodwood photographs has lain unseen for more than 50 years, says Mick Walsh as he investigates this exciting.

- Mick Walsh

Society press photographer Desmond O’Neill is best known for his iconic studies of the rich and famous. The National Portrait Gallery in London is among the prestigious collections that exhibit O’Neill’s famous shots of Lord Lucan, Maria Callas and The Rolling Stones. This popular figure died in 2003 and his huge, highly organised archive was taken over by his son Dominic, who continues the family tradition behind the lens.

Last year, an unknown motorracing element came to light among the hundreds of transparency boxes. “My father had never mentioned Goodwood and Silverstone,” recalls Dominic, “then by chance I came across the negatives. I could see the quality, and soon recognised some of the drivers. I mentioned the discovery to a few car enthusiast friends and they became very excited.”