Eric Fernihough

Eric Crudgington Fernihough (17 February 1905 – 23 April 1938) was a British motorcycle racer. He was born in Liscard, Cheshire, United Kingdom in 1905 as the ninth child of Jane and John Fernihough. Eric’s mother was at the time recorded working as a stewardess for the Cunard steamship line and It appears that all but Jane’s grown-up children were then in care. Of the father there is no trace at the time and Jane was to die giving birth to a daughter in December 1908.

Eric was chosen for adoption by Mrs Emily McCalmont at a Merseyside children’s home about 1910. He retained the Fernihough surname.

Eric spent two years from 1920 boarding at Clayesmore School then near Winchester and three years at Cambridge University studying chemistry, engineering and economics. He graduated BA in June 1926 and later acquired an MA.

At Cambridge Eric took up motorcycle racing. From 1926 he had a successful motorcycle racing career on a variety of makes but mainly Excelsiors with JAP engines, initially at Brooklands Motor Course, in Ireland and on the Continent.