BROOKLANDS GAINS ITS FREEHOLD

Japan Tobacco International – the world’s third largest tobacco company and owner of the land on which the Weybridge-based Brooklands Museum sits – has donated the freehold of the site to the museum’s governing trust after a 25-year tenancy.

During a special ceremony at which a plaque was unveiled to mark the transfer of the freehold, JTI’s Tom McCoy told us: ‘It has been a pleasure to act as landlord to the museum trust and it gives me even greater pleasure to gift this historical English landmark to the trust in order that they may continue the great work they do.’
Accepting the title deeds to the site, the Rt Hon Lord Trefgarne – chairman of the Brooklands Museum Trustees – said: ‘The transfer of the freehold of the site is an extremely important milestone for the museum. Without the generous support of Gallaher and JTI in making this land available in the first place, and their assistance in converting a derelict former factory site to its new use, it would have been impossible for the museum to establish itself.’
Meanwhile, Brooklands Museum has a packed season of events ahead of it, including crowd-pleasers like the Morris & Austin Day (March 7), Brooklands Mini Day (March 28), the Auto Italia Italian Car Day (May 1) and the Emergency Services Day (May 3). For details of these and all other Brooklands events, go online to www.brooklandsmuseum.com.