A PLAQUE has been unveiled in Bewdley for a former car and medical engineer who was born in the town.

Captain G T Smith-Clarke was born in Lower Park, in 1884. He was chief engineer of Alvis Cars, in Coventry, where he redesigned the first Alvis car. He also designed a racing model, which won the 200-mile race at Brooklands, in 1923.

Members of Bewdley Civic Society, the Alvis Owner Club and the Alvis Register unveiled the blue plaque at 6 Lower Park, on Saturday, to mark his birthplace. They were joined by Captain Smith-Clarke’s great niece.

Richard Perrin, chairman of Bewdley Civic Society, said he was delighted to work with the two Alvis Clubs.

He added he had no idea Captain Smith-Clarke was born at the address until he was told by motor car enthusiasts.

“This fact was confirmed by Charles Purcell, of the local History Group,” Mr Perrin said.

“The society arranged for the householder’s permission and for listed building consent to be obtained for the plaque.”

As well as cars, Captain Smith-Clarke helped to develop equipment for artificial respiration. Astronomy was also one of his interests and he built telescopes for use in his garden, including a spectrohelioscope. He died in 1960.

Mr Perrin said: “It was a most memorable day on Saturday. It was wonderful that Captain G T Smith-Clarke’s great niece was able to join us from her home In Yorkshire.

“She was helped in the unveiling by expert medical historian and retired anaesthetist, Dr Adrian Padfield.

“The icing on the cake was provided by the presence of three historic Alvis Cars, two of which were manufactured in Smith-Clarke’s time at Alvis.”