Vale Bevan Fenner

**gromit** · 12th February 2023, 07:25 PM

I didn't know Bevan that well but he put me onto my Dormobile.

Heavily involved with Land Rovers for years, worked at ULR and an LROCV member for many years.
I first met him at the 60th when his brother John won the best Series I, saw him at the 70th and many times at Corowa (he was also into Jeeps).

There's a couple of paragraphs in 'Land Rover 65 Years of the 4x4 Workhorse' by James Taylor (page 172) that mention Bevan.
In '74 they used left over P76 motors that came onto the market after Leyland Australia collapsed, they were fitted into 6-cylinder Series III 109's.
ULR's workshop chief Bevan Fenner was invited to Solihul to explain how it had been done.
Supply of the motors quickly dried up and after two years they claimed to have done 'nearly 2 dozen conversions. All up estimated at no more than 30.

A sad loss.

Colin

**DieselLSE** · 13th February 2023, 07:29 AM

So sorry to hear this. I'd been hoping to catch up with Bevan and thought I may find him through this forum. I knew him for years through ULR and then at 4WD's in Middleborough Road. He invited me over to his home once and we searched through his workshop for platinum tipped spark plugs which I needed as I'd fitted an FFR ignition system to my 2.25. This was after he insisted we watch 'Allo 'Allo! which he loved. This was back in the four channel live TV only days and I think it was the first series.
We had him over for dinner one evening in the early 90's and I saw him occasionally up until he retired, somewhere in the late 90's I think. I lost contact when he moved up to the Dandenongs (I think) to share a house with his brother (again, I think).
I'd appreciate it if someone could post up further info about funeral arrangements etc.

**DI5CO** · 13th February 2023, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by DieselLSE

I'd appreciate it if someone could post up further info about funeral arrangements etc.

This coming Friday 17th of February at 2pm

- at Tobin Brothers Funerals,

- 505 Princes Hwy Noble Park.

- Just east of and on the opposite side of the road to the Springvale Crematorium.

**Aaron IIA** · 13th February 2023, 10:56 AM

<a href="https://youtu.be/yVmD8UxUCHk" target="_blank"> fenner bevan a 38490 - YouTube

**gromit** · 13th February 2023, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by DieselLSE

We had him over for dinner one evening in the early 90's and I saw him occasionally up until he retired, somewhere in the late 90's I think. I lost contact when he moved up to the Dandenongs (I think) to share a house with his brother (again, I think).

Yes he lived with John up in Beaconsfield. I went there in my Series I some years back to a LROCV event (John had invited me).
I know he was then living down the Peninsula with someone.

I was at a gathering somewhere and he saw I had an advert in the window 'Looking for a Dormobile'.
Turns out he'd owned it for a while, the couple that he sold it to passed away and I purchased from the estate thanks to his help.
Video below is at Gembrook (Steve Priestly's property) and the Dormobile while in Bevan's ownership appears.

Land Rover Series 1 - YouTube

I'll try and get to the funeral as I only work in Dandenong, I might take the Series III to work that day.
I know Murray (ex Four Wheel Drives) is going, I also spoke with Jim Brookshaw he can't make it.
Maybe Fred Smith will be there as well.

Colin

**goingbush** · 13th February 2023, 01:22 PM

Sorry to hear,
I was very active LROCV committee member and trip organiser in the 1980's and got to know Bevan quite well.

**d2dave** · 14th February 2023, 06:18 PM

Another icon gone.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Bevan a few times.

**gromit** · 17th February 2023, 02:49 PM

A good turnout with a few Land Rovers in the carpark.
Due to the weather I took the Tanami, at least it has an attempt at air conditioning.

I learnt more about him from the eulogies but, to be fair, I didn't know him that well to start with.

Colin

**rangieman** · 18th February 2023, 12:02 PM

Sad i missed this as i grew up with Bevan as a close friend of my dad , My dad passed away in 2008 so the only times i caught up with Bevan was the like of LR shows where i bumped into him .
He was such a genuine bloke and always up for a chat .

And Colin as a kid i remember visiting Bevan in Bentleigh with my dad and Bevan was fitting 4.4 Leylands to Series ones ect in his shed at home as a side line

Thread: Vale Bevan Fenner

Thread Tools

Vale Bevan Fenner

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions