Lt Cdr Home Kidston

Lt Cdr Home Kidston, younger brother of Bentley Boy Glen Kidston, has died at the age of 85.

His interest in cars began early, acquiring a Morgan three-wheeler at 14 and a Type 37A Bugatti while still at Eton, and an MG K3 and Bentley 4 1/2 after joining the Navy. Posted to New Zealand, he raised eyebrows by arriving with his Leopard Moth aircraft, Vosper racing speedboat and Mercedes-Benz S.

On return to England, he combined an MTB command with racing a Type 51 Bugatti and the ex-Howe Alfa Romeo 2.3 Le Mans car, and entering several Fraser Nash BMWs in Alpine Trials. During the war he served under Mountbatten on board HMS Kelly, surviving its sinking, before commanding his own destroyer. He retired to farm his Dorset estate in 1947, moving to Tuscany in 1976 to grow olives and wine. His road cars included Bugatti 57SC, Lancia Aurelia B20 GT, M-B 300SL and Porsche Carrera 2.7RS. He leaves three sons, Glen, Simon (who runs Goys auction department) and Nicholas. SK