Helen, Jackie’s beloved wife of more than 60 years, was his stopwatch.
Helen was the love of his life with a razor-sharp mind that timed his laps to the millisecond with unfaltering accuracy.
In 2014 Helen was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. Today, Helen’s short-term memory has faded and dementia has taken hold of her mind and body. This terrible condition is devastating the Stewart family, as it does for millions of families living with dementia around the world.
Leaving school at 15 (his dyslexia undiagnosed until much later) he found his personal voice in sport, first as an Olympic-class shot, then in motor racing.
In shooting, Sir Jackie won the Coupe De Nations twice (British and Mediterranean Championships). He also won the Championships of Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales, as well as the British Grand Prix of Shooting. Sir Jackie retired from competitive shooting aged 23.
Sir Jackie’s motor racing career took off internationally in 1965 when, at Monza, he scored his first Grand Prix Championship. During his Formula 1 career, he was crowned World Champion three times and achieved a total of 27 Grand Prix victories. He was the leading driver of his era.
In 1988 he formed Paul Stewart Racing with his son Paul. Subsequently, in 1996, they formed Stewart Grand Prix, which was sold to the Ford Motor Company in 1999.
Sir Jackie has been a Rolex Testimonee since 1968 and an Ambassador for Moët Hennessy for over 50 years. Sir Jackie also enjoyed 40 years with the Ford Motor Company and is currently engaged on a multi-year contract with Heineken.
Sir Jackie is founder of Race Against Dementia, President of Dyslexia Scotland, Founder and former Chairman of the Grand Prix Trust, President of the Springfield Youth Club, Vice-President of the British Racing Drivers’ Club and the British Dyslexia Association.
Sir Jackie was awarded the OBE in 1972 and was knighted in 2001. He was awarded an Honorary Professorship from the University of Stirling and received eight Honorary Doctorates from US, Scottish and English Universities. He has received honours from His Majesty the King of Jordan and His Majesty the King of Bahrain.
Sir Jackie and Lady Stewart married in 1962. They have two sons and nine grandchildren.
“I am now facing one of the biggest challenges of my life and will put all my efforts into finding a cure for this horrendous illness”.
Sir Jackie Stewart, OBE
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