Ex-Dumfries House owner Johnny dies
Tributes paid to former F1 Lotus driver
Tributes have been paid to the former owner of Dumfries House, Johnny Dumfries, who has died .
The former F1 star died last Tuesday aged 62, following a recent illness.
Johnny’s full name was John Colum Crichton-Stuart.
He was the 7th Marquess of Bute and and 12th Earl of Dumfries.
Dumfries House, near Cumnock, built in the 1750s for William Dalrymple, 5th Earl of Dumfries, passed into his ownership in 1993 after the death of Lady Eileen Bute, the wife of the 5th Marquess.
The house and estate changed hands again in 2007,
when Prince Charles used £20m of his own charitable foundation’s money to broker a deal and secure the house and its contents.
Johnny Dumfries was known around the world as a talented and daring F1 driver, who was a team-mate of one of the sport’s greats, Ayrton Senna, when they both raced for Lotus.
His family issued a statement calling Johnny a “devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, son and grandfather and loved by all.”
Perhaps the highlight of his glittering career arrived in 1988 when Dumfries raced to victory in the Le Mans 24-hour race.
It was the first time a Scotsman won the prestigious race since Ron Flockhart’s victory in 1957.
A spokesperson for Johnny’s former team Lotus said they were “shocked and saddened” to learn of his death.
The spokesperson continued: “Johnny raced for John Player Team Lotus for the 1986 season.
“He proved to be an excellent team player, supporting Ayrton Senna’s challenge for the World Championship title.
“Team members of that time recall Johnny with great affection.
“Classic Team Lotus extends its sincere condolences to Johnny’s family.”
And former F1 star Martin Brundle described Johnny as “full of life and vigour” and a “wonderful man and a fast driver.”
A statement from the Jim Clark Trust, named after arguably Scotland’s greatest
F1 driver, said: “Deepest condolences to the family of Johnny Dumfries who sadly passed away at the age of 62.
“One of Scotland’s most successful racing drivers in the last 50 years, Dumfries raced in the elite level of motorsport when he entered Formula 1 in 1986 with the John Player Special Team Lotus.
“Undoubtedly he would go on to inspire the likes of David Coulthard, Alan McNish and Paul Di Resta as the next generation of Scottish winners.”
Johnny spent his later years firmly rooted on The Isle of Bute, his ancestral home, at Mount Stuart, and had chaired the Board of Mount Stuart Trust since 2005, overseeing many island projects and businesses.