OBITUARY
John Ackroyd was famed for the part he played in a number of world records on land, water and in the air. A VISIONARY engineer and family man, known for breaking the land speed world record, has died at the age of 83. John Gilbert Ackroyd was born in Muttra, India, on January 31, 1937 to father Major HJ Ackroyd and mother Kay, and brought up in the foothills of the Himalayas until the age of seven when the family returned to wartime England. Mr Ackroyd was the eldest of two siblings, growing up with brother, David. After primary education, he was sent to prep school in Folkestone and then to Ardingly College where he achieved excellent academic qualifications.