Prince Bira

coxyhog · December 23, 2025

Two days before #Christmas 1985.

A man collapsed and died at Barons Court tube station in London. He had suffered a massive heart attack.

He was of south-east Asian appearance but had no identification.

The Metropolitan Police were unable to establish who he was.

Policemen find a handwritten note in his pocket - although they were unable to work out the language it was written in.

The note was sent to experts at the University of London, it turned out it was written in Thai.

The police contacted the Thai Embassy who quickly established his identity.

Prince Bira.

The Prince Bira of Siam, he was a member of the Thai royal family. Born in Thailand on 15 July 1914.

Bira went on to become a tremendously successful driver.He first raced with his cousin Prince Chula's team, White Mouse Racing, driving a Riley Imp at Brooklands in 1935. In this car Bira established the national motor racing colours of Siam: pale blue with yellow.

After the war, Bira returned to racing.He competed in Formula One taking part in 19 races between 1950 and 1954. Bira became one of the first private entrants to order one of the new Maserati 250Fs. He achieved three points-scoring finishes for a total of 8 points, with his best results being fourth places at the 1950 Swiss Grand Prix and the 1954 French Grand Prix.

Bira was also an artist, sailor and pilot.

He was educated at Eton College and interested in sculpture.

He went on to take part in sailing competitions at four Olympic Games - Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964 and Munich 1972.

He loved flying and he was an accomplished pilot. He made several long-distance flights in tiny planes and gliders. In 1952, he flew all the way from London to Bangkok in his own twin-engine Miles Gemini aircraft. During World War Two, Bira put his skills to use teaching fighter pilots of Britain's Royal Air Force