Roberta Cowell

[threespires]

Roberta Cowell was the first person to have a vaginoplasty [sex change] operation. She enjoyed racing and hill climbs, she was mainly known for driving an Alta.
I was at Shelsley Walsh in 1957 when she was competing.
Somebody in Florida is researching info for a book about Cowell. The author has contacted me for any snippet of info that I might have.

I'm wondering if any P/H folks might have some memories of Roberta Cowell that they could share.

[coppice]

Only a distant one - I recall seeing Roberta race at Rufforth , the long defunct airfield circuit near York , in the early 70s. She was driving , I think , a single seater in a Formula Libre race. I think there was a brief mention by the commentator of her gender change, but perhaps surprisingly, it did not make much impression. Back then , changing gender was extremely unusual , and I can recall only travel writer Jan Morris and celebrity scandal April Ashley as having made the same journey.

[ettore]

…and of course raced successfully as Bob Cowell before the war and was a Spitfore pilot during it.

Quite the tale!