Valfried (Val) Zethrin (12 April 1902 – January 1987) was a scion of a Prussian-Swedish family. Having originally fled social unrest in Prussia in the early 19th century the family settled in Stockholm, Sweden, before moving to London, England in 1870.Val's early life was largely uneventful, though his godfather, the adventurer and gentleman racer Arthur Andrews, was responsible for his passion for motor racing. The two families had originally met socially in London and holidayed together in the pre-war years at Sandown, IOW.At the age of 16 Val was bought a commission in the London Regiment, though was subsequently Gazetted in 1929 for bankruptcy.His godfather arranged for him to assist at motor racing events, notably Brooklands. It was here, whilst lap charting in July 1935 that he first