The Dictionary of National Biography is quite clear that Charles Jarrott, the famous racing motorist and winner of the very first circuit race - the 1902 Circuit des Ardennes, was born in Pimlico, London. The GRO index for 1877 confirms the fact. His mother Martha Rosser was born in Newport, Monmouthshire and his elder sisters were born in Newbridge. His blacksmith father seems to have moved to Wales, married a local girl, started a family and then moved on to London.
Now we come to a intriguing entry in the Census of 1901, where we find Selwyn Edge and his wife living in Tavistock Chambers, London. Edge, described as the 33 year old Managing Director of an Automobile Company, had a visitor staying on census night, none other than the 25 year old Charles Jarrott. His birthplace is given as Wales, Newport. One wonders why?
Another interesting fact about Jarrott, he was born the son of a blacksmith's labourer and he married the wife of an Earl.
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