Bev Brock, the longtime partner of Australian motorsport legend Peter Brock, has passed away at 77. The Brock family has confirmed the sad news, following Peter’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis two years ago.
“Bev was a dedicated parent, always making time to make a costume for plays or help out on a school camp,” her son, James Brock, wrote on Facebook.
“She dedicated her life to helping Peter’s racing career taking on multiple roles, all met with skill, smarts and purpose.”
According to a source, she passed away at her Melbourne residence on Sunday morning.Bev and Peter shared nearly three decades together before parting ways in 2005. They were blessed with two children, Alexandra and Robert.
Additionally, Bev had a son named James from her previous marriage to James McIntosh.
Their 28-year partnership concluded in 2005, with Peter later engaged to Julie Bamford. His tragic demise occurred in a rally accident in Perth the following year.
Bev was honored with a Medal of the Order of Australia and held a prominent position in Australian motorsport.
She authored two books about her former partner, as well as an autobiography detailing their personal life.
Despite never marrying, Bev adopted the surname of the Supercars legend through deed poll.In recent years, Bamford disclosed that her relationship with Peter Brock began before Bev and Peter separated. They had plans to marry before his untimely passing.
Bev expressed that she would have given her blessing had Bamford and Peter decided to marry.In her revealing 2014 book, “Life to the Limit,” Bev acknowledged Peter’s infidelities but emphasized that their years together were the most “amazing” of her life.
“He was such a complex, enigmatic figure. The public believed they knew him and they did, they knew that aspect of him. He was totally committed to being the best that he could at any point in time,” Ms Brock said.
To me, I see the human side of him, the vulnerable side, the side that wasn’t so much the public figure. I saw a side that really was very private. He didn’t like anybody to see inside.”
She also previously said she had made her peace with her former partner’s decision to move on with his life.
“People end up bitter and twisted,” she said.
“But you sit here and think, ‘Why, when you shared this amazing journey and it’s been so fantastic’?
“I guess for me, I know that I couldn’t have done any more, so I don’t have any self-doubts about it (the relationship, which, for the record, she says she ended).
“Above all else I loved the guy enough to want to see him very happy … I had always expected us to be together for life, but you know you get on with it, you deal with the pain and you say, ‘OK, life takes another direction here’.
“I’m not saying it was easy, but at the time it’s what he had to do. So you say, ‘Go for it’.”
Bev and Bamford found themselves entangled in a tragic and complex situation concerning the estate of the nine-time Bathurst 1000 champion.
At the time of Peter Brock’s passing, he had three different wills.The third will, drafted in 2006, designated Brock’s children as beneficiaries of his superannuation and shares, with Bamford named as the beneficiary of the remainder of his estate. However, this will remained unsigned.
Beverley faced challenging legal battles over the contested will and was ultimately compelled to vacate the residence she once shared with her former partner.
Despite these adversities, she consistently exhibited grace when discussing her former partner.
