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John Ackroyd

John Ackroyd is the designer of the first modern-day city production electric car and was also involved in designing and building Thrust 2, which held the land speed record from 1983 to 1997.

He was selected as one of the headline Isle of Wight Hidden Heroes in 2017 and in 2018 Ryde Town Council agreed to award him the Freedom of Ryde.

John sadly passed away on 25th January 2021 after a long illness.

Below are some of the articles which mention John.

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·1 min read

Town council unanimously agrees to Honours Working Party

Members of Ryde Town Council met to consider a motion to set up an Honours Working Party, with Isle of Wight pioneer, John Ackroyd, being the first nomination to the Party for the Freedom of Ryde.
john ackroyd and thrust 2
·2 min read

Thrust 2 inventor John Ackroyd is amazing. Shouldn’t he have the Freedom of Ryde?

John Ackroyd has been involved with some amazing projects in his 80+ years alive. In one, he and his small team of Islanders designed and built Thrust 2 in a shed in Fishbourne. It became the fastest vehicle in the world, breaking the land speed record. Would you support him being given the Freedom of Ryde?
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