Bev Brock, author and former partner of Peter Brock, dies aged 77

Beverley Brock. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

Beverley 'Bevo' Brock OAM passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 77 after a two-year battle with cancer, as announced by her family.

Born in 1947 in Stoneville, Western Australia, Ms. Brock was the third of seven children. She pursued a career in education and became a teacher. She had three children: James, with her first husband James McIntosh, and Robert and Alexandra with Peter Brock.

Ms. Brock became a well-known figure when she began her nearly three-decade partnership with renowned Australian racing car driver Peter Brock. During this time, she authored two books about his career and their life together before writing her autobiography.

Although she and Peter never married, she legally took his surname and he often referred to her as his wife, while she considered him her "soulmate."

The Brock Family said in a statement, "Bev was a dedicated parent, always finding time to make costumes for plays or assist on school camps. She devoted her life to supporting Peter's racing career, taking on various roles with skill, intelligence, and purpose."

Their relationship ended in 2005, less than 18 months before Peter Brock's death during a tarmac rally in Western Australia. Despite this, Ms. Brock remained active in several charities and was awarded an Order of Australia in 2016.

In recent years, she collaborated with The Skyline Foundation, Melbourne Rotary, and engaged in public speaking engagements.

Reflecting on her life in a 2014 interview with the Star Weekly, she said, "I gained recognition as an individual in my own right, and people respected that I was my own person. My life has been a fantastic one."

Ms. Brock is survived by three children and seven grandchildren.