19-07-2024, 11:43 AM
That old post was, probably, mine, John. We visit the IoM every year at the end of April to take part in the three closed road hillclimbs that make up the Manx Classic event. We stay at the Peel Caravan site and pass Derek's house outside Peel on a regular basis each year. We often used to see him as we went past and he would come down to see us in Peel as well as calling in to view scrutineering in Douglas on the Wednesday before the events. The last time I saw him was in, I think, 2019. The event wasn't held in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid and when we went back in 2022 there was no sign of Derek and his Berlingo was no longer parked in the lay by opposite the small hamlet of houses where he lived. That's been the case in 2023 and 2024 and I fear it may well be that he's no longer with us. I hope I'm wrong as he was such an interesting man to talk to as well as being an all round good bloke.
Steve
Steve