We both went to a few of the terrific classic
race gatherings up at Pukekohe but he was
not able to get there to see the MV Agustas
and one of his (and my) heroes... Giacomo
Agostini. But I got there and got to catch
up with Ago’ and dutifully got him to sign a
couple of photos... one of which was going
Paul’s way.
Yep, cost him an ale but it was an ale
happily parted with. I also gave him a spare
one I had of Barry Sheene... another lager.
He’d followed the race side of things
since Mike Hailwood punted a Honda and
Agostini steered an MV, through to the
500 landscape of Freddie Spencer then the
Aussie rocketboys like Doohan and Gardner
and through to today... he was always
backing Valentino Rossi.
A few months ago he said his only regret
was not having shot over to the Isle of Man
TT when he was younger, or even older for
that matter. I was there in ‘77 so fulfilled
my dream, but he never got around to it,
although thanks to his two boys he shared
his club racers with, it looks like he’s finally
going to get there.
I said they should take him to Creg ny Baa
which is a sharp bend at the end of one
long straight and then leads into another...
and there’s a pub right there. It’s a top spot,
where I saw one bloke hurtle off only to park
his bike up and come and join us for a pint.
And so it has come to pass... my dear biking
buddy and big bro’ Paul died a few weeks
back at the age of 74 after battling a bloody
terrible illness. You know the one. His last
days were torment. So sad, but we were
so emboldened and blessed to have the
great crew at the Cranford Hospice care so
compassionately for him.
So here’s the plan, according to his lads
who have lost their dad. They have his ashes
in safe-keeping and they are planning to
take them to the other side of the world
next year, to the Isle of Man.
“Dad’s going to finally get there,” Chris, his
elder lad, said to me as we quietly stood,
slightly misty of eye, and raised a glass
to him at the funeral service aftermatch
function.
That is the sort of motorcycling spirit he so
passionately embraced all his life.
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