I met my hero Joey Dunlop, as I was walking past a caravan at a Honda Day at Laxey whilst at the TT in 2000. He came out right beside me. As luck would have it I had a great photo of him, both wheels off the deck tucked in on the VTR1000, rolled up in my pocket. I had bought in a shop in Ramsey that day. He held it out and smiled. I said you were cracking on there. He nodded and winked, said "aye, that I was" then signed it and shook my hand. I can't believe he died soon after. What a legend!
Dave Jefferies. Sitting waiting to see if they would run the practice session at the TT . I was all wound up about it and he just leant on the gate beside me and chatted about it saying it would be pointless me going out as I would learn sod all in weather conditions as they would be. So so down to earth and alas would lose his life the following week. Honourable mention to Keith Flint . My good friend met him at some event he was playing at , chatted about bikes and invited my friend and his family into the backstage / group area for the rest of the day. A nicer, more polite and friendly man than most of use will ever meet im told. I truly shed a tear the day he passed on.
I used to produce conferences and we often used to have ‘talent’ doing awards, motivational speeches etc. One of my clients was ITV so we had Ant & Dec (Dec nice, Ant grumpy), Philip Schofield (friendly and professional), Bradley Walsh (really nice), Melvin Bragg (areshole), Russell Brand (ok but it was in his heavy coke phase so a bit out of it), Marco Pierre White (another arsehole, couldn’t be bothered even though he got a big fee), Tim Minchin (brilliant sport and so funny). One more that stood out was Jim Lovell (Apollo 13), he was supposed to come and talk at a conference in Athens but his wife was taken ill suddenly. I got in touch with him and asked if he could still send a short video for me to show. He looked right down the lens and said “Athens, we have a problem”. Brilliant! Speaking of Guy Martin we also had the psychologist, Steve Peters, who he credits with helping him. Good presenter, even the crew were listening to him (and the crew never listen)
Biking heroes i have met: Barry Sheene Mike Hailwood Wayne Gardner. I have not met any of my musical heroes face to face.
It’s always Ant on the left Dec on the right... Ant big forehead, Dec cheeky chappie. This was a while ago but I called my daughter whilst I was with them and Dec had a chat with her (in the days before selfies)
Seemed a canny enough lad But the MSM demonised him remember? Bit like being caught fighting at school. Punishment awaits the winner.
Hmm. I once called Bob Hoskins a fat c***. He cut me up in his jag nr Liberties and Carnaby as I was parking my Lambretta. Does that count?
He was a miserable little gremlin always used to see him with a face like a slapped arse bustling his way around cov g.
Only if it was on a Good Friday and his response was “Shut up, you long streak of paralysed piss.....”
I did recall the kneecapping scene with some trepidation afterwards. But there was about 20 of us. So I was comforted.
Used to ride for West One (courier firm) in the late '80s. Sade Adu had an account and used to occasionally collect from her either at her hairdressers or her flat. Always nice and down to earth. Once at the latter whatever I was collecting wasn't ready so she invited me up to wait. Offered me a beer and when I said "thanks but no, as I was on the bike" she made me a cuppa as I sat in her kitchen and chatted. Lovely humble, and at the time famous, girl.
I remember West One riders always seemed to be on Z650/750s? Maybe I'm thinking of Addison Lee. I got a job (in '89) where some really hot PA at Heathrow forgot her passport. I picked up her key and rode to her basement flat in Kensington to get it for her. It was in her undies drawer. Thus I met my new-found heroine. Funny how they named a highly-addictive, destructive after her.
