Plaque in Memory of a Sporting Gentleman

Yesterday, Sunday 29th July, a plaque was unveiled at the Sulby Glen Hotel to commemorate the life of Neil Kent who sadly died last August in Practice for the Manx Grand Prix Motorcycle Races.

Neil had been coming to the Island since 1986 and had stayed at the Welbeck for all but his first trip, I think.

Although, pretty much a back runner in his early days, he began to realise that he also needed to respond physically to the demands of the T.T. course, so worked off his puppy fat to become a competitive racer, culminating with the fabulous record breaking 2nd place (to Dan Sayle) in 2009 and his win in the 2010 Lightweight Grand Prix.

But there was so much more to Neil and last year, he also won the 'Spirit of the Manx' award which acknowledged his ever cheerful countenance, the fact that whenever he wasn't racing, he would marshal and his willingness to come to the aid of his rivals in the 'Paddock' giving them both his time and expertise.


Likewise at the Hotel, he would spend many an hour talking to other guests and the staff, never the great 'I am' and whenever he was interviewed on Manx Radio, he always made sure that he credited, Dennis Trollope and family, his long term sponsors but also my Mum and Dad and latterly Irene and me.

It was a pleasure to host his family this weekend and the esteem with which he was held by his friends and the MGP organisers shone through, particularly from his friend, Paul who wrote some lovely words and together with Jacqui Dawson organised the production and mounting of the plaque.