While I was the one who started this thread, and while there were quite a few things that I wanted to say, I needed some time to collect my thoughts and so I restricted myself to a simple factual posting.

Jane and I have known Allan for quite a few years, and were pleased and honoured to have known him as a good friend.

In the context of the TT Riders Association, he drove the organisation for years, and made it the Association that it became.

I do not say "that it now is", because I fear that it is no longer the Association that he developed with such success.

For whatever reason, certain Committee Members apparently became dissatisfied with Allan's Secretaryship, and allowed matters to develop to the point where he felt that he had to resign.

"Stay and fight" I told him.

"No" he said. "I've had enough. I'm off to race my new Manx Norton".

This he did, and it is sad that not enough years were given to him to enjoy this.

Whatever the reasons, too many of his "old friends" ceased to be so, and matters came to a head, I think, at the Centenary TT this year.

We met him in the Pre-TT paddock at Billown and, not having seen him for some time and knowing that he was not well, we invited him back to the tent for a sit-down, a cuppa and a chat, and to introduce him to our new pup.

During the ten days that we were there this happened, I think, three times and it became obvious that he was delighted with the invitations.

I was appalled to find that the "organisers" of the TT didn't want to know him, wouldn't give him so much as a Paddock Pass and, most disgraceful of all, had refused to give him an entry in the Parade Lap.

This Lap, over many years, was the product of Allan's hard wotk and effort, and when I looked at the Programme and observed the list of, in many cases, nonentities and "never-wases" who had been given entries, I was totally disgusted.

Worse, I found it inexplicable and disgraceful that the TTRA, which owed him so much, had not spoken to the Parade organisers on his behalf.

Here was a man, near to the end of his life as he and we knew, to whom was denied the simple pleasures which he had so well earned, and to which he was entitled.

It was my first thought, on returning home from the Isle of Man, to write to the TTRA and end my membership, and to tell them why. However, I decided not to run the risk of embarrassing Allan, and so did not.

I am, however, considering my position on this point.

At any rate, now is I think an appropriate time to speak my mind, and to thank Allan most sincerely for his comradeship and more, his friendship.

A lovely man, a gentleman, a TT rider, a friend.

Sleep well, Allan.

Larry and Jane Devlin