In the 60 years I have been going to the TT I have lost a number of close friends to the sport yet we all return year after year.

However, I do not think any other losses have affected me personally quite as much as Joey D at Tallinn and Steve H in the helicopter crash. Neither of these were on the TT course but over time we become such a family which is tied together by a common bond based on the Island and the loss becomes a personal one.

There are others like big D, Chris Horn, Tom Phillis and Ralph Rensen from all eras plus Marie Lambert, all of whom stay in my memory.

We must continue to remember, with enormous affection, the Hailwoods, McIntyres, Williams etc since they were, and still are such a part of TT History.

We earthbound people still go on with our lives and I hope that is what we all continue to do, we can't bring our losses back, but what a joy it has been to have known them, all participating in such a great sporting event.