Got this reply from Charley Lamb this evening
"Thanks for passing on the info re Bob McNeill. In 1959 there was a New
Zealand rider - Don McNeil who went to the TT - I think as a member of the
NZ team. He had a bad accident in practice - suffering severe head injuries.
He has been to a number of my talks here (New Zealand) on the TT and lives locally - in fact came and had a beer with myself and other bike friends at our local a wee while back - and as it turns out lives not far from me. If that is the
person that your contact was enquiring about - I can put him in touch.

As an aside - Don told me that when he had his accident in practice - his life
was saved by a British neurosurgeon who happened to be on the Island for
the TT. This chap went to (presumably Nobles) hospital and supervised
drilling into Don's skull to release pressure on the brain - which ultimately
saved his life. The surgeon also arranged for Don to be moved to England
for further treatment and rehabilitation."