Aye, Phil Mellor was special...

In 1989 I had taken over Ben Hines from Slough who hoped to ride in 1990 Manx, to be entered by me. We went down to the Quarter Bridge where Durex Suzuki were based in the garage to the left. I introduced Ben to Jamie Whitham and Phil and met up with Phil a few times after that and he spent a lot of time with Ben, talking the course. We went to the Villa Marina to the midweek Presentation but had to return home to get Ben back to work, unfortunately before the next days races. We said goodbye and thanked Phil, and we set out for the next ferry.

It was not until we arrived back in Slough that we heard Phil had crashed fatally.

Ben rode in the Manx in 1990 to commemorate Phils help and attention.