Like everyone else who knew him, I was devastated to hear of John’s death during the Senior TT this afternoon. He truly was a complete one-off, with an all-consuming passion for anything that was challenging and potentially dangerous – an adrenaline junkie you might say. He was also one of the most genuinely nice guys you could wish to meet - quietly-spoken, polite and ready to help anyone. When Gail first started racing in the MGP in 1998 (well before I knew her) John took her under his wing and went out of his way to help and advise her – a true gent.

It is the oldest and most overused cliché of them all whenever something like this happens in the TT to say that ‘he died doing what he loved’, but in John’s case it is entirely appropriate and completely true. He would never have retired from racing bikes because he loved it so much, and I think he knew in his heart of hearts that his luck would run out one day. How poignantly ironic after all his Everest attempts and successful climbs of the other great mountains of the world, that he should die ‘climbing the mountain’ in the Isle of Man TT at a corner which includes the word ‘Mountain’ in its name. Another huge irony is that John competed in the TTXGP event this morning, and achieved the first podium position of his long TT career. Typically, he said afterwards that although he enjoyed it, the bike was far too slow for his liking!

John loved running, and was a very good competitor in local athletics events, especially the fell races – hardly surprising for such a great mountaineer! After a huge crash during the Jurby Road motorcycle races a few years ago he lost a lot of his running speed due to his injuries, but it didn’t stop him competing and he still enjoyed every minute of every race. He loved the annual Boxing Day Millennium Way Relay event, and was a regular on the evening coach trip afterwards. The last time I saw John to speak to was after the Snaefell hill race a few weeks ago, just before he left for his final Everest attempt.

I have come to dread Senior Race Day as this is now the third time in 5 years that there has been a tragic accident on that day involving people I know well, and it is all too easy in the immediate aftermath to think that the TT should be banned etc, etc. One person who would never countenance any such thoughts was John Crellin, such was his passion not only for the event, but for the right of the individual to choose how to live their life. He lived his life in the fast lane, lived it to the full, and loved every moment of it. John Crellin was a true Manx hero, and will be remembered with affection and admiration by everyone who knew him.