Andrew Neill

Tribute to Andrew Neill by Chairman of Moira MRC, Colin Walker

Andrew was an amazing person. In the time I have known Andrew he was an inspiration in my life, he was always bubbly and happy. The times we had at the races, the weekends away racing, the late nights working at bikes. As I worked with Andrew as well, at times I saw more of him than Sharon – sorry Sharon! His whole family are amazing people.

Andrew was always so modest and unassuming, shying away from any limelight. He was a gentleman, a real good guy. He would have done anything to help anyone, and often did. But when it came to questions like, ‘Andrew what’s the gearing round here?’ He’d say, ‘I don’t know, ask Sharon’. She had a busy time trying to look after both Andrew and Timmy but she loved it!

Something you may not have known about Andrew, he would take the racing boots off and underneath would be a pair of Reindeer socks – Christmas socks in the middle of the summer. And no matter how hard Sharon tried to hide them, he’d keep finding them! So you can guess what socks he’s wearing now, and yes they are clean!

Andrew fulfilled a life-time ambition this year, competing at the TT Races in the Isle of Man, his results exceeded his expectations and he had the time of his life, we all did. But what he didn’t bargain on was heading up to the shower block in the paddock, and after having a lovely shower discovering that the towel he had taken up with him belonged to Sprocket the dog! If only you had seen the look on his face when he arrived back at the van.

Sharon has asked me to pass on her sincere thanks to the MCUI Medical Team and everyone who was there for us on Sunday, to everyone who supported Andrew throughout his racing career and especially to those who sponsored him in whatever capacity and made it possible for him to achieve all that he did in the sport that he loved, especially D&GW Racing and Moira Motorcycle Racing Club. You should all be very proud.

I just want to finish by reading this poem, a poem that Andrew had written out and given to Sharon many years ago.