Tributes have been paid to motorcyclist Kevin Moore who died in an accident on the Mountain Road on Sunday.
Infrastructure Minister David Cretney was among the first to speak about Mr Moore who was 43 and lived in Ballaugh.
‘He was a larger than life character with a really big smile,’ he said.
‘Not really a tough person but someone with a real genuine caring centre. I think a lot of bikers as individuals are like that in spite of some of them sometimes getting an unfairly bad press.’
Mr Cretney said he had marshalled frequently at Ballaugh Bridge since 2006 and Mr Moore had taken enormous trouble to ensure they were well catered for during race and practice sessions.
‘We used to sit outside Kevin’s house and he kept us fed and watered as well as regaling us with stories of his early morning laps around the course.’
Mr Cretney said he had also been a talented performer in Manx Stars in their Eyes at the Villa Marina a few years ago.
‘He performed as Louis Armstrong singing It’s a Wonderful Life. I wasn’t there on that occasion but by all accounts he did it very well too,’ he said. ‘There are certainly lots and lots of people who are going to miss him. and can’t believe it’s happened at the moment.’
The deputy sector marshal for the Ballaugh area John ‘Dog’ Callister echoed Mr Cretney’s praise saying how Mr Moore had looked after all the marshals stationed outside his house providing toilet facilities as well as food and drink.
‘There was always tea and biscuits and we also stored all our marshals’ stuff there and when we had finished we used to just put it in the house - it was usually in is front room during the TT and MGP.
‘He was always very supportive and he was the sort of person who would help a lame dog or someone down on their luck.
‘If someone turned up at the races with no where to stay he would let them just stay on his sofa,’ he said.
‘There’s a lot of people who will be coming to the TT this year who will be expecting to see Kevin and watch the racing from his garden and they are going to have a terrible shock just like we did.’
Police investigations into the accident are continuing and an appeal has been made for witnesses to the accident.