LETTER FROM PAUL BRADFORD 22/06/03

Dear Ian,

I have just found your very interesting web site and noted the acknowledgment for Chris Horn. I assume that he must have been a friend or relative to you. As you will no doubt be aware, Chris Horn was taking part in the Senior TT on Friday 8th June, 1951, riding a Norton machine bearing the race number 36, when, during the third lap, he lost control of the machine on the bends just prior to Laurel Bank and was killed instantly when thrown against an ash tree by the roadside. He was 30 years of age, a single man and a welder by occupation. Over 200 mourners attended his funeral at Whitley Bay New Cemetery. During the TT the following year a reported for an Isle of Man newspaper made reference to the bend as Horn's Corner but sadly there appears to be no further such reference since then. His first appearance on the Isle of Man was the 1948 Senior Clubman's TT when he finished 8th and earned a free entry to the Manx Grand Prix later that year and in which he finished 6th in the Junior Race. The following year, riding a Vincent HRD he broke the lap record in the Clubman's 1000cc Race and was leading the race by six minutes when he was forced to retire on the last lap. At the MGP later that year he achieved a podium position when he finished 3rd to Geoff Duke and Cromie McCandless in the Senior Race.

I am sure you knew all this but I thought it may have brought back some memories.

The following year there was a reference in an Isle of Man newspaper article.

Keep up the good work

(from Paul Bradford)

TTFANS COMMENT:

Thank you, Paul, for your information.

Chris Horn was our "local" rider, who was a good friend of my father.
When Chris crashed, it was my first introduction to the dreaded side of the T.T., the loss of a close friend to an unforgiving sport.......Over the years it has, unfortunately, been a part of the T.T. yet I and thousands of other fans still love the event and make the annual pilgrimage.

Joeys death hit me more than most after his wonderful record at the T.T., but this years loss of David Jefferies, having known the family since my father raced against ALLAN Jefferies, my friendship with Nick and a huge respect for Big Dave, has been personally devastating....

How can I qualify that I have been coming over since 1947, yet still planning my visit in 2004..??