ISLE OF MAN SENIOR TT RACE
June, 1951
In early June 1951 Evelyn Elizabeth Brown and Richard Seddon wed at Stanmore Parish Church, London.
Following the wedding a motorcycle escort, formed by fellow members of The Roe Green Motorcycle and Sidecar Club, accompanied the newlyweds to their reception nearby in Stanmore. Shortly after, the couple headed by motorcycle (of course) to the Isle of Man and a honeymoon perfectly timed to coincide with the 1951 Senior Tourist Trophy Race.
The following images are from that very special trip to the Isle of Man, shared in the hope that today's motorcycling enthusiasts will get a kick out of this glimpse in to the past!
Evelyn Seddon (née Brown) at Guthrie's Memorial.
Cromie McCandless (#42) at the weigh in. McCandless finished 3rd in the Senior race on this Norton, 1st in the Ultra Lightweight and 7th in the Junior race.
W.A. McAlpine (#75) at the weigh in. McAlpine represented the official Australia team this year, on a Gilera Saturno Sanremo for the Senior race.
Ralf F. Seymour (#81) at the weigh in. Ralf Seymour did not finish the senior TT this year, but finished 45th in the Junior race.
Eric Briggs (#83) at the weigh in. Briggs Finished 7th in the senior TT race in 1951 on his Norton.
Les Graham (#90) at the weigh in. Graham did not finish. Resources list #90 as Jack Harding riding a Norton, however the official programme lists Harding with an MV Agusta as seen here. #90 was in fact taken by Les Graham and his MV Agusta!
Jack Brett (#98) at the weigh in. Brett did not finish the Senior TT but finished 3rd in the Junior TT.
An unidentified rider and others, from the photo collection labelled "weighing in".
Bill Doran (#68). His engineer Matt Wright can be seen working on his motorcyle, Richard Seddon is picking up tools in the foreground while two other men stand close by, observing the scene and smiling.
George E. Leigh (#18) stopped by the side of the road as another passes over Ballaugh Bridge. Leigh did not finish.
Geoff Duke (#1), the winner of the 1951 TT, riding down from Kate's Cottage towards Creg-ny-Baa.
Johnny Lockett (#21) heading towards Creg-ny-Baa. Lockett did not finish in the Senior race, but finished 2nd in the Junior TT.
E.W.J. Braine (#59) who finished 33rd in the Senior race on his Norton. Another rider can be seen in pursuit.
Three riders race towards Creg-ny-Baa.
H.A. Grindley (#14) passing The Bungalow with another rider close behind.
Geoff Duke (#1) from the side as he passes through the crowds.
Bill Doran (#68) at speed from the side.
An unidentified rider passes Creg-ny-Baa, taken from a side road.
Another unidentified rider at the same spot at Creg-ny-Baa.
Two riders jostling for position as they speed past Creg-ny-Baa.
Bill Doran (#68) passes through Creg-ny-Baa. Doran went on to finish 2nd in the Senior TT race this year.