A long serving stalwart of the Southern 100 Road Races was remembered prior to the start of the 2022 Blackford’s Pre-TT Classic Road Races on Saturday 28th May. Dorothy Simpson was a very loyal and friendly natured person liked by everyone who came into her company. She always had a warm beauti
ful smile on her face, but this could change quickly if a fellow marshal were not performing his or her duti
es correctly. Totally dependable and a great supporter of Southern 100, Andreas and all the rallies. Dotti
e was known for taking the bus from Peel to Douglas and then to Castletown so as not to let us down. Similarly going to Jurby, traveling by bus, and walking the rest of the way to arrive on ti
me. Sadly, she passed during the worst of the Covid epidemic which meant that very few people could say their goodbyes. Chief Marshal Peter Chadwick and Stuart Callister att
ended her funeral on behalf of the Southern 100 Marshals Associati
on and at the ti
me said to each other when the first racing takes place again on the Billown Course we would arrange a gathering to allow her marshalling friends to remember her. This promise was kept with a gathering of Dottie’s fellow marshals and friends, with Club Chaplain The Reverend Cannon John Coldwell present at Church Bends with a few minutes silence being observed in her memory and those of others marshals and helpers who have passed away since racing was last held on the Billown Course in July 2019. Dotti
e’s fellow marshals then placed a display of flowers at her ‘spot’ at Great Meadow. Dorothy Simpson will be remembered and fondly recalled whenever road racing acti
on takes place on the Billown Course, and all involved with the friendly races are indebted to her for her years of service as a marshal. (Photos courtesy of Mark Falconer)