‘The Duke of where? Oh, Prince William’
But McPint says others surprise you by being real salt of the earth
I’ve met quite a few famous people over the years. It’s always interesting. I guess the biggest guy I’ve met is Prince William. I got a secret phone call saying “The Duke of Cambridge is coming to the TT and would like to meet with you,” and I just said “Oh right. I’ll have to check my diary”. I turned to Becky and said “They want me to see the Duke of Cambridge. Is he part of the prawn sandwich brigade?” I had no idea it was Prince William! I first met him in 2003 when I rode the Triumphs with Jim
‘THE PRINCE HAS A BIKE BUT GETS AGGRO OF HIS MISSUS FOR IT’
Moody and Bruce Anstey. He was only 21 back then and I wondered whether he’d remember me all these years later, and he did. He watches the racing and has a bike himself but gets a bit of aggro off his missus for it. There’s usually a lot of protocol with people like that but there wasn’t that day he was just one of the lads. He came in, sat on the Norton, revved it up and was loving it.
I met Keanu Reeves too; he’s a big hitter! He was on TV talking to Nico Rosberg about Goodwood and he was saying how he rubbed shoulders with me! It was strange to hear him say that when you think about all the movies he’s done.
They aren’t always nice though. I remember Jenson Button saying to me in 2006: “oh, you’re still alive then”. He had a massive entourage of people around him and I thought “what a f**king cock”. He’s actually changed a bit since then, I’ve got to know him a bit over the last few years and he’s alright. I met that Jamiroquai once too, he was a bloody arrogant prick.
I don’t go looking for them though, it’s usually they come to speak to me. It’s incredible to be in that sort of company though.