GEORGE RIDGEON RIP

It was with sadness that we learned of the death of George Ridgeon on April 16, 2022.

As you will remember from our review of George’s memoir Ridgeon Rides Again last year, his life was a remarkable story of sheer determination. After breaking his neck in 1981 while a firefighter, George was left paralysed and in a wheelchair, but he refused to let that stop him. He stood as a candidate for the Monster Raving Loony Party several times and raised thousands of pounds for charity.

Until his accident, George had been a keen amateur motorcycle racer, competing on the Isle of Man and in the Southern 100. Despite having to use a wheelchair, he was a regular visitor to the Billown and Snaefell Mountain Courses, and he sponsored several riders over the years.

George had been suffering from cancer for some time and had been given just two months to live last October. He refused to abide by that prediction, but suffered a stroke in early March. He recovered from that blow enough to be able to throw a birthday party on March 16, complete with live music, before quietly passing away a month later.

Safe home George, safe home.

George with comedian Barry Cryer, who died in January this year, pictured at a Heritage Foundation Luncheon to raise money for the Bomber Command memorial.