Harold Leece, the well-known retired market gardener from Greeba, has died at the age of 96.

Earlier this year he was recognised for his renowned hospitality to TT race goers when a section of the Mountain Course was named in his honour.

Harold lived and worked at Knock Breck, at the seventh milestone on the course, for precisely 70 years having originally moved into the farm in 1949.

He and his late wife Doreen raised two children, Brian and Karen.

Harold made the bulk of his living for almost a quarter of a century from popular vegetable stall in the Market Hall on North Quay, Douglas.

He ran this each Friday and Saturday from 1964 to 1988, while also supplying the former Dudley’s shop on Windsor Road and several local boarding houses in the capital.

But he will perhaps be best remembered for his generosity to many hundreds of TT and MGP race fans over the past 30 years or so.

Tens of thousands have been raised for charitable causes connected to road racing by the sale of teas, coffees, cakes and sandwiches to fans congregated in his front garden and lining the hedges of his fields on the approach to Gorse Lea corner.

One of the most popular spots on the course, it has long been known simply as ’Harold’s’ and it will continue as such following the official naming of the right-hand bend that follows the Hawthorn straight on the approach to Ballacraine.

The directional sign features the now iconic orange background as well as the famous Mountain Course name along with a retro-inspired chequered board pattern that reflects the event’s long heritage.

Harold Leece was previously recognised with the Spirit of the TT Award in 2015 for his contribution to the TT races.

Away from the TT, Harold’s other passion was ploughing matches and he continued to compete with success well into his 90s.

In 1997 he received a special certificate in recognition of him taking part in the Marown ploughing matches for 60 consecutive years, having won his first in 1947 with horses at the Half Way House.

His home-grown pumpkins won him many prizes at local root shows at venues like Andreas and Cronk-y-Voddy, achieving a Manx record in the last decade.

A TT and MGP marshal for many years, he lived a packed life. He walked to the top of Greeba Mountain on his 65th birthday, skied for the first time at 69 and enjoyed the experience of the water flume at the NSC well into his 70s.

He passed away peacefully on Friday morning at Noble’s Hospital. Well liked and respected, Harold’s funeral service will take place at Marown Parish Church on Friday, December 13, at 11.30am.