A well-known southside character with close associations to shooting and motorcycling passed away on Tuesday.

George ’Sparrow’ Costain was in his 90th year, and although he spent most of his final two years in Springfield Grange, Douglas his health was generally quite good until 10 days before his death.

Born September 18, 1928 George’s early life was based around the family farm at Ballanorris on the Billown Course, and young George would help with the milk round in Castletown.

He attended primary school at nearby Ballabeg, but went to high school at St Ninian’s, travelling to and from Douglas by steam train.

Shortly after leaving school he joined G. H. Costain’s butchers’ in Port Erin, run by his uncle. He started off doing deliveries on his bicycle and then by motorbike.

The business steadily grew in the post-War years and, with George a director alongside Joe Mylchreest, it expanded to the point where they owned seven shops across the south of the island and in Douglas, along with a lucrative contract to supply all the IoM Steam Packet vessels. They also served RAF Jurby.

Despite his brother suffering a fatal crash on a motorbike, George got into competition. As a member of Southern Motor Cycle Club he rode local trials and scrambles before making his Manx Grand Prix debut in 1953, finishing 12th in the Junior.

He was 10th in the following year’s Junior, won by his great friend and fellow Castletown man Derek Ennett.

Two days later, George famously completed the Castletown double by winning the Senior on what was a wet and misty day.

He was riding for Reg Dearden of Manchester and came through from fifth place on lap one to grab the lead on the final lap when John Hartle (later to ride factory MVs in the TT) retired at the Mountain Box with less than 10 miles remaining.

George also won the team prize for Southern MCC with Eddie Crooks and Sid Mizen.

The double success by Ennett and Costain led to great celebrations and an official civic reception ’honour day’ in Castletown, while the pair were invited to London a couple of weeks later to appear live on BBC TV’s ’Guess My Story’ programme.

The glory bestowed on the town and the two riders in particular led to the idea of a race taking place round the Billown Course in 1955. George was on the race-organising committee and both he and Derek rode the inaugural meeting - the latter winning the first race for 350cc machines.

George did go on to race in the TT, with a best finish of 13th in the 1956 Senior won by John Surtees. He was also a travelling marshal on both the Mountain and Billown courses.

Away from motorcycling, George was a keen shooter and was a founder member of Isle of Man Clay Pigeon Shooting Club in 1970 when the Southern Game Preservation Society and Douglas Gun Club amalgamated.

He became chairman, then long-time president, and was patron of the Meary Veg-based club at the time of his death.

George was team manager for shooting at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, which he attended with his late wife Isabel.

He was also team manager for the 1995 Pre-Games event in Delhi. As a competitor, George represented the island at a number of events, including the Commonwealth Shooting Federation European Division competition in 1976.

A gun salute in his honour will take place at Meary Veg this Sunday at 10am.

George Costain’s funeral will take place on Friday, January 26 (fuller details to follow). He leaves daughters Avril, Lynda, Janis and families.