Fifty years ago this week John Patrick of Northamptonshire became the first competitor to win both solo and sidecar events on the Billown Course.

Patrick and passenger P. Ogden (outfit number 9) took their Norton to victory after early challenges from four-time winner Charlie Freeman/Billie Nelson (3) and the unconventional Scitsu of John Worthington/John Sanders subsided.

The local crew of Bob Kewley and Lawrence Fargher (4) were vying for third and fourth place until the conrod on their Rumble BSA snapped at Duck Street, Ballabeg on the final lap.

Also included on the picture are Ernie Leece and John Molyneux (1) and fellow locals Keith Griffin/Malcolm Sharrocks (2).

Kewley and Fargher were based in Bootle at the time after the driver’s father threatened to throw him out of the family home at Knock Froy if he persisted racing rather than helping him run the farm.

’Lawrence worked for a butcher in Bootle and I worked on the docks in Liverpool,’ said Bob. ’I was earning £25 per week there rather than £1 per week at home on the farm, so that’s how I was able to afford to continue racing.’

The 1967 event also saw Chester’s Bill Smith claim a seventh S100 win when taking the Senior race on a Matchless from local favourite and fellow Production TT winner (one month earlier) Neil Kelly. Tholt-y-Will resident Vin Duckett was third.

Len Ireland won the Junior race from fellow Ulsterman Brian Steenson. Derek Chatterton won the 250cc race.