I went to Tanworth-in-Arden to visit Nick Drake’s grave. But I came away feeling sadder about another gravestone. As I wandered through the cemetery I noticed one other person there. He was clearly a biker and was treating a grave with great reverence. When I got close, I saw that it was Mike Hailwood. For those who don’t know, Mike was one of the top motorbike riders of all time. He seemed almost unbeatable. When his team folded and he didn’t have a ride, he turned to racing cars and became a good driver, though not dominant as he was on a motorbike.
He lived a dangerous life but died in a tragically normal way. He went to buy some fish and chips with his kids. He was on the A435 Evesham road just near Portway when a lorry made an illegal turn just in front of him. Mike and his daughter were killed.
So next time you head up to the M42, spare a thought for Mike. And take the one minute detour into Tanworth to pay your respects.
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