Ralph ‘Neville’ Watts
Old Stopfordian and Manx Grand Prix motorcycle racer Ralph Neville Watts (OS 1948), known as Neville, was a member of one of the UK’s oldest and most successful motorcycle clubs – the Stockport-based Manchester 17 MCC.
Neville’s racing career ran from the 1960’s into the 1980’s competing on 125 and 178 Hondas. He competed on the Isle of Man in 29 TT festivals and 6 Classic Manx Grand Prix.
His best finishes included a 5th place in the 1971 Lightweight TT festival and 4th in both the 1988 and 1989 Classic Lightweight Manx Grand Prix. Neville always had the Manchester 17 MCC badge on his helmet and won his club’s John Simister Trophy several times.
Neville and his wife Pat volunteered for many years with the British Red Cross, running First Aid courses. He was also often to be found helping in the coffee shop at Stepping Hill hospital and taking books and magazines around the wards.
The School was saddened to receive the news that Neville passed away on 30th November 2021, aged 91.
We are thankful to fellow Old Stopfordian (OS 1965) and Martin Paul Tootall for information and photography supplied regarding Neville Watts.
