Campsite pays tribute to 'favourite' TT stalwart

Peter Quayle and his family have displayed a sidecar at their campsite to honour TT fan Graeme Crate

The owners of a campsite on the Isle of Man have paid tribute to their "favourite" TT visitor by displaying the bike he rode on and pitching his tent in the same spot.

Graeme Crate, who died in January aged 88, had stayed at the Glen Lough campsite in Union Mills for 45 years.

Peter Quayle, whose family has run the site for 90 years, said Mr Crate from London was "not just a camper, he was one of our best friends".

He was an "amazing man" and he loved travelling on his white BMW sidecar to the festival each year, Mr Quayle said.

Graeme Crate (left) travelled on his white BMW sidecar each year for the TT festival

His tent was always pitched in the same place on the camping site, near to other legacy guests, so Mr Quayle and his wife Sheila wanted to do the same again this year - the first TT after his death - in his honour to remember him.

After the vehicle was left to the family, it was decided the sidecar should also be parked up in its usual spot alongside the tent.

The campsite becomes home for hundreds of campers during the TT fortnight

Mr Quayle said the campsite, which tends to reach capacity over the first race weekend of the festival, sees "lots of people that come back year after year" but Mr Crate had become his "favourite camper".

"We have so many great stories and memories of him here," he said.

"He wore an Isle of Man TT t-shirt every day of his life and when he went on his last journey the sound of a Senior TT race was played at his funeral.

"He loved the racing and the campsite, so it was only right we set up his pitch as usual,"