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 Vernon appeared at the Isle of Man TT Races nine times between the years 1958 and 1961, his best placing being in the 1959 TT, 350cc Formula One Race, when he came 9^th on his Norton motorbike. The winner of that 3-lap race was John Surtees on his MV Agusta.

 Vernon was later killed while racing on the continent.

Information supplied by Ted Ford, son of George Ford, who previously lived at Cherry Tree Cottage, Hambrook.

Vernon W Cottle,

who in 1950 came to live at Cheery Tree Cottage, Hambrook, seen here with his 350cc Manx Norton, No.46.

Also in the picture is Les Griffiths with his 1957 examination-Dave Chadwick single-knocker 125cc MV.

Both are seen with their machines outside Fowlers of Bristol, about 1961.

The chap in the white coat is Harold Fowler himself.

During the Easter meeting at Thruxton in 1956, Vernon, on the Manx pictured, had a memorable tussle with Tony Godfrey in the junior non-experts final, the lead changing hands continuously. It was Vernon’s victory, having recorded fastest laps in both his heat and the final.