Popular Holmfirth businessman and sportsman John Gill has died aged 70.

A familiar face in the Holme Valley as a garage owner and fireman, he was also a champion kart and lawn mower racer and won a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

Described as a ‘true gentleman’ and liked by all for his helpful nature and easy-going character, he became a prominent member of the Holmfirth business community as proprietor of the Station Road Garage – where he worked alongside brother Les and son Colin – and was rarely seen without a smile on his face.

The eldest son of Jack an Agnes Gill was born at Holme Valley Memorial Hospital on April 5, 1945, and after the family moved from Shaw Bank Farm (when Digley Reservoir was built) and Hillhouse at Cartworth Moor, he grew up at Moss Edge Farm above Holmbridge, attending Nab School and Holmfirth Secondary Modern.

John Gill of Holmfirth lawn mower racing
John Gill of Holmfirth lawn mower racing

John Robert Gill went on to study motor vehicle mechanics at Huddersfield College of Technology and earned a First Class City and Guilds in 1964, winning the Huddersfield & District Motor Traders prize for the best results, the Tom Bellard Memorial Trophy.

He did his apprenticeship for Brian Hirst at the garage he was eventually to own before working at NSU Marsden Garage, David Browns and then Midlothian Garage (1971-78), until taking over Station Road Garage in 1978.

He ran the business until 2001, initially on his own and then with brother Les, while son Colin also worked there from 1993 to 1998.

John moved on to what is now Arriva Ford on St Andrew’s Road and, in 2002, became an MOT Inspector, a role he continued with Ringways Garage (Doncaster) Ltd when he moved to live in Havercroft, Wakefield, in 2006. He eventually retired at 66 in 2011.

A lifelong motorsports fan, John met his wife Mary at a kart meeting at Grange-over-Sands in 1966 and they were married at Kirkby Lonsdale in Westmoreland (now Cumbria) in June 1969.

Daughter Teresa was born in January 1971 and son Colin in September 1973, and the family lived at Daleside Avenue in New Mill.

John Gill of Holmfirth at Silverstone
John Gill of Holmfirth at Silverstone

He had already enjoyed a successful karting career by the time the whole family became involved successfully in lawnmower racing.

John was due to be filmed for a television feature on karting at Heysham Head in 1967, but the cameras had to be diverted to Stockport because of the air disaster in which 72 people lost their lives.

He eventually did make it onto the silver screen almost 20 years later on Noel Edmonds’ Late Late Breakfast Show. It was in a lawn mower race challenge between amateurs and ‘professionals’ from the British and North West Lawn Mower Racing Association and John, competing in the amateur team, won easily and was presented with a golden egg and a gnome.

His passion for lawn mower racing was fuelled at Sands Recreation ground when Holmfirth Round Table organised a charity event, and John took part along with his good friend and fire service colleague Baz Thornton.

While his family went on to win many events together – he did hill climbs and sprints in his and Mary’s Mini Clubman in 1980 and 81 – in 1992 John won the prestigious British 12-hour endurance race for the first time alongside teammates Robert Jones and Steve Richardson.

They also won the event the following year, setting the record for the furthest distance travelled on a lawn mower in 12 hours (291 miles) which went into the Guinness annals, and won for a third time in 1995.

He raced in the 12-hour in 1988 with his children, finished second in 1991, and was also the North West Six-hour winner in 1993.

John Gill raced at Brands Hatch (stock image)
John Gill raced at Brands Hatch (stock image)

He raced at Brands Hatch and Silverstone and, when he gave up competing, his No33 was retired by the North West Lawn Mower Racing Association, who made him a life member.

Not only a respected and revered competitor, John standardised the rules for the sport across this country, was among the most inventive of mechanics and earned the nickname of ‘God’ among the racing fraternity. It was the name he had on his shirt with Team NKG (Northerners Kick Grass).

A keen motorcyclist – he travelled to the Le Mans 24-hour race by bike – John was an enthusiastic member of Holmfirth Chamber of Trade, regularly helping with the Shopping Week and Christmas lights.

Despite a busy work and family life, he was in the fire service for 21 years from 1971 as a Leading Fireman (retained), earning his 20-years Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

John married second wife Carole, an American author from New York, in August 2003 and they lived at Far Reins, Honley, before moving to Wakefield.

John Gill was a big fan of Lewis Hamilton
John Gill was a big fan of Lewis Hamilton

He took to on-line book editing as a hobby with White Rose Publishing – his wife is a successful horror author – while spending plenty of time on the golf course. He was captain of the senior section at Sandhill Golf Club near Barnsley, where he was a member up until his death, which happened in France en route to a two-month holiday in Spain.

John also enjoyed building model ships and flying radio-controlled planes, and he was delighted in 2013 to attend his first British Grand Prix as a present from his family, as he has always supported the British drivers and was, in recent times a massive Lewis Hamilton fan.

He had a heart operation in 2004 but continued to enjoy life. When speaking to his family, his doctor said: “He had a fulfilled and busy life, with a great outlook. He made light of his symptoms.”

John leaves daughter Teresa and son Colin and four grandchildren – Ryan (24), Luke (20), Charlie-Mo (13) and Jack (6) – along with sisters Joan and Helen and brother Malcolm.

The funeral will be held on Friday (October 23) at Huddersfield Crematorium (12.30), and a celebration of his life will be held at The Huntsman afterwards.

“We have so many lovely memories,” said Teresa. “We want people to attend the funeral in whatever they feel is appropriate to remember our dad. We’ll probably be wearing our lawn mower racing team shirts because it’s a celebration of the life of a happy man.”