Bernard Codd - Obituary

Bernard Codd (BGS 1945-50)

Bernard Codd died on 29 July 2013 aged 79.

Bernard was a double Isle of Man TT champion. Codd’s two victories came on the same day in 1956. In
the Junior (350cc race) he clocked a time of 1hr 22.4mins to take the title on his BSA Gold Star. His dominance was proven from the off as he led all the way for three laps of the Mountain Circuit, averaging 82mph. Not content with his maiden victory, he doubled his tally after winning the Senior (500cc) race. This time a rivalry emerged with Ron Jerrard. However, the second and third laps saw him pull away at an average speed of 86mph seeing him clock 1hr 18.4secs. Bernard had also finished third in the Junior race the previous year.

Born to a farming family in Wrangle in 1934, Bernard began riding an Ariel-Triumph around his parents’ land, before graduating to the Cadwell Park circuit shortly after the Second World War. As a teenager, he met Leverton garage owner Austin Munks, a four-time Manx GP winner. Although Munks was already sponsoring local rider Dickie Dale, Bernard began racing under the same banner, although specialising in time trials. He was also easy to spot when out on his bike as he always wore Boston’s three crowns crest (as seen on the Boston Borough Council crest and Boston Grammar School badge) on his helmet.

Sadly, Bernard's career was over almost as soon as it had began. Four weeks after the 1957 TT, where he finished 11th, a crash at Crystal Palace shattered his thigh bone and ended his racing days.