DAMIAN BROWNE'S TRIBUTE TO TIM BELL

By Damian Browne | Friday, November 6, 2015

Regular HRO contributor Damian Browne pays a personal tribute to Tim Bell

Some riders might be intimidated when they first arrive in the city but Tim Bell was not one of them.

Right from day one he always had the attitude he could beat the world. He was never one to be intimidated by any situation.

You know we all make some silly decisions early on in life but Tim was always able to overcome any little bit of mischief he got himself into with his positive attitude and outgoing personality.

He just seemed to be able to overcome any problems he came across.

That is one thing that really stands out with Tim.

He had that attitude from day one. You’ve got to have it if you are going to go places in this industry and I don’t think he ever changed at all, even when he became very successful.

He was basically the full package.

He was good looking. He could ride. He could talk. He pretty much had it all but he did stay grounded. He knew his roots and where he came from. He was very close to his family.

When he’d congratulate you after you’d had some success yourself, which he was always one of the first to do, it was always heartfelt.

A very genuine man.

He was one of the jokers of the jockey’s room in many ways. He never shied away from a laugh and a bit of fun but immediately after a race, if things had gone wrong, he was very serious.

He took his job very seriously.

He knew what had to be done to be successful and he was very focussed on that professionally but, as soon as it was over, he was the first to have a laugh and a joke.

I don’t think Tim would have had an enemy anywhere.

He never had a bad word to say about anybody.

He was one of those people that, even if you weren’t in a happy mood yourself ... once you talk to him for a couple of minutes he would put you in a good mood and put a smile on your face.

It was just that positive energy of his. He just really enjoyed life.

It is just so hard to talk about it at the moment because he deserved so much more.

He is greatly missed.

Tim Bell was just a beautiful person.

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