Higgins also smoked a lot and was diagnosed with throat cancer, leaving him a shadow of the man he was.

BBC: Where are they now?

He will be sadly missed by all in the road racing fraternity, but most particularly by his family, and the absence of the 'number 45' will leave a massive void in the paddock and cast a shadow over the forthcoming North West 200 and Isle of Man TT.

BBC: Finnegan tragedy

Police said it was "without a shadow of doubt" that Laura had saved the man's life.

BBC: Darlington teenager Laura Dean saves pensioner's life

Fast forward 24 hours to the Commons and the man behind the idea of a local benefit cap, shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne, was asked whether he had discussed the idea with his colleagues in Wales.

BBC: Local benefit caps: Labour try to square the circle

"John Sheardown remained a very humble man, always willing to stay in the shadow of others, and the people of Windsor remain extremely proud of his diplomatic intervention and career accomplishments, " read a proclamation that declared November 10, 2012, "John Sheardown Day" in the city of Windsor, in Ontario, Canada.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Indeed, the man recently restored to frontline politics as shadow chancellor of the exchequer may be a mite too well known to British voters.

ECONOMIST: Is Michael Howard, of all people, renouncing Thatcherism?