Words: Jonathan Partridge
One of the longest serving administrators for the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust – Neil McPherson – has died following a lengthy fight with diabetes and kidney failure. He was 63.
Neil Logan McPherson was born on 12 May 1951 in Barrhead, Renfrew, Scotland. He attended Lockerbie Academy, obtaining SCE Highers in English and Geography. He then went on to take an HND course in Catering & Hotel Keeping at the Napier College of Science and Technology in Edinburgh, leading to an early career spent in the leisure industry and the running of his own hotel from 1988-'94.
After selling the hotel, Neil and his wife Sandra moved to the West Midlands, where the life-long Jaguar enthusiast became a volunteer for the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. By 2000, Neil had taken charge of trackside merchandising activities in support of Jaguar's Formula One bid. He relished the opportunity to meet fans, and kept his helpers motivated through the often long and gruelling race weekends.
Three years later, Neil joined the JDHT staff, becoming a full-time administrator working alongside museum curator Tony O'Keeffe. He was very hands-on in the early years, honing his driving and trailering skills as well as implementing proper filing and computer systems to help keep track of the collection.
