Stalls and British Racing School legend Charlie 'Mucker' Tidball dies aged 84

Newmarket is mourning the death of starting stalls and British Racing School legend Charlie ‘Mucker’ Tidball who died last weekend in hospital at the age of 84.

Tidball, who leaves a widow Jill, was one of the original stalls handlers and a respected team leader who later worked at the BRS in Newmarket for nearly 40 years. Also a keen gardener, Tidball had looked after the grounds at the BRS almost since it opened in the 1980s until his retirement in August and also found time to put horses in the stalls for the likes of James Fanshawe and Stuart Williams.

His friend, jockeys' agent Dave ‘Shippy’ Ellis, said: “Charlie was very well respected across the country, pretty much everywhere the RaceTech team went. He used to hang out in the George And Dragon in Snailwell with the likes of Steve Smith Eccles and all the racing characters that used to go there over the years. He was renowned and respected as someone who was good at his job and a fun-loving, jovial character as well.“

Tidball only retired from his BRS role a few months ago following which a tree was planted at the school to mark his 40 years service, with Tidball himself shovelling in the last bit of earth.

Ellis added: “He had been diagnosed with terminal cancer a while ago but he was such a tough man that he lived longer than expected. He had a stroke last Sunday and later died in hospital.”

Fellow stalls legend Steve 'Yarmy' Dyble worked alongside Tidball at the starting stalls for many years at the end of the last century. He said: “Charlie was a professional. He was a lovely man and a great worker and was very nice to me when I used to put horses in the stalls for the likes of Sir Henry Cecil and Michael Jarvis. He will be sorely missed.”