'Nut' wrote to TV stars

14 April 2012

The man who ran onto the track during the British Grand Prix on Sunday wrote to four members of ITV's Formula One team last week in advance of his stunt.

Neil Horan, 56, of Nunhead in south-east London, was seen by hundreds of millions of television viewers worldwide running headlong into the path of oncoming traffic at Hangar Straight, the fastest part of the Silverstone circuit, where race cars reach 180mph.

Last Tuesday identical letters from Horan were received by ITV presenter Jim Rosenthal, commentators James Allen and Martin Brundle, and programme editor Gerard Lane, at the London offices of the programme's production company, Chrysalis Television. None of the recipients was aware any of the others had received the same letter until they discussed the incident after Sunday's race.

"I glanced through the letter,'' said Allen. "What it specifically did not say was that he was going to run on to the Silverstone circuit during the grand prix. It was about there being too much violence in the world, the promotion of world peace, the importance of reading the Bible, and some stuff opposing the Iraq war.

"He included photocopies of press cuttings about himself and a copy of a letter from Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister, commending him on his efforts to create world peace. There was also a photograph of himself dressed exactly as he was when he ran onto the track on Sunday, so when he suddenly appeared during the race I knew instantly who he was.

"I realised he was not acting spontaneously. Clearly, he had planned his actions well in advance with the intention that we should give his name and outline his beliefs to everyone watching.

"But I didn't want to give him any credibility so I decided immediately not to say what I knew about him on the air.

"There was no instruction from anyone else on the production team. I wasn't going to give a platform to his views, especially under such unacceptable circumstances.''

Allen was next to Brundle in the commentary box when the incident happened on lap 12.

But Brundle did not make the same connection as Allen because his own letter from Horan had been opened by his secretary. She was watching the race live on television at home and, like Allen, recognised Horan at once. As soon as the race was over she sent Brundle a text message to inform him that Horan had written to him.

"It was only once we were off the air that the four of us realised we had all been sent letters,'' said Allen. " Obviously, there was no reason before that moment why any of us would have mentioned it. I think Jim binned his straight away. It was just a nutty letter, although I would definitely categorise this one among the most bizarre I've had.''

Horan has a long history of peace campaigning in peculiar fashion, styling himself as a "peace dancer". In 1988 he danced in the streets outside BBC and ITV headquarters "to do something practical in achieving world peace''. It is possible he saw Sunday's incident along similar lines.

For years he has been a prodigious letter writer to the great and good. He always attaches photocopies of previous acknowledgements from important people, including the letter he received from Margaret Thatcher in 1987. After he sent her a copy of his book, A Glorious New World, which outlined his religious views, she wrote back to thank him "for your sterling and imaginative efforts in the cause of promoting world peace''. He has also written to Tony Blair and former Cabinet ministers Lord Tebbit and Clare Short.

"Dear Tony,'' Horan wrote chummily to the Prime Minister in 2001. "Can I come to Downing Street and do my Peace Dance for you, your family and everyone at No10 - from executives to cleaners to caterers? It will only take three minutes.'' Blair's reply is not recorded. His office was unable to comment, saying it does not release information about individual correspondence.

Yesterday, Horan appeared before Northampton magistrates charged with aggravated trespass. No plea was entered and he was remanded in custody for seven days.

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