NIGEL Dimmer has been one of the most popular figures at Cheltenham Racecourse for more than 40 years.

With retirement on the horizon, he met with racing editor Jonathan Herbert in a special feature for On The Rails.

THE sight of a bowler-hatted Nigel Dimmer in the winner's enclosure at Cheltenham Racecourse has been one of the biggest certainties in racing.

No one, not even champion jockey Tony McCoy, has made his way into the hallowed arena on a more regular basis.

For the past 45 years, Dimmer has ensured trophy presentations have gone without a hitch in his own inimitable style, sometimes conducting a spontaneous sing-song on the podium.

But next month he retires from the family business Martin and Co jewellers in Cheltenham, having already signed off from his central role at the home of jump racing.

"I tried to make sure every presentation was a 'Gold Cup' presentation," said Dimmer.

"I always tried my best to make everybody happy, and I've enjoyed making some lovely trophies and people enjoying them.

"I would like to keep going but when you've got about 100 trophies to look after over four days at the Festival, one bad mistake can undo all the good work. I want to leave on top."

He added: "I do feel Cheltenham has got the most wonderful theatre.

"In the days of my good friend Jim Wilson winning the Gold Cup, we had this small unsaddling enclosure.

"There was a wonderful atmosphere and then Cheltenham built up the wonderful amphitheatre and it's ideal for my style of presentation.

"I've been to other courses and, I'm sorry, it's not a presentation.

"I don't know if it's just Cheltenham but I think a presentation is as important as everything else."

Among the retirement letters he has received includes one featuring a cartoon of him in the winner's enclosure.

"Quite honestly I didn't realise it meant so much to people," he said.

"When people take time to write to me like that, it's lovely."

Dimmer has fond memories of racing's great and good, none more so than the Queen Mother.

He met regularly with the first lady of jump racing on her visits to the Festival each year.

"The Queen Mother was delightful, absolutely delightful," he said. "She was always so lovely, so sweet."

While Dimmer has made every presentation look straightforward, he remembered one of two potentially tricky situations.

"Once we had a problem with the trophy for the Bula Hurdle, which was a bronze horse, which went to Ireland," he said.

"I kept in touch with the chap who had it and said I needed it back.

"He said it would be coming over in a horsebox with a horse that was running at Newbury, but Newbury was off.

"Then it was supposed to be coming back in horsebox at Sandown but it never turned up.

"The race was under way and all of sudden I saw this little Irishman at the top of the steps with Aer Lingus on side of a case containing the Bula.

"There have been those last-minute rushes, but they're part of life and you've got to be capable of dealing with it.

"There was the time Tied Cottage won the Gold Cup but lost the race later after he failed a dope test.

"After we asked for the trophy back, someone had engraved un-Tied Cottage on it with a compass and sent it back."

It may not be widely known, but 28 years ago Dimmer owned a fancied Festival runner.

Trained by Wilson, Celtic Time carried his hopes in the then Joe Coral Handicap Hurdle.

"He had every chance at the last, but like its owner, the horse was a bit slow up the hill," said Dimmer.

He was thrilled when the racecourse marked his retirement by staging the Nigel Dimmer Hunter Chase at the April meeting.

It was an opportunity for racegoers to show their appreciation for his tireless efforts.

Dimmer said: "It was so nice of the racecourse to give me the Nigel Dimmer Hunter chase and not the Nigel Dimmer Memorial Hunter Chase – at least my family could enjoy it with me!

"I have to say 'thank you' to Cheltenham and my wife Sally who has kept the house going while I've been working.

"Edward (Gillespie) and his staff have been so helpful.

"If I had a problem I could always go to Edward.

"He might not like all the ideas I've come up with, and he soon told me, but he listens to you and he's got time.

"Before the Festival one year, I gave a lecture one night when they were in the old offices.

"Edward and the secretary were there at 7pm stuffing the tickets in the envelopes to send out.

"When I came back from my talk at 10pm they were still there.

"Now it's all done by computer. How life has changed."

One aspect of Dimmer's life which has not changed has been his habit of wearing a bowler hat.

It has been one of the constants amid the many changes at Cheltenham.

"When I started at Cheltenham, everybody who was part of the racecourse wore a bowler hat and I've kept it going," he said.

"Some directors have asked my wife to get me to take it off because its not the modern image, but that's what I've been brought up with."

At a time when racing is trying to widen its appeal, Dimmer has his views on how the sport could be more attractive.

"For most people racing has got too expensive in my book," he said.

"When I see price of entry and price of food and drink, and once you've had a bet, it's very expensive.

"Some of the facilities aren't good enough for prices that are charged.

"The owners aren't looked after very well in a lot of places.

"They're the people who've put the money down, bought the horse, and I think they should be better looked after."

He added that he hoped the Gold Cup would never be run on a Saturday or that the Festival was extended to five days.

Dimmer said he would be available if the racecourse needed any help or advice.

He said it had not yet been decided who would take over his role, but wished them well.

"I hope whoever conducts it from now on has as much pleasure as I've had," he said.

"However emotionally upset I am about going, I take away with me so many happy memories – it's been wonderful."