Club Focus

Blackpool Lambretta Owners Club.

“We’re going down Blackpool alright, we’re going down Blackpool for a pint, we’re going down Blackpool alright, to see the lights…” Blackers. Love it or loathe it, it’s always crammed full of people having a good time at the seaside. The tower, the pleasure beach and the pier… all full with smiley-happy-tipsy-drunk people having fun.

Among Blackpool’s other attractions are the Starlets, the chaps and chapettes of the Blackpool Lambretta Owners Club. BLOC was originally started in 2002 by Martin Dean and Mark Taylor, although Mark Taylor was tragically killed in a road traffic accident back in 2010. Recruiting a lot of the old-guard of Blackpool scooterists helped them to quickly become one of the largest Lambretta clubs in the country and from the initial three or four members the club has steadily grown to 40+ regular riders, rally goers and club attendees. With former members of the Modernisers and Okeh scooter clubs returning to the scene after the common sabbatical of having families etc. this really bolstered the club numbers some more, with a few members having continually been riding within the scene for nearly 40+ years. The aims of the club are to positively promote scootering and club activities within the community, foster relations with other clubs across the UK and internationally. The club is open to any Lambretta, and actually also to Vespa and any other classic scooter owners. The club regularly attends LCGB events at home and abroad, BSRA rallies, and also has its own annual event.

It’s really nice to see so many ‘old school faces’ from back in the day, mixed with so much fresh blood, which all helps allow the Blackpool Lambretta Owners Club to thrive and hopefully continue long into the future. But even the good is tinged with a little sadness, another one of those old school faces recently passed away in 2015: Paul Bibby. A character much loved and sadly missed. Blackpool Lambretta Owners Club, the calm in the storm, the light in the dark, and proof that Blackpool is not all candyfloss, squashed chips, vomit and sex for half a kebab. Words: Kris Green

Photographs: otographs: Jamie Rowland