REFLECTING ON S I R B RADLEY’S F RED P E RRY S X200

Hearing that Sir Bradley was to be presented with a congratulatory Lambretta following his 2012 successes turned into an episode of ‘hurry up and wait’ with an eventual flurry of activity, changed venues and some decidedly grim weather forecasts.

Sponsors Fred Perry had decided that a fashion shoot to promote the range would also be in order using Sir Bradley’s newly completed SX200 with Southport’s Victorian pier as a suitable location. Finished in white and gold with gold-plated badges meant as a memento of the medal he had recently been presented with at the London Olympics, Gransport had had barely enough time to turn the refurbished SX around to Sir Bradley’s requirements

Getting sandblasted by a south westerly, the video crew busied themselves setting up while the rest of us slowly gravitated towards the shelter of an old glass pavilion. With the SX under cover, all was set for Sir Bradley’s arrival, all that is but the weather which was slowly becoming more overcast.

Eventually Sir Bradley’s slim figure could be made out in the distance along with stylists and his PR, with everybody nervously eyeing the sky. Pleasantries over with, Sir Bradley was eager to unveil the SX. Standing back to admire the scooter he grinned, nodding his head in approval and before anybody could stop him the key was in the ignition and kick start poked firing the scooter into life. And he was off down the pier with no helmet but an essential pair of shades.

Then came the branded apparel bearing his name; the scooter was earning its keep as a fashion shoot prop and a steady stream of banter between Sir Bradley and the crew kept the day ticking along nicely.

Everything went like clockwork, even that most unpredictable element the weather, just at the right time and for not a minute longer, decided to play along…