Bob Sleigh June 10, 1935 – December 1, 2020
What a ghastly year 2020 was, culminating in the passing of our wonderful friend, Bob Sleigh, on December 1. There are really no adequate words to describe him. Never too busy to help and listen, and who, with the fabulous Maureen, kept our Lincolnshire branch of the British Two-Stroke Club at the top of its tree for years.
Robert was born into a farming family in Wysall, Nottinghamshire. Following the death of his father he took over the farm and, with his wife, Maureen, continued to work the dairy farm for a number of years. Bob met Maureen in 1958 and they married in 1963.
Maureen says it was in 1963 that Bob really took an interest in and started to collect memorabilia, ostensibly for his pension, but nothing was ever sold!
In 2002 they moved to Lincolnshire and in 2003 the Lincolnshire branch of The British Two Stroke Club was born. Initially, the monthly meetings were held in the kitchen, but word soon spread and a new club house was needed!
Bob being Bob never minded what you rolled up on. If you were interested in motorcycles or anything mechanical, you were welcome and he was never unwilling to share his knowledge and expertise. Ride-outs were very well supported and Maureen’s after-ride buffets became legend!
Bob’s collection of bikes, stationary engines, and mechanical oddities became an interesting museum. He welcomed any visitors, sharing stories and discussing the various items. One worthy of mention was a Heinkel propeller, dredged up by a local trawlerman. Research showed this to belong to a Heinkel shot down off the east coast by a Beaufighter pilot, one Guy Gibson. This was subsequently verified by Gibson’s log. Bob’s propeller was featured on TV’s Find It, Fix It, Flog It and Salvage Recovery. On the latter, it appeared beautifully restored as a prospective museum candidate. Bob would be so proud.
Bob and Maureen shared some adventures on their Frances Barnett, touring Ireland three times and covering over 17,000 miles.
On one occasion a gentleman was waving an open cheque book when he clapped eyes on the Franny B. On another, they somehow got involved with Joey Dunlop’s ex-spanner man who helped to sort out a fuel problem!
Bob was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008 and announced that he wasn’t going to let us club members have all the fun of the wake! He organised his own, with a band, buffet and dance evening and was MC in a jazzy waistcoat. What a bloke!
One has to wonder whether he had a psychic moment, as no gatherings were allowed at his funeral in December.
As soon as we are able,
Maureen has proposed a barbecue to be held at Coningsby, and there will be a Robert Sleigh Commemoration run as soon as the country gets back to something like normal.
Goodbye to a fine man, a fine friend, and thank you for all the good times and laughs.
Jay Smedley