From policeman to ageing rocker!

On reading Peter Jenkins’ article in OBM440 in February, I was taken back to my youth as an Oldham lad with a 1947 Royal Enfield Model G. I well recall the Colliers Arms and Hartshead Pike! The Enfield took me to Blackpool, Buxton and other distant lands, but gave way to a BSA B31 for trips to London and Wales. The BSA was stolen in Oldham and the insurance payout bought me four wheels in the form of a 1934 Wolseley Hornet Special, and I joined Lancashire Constabulary.

My love of motorcycles took me to the Accrington Traffic

Group and when I saw the photo of Peter’s Speed Twin, 8068

TF, I was amazed, because my allocated motorcycle at Accrington was a Speed Twin, registration number 8065 TF! I shared it with Ray Noddle, who was on the opposite shift, while 8066 TF was Ron Wyche’s bike. The bikes were, of course, fitted with Avon Dolphin fairings and panniers which contained fire extinguisher, first aid kit and clipboard, complete with all the necessary paperwork for traffic enforcement duties.

I never lost my interest in motorcycles and have restored to life from basket cases a BSA C15, a Triumph Tiger 100A and a Matchless G12, with a BSA B25 runner in between.

I have retained the Matchless, but seek another restoration to stave off boredom. My wife thinks that I am deranged, but at 83 aren’t all ageing rockers the same! Stuart F Bennett, Much Hoole, Lancashire