Waving the flag for the South West

I have just been having a good read of the many good times and stories from the memories of many a young lad from the 1950s and 60s, but they’re always up North with no mention of the South West. So, may I be the first candidate from this section of the country to have a go in the OBM?

My teen years were in the city of Plymouth and my first motorcycle was a Norton Jubilee 250cc, bought for £40, while after I passed my test I moved to a BSA A10. The heart of Plymouth was still being rebuilt after the Second World War and had its fair share of motorcycle shops and dealers spread around the centre of the city. Pikes in Rendle Street was always busy and had two showrooms and a well-stocked spares department. In charge of the latter was Jock in his stores brown coat that he always wore.

On the other side of the city was Al Brothertons, a one-man-band shop selling goodies and all parts in chrome. At West Hoe was Spencers, selling second-hand machines only and then Pat Wilson in Colebrook in the same market.

I must also give Western Spares at Millbridge a mention. It was run by two chaps called Dave and Mike and had a vast collection of bike bits on the shop floor and in the basement cellar below. This was where I first met Terry Hobbs, very much a motorcycle legend of race engine tuning. I’ve forgotten to mention Snells of Plymouth; it sold new motorcycles and limited spares and moved about the city, having three locations until it ceased trading.

The main meet-up location for local bikers was a cafe at the Leg of Mutton near Yelverton run by a Westward Television chap and his young wife. The cafe was four miles outside of the city and connected to a straight road of open moorland on which sheep, ponies and cattle would often roam. There were many accidents and even some deaths due to trying to achieve the ton on the ride home.

Now in my late teens (69!) I have a few small British bikes that I show at local country fairs and I am starting to enjoy life in old age. I’m also hoping to be the first to put the spotlight on the South West in OBM.

Richard Burt

Now, I may not have been in the editor’s chair very long, but I am pretty sure that we have not ignored the lovely South West all these years. Nonetheless, it was a pleasure to get your letter – and 69 years old?

You are nowhere near old age, Mr Burt! Ed.