TERRIER TIMES

During 1959, I was serving my National Service with the RAF and was posted to Wiltshire for training as an air radio mechanic. For 15 weeks we were allowed home most weekends and my 1955 Terrier coped well. I travelled from Melton Mowbray, picking up my pal Terry for the 125 mile trip on Sunday night and back on Friday, other duties permitting. This was before a lot of bypasses and motorways existed, so we rode through Leicester, Coventry, the Cotswolds to Swindon and the A4.

The little bike seemed happy at 50-55mph, and given a downhill run might make 60. I was still on L-plates but Terry had a full licence so we were legal. If you read the account of Mr Turner’s ride from Land’s End to John O’groats on a Terrier you will appreciate that 150cc was good enough for long distance travel. Although better known for the bigger twins, Edward Turner knew how to design tiddlers! Malcolm Aley, member 10,640