A STATEMENT FROM GAVIN FRANK LAND–BLOC
As we all know BLOA was part of Lambretta concessionaires as a promotion tool, totally run by the business. When Bob Wilkinson took over from Derek Guy the first thing he did was drop the name and the image because it got on his wick right from the word go, (Jetset 125 page 41). In 1965-66 Lambretta concessionaires stopped financing BLOA and the LCGB and decided to let the members take over. We do know in March 1965 both clubs were running side by side and transfers were available for both clubs, information taken from March 1965 Scooter and three wheeler magazine stating this fact. So there was no real end of one club and the start of another club, BLOA was dropped and left to fizzle out whilst the new club Lambretta club of Great Britain got going. That was the important part, LCGB was running the same time as BLOA.
Various promotional items were made by the concessionaires and again some people got confused about this. I remade some reflective lambretta GB shields a while ago with the lion and GB on it. I don’t know why but people thought this was an LCGB item and also the lion was part of the LCGB. The actual item was made and sold in 1958 for the new LI range, information taken from the green sales leaflet 1958 issue no1. So when I had the lion on my application for the trade name it had absolutely nothing to do with the LCGB. Copyright issues are a funny old world, you cannot copyright an image if you have used images from another copyright in your design. So the font “Lambretta” used in the BLOA shield was the property of Innocenti, and of course British Lambretta Owners Association was owned by the concessionaires.
With these facts written at the times stated, nothing belongs to the Lambretta club of Great Britain. Which is why it was so puzzling when people thought they did. When at the AGM and across forums people were accusing me of stealing the history of the LCGB nothing made sense, both historically and legally. This is why I have never received anything from any legal parties.
If the LCGB was so up in arms you would have thought that in previous times throughout the years BLOA would have popped up. However going back in time to 45th Anniversary or the 50th Anniversary in jetset, nothing is mentioned. The club shop was selling nothing BLOA related. Maybe they missed the deadline so looking at the 70th Anniversary just in case, still no mention. For such a huge piece of “our” history that we spent thousands on, there is nothing looking back in 20 years of jetset, I could go back to issue 1 or the 2 pre-jetset magazines to look but nothing is published. No 213 may/June 2018 is the first time BLOA clothing is seen.... Quite sad considering what was said by people who had absolutely no idea what they were talking about. I changed the name to British Lambretta Owners Club to help the situation but it seems that didn’t help as people still think this is part of the LCGB, so maybe I might as well change to back to BLOA. A quote from Mike Karslake about the BLOA name change. “I was a little worried to learn the Bob was to drop the name BLOA and all its insignia, in favour of a name change similar to the original club title. From now the club would be known as Lambretta club of Great Britain or lambretta club (GB) or just LCGB. It was a question of a new broom sweeping clean and of course Bob was right, the new image did wonders and was totally compatible with the new generation of Lambretta models.” From Jetset 121 page 31.
So the future of this club is looking very good. The rallies are being held at traditional locations across the UK in accordance to the BLOA events from the 50’s and 60’s, and also having an international rally in the south of France. Insurance schemes are in place and we are looking at a one stop parts shop, selling quality parts. We have already printed 1 magazine and are in the middle of a new one. Dating certificates which are DVLA approved are doing very well, 1 free for every new membership. Felt pennants are available at rallies to keep it vogue for the scene. All in information I have provide are actual facts taken from the people and magazines at the time. The future is bright....