8. Martin's Squariel
Lovely Martin Tiller, who I'd come to know over the years at various shows where he'd be with his great mate
John Guy, was always friendly and encouraging to me from the outset of my doing the magazine.
At shows, John and he would be patrolling together, and we'd always stop and have a natter, normally finding out what they'd been up to (John restoring something or another, Martin researching and helping) though I started to learn more about ' Martin's Square Four:
This ohc machine (or the bare bones ofit) had been entrusted to Robin James Engineering Services, and was having the 'full works: It was a huge job, involving an exhaustive list of work to be done; Martin often travelling to Robin's place at Leominster to check on progress ... and have a cup of tea and a chat.
I actually rode it on more than one occasion, the first being when it was 'in the metal' and being shaken down and fault eradicated, before the final paint was applied. There was, coincidentally, another Squariel there at the same time, and we did the two together. The later bike - it was a four-piper from the mid-195os - being lovely, smooth and sophisticated, but the early one, to borrow Lawrence of Arabia's phrase, had 'a touch offire in its blood:
What do I remember about the bike? That it was brilliant! Things were even better the second time I rode it, when Martin came along with us too, and Robin James, Martin and I went for a ride - Robin on a T500 Suzuki, Martin on a T140 Bonnie and me on the 1932 hand-change Square Four. And it kept up no problems at all.
So responsive, just so lovely all-round, it was a great piece of work, and a lovely machine to ride. It stopped, it accelerated, it was ridiculously smooth and superbly comfortable, while it handled well too, with its low seat height contributing to its all-round stability and assurance. We had a super day; Martin had had some special mugs made to commemorate the day of our photoshoot and I still generally have my morning cup of tea out of mine, emblazoned with a picture of the Square Four.
Sadly, poor Martin died not long after, at not much of an age at all. All his bikes, including the Square Four went to John
(in fact my dad bought Martin's old MSS from John) though I believe it has now passed to another local enthusiast in the same area. He's a lucky fellow; it's a superb piece of kit.