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Life Vice President and Former Director of The British Two Stroke Club Limited Brian, who was a founder member, when the Club reformed back in 1979/1980 together with Colin Atkinson and Dave Benson, sadly passed away after a short illness in October. Brian was a Life Vice President and was a director from 2004 to 2021. Brian was a regular at Colin’s meeting, riding through the Dartford Tunnel on his trusted Greeves, but in the 1990’s he decided to relocate to the South Coast, to be nearer to his daughter Karen and his Grandchildren. He came to live a few roads away from me in Waterlooville, Hampshire and by chance, we met up and started the Solent Section of the Club. Brian then accompanied me on my various trips to France (Luc Sur Mer and The Somme), Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg. He was also a very active Member of the Club attending the AGM’s, Chiltern Hundred Runs, Surrey Hills etc. He also took part in the International West Kent Runs. He could always be trusted to have a cup of tea wherever he went. We used to meet once a month in his house in Waterlooville, planning what and where we should go every Wednesday and Sunday. We were always made welcome by Janet and Brian, with tea and cake. We had many an adventure around the country leaving his exhaust system on the A272. Having to make a makeshift gear lever from a spark plug spanner on the West Kent Run, riding miles with a flat type on his little Bown, smoking out France on my Greeves on the hills near Arromanches in France, but we always got home safe and sound. Brian would always be there to volunteer if we needed, as a backup driver and I recall twice we made trips with the Francis Barnett Club (The long trip from Lands’ End to John O’Groats and back and the Welsh Dragon run) where he drove his trusted Car, pulling our two-bike trailer for thousands of miles, never complaining, whist we enjoyed the riding. His skills of reversing a trailer into the most difficult of places and getting stuck were well known! On our various trips aboard, we had many an adventure, I recall on one trip to the Somme his gearbox on his 250 MZ broke on the way to Dover, he returned home with only top gear working, then switched bikes to his 150 MZ and belted around the M25 to arrive early the next morning in time to catch the Ferry. On another occasion in France at the Hotel near Luc sur mer he produced a tray, cups, and teapot from his bag together with English teabags so that he and his roommates could have a decent cup of tea each morning. He was a true Gentleman. Brian always a keen dog lover and walker and accompanied me on a monthly trip to London where we set ourselves a challenge, to visit as many of the Free Museums and Wetherspoons in London Area using our free bus passes and the Megabus (train) rides. We set ourselves a budget of £10 a trip. We visited 54 Wetherspoons and countless museums, even getting on the Thames Clipper to Greenwich and when asked if we had a Freedom of London Passed Brian said yes and we got subsidised travel. I asked Brian what a Freedom of London Pass was, and he said no idea. We caught the Free Bus Back. On another occasion he manged to arrange a backstage visit to the Globe Theatre all for free, he had many friends and colleagues throughout the country. He also helped arrange the local Mayor of Havant charity bike ride (raising thousands for local charities), putting up and taking down the signs without a fuss always there to help. Sadly, as his health deteriorated, we had to stop the trips, but we then went out each week in my 1935 Morris 8 just for a cup of tea until he was not able. A true rider of Motorcycles and supporter of Two Strokes Rest in peace now Brian. You will be missed. Robert Hill BTSC Secretary |
