Wednesday 20 April 2016

EXETER BRITISH MOTORCYCLE CLUB 25TH ANNIVERSARY
By John Rosamond

On 12th April 2016 the Exeter British Motorcycle Club (EBMC) began to celebrate its 25th anniversary year at its headquarters The Exeter Brewery; where it meets on the second Tuesday evening of each month.


Patrick McAndrew (pictured above) organised for John Rosamond, the author of Save the Triumph Bonneville! The Inside Story of the Meriden Workers' Co-op, to provide his scripted talk about the Co-op, as a companion to his book, for the enthusiastic EBMC members. On this occasion John, the former Chairman of the Meriden Co-op, was accompanied by Bob Haines the Co-op's overseas ambassador who played a vital part in extending the Co-op's charmed life.

Over 50 members and their guests attended on the night and actively took part in the lively Q & A sessions, following each section of John's talk. A video of the occasion filmed by Patrick McAndrew should prove interesting viewing (John Rosamond and Bob Haines pictured below).


On 13th April 2016 John, Bob & Patrick accompanied by Stewart Wilkins (Club Chairman) and Jim Tappin (Club Treasurer) visited the former historic Exeter Imperial Hotel (see attached pictures), now a J D Wetherspoons Restaurant, where EBMC members gather on Sunday mornings for their very popular "ride outs". The Exeter Imperial Hotel is where Triumph Meriden's most famous son, Managing Director Edward Turner, Works' Director Bob Ferron and Service Manager Alec Masters stayed overnight before taking part in what Motor Cycling magazine described as the Gaffers Gallop. The promotional launch in 1953 of the 150cc OHV single cylinder Triumph Terrier in an observed challenge from Land's End to John O'Groats; a distance of 1008 miles achieving a remarkable average speed of 36.68 mph at 106.60 mpg, an ideal introduction to the UK market of Triumph's new entry level model, that would appear at the 1953 London Earls Court motorcycle show.



Click here for more information about the book.

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