Vintage bike club rides into future (From Swindon Advertiser)

Vintage bike club rides into future

6:20pm Thursday 11th June 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

A SOCIETY dedicated to vintage motorbikes is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

The Swindon Vintage Motorcycle Club was set up in 1969, and now boasts 40 members.

The club plans to celebrate its ruby anniversary by holding a display of its most loved vehicles at The Rat Trap pub on Highworth Road in Stratton on Sunday.

Dozens of well kept bikes dating from the early 1900s to the 1970s, including a 1911 Bradbury, will be on show from 11am until 4pm.

“It’s a big occasion for us,” said Pete Sole, who has been a club member since 1981.

“We started out quite small and here we are 40 years later – we’re all getting on a bit now.”

For Pete the love affair started in 1952 when he left school at the tender age of 15 to work for Bradbury Motorcycles in Oldham.

“There’s just something about motorcycles that is wonderful,” said the 67-year-old from St Phillips Road, Stratton.

“Let me be clear, we’re vintage motorcycle enthusiasts – not bikers. Yes we go out for pleasure rides but we do it for the joy of the machine not for speed.”

With 28 years’ membership under his belt, Pete is just a newcomer to the club.

The club was set up in June 1969 and held its first meetings at the Wheatsheaf pub between Wootton Bassett and Swindon – now known as Sally Pussey’s Inn.

The club’s first Christmas meeting saw members enjoy a festive dinner of chicken in a basket for just 35p each.

They sat in a dingy back room with one flickering lightbulb and drinks were passed through a hatch.

“Things have certainly changed over the years,” said Pete – who has 15 beloved vintage motorcycles to his name.

The club normally meets on the first and last Tuesday of the month at the Suffolk Arms in Brinkworth.

As well as regular road trips and day visits, the group regularly raises money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Prospect Hospice – both of which will receive donations from this weekend’s event.

For more information on the Swindon Vintage Motorcycle Club or to join, call club secretary Julie Goodwin on 01793 539207.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)