Sometime in the early ’90s my cousin, Sharon, was living in a little side-street in Portssmouth and I had noticed this Jawa across the road from her house with a f=good coating of moss – it never moved. It was only about 5 years old so I knowcked on the door and the owner told me it had a problem with the front brake which he couldn’t fix – or couldn’t be bothered? I think I paid £35 for it. I discovered a cheap sopurce of Jawa parts at a rustic fromer blacksmiths somewhere in the sticks outside Guildford and the oparts to fix the brake cost £25. Time for an MOT … I had never driven a sidecar outfit before and was duly careful as I made my wau down top Havant. It passed withput any problems and, pergaps, encouraged by this success I was less cautious on the way back …
As I turned into our lane, the sidecar – with our precious Evan sitting in it (about 14 the, I guess) – decided that it wanted to continue in a straight line. Happily we made it through the turn but ended up on the wrong side of the road. Good job nothing was coming the other way … This upset me so much that I rather short-sightedly put it up for sale immediately. I asked £400 and the first person to see it, bought it at that price. I have to tell you that he was the only caller! It’s probably the only time I have made a profit out of buying and selling vehicles …
On reflection I wish now that I had persevered as there is doubtless a real satisfaction to be gained in learning to control one of these strange beasts.
Peter Robert Turnill, third and youngest son of Joan, b 1/5/1947, m 19/10/1971
Little more than a shed! The picture shows it in 1982 shortly before we demolished it. The house to the left was built by Joan and occupies half the plot they bought in 1952. They had about 2/3 of an acre of ground.
Margaret Ianthe ? ? Hanson, first child of Derwent & Margaret, b ??/??/1942, m ????? d ??/??/2008? Ellen holds Ianthe – taken 1/3/43
Richard Brian Turnill, first child of Joan & Victor, b 23/10/1942, d 12/1/1961. Douglas must have got lost somewhere.
They certainly did …
Derwent George Cooper Hanson was their 3rd child, born 8/9/1918, and thus just 21 at the start of the war. Died ??/??/??
Margaret Williams, born ??????,
