The beginning of the Velocette story. When I was young we despised these under-sized, under-powered, frankly ugly and pretty much useless machines. 50 years later they had become quirky, fun, interesting even. Another neighbour (an entire street full of old vehicle enthusiasts or should I say old, vehicle enthusiasts?) tipped me off to the availability of an LE at Huntley’s scrap yard in Petersfield for £25.
What I acquired was a piece of rusty pressed steel (the frame) and a tea-chest of parts marked on one side “LE 148” and on the other, “LE 192” and it did indeed contain parts of both the early, smaller Mark 1 and the later, larger Mark 2. What we see is what I had. The generator was broken – in pieces and unrecoverable. Everything looked like it has been under water for some time, and the ‘frame’ had fatigue fractures around its most important part. I love a ‘bargain’ … yes, pretty much useless but not too expensive a lesson at £25.
Given that the engine and frame were beyond repair I needed some replacements and found them advertised in Scotland. Happily, the owner was planning to visit the large Netley Auto-Jumble near Southampton and I was able to collect quite a lot of bits, including a frame and a Mark 3 engine for £100. This eventually allowed me to construct something that would at least run …
This was probably in 2003? Not a lot of progress since then but with the Covid lockdown and a recognition that big heavy bikes are no longer a great idea (or perhaps even an option!) it has now been elevated to the ramp …
A new wiring loom has been commissioned and the petrol tank deprived of its internal rust in preparation for a run round the block in order to create a list of major faults. When that list has been exhausted … perhaps a paint job? Watch this space.
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 ??????,
