Just what
can I say? I won’t bother because no
words could adequately describe the day!
From an initial bright idea from GRA
Chairman Colin Sparrow, through much
gnashing of teeth and wailing in
committee meetings to the sheer
enthusiasm and stamina of the organisers
on the day, it worked out beyond
anyone’s wildest dreams! Even a simple
matter such as placing a commemorative
plaque on the old factory buildings
proved a mammoth undertaking. What
should the plaque look like / be made
of? How much can we afford? Who owns /
occupies the buildings? Who will
dedicate them?
In the event, it all came together
perfectly! The GRA occupied it’s own
area at the Battlesbridge Classic Show
comprising of a roped off display area
around which was a marquee containing
the star attraction and a small stage
for the celebrities. A further tent
housed a buffet for the invited guests
and adjacent was a scrambles demo
circuit.
Close on 200 Greeves models of all
descriptions turned up on the day
ranging from standard production models
to such exotica as Reg Everett’s
(accompanied by Reg) original ‘Greeves
Special’ road racer to Bill Wilkinson’s
(accompanied by Bill) 1969 Scottish 6
Days Trial winning machine.
Incidentally, Bill’s bike was There were
many bikes on display shining with a
chrome-plated frame.
This drew
a certain amount of comment from his
colleagues of the past, as apparently
Bill was not prone to cleaning. In fact,
he once received a letter from the
factory stating tersely, ‘clean the
bike’! A statement from one of the stars
that Bill turned up on a ‘pulsating
blob’ and proceeded to beat everyone
drew a good laugh! It would also not be
a Greeves event without an ex-Don Smith
trials machine, naturally accompanied by
Don. The sidecars were not ignored with
Alec Wright’s machine on display with
Alec himself not far away.
Once the bikes had arrived, the day got
underway with a fascinating interview
session of riders and ex-factory
personalities. These were hosted / kept
under control by Mike Jackson, himself
no mean rider and an ex-Greeves sales
rep. On the rostrum were Bill Wilkinson,
Tony Davis, Don Smith (making the
sessions into a double-act with Mike!),
Mary Driver, Reg Everett, etc.
When the session finished, invited
guests were themselves entertained to a
buffet (this was so plentiful that not
even invitations to all comers could
finish it off by the end of the day!).
Whist the guests tucked in, the rest
were rummaging through the Greeves
autojumble, watching the scramble demo
or trying to take in the sheer number of
bikes on display. Amongst the more
unusual of these were a two-Griffon-engined
grass track outfit and a 500 prototype.
Following this it was time to board the
vintage buses for the trip down to
Thundersley to visit the old factory
buildings. The first of these was the
old show rooms, now a tile centre. A
plaque had previously been placed in
position and with the forecourt packed
with Greeves machines; Colin introduced
a local council official who did the
honours. It was then a quick walk around
the corner to the old service department
for a repeat performance. With 3 bikes
arranged in the doorway, the official
was thanked with a bouquet of flowers
and it was back on the bus.
No sooner had everyone arrived back at
the show than rumour abounded that Dave
Bickers had arrived, freed from an
earlier christening. Needless to say, a
further session was hastily arranged in
the marquee and Dave intrigued everyone
with his tales of yore. Lastly, Ian
Stonebridge appeared, taking a break
from riding in the scrambles demo. Ian
is the son of the late, great Brian
Stonebridge and it was really marvellous
to have him appear. All to soon the day
was over and it was just the clearing
away to complete. Where an hour before,
a great event had been taking place, it
was now just so much grass. Had it all
been a dream??!!
Rob Thornton
http://www.greeves-riders.org.uk/article.php?id=0
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