The 81st Entry
RAF Halton Aircraft Apprentices
Sept 1955 - July 1958

ISSUE No. 7 - MAY 2006
81st ENTRY NEWSLETTER
Editor: Mike Stanley

Motorbikes by Bruce Robinson

Reading Adrian's (Gates) article in Journal 6 got me to thinking of the happy times spent on, and sometimes under, motorbikes.

Although I didn't pass out with the Entry (I left after 2 ½ years) I still attended the Graduation Dance (and have a signed photo of Johnny Dankworth to prove it). I rode down to the dance from, Sale in Cheshire, on a 1939 Rudge "Ulster". I was accompanied by a mate on an old "Royal Enfield" which broke down in Halton; he cheekily stayed on camp overnight pretending to be one of our lot!!! I used to keep those old fashioned, solid brown' Log Books'; sadly all have been lost in various moves over the years The memory is now a bit fading but I can recall some of the bikes I have owned.

When I left Halton I bought a very rare 248cc F/Barrett " Red Stag"-4 stroke from Malcolm Binks, which broke down in the Midlands en-route to Manchester. Cost a fortune, I recall, to train it back home! The Rudge I mentioned had had the front forks replaced with 'tele's' by the previous owner, quite a feat.

Other bikes remembered are:

James 2 stroke twin (250cc) circa '69; CZ 200cc;Triumph T/Bird 650cc '53; BSA 350cc (C12?); Suzuki 250cc GT; Yamaha 500cc; Honda 250cc;Honda CX 500cc (A great bike but very heavy if you dropped it; shaft driven);

My current machine is a Honda XBR 500 cc (This sounds just like my old Rudge, single cylinder 4 valve)

I ride occasionally but am now only a 'fair-weather rider' Damp weather plays gyp with my sciatica!