steve-e wrote:Windsor Walk, that's up Farley Hill way? near where the HA used to drink at the Forresters
Hiya Steve! Nah, Windsor Walk is a back alley in a part of Luton that used to have a Pub on almost every street corner. It's in a 'block' formed by Windsor St, Wellington St, Dumfries St, and Hastings St. So Windsor Walk splits this block in half, with Windsor St and Dumfries St at either end. Despite the name, it was wide enough to drive down and park.
John's premises were rented from the guy who ran a Flower shop in Hastings St, and were old Victorian stables forming the original rear entrance to the shop. No toilets, no heating, no running water... But it did have leccy and a phone. Oh, and it was haunted, too! Working late some nights, on my own, I often heard footsteps creaking across the old wooden mezzanine floorbards above me, an area which we used for storage, but which would have been the hay loft in the old days. Rumour had it that someone hung themselves from the rafters back in 1800 and something.
Frightened the life out of me, I can tell you!
As for the three 'Works' outfits, this was a bit of a misnomer. Each team had bought their machines from John, probably on a break-even basis, in the hope that good results with the RGM banner prominent on the fairing would get the orders rolling in. Arthur Teasdale and Nick Boret from London have already been mentioned. Then there was Paul Wright and A. N. Other from Foxton Cambs, and finally Terry Tremble and me from Luton. Sorry, I can't remember who took over as passenger from me, nor who passengered for Paul.
But they weren't factory teams in the usual sense... And to be frank, despite it being over 40 years ago, I definately remember that Steve Sinnot's visit was a fishing trip, sniffing out the possibility of a sponsored 'Factory' drive. John had to reluctantly tell him that he was already helping enough guys out, and couldn't really afford to take on any more responsibility. Hope Jim doesn't mind me saying this, as I don't have any axe to grind.
George O'Dell (from Wheathampstead) was a regular visitor, and I'm sure he used some of our f/g on his own outfit. He made World Champion in 1977, and wrote a good book. But sadly, he took his own life a few years later. Tragic.
Ron Wittich also lived in Luton and visited regularly- he was a great laugh. Sadly, he was killed at Zandvoort on the factory Laverda production racer. Dane Rowe also popped in one day to buy a nose cone, and I met her at Luton Station to walk her back to the workshop. Then escorted her back to the station afterwards. Crikey, she was a stunner!
Forgot to mention, in the early 70's, the owner of the Flower shop in Hastings St retired, so John took over the shop until he too retired. So John probably then had water, toilets and heating. I think Charlie Sanby took over the old workshop at the back.
Cheers- AL
ps- Steve, I used to drink in the Silver Lion, Lilley late 80's / early 90's
- and here's me can hardly remember me name 
