BERT EVANS
21st November 1934 - 2nd March 2021
Bert was a very charismatic individual who was very entertaining and managed to keep a cheerful atmosphere at branch meetings.
Bert was a Dapper man liked by all, he liked to dance, sing and loved the ladies, always up for anything he was old style, was it a bandana or a cravat around his neck probably both at times.
Did him a favour but he would not let me leave until he repaid me, opened up one of his “ numerous” garages and part pulled out his yellow pick up truck, then unlocked the side door and rummaged around in his floor to ceiling contraband ( jumble, there maybe a Del Boy navigator fob watch in there somewhere!!! ) and gave me a spray can of raspberry fragrance, my car never smelt so good typical of Bertie a generous guy.
Tangmere aviation museum it rained all the way there, and on the way home, worst weather ever.
We used the museum workshop to dry out our gear, I heard this squelch squelch squelch noise behind me ..... Bertie, his leathers were sodden he had “no waterproofs”
It was still raining so we wrapped him in black bin bags and taped him up, half a mile up the road he was “ shredded” and flapping in the wind but made it home ok til the next adventure. Bob House
GRAHAM HOLT
24th June 1947 - 3rd October 2023
Graham Holt owned BSA motorcycles in his youth and after raising a family was lured back to BSA’s by a 1957 A7 Shooting Star. He was a competent rider and was an enthusiastic member of both the BSAOC and the Boundless Civil Service Club.
He enjoyed riding his BSA with friends on a trip to Northern France and was always there to offer advice and support. He is sadly missed by his family and friends.
Scott Palmer
BRIAN "CHALKY" WHITE
21st December 1936 - 10th December 2014
Brian served the branch well for many years as our treasurer.
I (Bob House) first met Chalky at Sainsbury Vehicle Workshop in Basingstoke many moons ago I thought then he was a good guy, before I joined the Thames Valley Branch.
There are probably many anecdotes to say but I’ve just picked a couple.
We were on a ride out east of Basingstoke and leaving this pub when he slowed to a stop, a few of us crowded around his bike scratching heads trying to locate the fault “ but Mr mechanic” hadn’t turned his petrol tap ON !!
Another time we were at Ropley station Watercress line and we were all mounted up ready to go but chalky could not “ get his leg over” onto his bike we held the bike and shuffled him on, everyone was laughing along with him.
He was also a good caravaner and liked to get away, always helpful if you had problems with your bike.
He and his family organised and helped at our annual BBQ a feast indeed.
One thing I shall always remember is that he kinda gave me one of the best rides I’ve ever had on my Firebird.
I left his Wedding reception in Basingstoke riding some great roads to the Hants branch camp, I knew I might be late getting back so I phoned Bob M and he put a pint🍺 on the bar for me.
Let’s face it he’s only changed his address to another bike shed. Bob House
DAVE (PASTY) YOUNGMAN
18th August 1952 - 28th April 2025
Pasty Boy Dave Youngman, I met Dave in 2015/16, when he came to the BSA Owners Club (BSAOC) meeting at the Four horse Shoes in Long Sutton near Odiham. He was with another new member Graham Holt who was looking for some advice on a BSA A7 Shooting Star that he planned to buy. It was the first time both of them had met and they became very good friends, Dave used to call Graham his dad due to their age difference. The next time I met up with Dave and Graham was on BSAOC Ride out, not sure exactly where, but by that time Dave had his BSA Super Rocket on the road and Graham had his newly purchased BSA A7 Shooting Star. Dave with his knowledge of the local geography, organised many rides north of the Thames. One in particular in 2019 that the BSAOC used was the crossing of 8 Bridges over Thames always stopping off for lunch at a well-chosen Pub and then setting off again for the ride home. Often someone’s bike decided to stop or not start and the group would always, either solve the fault or fetch a trailer to take the bike home. In all the times I’ve ridden with Dave his bike never let him down, his BSA Super Rocket, known as ‘Bling 1’ was cleaned and cosseted to extreme and kept in first class condition with no expense spared.
Sometime after lockdown, we formed a riding group called the Pasty Boys, why Pasty Boys you might ask? Well, Dave was rather partial to pastries, both savoury and sugary, he used to say that he knew of the best Pasty shop in the Thames Valley and he organised a ride to Abingdon. This was the start of regular rides usually on a Wednesday, with Dave taking lead and guiding us through country routes ending up in Abingdon. Dave loved polishing his bikes almost as much as he did riding them. We bought chrome polish in small tubes; Dave bought it in large cans, Dave said that it was the fire service that gave him the love of polishing metal maybe his fire service mates here today can confirm that.
Dave continue riding his BSA until he decided to stop. Sadly, that time came, the Pasty Boys had been for a ride to a café near Alton and that evening Dave called me and said I’ve made a decision. He said that on his way home riding through Reading he realised that if anything had happened like the bike stalling, he would be in trouble. The BSA A10 Super Rocket ‘BLING 1’ now has a new owner with possibly a few buckets of Chrome Polish.
To end, I can say that Dave Youngman has been a great friend to me and I have never met such a generous, mild-mannered person in all my life. He will be sadly missed by all us. Terry Banham
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