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the tony held collectionMotorcycles were a lifelong passion for Tony. His firstbike was purchased at the age of fifteen using theproceeds from his paper round. As these funds didnot stretch to the latest model, he had to becomequite proficient at motorbike maintenance from thistender age. At the age of twenty he began his nationalservice in the RAF. Naturally, a motorcycle washis chosen mode of transport for visiting his wife tobe; a Triton, which he built and maintained himself.With the birth of his first daughter on the horizon,he upgraded to a sidecar outfit, which became thefamily’s only mode of transport for many years.After completing his National Service, Tony becamean engineer and eventually established his ownbusiness making moulds for the plastics industry.As the business became more successful, he hadmore available funds to indulge his enthusiasm for allthings old and rusty.At home, Tony’s workshop quickly began to fill up ashe began to collect bikes and parts in earnest. Aswell as a collector, he was a very keen bike rider andwas never happier than when he was roaring alonga country lane with his friends from the East Sussexsection of the VMCC.Tony’s passion for his motorcycles also extended tothe East Sussex section of the VMCC. He was a longstandingmember of the VMCC, standing as Chairmanof the East Sussex Section for some 25 yearsand only retired from this position a few years ago.His collection of bikes was ridden extensively on ralliesin France, Belgium and Ireland as well as the UK.Tony would be the first to admit that his bikes wouldnever win a concours prize, but the fun for him wasin riding them, rather than polishing and admiring.He firmly believed in maintaining and preserving hisbikes, not restoring them, and liked to keep themas original as possible. This is perfectly illustratedby the Sunbeam Model 6, which has scarcely beentouched since it left the factory.His taste in bikes was wide-ranging and, althoughinitially preferring British made bikes, he later alsobecame interested in American motorcycles, withthe first purchase being the Henderson Four DeLuxe. Over the years, Tony also amassed a numberof projects but sadly was not able to complete all ofthese before he passed away.Ken Fry