Ferg’sworld Beware the demon drink
Royal Air Force Station Wyton New Years Eve 1963
Once upon a time, a very long while ago, long before we had drink-driving laws, two guys I worked with who had once served in 58 Squadron RAF, owned a Royal Enfield motor cycle and sidecar between them. This is their story. Dave and Colin were a pair of ‘likely lads’ and always out and about exploring the highways and byways of East Anglia and on one of their expeditions their luck had changed and two likely young ladies had been ‘snared’ in Norwich.
It was early evening on New Years Eve in the Pigs Bar of the NAFFI and Happy Hour had been in progress for at least the last two and a half hours when Dave and Colin decided that a mission was in order, but there was just time for another round or two before they departed.
journey – would our intrepid duo have a night to remember? Colin was asleep in the chair and Dave was almost in control of the Enfield as they headed north on the A11, approaching five-ways roundabout at Barton Mills. Nowadays this is a dual carriageway with a 50mph speed limit, 24/7 garages and eating facilities. Way back then there was an eight to five petrol station and an AA box on the left as you approached the roundabout from the South with trees and vegetation up to the road edge. Dave remembered this and then there was a
Despite the pain, Dave levered himself up on one elbow and tentatively asked how Colin was
There was a dance on at the Assembly Rooms in Norwich City Centre and their latest victims were due to attend. The technique was of course not to arrive too early as the price of ‘civilian’ booze was crippling so it was decided that 2359 hours should do nicely!
It was a wet and very cold evening as they set out on the 80-mile and as it turned out, one-way
blank period.
When Dave opened his eyes. The light was very bright and though he was warm and dry, there was a nagging pain in his left leg. A vision of beauty was before him – a nurse, had his luck changed? He tried to sit upright but was then struck with a sharp pain in his left shoulder. The nurse moved away from him and
called through an adjacent door, yep Dave realised he was in hospital and this was reality! A police officer arrived by his bed side, asked how Dave was feeling, told him he had been very lucky and described how a local farmer had recovered his bike to a place of safety. The police officer said that there was no police interest in the incident but the Automobile Association would have to be informed as Dave and his motorbike had all but destroyed the AA box. Fortunately the telephone had still been operative and a passing motorist had used it to summon assistance.
Despite the pain, Dave levered himself up on one elbow and tentatively asked how Colin was. “Colin who?” responded the police officer. “He was in the sidecar” said Dave. “What sidecar?” asked the police officer. Colin was discovered still asleep and with not a scratch on him in the early hours of New Years Day, in the woods some 30 yards from the remains of the AA box. The chair was still upright and relatively un-damaged but now had a large yellow panel attached to the metalwork on the right hand side. Happy New Year and have a good one in 2010 and remember that if you are going to Drink and Drive – do it in your dreams! Words by
John Lewis (Royal Enfield Owners Club)
somemistake?somemistake?somemistake?somemistake?somemistake?somemistake?somemistake?
62 The ROAD
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