Brian Lethbridge RIP
Brian Lethbridge has died at the age of 72. Brian was a one-off who will be very much missed and we send our sincere condolences to his family.
He was an expert on Triumphs and won one of the first Sammy Miller series titles aboard an outfit. Brian's funeral was held at noon on Monday, June 22 at Cheltenham Crematorium.
Many Western Centre faces, past and present turned out to support Brian's family. In an excellent and well-researched eulogy, Centre chairman Tony Noel took the congregation back to when he and Brian met, in the early 50s as schoolboys at the grammar school. Brian and he both lived in Prestbury, and were attracted by the sound of scrambles motorcycles up at Draper's Farm. Tony explained that they soon joined up with the Cheltenham Home Guard, as membership ensured free entry to the scramble!
All manner of machines were altered for off-road use but Brian really found his metier with Triumphs - the only machine he said he really understood. He excelled with sidecars but most of all he was a man of generous spirit, humour, and forthright opinion. He also wrote the definitive article on the great John Draper's life, published in Classic Motorcycle. He will be very much missed but not forgotten. A superb picture, which sums up Brian will is on the West Glos site. [on 22Jun09]