PC wrote ;
"all of the photos I've seen of Beryl then she was astride a Hercules. Hercules even offered a special "Eileen Sheridan Autograph Model" in 1952. This was introduced by Beryl at the 1952 Earls Court Show when she was met H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh (who was presented at the show with a Elswick-Hooper cycle for young Prince Charles; his first real bike!). Beryl Burton was as much associated with Hercules then as Reg Harris was with Raleigh and Sid Patterson of Australia was with Sun. Most of her championships during the 1950s were won on Hercules. Real British world champions riding real British bikes. Honest."
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Sorry Peter, but I reckon when you wrote this you were on Psychotropic drugs...
It was Eileen Sheridan who spoke to The Duke of Edinburgh at the Earls Court Show about Hercules limited edition "Eileen Sheridan Auutograph" model, not Beryl. Though I've no evidence that Beryl wasn't there, the Eileen Vs "The Duke" conversation was widely publicised, and I think even featured on BBC radio - yes radio. Hercules perhaps cynically though in those pre-Bra Burning days only let her pen her name to a conventional Ladies open framed machine (albeit in '531') as opposed to the conventional diamond framed bikes she usually rode. £17 7s 4d. in a fetching light green with white celluloid mudguards....
BTW do any of the pre-englightened era club guy's remember just how opposed a lot of clubs were to even letting women take part in the "friendly" weekend runs ? (full of hardriders averaging 18 mph on a casual day out)...
Bob Reid
Stonehaven
Scotland...