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Reg Thomas - RE Chief Draughtsman

He worked with RE until the last, creating many models including the SII interceptor. Here is the blurb from the auction site



"The Important Reginald (Reg) Thomas archive of Royal Enfield ephemera, containing blue prints, technical drawings, prototype drawings, technical notes, posters, handbooks, photographs, and other related material to the development of Royal Enfield machines, including the 750 Interceptor Mark II "



Well I did ask Mark about posting this, so let's hope I don't create a storm. There is a little artistic license here, but it's mostly correct.








RE Poetry Part 21 - The Reg Thomas auction



Reg Thomas, he could really draw,

Chief draughtsman at RE,

He drew some secret prototypes,

Not seen by you and me.



As we know, the sixties waned,

and Enfield closed it’s doors,

But Reg took all that stuff with him

A right exciting hoard!



A guy rolled up from Canada,

to interview our Reg,

But seeing just how much survived,

had turned him half to veg.



Golden stuff in photographs,

Crusader, first one made,

drawings too of prototypes,

Handbooks of ‘day-to day’.



Not only were there motorbikes,

they made lawn mowers too,

plus engines, generator sets,

to help win world war two!



The years rolled by, till Reg, he rode

that last bike to the sky,

to meet up with old chums and friends,

and talk of olden times.



But down on earth, the Enfield stuff,

that meant so much to him,

was packed up to be kept, thank god,

and not thrown in the bin!



The Royal Enfield Owners Club,

had really rather thought,

the family would contact them,

so that it could be bought.



But quite by chance, a guy named Mark,

glanced in a catalogue,

Stone me! There was Reg’s stuff,

all bundled in a lot.



Four days only left to go,

before that lot got auctioned,

Mark had to act without delay,

this was no time for caution.



A rally round, with Enfield fans,

for pledges of hard cash,

many guys with hearts of gold,

increased Mark’s bidding stash.



We really had to win this Lot,

the price would not be small,

then donate to our owners club,

to benefit us all.



Otherwise, would go elsewhere,

someone’s private collection,

where info might be out of reach,

or never seen again.



You see it would have been a shame,

to see the whole lot go,

to never have seen what was there

and simply never know.



Mark had added all the dough,

The total was five K,

We crossed our fingers, wished him luck,

as up came auction day.



Mark had got a backup plan,

and took Allan along.

Yes, Allan Hitchcock, Enfield Parts,

(Where they can do no wrong!)



Our owners club had helped as well,

I think half that five K,

they sent some specialists along,

make sure the lot’s OK



They had a check through all the stuff,

Mark asked, “This worth a bid?”

The experts looked a bit aghast,

“Of course, it’s all legit”!



The preview had been worth it’s while

Old Reg had golden stuff

Mark would bid for Enfield club,

but had they got enough?



The guide had reckoned “£300,

but 5 might be achieved”,

That estimate was nonsense low,

they must have been naive.



The gavel tapped twice on the stand,

as silence hit the floor,

Lot 1, the Enfield catalogues,

was brought in through a door.



Mark and Allan watched the room,

the bidding heated up,

there was some serious interest here,

two punters got the bug.



Lot 1 went for £800 plus,

our team could only gasp,

would Lot 7 rocket up,

and go beyond their grasp?



The bidding got well out of hand, 

went right up to five K,

then Allan Hitchcock joined in too,

could it turn out ok?



The leading bid was now 6K,

it started looking bleak,

but unknown to our trusty lot,

the other guy got weak.



Allan called out 7-3,

(more than he’d wished to pay)

a silence rained, then thankfully

the gavel saved the day!



There was a buyer’s premium,

the total? eight K eight,

but now the lot was fought and won,

which really made their day.



Allan will get it digitised,

(an expense he will pay)

Then off it goes to owners club,

to share with all one day.


Sometimes, you just do what is right,

Instead of ‘bugger all’,

The best place is our owner’s club,

Not someone’s private wall.



So many thanks to Allan H,

Plus Mark and Graham Scarth,

To those who pledged, with golden hearts,

who tread the RE path.



We have our bikes, the owners club,

and Hitchcock's for our needs,

And now all Reg's stuff is saved,

for our RE family!





P.S. Offham rally tomorrow (Sunday)




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REOC 15084

Tabellarius de verbis. Ostensor gaudium[/center]


(Disclaimer:- In no way do I drink second hand port or insult the toilet after a hard curry. The value of pie may be eaten as well as scoffed. Your pudding may be at risk if you don't keep scoffing the remains or other toppings secured on it.)

[nigelphoto]

To be recited to the rhythm of 'Night Mail' . . . .