Author John Rosamond recently visited the Museum to sign his book Save the Triumph Bonneville, by special arrangement for Triumph enthusiast Patrick McAndrew. An airline pilot based in Devon, Mr McAndrew was an avid collector of Triumph brochures in the Seventies, well-known to factory staff manning stands at shows. He bought his first Triumph motorcycle, a 750cc TR7V Tiger, in 1978 and travelled all over Europe on it. “I’ve read John’s book twice and very much wanted him to sign it,” Mr McAndrew said on his visit, when he also got a copy autographed for his Triumph T140-owning friend Mike Beeston, who was unable to travel that day. John Rosamond also signed copies on sale in the Museum shop, which will be a pleasant surprise for whoever buys them. The book, sub-titled The inside story of the Meriden Workers’ Co-op, is a first-hand account of events at Triumph’s Meriden factory during its second lease of life from 1975 to 1983. For much of that period Rosamond was chairman of the Co-op board, which maintained production of the Bonneville despite strong foreign competition and a chronic shortage of finance.
Patrick McAndrew proudly holds his signed copy. The machine is a Triumph Bonneville D Special, made during Rosamond’s chairmanship of Meriden Motorcycles.
