Jeane - The fastest hearse in the West
- 22 May 2011 06:43107235
The Rocket is a Triumph Rocket III with a 2.3 litre, three cylinder engine built by Liversedge-based DTB Panther Trikes to Reverend Biddiss's specifications and within the relevant road traffic regulations.
He managed to reach a bone shaking 114 miles per hour!!Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter) - 22 May 2011 06:551072412.3 litre engine must make it pretty fast - wouldn't be late for your funeral in it would you ?
Roger - 22 May 2011 07:23107248Ah yes Im familiar with the Triumph Rocket 3. They regurgitated the Rocket 3 name in recent times but I remember it as a terrific racing motorcycle in the early seventies. Ordinary joe, a chap called John Cooper, beat the legendary glamourous pin up Giacomo Agostini at the Mallory Park Race of the Year on one of these machines. He won by a wheels breath and Ago was virtually unbeatable those days. British pride had conquered the day and it swelled in everyone's breast.. a British motorcycle had done the deed of victory. It was the last throw of the dice for British manufacturers in racing terms.. near as dammit. Ago was on an MV Agusta and JC was on the BSA version of the Rocket 3...all this off the top of my head but unless memory is faltering thats how it went. Great days though.
You shudda heard the roar at Mallory park as John Cooper came round the last corner in the lead.
I still remember it, it almost brings a tear to a chaps eye so it does.
The new version is a big cruiser style machine. It came out rougnly about 5 years ago..very wide wheels and tyres to absorb all that power hitting the street surface.
As Roger said you wouldnt be late for yer funeral in that Jeane. It would most definely give yer bones a good rattling...
email: dover7@msn.com - 22 May 2011 08:02107251Yes I read about that
.
I had my first ever motor cycle ride a couple of years back on what else, a hearse bike! Pic below. I will be on another one in June dressed in Victorian mourning clothes when I'm doing an appearence at Lambeth cemetery open day.
The bike hearses are very popular for biker funerals and young people.
- 22 May 2011 09:20107276hard to envisage an open day at a cemetary, it's not as if the residents can come and go as they choose.
- 22 May 2011 09:48107279Yes, it's an interesting day out. There are stalls, tours, birds of prey, exhibitions and information on different types of burials etc. Historical and genealogy societies and bug hunts and face painting for the kids. It's to make cemeteries less intimidating and creepy as well as raising funds for the cemetery or a local charity. Most of the larger London cemeteries have open days and for anyone in and around the area or interested here is the list for this year:
11th June 2011 West Norwood cemetery, Norwood Road, London, SE27. 10am - 4pm.
2nd July 2011 Kensal Green cemetery open day, Harrow Road, London, W10 4RA. 11am - 5pm.
17h July 2011 Lambeth cemetery open day, Blackshaw Rd, Tooting, London, SW17 0BY. 10:30am - 4pm. I will be there in Victorian mourning dress.
17th July 2011 Brompton cemetery open day, Fulham Road, Kensington, London, SW10 9UG. 11am - 5pm.
17th September 2011 Streatham Cemetery open day, Garratt Lane, Tooting, London SW17 0LT. 2pm - 4pm.
I realise not many people would want to be the 'face' of a cemetery but I'm honoured to be one for Lambeth.
- 22 May 2011 10:30107287That's so cool Jeane and close to my old stamping ground too.
Is it true that the open piece of fenced in land at the bottom of Gypsy Hill that I used to cycle pat every day is actually a plague pit?
Good to see Lambeth promoting something worthwhile at last - great work.Oh Boy!, That'll be the day......... - 22 May 2011 11:00107288Thanks Buddy.
Apparently when the churchyards began overflowing, plague pits were sunk from the orchards of Fulham to Gypsy Hill.
The manager of Lambeth cemetery is a wonderful lady and it's for a good cause so anything that helps. - 22 May 2011 11:00107289What a fabulous idea! A bit left field and a great way to reduce the taboo of death and the things surrounding death.
- 22 May 2011 11:13107291It is a good idea Bern and something I have been trying to do in my own little way for a few years. I guess death is the last taboo but by photographing monuments, writing about cemeteries and producing books, I'm giving people a glimpse to the other side, but in a good way not a scary one. I began getting involved with monument restoration and preservation and started going to some of the cemetery open days. Now I'm roped into helping out and really enjoy it.
- 22 May 2011 11:20107292It is a job well done, Jeanne. I am increasingly aware of the footsteps of ancestors trudging behind me and clamour of the long (and not so long) dead to be heard respectfully and without fear. Embracing the past also means embracing the people who populated it and respecting their pathways to today. I will try to get to one of the open days if I can. I wonder if there is the chance of a more local event?
- Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
22 May 2011 14:38107302Our local undertakers have access to a range of "odd" conveyances. I haven't decided on mine yet but I think I'll go for something comfortable.
TerryQuis custodiet ipsos custodes? - 22 May 2011 15:10107304I have to say Farriers were really good for us in January this year, arranged everything efficiently and quietly, even the repatriation. Sensitive without being mawkish they really excelled. A big thank you to them. And if they have a coffin shaped like an elevator I might give it a go.......just for the craic!
- 22 May 2011 15:56107308Have long thought cemeteries beautiful places. St Andrews at Buckland nparticularly lovely, quiet and a bit overgrown but very peaceful.
- 22 May 2011 17:10107323If I remember the islands in the middle of the ponds on Clapham Common are plague pits as well.
- 22 May 2011 17:44107329I think half of London is Barry W-S
- 23 May 2011 08:39107370Just rambling further on the plague...Im not very up to speed on the history of the local region here but wasnt Gravesend also a place for mass burials of plague victims from London. I seem to remember hearing about that in passing on one of the TV programmes , hence the name. Might be worth a visit Jeane if you havent been already..although I might just be teaching the expert to suck eggs here
Bet thats a spooky oul place in the dead of night with the wind howling up through the main street.email: dover7@msn.com - 23 May 2011 09:59107375You are right there PaulB, I believe it was called Graves End because that's where some of the plague pits in London ended. Another really interesting one is Bunhill Fields in London; there is a small churchyard with what can only be described as the tip of the iceberg as regards the graves you can see. It was a huge mass burial pit and even to this day it seems to give people goose bumps.
- Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
23 May 2011 11:19107378I've often thought about having my funeral before I'm dead just to see who turns up!
Terry
ps I've got the order of service written out together with a cd of the music. I also have 50 red noses for the congregation to wear.Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? - 23 May 2011 14:01107393Terry - you and me both.
I know exactly what I want too.
