'Save the Triumph Bonneville' - "an important book" says Tony Benn
31 July 2009
Tony Benn describes the 'Save The Triumph Bonneville' book as one of the most important and relevant histories of British industry that he has ever read. And it is particularly relevant to the situation today with workers' sit-ins at Vestas.
Told for the first time from the inside, the story of the welder who became the Co-op Chairman of the Board of Directors and how the people at the Meriden factory fought courageously against all the odds to preserve the legend of the Triumph Bonneville. This year sees the Bonnevilles' 50th birthday and 'Save The Triumph Bonneville' is not just about the Triumph Bonneville – it is about workers saving their factory and running it themselves.Tony Benn says; "This book, which tells the story of the Meriden Motorcycle Co-operative, is one of the most important and relevant histories of British industry that I have ever read, and the reason is that it was written by somebody who was involved on the picket lines with workers determined to keep the plant open to the end, over ten years later. Visiting the plant and experiencing the excitement and innovation there was a real inspiration that can only come from industrial democracy, and offers us lessons for today. That is why this is such an important book, and I strongly recommend anyone interested in the future of Britain to read it carefully."
There is no motorcycle more famous than the Triumph Bonneville, “the best motorcycle in the world,” and the Meriden factory producing this icon was a personal Mecca to fans of the marque. However in the early 70s, on the brink of what should have been its biggest ever sales season, the BSA parent company dramatically collapsed. In the wake of this failure, Norton-Villiers-Triumph was created, but when the new owners decided to close down Meriden, the workers locked them out.
There then followed an 18 month sit-in, and eventually, with the backing of the Labour Government and then-Minister for Trade and Industry, Tony Benn, the Meriden Workers’ Co-operative was formed.
John Rosamonds' position as Chairman of the Co-operative means that, for the first time, this fascinating story can be told from the inside. All the rescue attempts, the lifesaving international orders, and the negotiations for a reprieve with the new Thatcher Government are covered here in unique detail.
In 1963 Steve McQueen created an iconic moment in movie history for Triumph in The Great Escape with his motorcycle jump on a Triumph TT Special 650.
'Save The Triumph Bonneville' published by Veloce Publishing is due for release in August.
