In memory of Arthur Westall

I heard today that Arthur Westall, who was a teacher at my grammar school, had passed away recently, aged 92. 

'Olly' Westall, as he was known, taught English and Religious Knowledge, but never to me. In fact, I never really knew him at all, other than through the following incident.

Aged 15,  I bought a motorbike from him for £1.  I can't remember the exact circumstances, or why I was the first person to hear about this, but the bike worked and must have been worth more than £1. 

I think that this shows a kind, generous and slightly eccentric side to a man who came across as, well, slightly eccentric.

That's me in the photograph, with the bike, in 1969.   

It was a 1953 Francis Barnett, with a 197cc Villiers engine and a triangular horsehair saddle. It smelt great. And I was that rare thing - a 15 year old with a motorbike,

This made me very popular indeed, as I was the only boy in our year at school to own a motorbike. All my many new friends and I would ride it around my parents back garden and a local quarry.

Then,  the engine seized up  and I returned to obscurity.   I sold it to the window cleaner for £2, the start of a great business career.

We also learned from the registration documents that his full name was Arthur George Huxford Westall. They don't name like that any more. Thank you, Sir

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