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Hannah Paton memories

letters

Dear Malc

The photo of Fred Stevens on the Hannah Paton (page 12 of Classic Racer, May/June) brought back memories of the 1960s. Bill Hannah was a motorcycle dealer in Great George Street, Liverpool, and as a motorcycle mad youth not old enough to ride yet, I used to visit his 'showroom'.

The dimly lit 'showroom' was in terraces, with the bikes arranged along each terrace. Bearing in mind we are talking about old leaky, mostly British, bikes the leaking oil ran over the terrace edge to the next terrace. Not like the glitz of today's showrooms. As I remember the bikes were all guaranteed ...to the door!

One day I spotted a very unloved bike leaning against the wall, which turned out to be the Paton Hannah sponsored riders on. It was in an awful state, but even to my untutored eye, could see it was a pukka racing bike, I wonder what happened to it?

Hannah was doing well at the time and drove a Lamborghini sports car, a rare thing in Liverpool in those days, and which the mechanics used to 'borrow' for a quick blast.

Fast forward to the year 2000; I owned a sub-post office, and one day I recognised a customer as Bill Hannah. I asked if it was The Bill Hannah of motorcycle fame, which he confirmed he was. I have to say the old man before me grew in stature at being recognised, which was nice.

I served him a few more times over the weeks, then he stopped coming in, he wasn't well and I think he passed on, sadly. I've seen the odd mention of a Hannah Paton over the years, and I wonder how successful it was.

Thanks for your editorship; Classic Racer really is a joy to read.

Kind regards,

Maxwell Johnson

Thanks for your kind comments Maxwell, this job really is a joy. The Hannah Paton was a successful piece of kit in its day and with more funding could have been much more so. I well remember super stylish Fred Stevens and all-rounder Billie Nelson, pictured, having some great rides on them.

As our star man on the letters page we’ve got a treat waiting here for you, but once again I’ve lost your address. Please drop me a line or email and we’ll get the Duke DVDs winging across to you. Malc

Seeking Pete Bettison

Dear Malc

Please could you help me in tracing the above mentioned road racer?

Pete usually rode 350 and 500 Manx Nortons in the Manx and TT races in the late 1950s to at least 1964. His best recorded TT finish was in the 1964 Senior when he finished in 11th place averaging 93.62mph securing a First Class Replica. I believe he rode for Reg Dearden. He also rode the UK short circuits.

I was but a schoolboy in those days and I never saw Pete race and I have never met him. I am fairly certain Pete is a relative of mine, possibly a cousin. I have searched the usual family tree routes without success and all of my relatives who would be the age of Pete's parents are no longer alive.

I have lived in Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire all my life, as have my family, but I recall my late father telling me he had a brother who moved to West Yorkshire around the 1920s. There are a few other Bettisons scattered around the UK.

I realise personal details are somewhat sensitive nowadays but I would be very pleased if you could help point me in the right direction to learn more about Pete and his whereabouts, I guess he would only be in his early seventies today.

I love the ‘Classic Racer’ mag, and have been a regular reader for around five years since I discovered it.

Kind regards,

David Bettison