The above is my first cousin, Larry (Clarence Henry John) Honour during his National Service days. He died this morning after a long illness.

He lived with my family in Kingswood as an unofficial evacuee during the Second World War and was always held up to me by my mother, Florence Pillinger, as an example of good behaviour. He always said this made him sound like a real goody-goody.

I remember how he showed the local boys (I was an honorary member of the gang) how to make candle lanterns from jam jars but whether this evoked the perennial shout “Get that b…… light out”, I can’t remember. He was a talented engineer and made a bicycle out of spare parts whilst he was still staying at our house. Later he made a motor bike from other bits and pieces which he rode down to Kingswood from Epsom, Surrey.

In “MPH” the Journal Magazine of the Vincent HRD Owners Club (June 2002) he recounted the story of an amazing find:

“My bike is a bit non-standard but I have modified it to suit my own taste. It is known as the Skye Comet because I found what was left of it on a rubbish tip north of Uig Bay on that island. We were on holiday in May 1977, driving around enjoying the scenery, the magnificent Cuillins almost always visible in the background. Suddenly, I saw a pair of handlebars sticking out of a rubbish dump. They turned out to be part of a BSA with the Vincent remains alongside. I wanted to pack my find into the car, but with luggage, etc., there just wasn’t room. Sadly, my wife did not go along with the suggestion that she might have a more comfortable ride if she took the train home!

“In the  autumn, being careful not to mention rubbish tips or motorcycles, I persuaded my wife and son to return to Scotland in a motorised caravan (large). They were expecting to explore the West Coat on the mainland on this holiday and looked puzzled when I insisted on catching the Skye ferry. Not for long though – nods and smiles (at least I hope they were smiles) told me that they had guessed my mission. Fortunately, the remains were still in place which some might find hard to believe.

“Now, some 20 years later, with many hours of work, not to mention the cost of bits and pieces, I find that Old Father Time has caught up with me. I really need a lighter bike, but I thought I would recount the old girl’s history before we eventually part.

“The registration is OSJ 330 – Old Skye Junk?” 

Larry was the son of Harry Honour, my mother’s brother, my favourite uncle and his wife Winnie (Stovell). He knew his wife, Kathleen, nee Bullen from the time they were six! They were childhood sweethearts and were married in 1955. In 1959 twins were born to the couple, but sadly the baby girl, Anne, died shortly after birth. Larry is survived by his wife Kathleen and their only son Patrick and his wife Christine.