picture motorcycle: Edward Turner Blue Plaque Event

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Edward Turner Blue Plaque Event

Chief Designer: Edward Turner

A blue plaque has been unveiled in Southwark to the designer

of the most iconic British motorbike ever, the Triumph.

Edward Turner first started designing and building motorbikes

in workshops in Peckham in the 1920s.

Now, as part of the Southwark blue plaques scheme, run by Southwark Council, his contribution to the world of motorbike design has been officially recognised.

Edward Turner junior

A plaque was unveiled by his son, also called Edward Turner,

on Sunday October 25 at 8 Philip Walk in Peckham,

where Edward Turner (Snr) lived in the early 1920s.

Edward Turner was voted for by the residents of Southwark as one of the ten most deserving recipients of a blue plaque in 2007. Among others voted for in that year's competition were Sir Henry Cooper, John Harvard and Anne Shelton.

Cllr Nick Stanton, leader of Southwark Council, said:

"Our blue plaques reveal an amazing richness of history throughout Southwark. Edward Turner is a great example of the wealth of important figures that we're able to honour in this way, and I hope this plaque will remind people for years to come that the man responsible for a truly iconic motorbike lived and worked in this borough.

"Stephen Humphrey, Southwark Council archivist, said:

"Edward Turner was a Southwark boy through and through, and it was here in Peckham where he first started and then developed his career in motorbike design, a career that was to make a name for him across the globe. It was at his own firm, Chepstow Motors, based on Peckham Road, where he built his first motorcycle, and later he went on to design such classics as the Ariel Square Four, the Triumph Speed Twin, and the Triumph Bonneville.

"Notes:

The Southwark blue plaques scheme is run by Southwark Council and is a joint initiative of the council, Southwark News and the Southwark Heritage Association

Edward Turner:

Born at 32 Bronti Place, Walworth and later lived at 87 Rye Hill Park. He was the managing director of Triumph Motorcycles, achieving great commercial success. He designed the Triumph Tiger motorcycles in 1936,

the Triumph Twin Speed of 1937,

the Triumph Thunderbird and

the Triumph Bonneville,

all of which have a world wide following.

(Bron: Interbike)

EDWARD TURNER BLUE PLAQUE EVENT

The weather was fine encouraging mass support on Sunday afternoon and London ITV news covered the event on their 6pm news programme that evening.

Veloce author John Rosamond and Tony Benn were among the guest speakers at the event which marked the unveiling of the Edward Turner plaque by Edward Turner Junior at 8 Philip Walk, Peckham, London SE15.