31st August 2003 Pete Battams proprietor of the Stratford Road Garage, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, sadly died of cancer in Milton Keynes Hospital.

Commonly known as 'Stratford Road Pete' he was one of the old school kind of bike shop owners. He always had a smile to welcome anybody and could fix anything on two or three wheels. Pete helped many of us keep our bikes on the road with free advice and was one of the best MOT men in the area, always giving us a chance to fix any faults he found (often lending us the tools to do it).

His funeral was on Thursday 11th September 2003, over 200 bikes and riders turned up to say goodbye, many of them having his signature on their MOT's.

God may ride a Bonneville and a Harley for all I know, but now he has one of the best mechanics I ever met to keep them running.