ContentsDedication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Foreword.by.Tony.Benn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Prologue .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .8. 1.Baptism.of.fire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10. 2.Battle.for.Triumph. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17. �.Factory.occupation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . �0. 4.Glad.to.be.back. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46. 5.Facing.up.to.commercial.reality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66. 6.Stage.2.Co-op.ideology.revisited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80. 7.Going.our.separate.ways. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95. 8.Advisors.return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111. 9.Inherent.and.irreconcilable.contradictions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12110.Freedom.of.the.press. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12911.Retirements.and.redundancies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1�912.Government.sword.of.Damocles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1461�.Partnership.negotiations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15814.Legal.proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17015.Japanese.negotiations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18016.British.negotiations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18917.New.beginnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20218.Optimism.or.false.dawn?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20819.Confronting.reality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22120.Coming.of.age. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2�221.Pay.our.way.or.close .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..24422.Cauldron.of.activity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2562�.Mandate.for.change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27424.Make.or.break . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28625.Crisis.management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . �0226.Buying.time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . �1827.Politics.take.over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . �2928.Financial.reconstruction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . �4429.Clash.of.operating.cultures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . �54�0.More.sinister.than.coincidence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . �74�1.Words.are.no.longer.enough. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . �85�2.Capital.and.labour.partnership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . �97��.On.the.brink.of.receivership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41��4.Receivership.or.liquidation?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42��5.Epilogue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4�6Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44�

30

Dennis Poore’s factory closure declaration on 14th September 1973 was seen by the Triumph family as an attack on its motorcycle and way of life. The employees’ reaction was therefore very predictable: total opposition to NVT and its leader Dennis Poore’s proposals. Initially, the workforce continued to work normally, though this was soon to

change. The factory occupation required a bargaining position – it was ‘what we have we hold’. Everything within Triumph Meriden was secured by a 24 hour, seven day a week security picket, whose role it was to prevent anything moving.

FACTORY OCCUPATION

3

The pickets’ placards outside the factory proclaiming the occupation force’s intentions said it all! (Courtesy Mick Duckworth’s archive)

SAVE THE TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE!

88

Mr Craddock and the Co-op’s Mr Martin had jointly drawn up a press statement to announce this fact. Following minor amendments this was agreed and issued on 6th December 1977. The press statement simply thanked GEC for its “valuable contribution,” and confirmed that should further advice be required from GEC, it remained only “a telephone call away.”

On 11th December we met the Under Secretary of State for Industry Mr R Cryer, Mr N Atkinson (Labour MP for Tottenham) and Mr A George from the DTI office at Birmingham. Mr Kean gave the visitors a tour of the factory so that they could witness Co-op motorcycle production first-hand. Following this, discussion concentrated upon the possibility of a Metropolitan Police Motorcycle order and research and development co-operation with Dr Geoffrey Roe’s team at Manchester University. The Met Police had tested and liked the contra rotating balanced Triumph police prototype, and were now, subject to availability and specification, considering buying British instead of German.

On the 14th December, Mr Barclay announced that the T140E 1978 USA emission standard test motorcycle had satisfactorily completed the 9500 miles special cycle endurance programme. To achieve this, two test riders and support staff had been working twelve-hour shifts at the Motor Industry Research Authority (MIRA) at Nuneaton. We all breathed a sigh of relief; Triumph Motorcycles could continue to be sold in our vital US volume market in 1978.

John Hallard trained in the experimental department, and quickly developed a reputation as the Co-op’s ‘wheelie king.’ Here he is aboard a prototype T140D Bonneville

special. (Courtesy John Hallard’s archive)

MAKE OR BREAK

295

Electrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12v alternatorIgnition system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . electronicInstruments . . . . . tachometer and speedometerTriumph TS8-1:Triumph’s most expensive model, the TS8-1, now in limited production, was also featured

on the show stand. In its 1983 production form, observant Triumph enthusiasts would spot the two main differences to the late arriving prototype model shown last year. The twin headlights were now rectangular in shape, and the direction indicators were faired into the bodywork.

Triumph Bonneville Executive:The T140ES Bonneville Executive-Electro also made a show appearance. As with the

TS8-1, it utilised the AV frame developed exclusively for British police forces. The Triumph Super Cruiser now offered the ultimate in long distance comfort and smoothness, with quickly

The TR65T Tiger Trail, now with the 650cc engine, is exhibited for the first time. (Brochure picture)

SAVE THE TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE!

194

Geoffrey Robinson, MP, Chief Executive of the Co-op, meets a very concerned delegation of Triumph supporters outside the Department for Trade and Industry, London.

(Courtesy Bob Haines’ archive)

The Triumph Bonneville’s prestigious MCN Machine of the Year award was also celebrated with an advertising poster.

SAVE THE TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE!

438

Bernard (Bunny) Hallard, one of the Triumph machine tool

fitters who kept the obsolete machinery working, surveys

the silent machine shop in readiness for the auction.

(Courtesy photographer Suresh Karadia – Times

Newspapers Limited)

Bunny Hallard looks at the racks of paint masks that made possible the

fantastic finish on Triumph motorcycles. (Courtesy photographer Suresh

Karadia – Times Newspapers Limited)