Roger (Tiny) Bradshaw 27.12.1944 – 21.2.2022
Roger joined the Kings Norton Motorcycle Club in the early 60’s. around 1964 I think. I first met him outside the Hazlewell Pub in Kings Norton one Friday night in early 1965 hoping to join the same club. From that time we became pals and together with two other newcomers to the club, Chris and Bob, found a table in front of the bar ( where else ) . Roger took part in many of the club events including observing at the trials , on one occasion taking part in the Trial himself on a borrowed machine, marshalling at the scrambles and grass tracks that the club were running then and becoming an active member of the club room activities and during his time at the club through its many club room location and changes became a member of the club committee in various positions such as Social Secretary, Press Secretary and various sub committees. Also organising some very successful Bavarian Evenings with food provided and cooked by Roger and myself and a full Bavarian Oopah Band entertaining the club.
He took on the role of Chief Training Instructor at the RAC/ACU Rider Training Scheme, a voluntary position based at various localities around the Birmingham Area, with support from other instructors including myself. In 1966 Roger, myself and our two pals from the club, Chris and Bob, went to the IOM TT races camping alongside the circuit. This led Roger and myself joining the Riders Machine Recovery Team circulating in vans after each practice session and race to collect abandoned machines both crashed or out through machine failure and returning them to the paddock. This became an annual affair for both of us for many years afterwards.
Roger also served as a part time Special Police Constable in the Birmingham Police Force, joining the force as both his two brothers and sister had done but in full time roles.
He was also in the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes also known as the “Buffs” enjoying their debating sessions and helping people in the community.
He played rugby with the Lucas Rugby Club for many years and I remember going with them as a enthusiastic supporter to many club trips playing away matches and to watch internationals in Scotland, England , the Channel Isles and other locations. The Scottish visit was memorable as probably being the largest losing score for the visiting team which was in the high nineties due to the home team taking us to a whisky distillery before the game .
At one time he borrowed a Triumph motorbike from a local dealer and did a sponsored ride from Lands End to John O’Groats to enable a special bed to be bought for the Birmingham Accident Hospital.
Roger worked at the Lucas Company in Birmingham testing electrical equipment being manufactured by them and on being made redundant from them in the early 90’s continued with other companies testing and repairing breakdowns in electrical equipment at other car plants such as Honda and Ford Motor Company.
Roger visited his friend Paul in Spain on a few occasions and when he became married to Pat in the mid 1990’s was able to continue those trips with Pat.
When ill health forced Roger to stop work both his motor cycling and club activities also suffered, and Roger took little part in them being unable to enjoy being as mobile as before. He had enjoyed his motorcycling, his camping weekends and his various club activities including listening to Jazz at local clubs. He liked being a part of things and was always willing to have a go as his sketches at the Kings Norton Motorcycle Club Shows bore out.
He had a full, enjoyable life cut short through ill health but will be remembered by those he helped and was a friend to.
The above is as remembered by his friend, Steve Sabell known since that meeting outside the Kings Norton Motor Cycle Club.
For anyone that knew Tiny and would like to pay their respects, his funeral will be held on Friday 25th March 2022 at 1.45pm
Lodge Hill Cemetery, Weoley Park Road, Birmingham B29 5AA