Remembering Bill Brooker
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Bill Brooker's interest in motor cycles did not finish with the closure of the AMC Plumstead factory.
He became an keen G50 racer, competing at many events over the intervening years.
However, his penchant for parting company with his machine at the most inappropriate times was the cause
of a long string of injuries which did little to curb his enthusiasm.
Bill died in March 2026 and his funeral order of service (rather surprisingly) gives details of some of these mishaps.
(Click on images to enlarge)
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At the wake, following a very well attended funeral, some of Bill's friends and colleagues related interesting episodes from his long career that are repeated here, thanks to Alan Puplett's notes taken at the time.
From the racing fraternity:
Rupert Murdon gave somewhat amusing accounts of his experiences of dealing with Bill.
They included his racing in the Isle of Man, his highlights as well as his unfortunate brushes with the scenery and the tarmac!
Even trying to fit windows made to a 10th of a millemetre into out-of-square old brick work! In the depth of winter!
And Rupert's troubled dilemma of sacking Bill! And their easily made up friendship after.
Mike Braid provided Bill with many opportunities to race his exotic race bikes over the years! One event Alan witnessed!
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It all stemmed from Bill's amazing ability of lateral thinking and going his own way!
Even at a training session I arranged with the late great designer/racer Peter Williams, who I worked next to in the
Norton Villiers Design office, at a Wednesday practice!
Peter reiterated his racing philosophy of squaring-off the corner, braking and changing down into the apex and powering out.
The chassis is hence always under load.
Bill would have none of it! He never followed Peter on his Arter, I did like glue! Bill did his own thing!
He had read that Paddy Driver took Paddock Bend from the inside!
This trait led to the famous incident of Bill coming together with four other riders at Paddock Bend!
Bill was on Mike's priceless BSA Daytona Triple, and he just barrelled into them from the inside as they entered from the normal line going to the apex!
Kevin Scott (Leggsy) was involved and his wife saw the accident from the paddock grandstand!
When Bill got back into the paddock, she sought Bill out, called him a bastard and slapped him very hard around the Face!
Mike also told a story of Bill trying to break Commando frames at the Chobham proving grounds!
He was attempting to land on the front wheel from a jump!
Unfortunately, on landing, his wedding tackle hit the tank! He rolled off the bike in abject agony!
Alan took over what transformed next!
He was taken to emergency laying prostrate on the laid-back front seat!
The doctor perused his rapidly swelling meat and two veg!
A nurse was instructed to place his delicate 'manhood' in a sling type bandage made from a string vest!
One wag, who helped Bill out of the surgery, said to the nurse! " Is it possible for you to give him something for the pain!
But for him to keep the swelling!"
Both the wag and the Nurse burst out laughing, much to Bill's dismay!
Bill may have been hung like a donkey, but he walked like hard ridden Cow Boy!
(Click the following link for some videos of Bill's slightly-less painful frame testing rides).
Such was the vein of the memories that unfolded, where so many views of Bill's multi-faceted life were exposed!
Alan concludes with a thought that is shared by all who came within his sphere:
Bill you were a Diamond! A total one off! Never to see the like of you again!
I, for one, was proud to call you a dear friend, fellow racer and ex-business partner!