Bob Currie

Robert Frank Currie (26 April 1918 – 25 July 1988) was an English motorcycling writer and road tester, who later became a magazine editor and book author. Mainly known for his UK journalism work with Motor Cycle, a UK weekly motorcycle magazine-turned-newspaper, then from 1981 as Editor of a new monthly magazine The Classic Motor Cycle, he retired in early 1988 suffering from an ongoing illness, after a full-time writing career starting in 1955, and later died of heart failure. Writing in Currie's obituary, one former-collaborator remembered that many described him as "The Walking Encyclopaedia of Motor Cycling History", whilst his former understudy and editor-designate John Pearson described his death as "this country has lost its leading writer, historian and authority on veteran, vintage and classic British motorcycles".

Early life With his younger brother, Ken, Currie spent his first few years with their father, an officer in the Royal Scots Greys, at various postings. Soon after leaving the army in 1924 and settling at Martley, Worcestershire, their sister Daphne was born and Captain Currie died. Life for his widow with three children was difficult, and young Bob was sent to live with an aunt in Dundee, later returning for his education at Worcester Royal Grammar School followed by work as a trainee engineer at Heenan & Froude in Worcester when he first started to ride motorcycles. He joined the Territorial Army, before conscription to the armed forces for the duration of World War II, in the RAOC (later known as REME) where he maintained and repaired tanks and acted as a despatch rider, progressing to the rank of Staff Sergeant. a seasonal newspaper published by former TT rider Geoff Davison in June for the Isle of Man TT races, with occasional associated books.

As a motorcycle enthusiast and seasonal reporter he travelled to the Isle of Man. When staying in the same Sefton Hotel as the Motor Cycle staff he suggested a collaboration, to enable mutually-better reported coverage of the racing events.

Specialising in the traditional history of motorcycle manufacturing, road-testing and technical articles, Currie established a strong rapport with the various manufacturers, often enjoying their trust in new developments which he kept confidential until the companies issued press releases. In 1965 Currie moved to an office suite at Lynton House, Birmingham, where his desk was part of the parent-publisher's suite in a modern office tower block, Currie was the last journalist on the staff of Motor Cycle to have a company motorcycle – he chose a Triumph Bonneville. As Vice-President of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club he judged concours d'elegance restorations, held Question-and-Answer sessions at classic bike shows and never tired of riding the many machines features in the magazine. Although most of his life was dedicated to motorcycles, he was also interested in steam power and traction engines.

During the middle and later parts of his career Currie converted his vast experience of British manufacturers and period motorcycles into authorship of books, mostly in his own right but occasionally in collaboration with others.

Finale Before his retirement planned for early 1988, he suffered from an illness involving incapacitation due to kidney problems. No longer able to type or write, he continued to edit using dictation – sometimes from his hospital bed – with assistance from his sister Daphne. Assistant-editor John Pearson continued to produce the magazine in close-collaboration. Later in the same year Currie died of heart failure.

Selected bibliography The Glory of the Manx TT 1907-1975. 1976, New English Library Great British Motorcycles of the Fifties. 1981, Hamlyn Publishing Group, Motor Cycling in the 1930s. 1981, Littlehampton Book Services, Classic British Motorcycles - The Final Years. 1984, Temple Press, Classic British Motor Cycles. 1993, Chancellor Press, Great British Motorcycles of the 1950s and 1960s. 2014 Great British Motorcycles of the Thirties. Great British Motorcycles of the Sixties.

Co-authored works The Art of Moto-Cross. Bob Currie and Jeff Smith, 1967, Cassell & Co. The Story of Triumph Motor Cycles. Bob Currie and Harry Louis, 1978, Patrick Stephens,