Birthday man Bill, 100, reminisces about his days building motorbikes

Bill Ennis marked the personal milestone by tucking into a trifle made by his son, Roger, to indulge his sweet tooth.

A birthday cake also made it a special day at King's Haven home, in Kings Drive, where Bill has lived recently.

But he was quite content to reminisce about the days when he and his late wife, Jessie, were devoted to their motorbikes. Jessie was the country's top female rider in the 1930s. Bill was her mechanic and support but he also put together the two-wheelers.

"I always enjoyed working in the garage. I built some of the best motorcycles '“ Martin-sides," he said. "They were used by the Royal family."

Bill was born in Tooting, South London. He married Jessie at the outbreak of the second world war.

During the conflict, he worked 500ft underground at Stanmore in Middlesex making aircraft tools by day. He spent the nights as an air raid warden. The end of the war saw him return to his trade as a stereotyper in the printing industry.

For one period, he was in charge of the foundry at The Times when newspapers were printed using the traditional hot metal method.

Ill health caused him to retire from Fleet Street in 1965 and he moved to Pagham. Bill, a lifelong Freemason, undertook many building projects once his health was restored followed by years of being a voluntary hospital car driver among several charitable activities.

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