FebulousFebruary 2026: The Old Photograph

Chained 

Many years ago I was fit as and full of bravado and fun.

I rode a 500cc motorcycle and often had my girlfriend at the time as pillion, playfully roaming about the city. The Main Street was wide and full of life but less traffic then. It was a a sunny day and we had decided to head out with a vague intention of ending up somewhere doing something. I had given her the spare helmet and rode with my padlock and heavy duty security chain across my shoulder and chest, I was advised in later years that was a stupid idea in the event of an accident, but at the time that’s what bikers did. So we turned onto the Headrow probably well in excess of the speed limit, almost immediately I was ordered to stop by two coppers. I came to a standstill beside them and one of them shouted angrily ‘Alright Sonny boy are you two chained together? take your helmet off.’ I obliged and as I did his jaw dropped and his face turned to confusion then slight disbelief. ‘Umm you’re going too fast..you need to slow down and be a bit more careful..at least you put the helmet on her..ok on your way’ Sharing a smile of delight at our lucky escape off we sped.

Janet, Brighton