ABOUT ME

My Name is Mick Love and I was a Scooterist
During 1979 - 1985, I am from Edinburgh Scotland
however I live in Essex England Now, This site is to
share my memories of that period in my life.

I bought my 1st Scooter in Late 1979, a Vespa Rally 200
which was to get me to work.
In 1980 I bumped into a guy called James Young.
We both went to the same primary & secondary schools
although he was a year older than me,
James was a Mod, I was just a mad WHO fan with a scooter,
He introduced me to other Mods/Scooterists in Edinburgh.

Along with James Young, Joe Rosano and a few others
who's names I have forgotting,
"THE EDINBURGH BLUES SCOOTER CLUB" was formed.
I sold my Scooter and bought a New Vespa P200E.

We used to go to "Greenmans" in Broughton Street on a Weekday
and "The Maybury" at the weekends.

In 1980, a Scottish Bank Holiday Weekend,
a guy called Dean, Angie Glacken and my girlfriend at the time Fiona,
all went to Southend,

We went to a night club called "Barons"
which was the in place for Essex Mods/Scooterists,
the Music policy was 6T's Rhythm & Soul.
I had been a few times previously as I had Friends
in Chelmsford and My Family where in Colchester.

Later on that year I moved to Essex to live with my Parents in Colchester,
I used to hang around with the Chelmsford Mods,
John Chopping, Gareth Brown and Alison Buckley.

1981

Having lost my Driving Licence for the year
I had to scrounge lifts to the Scooter Rallies.
The Places I Went to
where "Scamps" or "Rascals"
in Southend as "Barons" had Closed Down.

The 1st Rally for Me was Brighton Easter Bank Holiday 1981,
I was one of the first 50 or so scooterists to arrive.
We where greeted to bottles & pint beer glasses throwing at us,
by a group of 100 + Skinheads Who were in a pub
at the roundabout near the pier.

About 30 mins later "Seagull" and the Lads from Southend
plus some of The Fulham Wasps had arrived,
so we soon sorted out the skinheads
without going into too much detail.
These where NOT Scooter Skins.

The rest of the weekend was good, but as it was not
the official scooter rally no events were orginised.

The Next Rally was Bournemouth, again I was with lads from Southend
it pissed down with rain all weekend
and there was a North v South thing going on among the Mods/Scooterists.
Never got involved much, just found a local pub away from the seafront
and enjoyed the rest of the weekend.

I only went to a handfull of rallies in 1981, mainly due to not being on the road,
but 1982 was a different matter.

Attended a lot of Mod/Scooterist Alldayers at ILFORD PALIAS,
Two Promoters Andy Ruw and Dick Coombes, Two different type Alldayers,
Andy Ruw was a Mod Events Promoter whilst Dick Coombes was a Northern Soul DJ.

1982

My Licence back and Scooter back on the road, living in Witham Essex
About 6 of us from Witham attended the Rallies, Peter Flynn,
Terry Collier, Dave, Buz and myself had a great time going to the Rallies.

More Alldayers in Ilford, The GreyHound in Chadwell Heath
these where the places to go, The Greyhound I will do a page
about later as it was not only Northern Soul Nights
but a good few live Mod Bands played there.

Going to the Isle of Wight was fun, Ferry at 1.30am or whatever,
No petrol stations open along the way
3 Scooters on Tow until we got to Portsmouth, just made filling station
my scooter running out of petrol as I got on the forecourt.

Travelling to Skegness through the late hours of night/early morning
the icey fog, that bridge near Boston that everyone nearly went over into the river.
The clutch, gear cables breaking, roadside repairs,
loved it all no wonder people think I am MAD :-)

1983

In 1983 I was living in Chelmsford, hanging around with "The Prize Guys S.C"
although I never went with them to the rallies except "Dunbar"

The YMCA in Chelmsford was the place to be on a weeknight,
packed every week people came from all over Essex to go to it.

I went to the rallies with my then girlfriend Bev,
so most of the time we where in Bed & Breakfast.
Going to the allnighters then crashing out during the early hours of the day,
visiting the Rally Sites to speak to Friends
and look at the Scooters etc.

A bit different from the other years as I used to sleep in tents
or wherever and find a girl for the night.

After the Scooter Rally Season was Over, I moved back to Scotland
late November 1983 for a Year.
I only attended 2 Rallies after Skegness in 1983 they where

DUNBAR 1984
MORECOMBE 1985