Edward Turner dies in his sleep at his home in Dorking, Surrey.
In July 1937, the motorcycle world was changed when Edward Turner introduced the 500cc Triumph Speed Twin.
Turner's designs, flair and intuitions seeded a generation of motorcycles not only from Triumph but from rival manufacturers including Ariel, BSA, Norton and AMC. Edward Turner's legendary 500cc 5T Speed Twin of 1937 was, hands down, the most exciting motorcycle of its age, a bike that metamorphosed into the 650cc Triumph twin that set the world alight in 1956 when, piloted by the "Texan Tornado" Johnny Allen, it hit 214mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Then came the 1959 650cc T120 Triumph Bonneville, one of the most famous motorcycles of all time. Be still my heart.
In his time Edward Turner made more progress than anyone else in the British motorcycle industry. In recognition of this, in 2008, the house where Turner lived and worked at 8 Philip Walk in Peckham, South-East London was awarded a prestigious Blue Plaque by the Southwark London Borough Council. The Blue Plaque was unveiled on October 25, 2009.
When the Royal Mail issued six postage stamps on July 19, 2005 featuring classic British motorcycles, Turner was the only designer cited by name in the accompanying presentation packet liner notes. This was in relation to the stamp featuring his 1938 Triumph Speed Twin.
Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk
