Member postings for Sophie Hawthorne

I have lived and worked in Germany and Greece in the past and found that many Germans in particular seemed to have a good grasp of their history, literature and arts. Obviously both these countries had very different and turbulent pasts. I have to admit I was struck by the interest of their young in these subjects.

We, my partner and I, are rather fortunate in that we both come from that make do and mend generation of the 60's and 70's. We are also fortunate in that a wonderful Birmingham toolmaker has taken us under his wing and mentored us through till the present. He is in his mid 70's and still working hard but always has time to discuss a problem or point us in the right direction. I think the good people we have been lucky enough to come into contact with have taught us so much and more to the point inspired us to push ourselves.

I will admit that I'm personally saddened by the decline in the UK's engineering prowess but as is life, things are never simple nor lend themselves to easy solutions. We often drive past the remains of the Cincinnati factory in Birmingham. I'm told that companies like this were doomed from the day someone connected a ball screw to a servo motor and a computer controller.

Although we're unlikely to register massively in the economy of this small island my company, Hawthorne & Beauchamp Motorcycles is part of a small but beautifully formed supply chain here in the Midlands of the UK manufacturing and supplying parts to keep mainly vintage and classic Norton motorcycles running and on the road. I can guarantee that all parts are cast, machines and assembled here in the UK. We build such things as Twin Leading Shoe front brake assemblies, replicas of Norton's production racing item as fitted to their Norvil race bikes. We cast, machine and assemble such components as oil pumps, magneto replacement housings as well as repairs and modifications to engines and running gear.

I'm very proud of our, almost, cottage industry which I fell into with my partner who carries out all the welding and fabrication. I indeed fell into the engineering business purely by accident when I finally realised that my history degree wasn't going to pay the bills and put a roof over our head in a country which knows little of it's heritage and cares somewhat less.