Soek Seng 1954 commemorates Raleigh Chopper Designer, Alan Oakley by restoring a trio of Raleigh Choppers.
The designer who created the revolutionary Raleigh Chopper bicycle, which became a symbol of the 1970s, has died of cancer aged 85, on 18 May 2012.
Alan Oakley, who drew the initial design for the Chopper on the back of an envelope while flying back from the United States in 1967, died in Nottingham on Friday.
His wife Karen confirmed that her husband had died at their home in the Wollaton area of the city, nine months after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.
Oakley created the Chopper, which is famed for its unusual appearance and car-like gear shifter, after a trip to America to get to grips with the nation's youth culture.
With an angular seat, a large back wheel and small front wheel, the Chopper was a huge success for Nottingham-based Raleigh in Britain and America, becoming a must-have bike for a generation of children.
Relating how her husband fine-tuned his design, Karen Oakley said: "Alan had been over to America looking to pick up a design for a bike.
"While he was flying back, he had an airmail envelope and just drew this bike on the back of it and that was that, the creation of the Chopper."
Paying tribute to her husband's achievements in four decades with Raleigh, Oakley said: "He was there for 40 years and loved every minute of it.
"He made people very happy and I am very proud of him.
"As a friend and former colleague of Alan's said: 'Raleigh was Alan and Alan was Raleigh'. That says it all really."
Press Association, guardian.co.uk
-- Edited by dmonster on Saturday 6th of April 2013 09:52:35 PM
This is the ONE forum dedicated to classic and vintage bicycles. Our community consists of enthusiasts and collectors of all genre such as lightweight racers, tourers, track racers, time trials, single speeds, gentleman roadsters, commuters, choppers, cruisers, mountain bikes, mtb, bmx and many more. Classic Vintage Cycles - The forum, features topics of all interest like bicycle restoration tips and informations, classified advertisements, vendors corner, bicycle workshop recommendations and galleries. Join our monthly bicycle challenge, winners will be crown bicycle of the month and will be entered into our bicycle hall of fame. Check out our articles evolve around the classic and vintage bicycle scene. Don't miss out our current activities and event calendar. As part of our continuous effort to create awareness for female riders, we have created, the ladies riding club, a sub-forum exclusively for the ladies only.
