Solent City Scooter Club

                      
 

Colin Fry and Debbie

by Dave Tooley

 

Colin Fry & Debbie were good friends of mine for quite a number of years, both during the Solent City era and a considerable time after. 

Colin was what you would call the strong, silent type.  Way over 6 foot tall, with a whisker growth that could compete with Wembley turf.

Despite him being one of the longest serving members of the club, for the life of me I cannot think of any little anecdotes to write about him.  He was just one of those guys that would always be there, but wouldn’t make a fuss.  He did make a big effort to attend meetings and runs, and like Dave Seymour would do anything for anybody.

I was Best Man at his wedding, and used to visit him and his wife Debbie often when they lived in Fareham.

Debs first joined the club on her own bike, (a small Vespa I believe, someone correct me if I’m wrong) which was a bit of a first because every other female member was simply a passenger on the back of someone else’s machine.

She hadn’t been with us long when she was involved in the most horrendous biking accident which affected her for life. She was a really slim and attractive girl, and her accident somehow affected her in a way that caused an increase in weight.  Something she fought for a long time afterwards.

The first time I was aware that she was Colin’s girlfriend was when I saw them walking arm in arm in Fareham shopping centre with Debs hobbling along with the aid of crutches.  Up till then, Colin had been with the same girlfriend for a considerable period of time.  I even thought he was engaged to the other girl, but I could be wrong. The other girl is the one sitting on the back of Mick Estlicks bike, and Colin is the laid back guy on the right of the photo sitting side saddle.

Eventually Colin and Debs split up, divorced, and I lost contact with them both for a time.  Then Debs re-appeared living in a flat in Fareham, and had become a student for a while, though I cannot remember what she was studying.

I never did hear from Colin again.

Marten tells me that he has seen poor Debs recently, and she is now confined to a wheelchair.  It is such a shame because she was a very active girl.  

I always had a soft spot for her.

Note from Marten:

As I am sure Dave will remember Colin acquired an Afghan coat, (it was all the rage then) it was to put it mildly rank, I don't think the skin had been prepared properly or maybe it was made from road kill, but once Colin was in the back of my 3 wheeler Bond he stunk it out for weeks.

Debbie has recently got remarried to a nice guy called Bear and can be found having a drink or 2 at the Thorngate Hall Social Club. She has brittle bone disease inherited from her dad, and is now in a wheelchair, but it hasn't dampened her spirit she is still a great laugh and good company.

 

 

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