On the road again Jim’s Lambretta takes him right back to 1959

The years have rolled back for well-known Angus photographer Jim Ratcliffe after rekindling a 55-year love affair with his dream machine.

As a 22-year-old electrical engineer in his native South Shields, Jim became the envy of his pals in March 1959 when he picked up a brand new Lambretta scooter that would remain his two-wheeled pride and joy over thousands of miles.

But as time moved on and family practicalities required four doors rather running boards, the 150cc machine found itself tucked under a blanket in a succession of garages.

There it remained until 2008 when Jim bit the bullet on the restoration project he had promised to tackle for years and the 77-year-old has now finally realised his dream of being back on the road at the controls of the little red and white beauty.

Jim has carried out virtually all of the restoration himself and in the bright sunshine of Arbroath’s Victoria Park today the gleaming scooter was an instant hit among sunseekers on its first run-out to the popular beauty spot.

To read more on how Jim brought his “dream machine” back to life, see Saturday’s Angus edition of The Courier.