While I recently stayed in a small hamlet in Staffordshire , I had the pleasure to meet Maurice Arden , it wasn't long before the conversation came round to motorcycles, me being a young 54 yr old and only recently started riding trials , was amazed at Maurice's knowledge of trials in the 50s to present date , but his heart was with the classics . When the conversation came round to the attire of the modern trials outfits Maurice surprised me again telling me off the boots he used to produce , the Big John super cross , the Fenman dual purpose enduro and the Supertrack model , which he supplied the British trials team with Boots and Gloves for 14 yrs . Maurice informed me Mick Andrews won the Scottish more than once wearing the boots Maurice made.

One of his promotional ploys was to tuck a new dry pair of his gloves into the bikes handlebars . Maurice also told me of a letter he received from the late Jim Sandiford thanking him for his support of the British ISDT team , also receiving correspondence from Ken Heanes and Mary Driver , Team manager and ACU Competitions secretary respectively.

I was wondering if anyone out there ever owned any boots or still own , gloves or the Big John body belt Which Maurice produced , or any memories you would like to share , and hopefully I will be able to pass on your remarks to Maurice .

It was a pleasure to meet such a Gentleman .

Thanks for your time

Dave Turner.

I wore a pair of Big John boots for solo and sidecar scrambles and grasstrack in the 1960s /early 70s, as a member of the original Forfar District Motor Club (Hic et Ubique motto, still got the car badge proudly displayed in the kitchen!).

Boots were good solid lumps of horse or cow hide.

Edited February 11, 201412 yr by bulltaco340