Brighton Vespa Club

Brighton Vespa Club was formed in 1954 as the 41st branch of the Vespa Club of Britain. Like many of its fellow branches, Brighton formed strong ties with the local dealer. As with all successful relationships, there was an element of mutual dependency. By opening up his dealership to club members, the proprietor was offering a comfort factor to a client base that was less technically aware than the traditional motorcyclist. More miles covered meant more spare parts sold and more servicing revenue, and, ultimately, more sales of scooters themselves. From the point of view of the scooterist, a compliant dealer formed a focal point for technical and social aspects of scooter ownership.

Brighton Vespa Club formed a close relationship with Blabers, a local dealer whose proprietor – Tony Bugden – was a keen club member. Blabers had a showroom in Edward Street and a workshop just off St James’s Street. The first photograph (Mid 1950's) was taken outside the latter in Cavendish Mews, and shows a typical Saturday morning gathering. Blabers would lay on coffee, and club members would look at the latest Vespas undergoing their pre-delivery checks, chat to the mechanics about minor problem solving and maintenance matters, and just generally socialise.

Ownership of a Vespa in the nineteen fifties opened up the possibility to the masses of the then-exotic idea of continental travel. Some branches got all the way to the South of France or Italy; others contented themselves with short hops across the channel. It’s not certain how far Brighton Vespa Club (seen here at Newhaven circa 1957) were going, but it would certainly have been an adventure.

In an age when there were fewer competing social distractions, Vespa Clubs evolved in to social clubs with regular outings on a Sunday afternoon to Stately Homes, Sea Resorts etc. In the winter there would have been record appreciation evenings, Beetle Drives and visits to local telephone exchanges etc. Inevitably they acted as marriage bureaus, and many a wedding during this period had the local Vespa Club as Guard of Honour. Seen here is the wedding of Jean and Frank Brookes in 1959. Frank is currently the President of the Brighton Vespa Club.

An important element of any Vespa Club was competition, and many a Sunday afternoon was spent riding around the countryside participating in time trials. Seen here is Brighton Vespa Club somewhere near Balcombe in 1962 whilst participating in the “Mid Sussex Scoot”, a time trial run annually by the Mid Sussex branch of the Vespa club of Britain. Shortly after this photo was taken, Brighton Vespa Club was forced to disband because of declining numbers – several of the club stalwarts joining the Mid Sussex branch.

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