Workers win after 18-month sit in

A fascinating new book has just been released, Save the Triumph Bonneville! - The inside story of the Meriden Workers’ Co-op, proving an authentic account of a workforce taking over the factory to save the world's most famous motorcycle, the Triumph Bonneville.

Written by John Rosamond to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the legendary Bonneville, Rosamond tells how he went from a welder to become the co-op chairman of the board of directors, and how the people at the Meriden factory fought courageously against all the odds to preserve the legend of the Bonneville.

The Meriden factory was a personal Mecca to fans of the marque. Film stars such as Steve McQueen visited Meriden for their Triumphs. But on the brink of what should have been its biggest ever sales season, the BSA parent company dramatically collapsed.

The conservative government reacted, and Norton-Villiers-Triumph was created. The new owners decided to close down Meriden ... so the workers locked them out.

There followed protracted political negotiations, affected all the while by national government changes, ministers’ attitudes, national and international economic conditions and, throughout all this, the world's continuing desire for the Triumph.

All the rescue attempts, the lifesaving international orders, and the negotiations for a reprieve with the new Thatcher government are covered by Rosamond, as is the introduction of new models that Meriden hoped would attract a 'white knight'.

The 448-page hard back is also full of previously unpublished images.

Rosamond remained at Meriden under BSA, Triumph, NVT and the Triumph co-op until the end. After Meriden, John was employed by the new Triumph firm in Hinckley before returning to his original trade as a welder, assessing students in the craft until his retirement in 2003.

Click on the following link to order Save the Triumph Bonneville! - The inside story of the Meriden Workers’ Co-op.