Lee's Thunderbird outfit

Photo: Dave Jackson

The passing of Ronnie Barker last month jogged my memory that this great comic had indeed sat in Lee's outfit, while it was ridden by his showbiz partner Ronnie Corbett.
This came about because the two Ronnies wanted to do a sketch on the Two Fat Ladies, this needing a Thunderbird outfit. The feelers were put out to the motorcycling fraternity and we were approached through Boyers for the use of our outfit.
It was in either '97 or '98 and was to be filmed at the London Palladium and shown on the telly - some of you might have even seen it. Well we said yes as on offer was £400, the price of a good service. A date was set and Lee had to take the outfit to Crystal Palace where she met up with Ronnie Corbett in a big open space, to teach him how to ride, which consisted basically how to put it in 1st gear and pull away without stalling. This took a couple of meetings, having to disconnect the alarm as he could not get the hang of that.
Time passed by and the day for taking the bike to London came. A day off work and we both rode into town. On arrival I was shown where they wanted the outfit, round the back of the Palladium. Doors were opened for the outfit to pass through, the only trouble being that they were twelve feet up in the air, being at stage level. Gulp! A big wooden ramp was put out which looked not far off being a 40 degree angle - very steep.
Lee quickly gave the key to me, a run up was taken and I actually made it to the top first time. You would not believe the mess that is behind those big velvet curtains when sitting in the audience, it was like a builder's yard with not a lot of room at all - about twenty feet in depth - with ropes, wood, electrical cables and NAILS all over the floor and walls. I quickly picked up all the nails I could see.
Leaving the key in the ignition we left and had a quick drink at the bar. The following week was the day of the Royal performance and the outfit had to be picked up that night, immediately after the show. Again we rode into town only to find the road we had to use cordoned off, with several police around, what with it being a Royal performance.
Well they must have been expecting us because I was allowed to mount the path and ride along it round the corner to the back by the twelve-feet-off-the-ground doors. While waiting I noticed at least ten or so paparazzi with big cameras waiting by a side door. This was where the stars come out, and first out were the Spice Girls in single file, passing within ten feet of us. I didn't see anyone else as the big ramp was shoved out the doors and it was time to get the outfit.
Miraculously all three tyres had avoided the nails, which were still seen here and there. Time to leave; squeezing past the props and rubbish, I made it to the ramp using the brakes to full advantage and gingerly slid down it. We were waved back through the cordon and off into the cold November night.
The money soon went on a service and - there you have it - Ronnie Barker sat in our outfit.