JOHN LITTLE 13th May 1935 – 8th September 2019

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of John Little, former trials and enduro rider who had suffered two dibilitating strokes recently and slipped away peacefully on Sunday, 8th September 2019, aged 84 years.

John was originally from Edinburgh, but made his home at Elgin, Moray in the 1980s with his wife Eileen.

Father of top Scottish enduro rider Derek Little, John or Johnny as he was also known was a prime mover in the Grampian MCC and Elgin Enduro clubs with his friend Gilbert Rae. He was a passionate supporter of both trials and enduros.

He rode in the 1973 International Six Days Trial in the USA at Dalton, Massachusetts on a 169cc Greeves Pathfinder enduro, then switching to Laverda for the 1974 ISDT and finally Husqvarna machinery. John was a regular competitor in the Welsh Three Day Trial.

He was life-long friends with Jimmy Ballantyne who also died earlier this year.

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After retiring from active competition, Little took up support work for the Scottish ACU ISDE teams along with friend Ballantyne.

John Little also served on the SACU Enduro committee and was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award by the SACU management some years ago.

Trials Guru’s John Moffat said: “I have known John Little for well over 50 years. He was one of those people who rode competitively for many years, but put more into the sport than he took out. He worked tirelessly for the sport and encouraged many riders to take up enduro racing, that included myself. It was Johnny that insisted that I try my hand at enduros and I was grateful for his encouragement. I spent time in his company in 1976 at the ISDT in Austria and it was then as an 18 year old that I realised how helpful he was in supporting the Scottish ACU riders in that event. He had the ability to talk to anyone, of any age and his enthusiasm was infectious. He told me many times that motorcycling was a ‘disease’, to which there is no cure.

John was a true enthusiast, he rode trials, enduros and road bikes, he restored and prepared machines to a very high standard. There are many stories I could tell which involved Johnny, but this, for me, isn’t the time. I will miss his enthusiasm, I will miss his friendship. Johnny Little was one of the good guys.”

John’s funeral will be held on Friday 13th September 2019 at 2.30pm at William Watson Funeral Directors, 17 Blackfriars Road, Elgin, IV30 1TY – all welcome to attend.

Our sincere condolences go to the Little family at this difficult time.

It is with sadness that we announce the death of Peter Cameron ‘Jock’ Wilson of Tolworth, Surrey, formerly of Comerfords and Bultaco UK, Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton and latterly director of SWM UK. He was 85 years of age.

Jock was born and brought up in Glen Lyon, Perthshire and moved south when he joined the army to do his national service based at Aldershot.

Jock was a former Trials and ISDT competitor and went on to manage the Scottish ACU ISDT Vase teams and then the Great Britain ISDT Trophy teams for the ACU.

Details of Jock Wilson’s funeral arrangements are cremation on Tuesday, 10th September at Randalls Park Crematorium, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 OAG at 14.45pm.

Trials Guru send heartfelt condolences to his widow Patricia, son Gordon and the Wilson family. His son Andrew died some years ago.

A full article on Jock Wilson is available on this website: HERE

Peter Thomas Stirland (22nd April 1935 – 2nd August 2019)

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of former James, Royal Enfield & Greeves factory trials rider, Peter Stirland of Hungerford.

Peter’s death has occurred in the same year as Johnny Brittain who also rode for the Reddich manufacturer when the UK dominated the trials market with machinery and factory riders.

Prior to Royal Enfield, Stirland rode for James in 1954 and then after the Enfield years, he switched back to two-stroke power, riding for Greeves in 1964 on their TFS machines.

Stirland was not only an accomplished trials rider, he also represented Great Britain in the International Six Days Trial on many occasions.

Stirland was the proprietor of Peter Stirland Ltd in Hungerford, Berkshire which was a main Ford car dealership which he founded in 1958 and has been a family owned business to the current day.

Trials Guru sends sincere condolences to the Stirland family at this difficult time. Peter’s memorial service was held at St. John’s Church, Stockcross, Newbury on Friday 23rd August, 2019.