Leigh Vespa Group - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh On Sea News: Leigh Vespa Group – OLD Leigh is fast becoming the hub of a Vespa GS revival, thanks to two long-time enthusiasts who are reigniting passion for the classic scooter.

Leigh Vespa Group - OLD Leigh is fast becoming the hub of a Vespa GS revival, thanks to two long-time enthusiasts who are reigniting passion for the classic scooter.

OLD Leigh is fast becoming the hub of a Vespa GS revival, thanks to two long-time enthusiasts who are reigniting passion for the classic scooter.

Andy McAvoy, from Hadleigh, and Garry Moore, from Westcliff, have been devoted to their scooters since the Mod revival of the 1980s.

In June, they met outside the Crooked Billet in Old Leigh to take their Vespas for a spin along the seafront, in a ride that sparked the beginnings of a new Vespa GS group.

Mr McAvoy explained: “following a post on social media from that first meeting, word got round and other Vespa GS owners got in touch asking if they could join us and enjoy taking our scooters out on rides together.”

Over the summer, their numbers have grown to 15, with members coming from as far afield as Shepherds Bush to enjoy their regular rideouts.

Mr McAvoy, 53, who wrote the book Original Southend Mods in 2023, interviewed several of the original Southend scooter riders and found their love for the Vespa GS model was as strong now as it was in the 1960’s.

“It marked a turning point in youth independence when it was launched in 1955 and ran until 1962,” explains Mr McAvoy.

It is now a cross-generational passion, with riders ranging in age from 17 to 80 and comprising a mixture of original Mods, revivalists, and classic Vespa enthusiasts, who have all been captivated by the iconic marque from more recent times.

Mr McAvoy hopes to get more enthusiasts to join the group, adding: “we have had 15 different Vespa GS owners bring their scooters out with us since we started and our record is 12 out on one ride, which is an amazing sight to see as they all zoom along the Essex lanes together.

“We decided to keep the meetings just for the Vespa GS model to celebrate what it represented for so many people over the years, and we hope that we can attract even more riders before the summer is over.”

Any Vespa GS owners are welcome to join to rideouts (weather permitting) by meeting outside the Crooked Billet pub in Old Leigh at 6:30pm every Tuesday evening.

Telephone Andy McAvoy on 07939 386472.

Picture: the group on a rideout this August. Pic Alice Moore

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