Son of Thunder

The end came on May 13 1935, on the road from Bovington Camp village in Dorset to a tiny rented cottage known as Clouds Hill. Aircraftman 338171 Shaw, as he was then known, lost control of his SS100 Brough Superior motorcycle just 300 yards from his home.

In reality of course, our motorcyclist was Thomas Edward Lawrence, soldier, author, diplomat, archaeologist and spy. And while the exact circumstances of his crash are shrouded in speculation, we do know that he encountered a couple of bicycle delivery boys on that straight but undulating road, though there is an eye-witness report of a mysterious black car and other, more fantastical rumours of Special Branch involvement.

TE Lawrence flew off the big 998cc vee-twin machine, his eighth-such model called George VII, although his ninth Brough Superior was under construction at the time. Aged just 46, Lawrence died in Bovington Military Hospital six days later on May 19 joining a litany of famous motorcyclists who these days ride a cloud, amongst others: musician Duane Allman; LSR holder Gary Gablich; third man to walk on the moon Pete Conrad; car designer Andrea Pininfarina; actor Treat Williams; and most recently Oscar-winning musician and actor Glen Hansard.