Les Harris, saviour of Triumph, obituary

The man who was hailed as the saviour of the classic Triumph motorcycle has died in Torquay.

Motorcycle enthusiast Les Harris’ business of making and selling spare parts for classic motorcycles grew as the tradition companies and the British motorcycle industry collapsed. They soon outgrew the warehouse in Newton Abbot, and acquired an engineering company in Leighton Buzzard as well as a shop in Paignton.

He died from a progressive lung condition, on February 17, aged 69 at Torbay Hospital. He eaves behind his wife Shirley, his children Carole, Debbie, Angela and Chris, and 10 grandchildren.

Les had the license the Triumph name for five years from 1983.

Mrs Harris told the Herald Express: “For years he has been hailed as the saviour of the traditional classic Triumph motorcycle all over the world. He loved this time, making many new friends as he dealt with customers around the globe.”

Read the full obituary

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