Allan Chappelow, the 86 year old author, photographer, journalist and recluse was murdered at his home in Hampstead in 2006.The murder trial about to begin is almost unprecedented as it is to be held partially in camera. Chapellow wrote two books on George Bernard Shaw - Shaw the Villager and Human Being - a Biographical Symposium and Shaw - the 'Chucker-Out'. The latter was named after the photograph he took of Shaw, who was waving his stick at the front door of his house in Ayot St. Lawrence. This turned out to be the last photograph taken of Shaw. Perhaps what is not so well known was that Chapellow was a lifelong motorcyclist. At the time of his series of interviews and photo sessions with Shaw, Chappelow would ride from his home in Hamstead to Ayot St. Lawrence on his Vincent Twin motorcycle causing Shaw to remark that another author used to visit him on a similar machine. The other author was, of course, T.E. Lawrence, and the machine a Brough Superior. At the time of his death Chappelow’s Hampstead home was very run down. The overgrown garden contained several motorcycles as he seemed not to have disposed of them before acquiring another. Whether his Vincent is among them is not known.
Allan Chappelow
- Thread starter Hugo Myatt
- Start date
House Clearance
I am thinking of getting into the house clearance business, do you have the late Mr Chapellow's address or the executors of his will? I was on the phone yesterday trying to purchase some obsolete spares for my recently purchased Series E Vincent (or the next best thing) a Yamaha TR1, and during a very long telephone conversation that covered many aspects of motorcycling, and yes the subject of Vincents cropped up as usual, the chap I was talking to informed that he knew of an old gent of 90 years living in the west country that had two Vincent twins stored in a garage, their fate unknown. Sadly I was unable to glean any further information but I guess one day someone will hit the jackpot, you never know,it could be a Series A.
Gday Hugo,
I am thinking of getting into the house clearance business, do you have the late Mr Chapellow's address or the executors of his will? I was on the phone yesterday trying to purchase some obsolete spares for my recently purchased Series E Vincent (or the next best thing) a Yamaha TR1, and during a very long telephone conversation that covered many aspects of motorcycling, and yes the subject of Vincents cropped up as usual, the chap I was talking to informed that he knew of an old gent of 90 years living in the west country that had two Vincent twins stored in a garage, their fate unknown. Sadly I was unable to glean any further information but I guess one day someone will hit the jackpot, you never know,it could be a Series A.
Hi Hugo,
If you can get the post code and house number, you could Google earth it and see whats in the long grass.................................................lol
If you can get the post code and house number, you could Google earth it and see whats in the long grass.................................................lol
Last edited:
For many years Allan owned a very early ‘B’ Rapide, it was stolen in 1976 and never recovered. The VOC have this bike on their stolen list.
Ah! How many of you remember that T.E.Lawrence was also known as Aircraftman Shaw, was well connected to the establishment and that the Shaw was supposedly named after his father, G.B. of that ilk No wonder that poor old George Bernard chased the bu**er off as he probably evoked very painful memories. Makes one wonder why some of the case is to be heard in camera. Probably the establishment hiding its dirty linen again.
