I'm Andy Slight from Plaistow, I collect Raleigh Choppers, I've always wanted one as a kid, but could never have one. But when I was 40, I thought I was going to get one...and now I've got seven of them! This is one of the original 1973 Mark 2 Ultra Violet Raleigh Choppers.
I can remember my friend lived on Upton Lane, just around the corner from here and he had this very model in this colour. Everyone was envious. It was brilliant. But the shame was, there used to be a sweet shop on the corner called Candy Corner. He went in to get sweets one day and come out and someone had nicked his bike. He ended up with a Raleigh 5 ear racer after that, but it was nothing like the Chopper bike.
I've also got a Pinkie 5 Gear, another Ultra Violet one which has got all the accessories, mirrors, aerials, everything that you could buy for a Raleigh Chopper, but it's a real heavy bike to ride now. I've also got a Black Prismatic and a Silver Mk 2 two and a couple of Mk 3's.
When I was a kid I used to come by and talk to Ted on the way to school. They used to have an alleyway and he would be fixing up scooters in the back - all the Lambrettas would be out here.