BHF charity hopes to raise £1.5k through auction of rare Jack Taylor trike

Charity the British Heart Foundation hopes that a rare tricycle from one of Britain’s historic frame makers - Jack Taylor, who died last week - can help raise £1,500 through an auction on eBay.

The Jack Taylor tricycle was donated to the charity’s Furniture & Electrical store in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, last week.

Carrying the frame number 3148, the auction for the tricycle went live on Friday evening and will continue until Monday 28 November.

It was built for Burt Clayton in 1958, and donated by a customer who had previously suffered a heart attack, says BHF.

The charity’s area manager, David Ayre, said: “We often receive unique and valuable donations, but this was like nothing we’d seen before!

“The item is really special, so we hope it will help pull in the funds.

“It just goes to show the great types of items that can be found in our stores.

“We’d urge anyone who has things lying around their house which they no longer want to call our free collection service or pop in and donate them to us.

He added: “The Bishop Auckland Furniture & Electrical store has all types of one off items at great prices – so you’re sure to bag yourself a bargain!”

Jack Taylor built his first handbuilt frame in Stockton-on-Tees in 1936, and went into partnership with his brothers from 1945, according to the website, Classic Rendezvous.

The firm specialised in tandem and touring bicycles, many of them exported to the US, with the business continuing until the 1990s.

Jack Taylor passed away last week at the age of 96. Members of Stockton Wheelers, the cycling club he helped found, accompanied the hearse bearing his coffin through the town, reports the Northern Echo.

Reflecting his other great passion in life, the Old Glory Jazz Band played some of his favourite songs throughout the funeral.

He is survived by his wife Peggy, aged 93. The couple were married for 57 years and met through cycling.