THE RESURRECTION SHUFFLE

We’ve all read features with similar titles to this one. Normally, any such write up (or ones that mention a phoenix or the phrases ‘risen from the ashes’ or even ‘back from the dead’), usually applies to someone creating something quite outstanding with a bike that was once written off, scrapped or otherwise suitably deemed defunct

- KEITH HARMAN

However, not so in this case, for here I’m referring to the owner and not the bike. It’s true, as Barry Meech really did come back from the other side to complete this tasty Buell. We’re very glad he did, and so is he…

Barry had bought the 2002 Buell Firebolt some years ago, but when his local pub, ‘Lily’s Bar’ on Hayling Island, was threatened with closure, he made the brave decision to step in, buy it and run it with his partner, the lovely Joolz. Sounds like my kind of guy. For three years Barry and Joolz took on the role of Publican and Landlady respectively. All good things come to an end, though, and eventually it was time to sell up and move on (the pub continues to thrive with the new owners by the way).

Figuring they needed a well-earned holiday, they made plans for a trip to Thailand in November 2018. All well and good—until the night before they were due to head to the airport for their dream holiday when Barry was suddenly taken unwell in the early hours of the morning. Joolz says that Barry is one of those guys that never seems to ail with anything, so to see him suddenly sitting up in bed in a bad way and complaining of severe chest pains, meant that something was most definitely not right. Describing his symptoms over the phone saw an ambulance on its way to Chez Meech and Barry was carted off to the local hospital pretty damn sharpish.