Robert Frank Currie (26 April 1918 in Woolwich, England – 25 July 1988 in Birmingham, England) was an English motorcycling writer and road tester, who later became a magazine editor and book author. Mainly known for his UK journalism work with Motor Cycle, a UK weekly motorcycle magazine-turned-newspaper, then from 1981 as Editor of a new monthly magazine The Classic Motor Cycle, he retired in early 1988 suffering from an ongoing illness, after a full-time writing career starting in 1955, and later died of heart failure.
Currie was described in 1967 by his editor as "A prolific writer on all subjects". Writing in Currie's obituary, one former-collaborator remembered that many described him as "The Walking Encyclopaedia of Motor Cycling History", whilst his former understudy and editor-designate John Pearson described his death as "this country has lost its leading writer, historian and authority on veteran, vintage and classic British motorcycles".
Early life
With his younger brother, Ken, Currie spent his first few years with their father, an officer in the Royal Scots Greys, at various postings. Soon after leaving the army in 1924 and settling at Martley, Worcestershire, their sister Daphne was born and Captain Currie died. Life for his widow with three children was difficult, and young Bob was sent to live with an aunt in Dundee, later returning for his education at Worcester Royal Grammar School followed by work as a trainee engineer at Heenan & Froude in Worcester when he first started to ride motorcycles. He joined the Territorial Army, before conscription to the armed forces for the duration of World War II, in the RAOC (later known as REME) where he maintained and repaired tanks and acted as a despatch rider, progressing to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Post-war work and journalism
After the end of hostilities, Currie returned to work for Heenan & Froude, also becoming involved with the AA magazine, an occasional, newsletter-type publication mailed to members of the UK subscription-based motoring breakdown organisation, and as a contributor to the TT Special, a seasonal newspaper published by former TT rider Geoff Davison in June for the Isle of Man TT races, with occasional associated books.
As a motorcycle enthusiast and seasonal reporter he travelled to the Isle of Man. When staying in the same Sefton Hotel as the Motor Cycle staff he suggested a collaboration, to enable mutually-better reported coverage of the racing events. Currie had previously submitted occasional articles to Motor Cycle magazine, and in 1955 a vacancy occurred when a regular staff-writer moved to a four-wheel magazine. Currie was offered the vacancy, initially at head office in London, progressing in 1956 to Midland Editor based at Birmingham, the area where his family resided, in a city central to a region where many British motorcycle manufacturers, metal-industries and component-producers were located. When writing his serialised memoirs of 1969, former Motor Cycling journalist Bruce Main-Smith stated he was offered the position of Midland Editor with then-rival publication The Motor Cycle, but did not want to leave the London area and return to Birmingham where he was born, despite a generous offer of salary from then-Editor Harry Louis, a decision Main-Smith later regretted, and the job went to Currie.
Specialising in the traditional history of motorcycle manufacturing, road-testing and technical articles, Currie established a strong rapport with the various manufacturers, often enjoying their trust in new developments which he kept confidential until the companies issued press releases. In 1965 Currie moved to an office suite at Lynton House, Birmingham, where his desk was part of the parent-publisher's suite in a modern office tower block, Currie was the last journalist on the staff of Motor Cycle to have a company motorcycle – he chose a Triumph Bonneville.
Magazine editing and books
In the 1970s, after a 10-year demise of British motorcycle manufacturing, Currie showed an increasing interest in the vintage and classic era, establishing a regular feature in Motor Cycle Weekly (as Motor Cycle was then known) named 'Past Times'. Motor Cycle had merged with Motor Cycling in 1967, so their combined archives were available to Currie.