Engineer Mick Holmes is one of the behind-the-scenes guys at British bike specialist Draganfly Motorcycles. He’s an engineer in their in-house workshop, one of the team who develops and fabricates the company’s unique components – those rare spares which are essential for keeping old BSA, Ariel and Triumph motorcycles on the road. And he’s been with the firm for 30 years this July!
Mick joined Draganfly in the summer of 1990 as a storesman, just as the business was expanding. They’ve still got his job application on file: ‘I have had a keen interest in British motorcycles since the age of 15 and over the past ten years I have rebuilt and restored many, and I now have a small collection. At the moment I am restoring a BSA B33.’
After getting his electrical engineering apprenticeship and a City and Guilds qualification, Mick spent some time as a tester and electroform engineer for the MoD. When he saw Draganfly’s advert he thought he could combine his technical knowledge with his hobby of motorcycle restoration.
After spending so much time in the stores department that he can recite BSA part numbers in his sleep, Mick moved over to the engineering side of things. He rides one of his many motorcycles to work, and his colleagues say that he’s only late when he stops to fix the local ferry across the river Yare! Mick loves military history and is Draganfly’s WD expert. Over the years, his efforts have definitely contributed to keeping a sizeable number of classic British bikes well fettled – thanks very much, Mick.
To celebrate Mick’s 30 years of service, the Draganfly team presented him with membership to a local vineyard, and a big blue plaque to commemorate his time dealing with stock and suppliers. That must mean he’s an essential component himself!
