Sammy Miller MBE, the veteran museum owner and ex-trials World Champion, has been awarded Freedom of New Milton, Hampshire, where he has lived for 60 years. Now in his 91st year, Sammy moved to the small town on the edge of the New Forest back in 1964, when he left Ariel to join Bultaco as a works rider and designer. “Senor Bulto requested that I move close to the Rickman Brothers, the UK importer of Bultaco,” he recalled, “so that I could help with the design and development of a Bultaco trials bike, which turned out to be the most successful trials bike of all time, changing the world trials scene and helping establish Spain’s dominance of the sport.” The move did Sammy’s career no harm – he’s one of the few riders to have excelled in both road racing and scrambles/trials.

He later set up the Sammy Miller Museum on the outskirts of New Milton which has since become a major tourist attraction. “Besides my business activities and museum,” he added, “I am very proud to have promoted New Milton throughout the world…It is a great honour to receive the Honorary Freedom of New Milton Town.”

Jim Freeman, chair of the BMF thought that Sammy’s museum was a must-visit for all bikers. “It’s been on the list for years as one of the great places to visit, right up there with the national Motorcycle Museum, a great focus for a club run or a family afternoon out.”

Written by Peter Henshaw

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