Sammy Miller Honoured by New Milton

The living legend, Sammy Miller has been honoured this month, as the road racing, Grand Prix, and trials icon is granted the Freedom of his hometown of New Milton.

Most prominently known for his trials exploits, a discipline which brought him no less than 11 British Trial Championships, Miller is also well-known thanks to his stunning museum, also located in the town of New Milton.

Born in Belfast, the 91-year-old moved to the town in southwest Hampshire some 60-years ago. He opened the now-famous museum in 1964, quickly filling it with more than 500 race and road bikes, the highlights of which are the machines used by Miller during his racing career.

Despite his age, Miller is far from reclusive, and can often be seen on the museum’s social media firing up his race bikes (often bump-starting them with no assistance) and then riding them around his carpark to check they are still in tip-top condition. The word ‘legend’ in the dictionary really should be accompanied by a picture of this man.

The BMF quotes Miller as linking his move to New Milton directly to a request made to him by the then-boss of off-road bike maker Bultaco.

“Senor Bulto requested that I move close to the Rickman Brothers, the UK importer of Bultaco,” he said, “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.

“Besides my business activities and museum, 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.” he continued.

The Sammy Miller Museum is now open seven days a week, and if you’ve never been, you really should plan a trip - you can do so through the Sammy Miller Museum's official website.