This month we take a look at URA personality Mick Monk....

This month we take a closer look at Mick Monk. A unique experience, as specimens like this are only normally found in a glass container full of formaldehyde, in the balls-up section at the embalmers training college. Amazingly, the C.O. of our Surplus Appreciation Division is also called Mick Monk. The one that is, allegedly, a single deviant with an unhealthy penchant for military surplus, who lives a sad and lonely life in a damp Broads cottage. This Mick Monk is not a bit like this and lives in a dry farmland village just north of Norwich (but he does like surplus).

Married to Carol since the world was black and white (rumour is that Tony has struck a special medal, wording is ‘For displaying exceptional fortitude under very trying conditions’). Surprisingly (no sex manuals then *), two children were manufactured. The female one has supplied two grandchildren, Georgia and Harry, who can often be seen gracing the Ural on the way to the nearest burger emporium. The male version has avoided procreation and sticks to fast cars and motorcycles. Carol feigned enthusiasm for the pillion of a Vincent Rapide during the courting period, which rapidly turned to grudging tolerance of the added Wessex child/adult after the first child. But ‘persuasion’ was rapidly applied and the Vinnie exchanged for a four-wheel device. Since then she has sanctioned the purchase of various motorcycles, but keeps well away from pillion seat or sidecar, well look at the trouble the Vincent got her into!

Mick gets paid as a ‘Maintenance Technician’, which is posh for someone who whacks recalcitrant production machinery with big hammers until it either restarts or it falls to bits or/and blows up, forcing his boss to buy a new one.( so, no change from Urals then.....)

* Actually you are wrong there Mr Monk, Havelock Ellis is the author you were not thinking of... (...... and my Nan had a copy of it.........bless( ChrisRR)  

Previous member profiles can be found in the archive section of the URA website