Ivan Counsell, a renowned custom motorcycle builder from Gloucestershire, has faced a heartbreaking loss after a fire destroyed his workshop, valued at approximately £80,000 in equipment and unique handmade motorcycles. The blaze, believed to have started from an electrical fault, ripped through his property three weeks ago, erasing decades of work and treasured collections.
For over 40 years, Ivan curated and crafted “unusual, quirky and a bit radical” motorcycles, many of which have gained recognition on television and in magazines. At 65, Ivan recalls the terrifying moments he narrowly escaped the inferno at his home in Haw Bridge, north of Gloucester.
“Another thirty seconds and I would have been Sunday roast. I was just choking. I don’t think I’ve ever been that frightened,” Ivan said. “It all went up in flames within seconds, and there was nothing I could do.”
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The fire obliterated his sheds, tools, equipment, and prized vintage motorcycles that he had lovingly restored over the years. Beyond the financial loss, Ivan mourns the disappearance of decades of hard-earned tools and materials essential to his craft.
Despite the devastation, Ivan’s passion remains undiminished. “In my mind, I’ve just got no choice,” he says. “Either fall to pieces, do nothing, or start all over again. The enthusiasm is still there.”
Already, he has begun salvaging what he can, managing to recover a motorcycle frame from the wreckage, which he is determined to restore for upcoming shows and events. “They’re expecting this particular bike to turn up. It’s coming on in leaps and bounds, actually.”
Ivan credits the support of friends and the motorcycle community for bolstering his spirits during this challenging time. Generous offers of help, including new tools and supplies, have reinforced his resolve to rebuild.
A GoFundMe campaign, organized by a neighbor, has raised nearly half of its £2,800 target to assist Ivan in replacing lost equipment and restarting his workshop. His neighbor described Ivan as “a truly kind and generous man” whose passion and dedication to motorcycle restoration define who he is.
Though Ivan acknowledges he can never fully recover his losses, his focus remains on rebuilding and continuing the craft he loves. “It’s not easy, but in my mind it is my only choice,” he says.