A motorbike owned by King Hussein of Jordan looks to have been a bargain buy for engineer Brian Manners.

But Brian, 50, wasn't attracted to the powerful BMW K75 because of its royal links, but because it had been pecially modified by BMW to take account of King Hussein's lack of height.

And at 5ft 4in himself, Brian decided that this low-seat model was the perfect motorbike for him.

Brian is a contract engineer at AEA Technology, Harwell, and he regularly drives it in regal style from his home in Hampshire.

He bought the 750cc motorbike last year for £4,250 from Linda Connors, who works at Millets Farm, Frilford.

She bought it in Worthing. But following the King's death, the motorcycle's value is certain to shoot up.

Brian said: "I understand that it was given to the King as a gift. It was flown over to him by the Jordanian air force.

"It only had 300 miles on the clock when it was flown back to the country. I don't know whether the King had used it or had let his sons. "The King is not named on the documentation. I understand the King swapped it for an Italian-made Ducatti.

"I am quite small and sometimes have trouble touching the ground because bikes are so large. I think the King was the same."

King Hussein, who was buried on Monday, was also being remembered this week by an Abingdon man, who shared another of the late monarch's passions - as a radio ham.

Barry Crook, 65, now retired from Thames Valley Police computer department, spoke to the King on his radio in the early 1980s and later received a card to confirm the contact.

Barry said: "Over the years I have made 44,000 contacts with amateurs. Speaking to the King was the most memorable one. He said he was speaking from his Palace in Amman."

Story date: Wednesday 10 February

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