It’s my Birthday today apparently. As my late father would say, I’m as old as my tongue and bit older than my teeth.

Each year I get asked the (nice) question about what I want for my Birthday. This is a tough one – I actually don’t want for anything. Apparently if I want something I buy it. This isn’t actually true because I want a Porsche Cayman GTS.

When I was a boy I wanted a Raleigh Chopper – which was the equivalent of a Porsche to a 7 year old. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me – but I never got one. They were too expensive and so I had a second hand model. I also have a suspicion – never proven – that my parents considered the drop handlebars of the Chopper to be ‘dangerous’. And I was precious. Clearly.

Yesterday – as if God himself was listening – Raleigh made an unbelievable announcement. They were releasing 400 special edition bikes – in Emerson Fitipadi John Player Special colours. Replica Raleigh Choppers!

I’m now the proud owner of an order form for one. It arrives in late September. It’s fair to say that I’m excited – if not a little disappointed with the lack of it today.

The reaction so far seems to rather muted. “Where are you going to put it”, “Are you actually going to ride it”, “Why”.

I really can’t understand why there isn’t universal envy.

The answer to the question at the start is obvious to me – as it has been for the last 45 years – a Raleigh Chopper…