riding without wearing a helmet, including when on demos. Consequently, he accumulated a large number of summonses. It was his refusal to pay the fines, rather than the helmetless riding offences, that led to his imprisonment, the charges being the more serious one of "Contempt of Court". Although he was always polite to the authorities that pursued and imprisoned him, Hill was unimpressed by people in high positions. On one occasion a female magistrate was endeavouring to chastise Hill for breaking the law, to which criticism, Hill, implicitly referring to Emmeline Pankhurst and the female emancipation movement, replied, "if it hadn't been for a woman breaking the law, you wouldn't be sitting there now madam". Besides enduring many prison sentences, Hill supported the anti-helmet law campaign organised by the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) and attended many of their demos, at which he made speeches. Despite his age, Hill would ride considerable distances for which purpose he traded in his moped for a 250 Honda. Despite the distance he travelled in inclement weather conditions, Hill always rode home the same day after a demo for his wife’s sake, and declined offers of accommodation. Imprisonment and death Hill's refusal to pay the fines for helmetless riding often constituted ‘Contempt of Court’ for which Hill was sentenced to a total of thirty one prison sentences between 1976 and 1984. It was during Hill's thirty first prison sentence that he suffered a heart attack and subsequently died on 10 February 1984, while serving two months in London's Pentonville Prison, aged 74. An inquiry, held to establish whether Hill's treatment had contributed to his death, found no evidence for this. Memorial rides continue annually across the UK, allowing riders to show their gratitude and respect for Hill. References 1909 births 1984 deaths British activists Prisoners who died in England and Wales detention English people who died in prison custody Schoolteachers from Yorkshire