From Sheringham beekeeper Harry Ward to Leslie Lingwood of Sculthorpe and from C J Frost's at Mulbarton across to Mr Child's business at Hethersett.

And then there's Charles at Blofield of 1924.

They are all among the stars of a new book looking at motorcycling over the last century and how the machines have shaped our lives.

Motorcycling: An Illustrated Social History by Roger Fogg will also interest those who have never climbed aboard a two-wheeler or had anything to do with them.

The story is told through a collection of magnificent photographs, most not published before, some taken in Norfolk, which are a glorious window on a lost world.

'In the 120 years of their existence they have provided basic travel, often for the very first time; they have been used in war and peace, for racing and touring, for legal and illegal activities, for work and for play,' says the author.

'In the beginning there were few who believed that the internal combustion engine had a future. Most citizens of this country scoffed at the pioneers' attempts at locomotion without the use of horse or steam power.

'Very quickly attitudes began to change when manufacturers refined their products from spindly, unreliable and impractical machines into vehicles which were well thought out, strongly made and easily ridden by ordinary people,' added Roger.

This is a book about motorcycling with a real difference – it focuses on the everyday experience of ordinary riders who have recorded their personal, sometimes intimate, interaction with the machines through the use of their own photographs.

Through the use of more than 250 photographs the author brings new insight into the impact motorcycles have had on everyday lives, from fashion to necessity and from flappers to mods and rockers and from milkmen to racers.

The book concentrates on the golden age of motorcycles from the turn of the last century to the mid-1960s when British was best... and everybody knew it.

To view some of the Norfolk photographs and the stories behind them, click on the Gallery link in the top right hand corner of this page.

1. Parked outside Mr Child's cycle repair business in Hethersett. The Ariel motorcycle attached to a beautifully made wickerwork sidecar was first made in 1910. You could buy one in 1914 for between £47 and £60.

In this picture Mr Child is seen building a new bicycle for sale.

2. The garage of C J Frost dealt with the sale and repair of cycles, motorcycles and sometimes cars in Mulbarton. The owner carries a wrapped up tyre (they all came bound with string and brown paper when they were new). Also in the picture is H Funnell's Model T delivery van. What do you think that young apprentice has in his jug. Perhaps oil or maybe milk for a cup of tea?

3. A sergeant and constable from the Norfolk Constabulary outside the old police station at Litcham Brook with their trusty BSA from the early 1920s.

4. A wonderful old picture of travelling beekeeper Harry Ward of Mill Cottage in Sheringham who used his box sidecar and early 1920s BSA to transport all the things he needed to keep his bees happy and to collect the honey to sell on to his customers.

5. The photograph is labelled 'Charles in front of the packing sheds at Sawley Villa, Blofield, circ 1924.' Do you know who Charles was?

6. In 1945 Leslie Lingwood was finally released from a PoW camp in Germany and was able to return to his home at Sculthorpe near Fakenham. To celebrate Leslie could take his very rare Ariel 500cc side-value machine out for a spin on the Norfolk roads. Freedom was priceless.

Motorcycling: An Illustrated Social History by Roger Fogg is published by Halsgrove at £19.99.