We don’t write about motoring at The Last Concierge, because articles about almost anything on wheels bore me senseless. We do, however, write about style and culture, and the Vespa is one of very few things with a motor that managed to become a cultural icon in its 80 glorious years at the top.

With Asha Bhosle’s passing in April 2026 the grand age of ninety-two, Bollywood’s most deliciously counter-cultural voice – the voice of an entire era, for millions upon millions of fans – has gone quiet. For this particular Englishman, the loss hits close to home.