Special Club Dinner Issue - a large issue (17 pages plus cover); history of the club trophies; more diseases of cyclists; camping weekend at Bovingdon.
Special Club Dinner Issue
This was a large issue (at 17 pages plus cover, the largest so far) for the Annual Club Dinner. It has a card cover, and the staples were somewhat rusted. I was concerned the magazine might come apart, so I took special care scanning it, which is why some pages may be blurry.
The card cover features an illustration by the renowned cycling artist Frank Patterson, by permission of Cycling magazine, who presumably held the copyright at the time. This cover style continued for all the remaining issues that Colin Turner sent me. Frank Patterson (1871-1952) was a well known artist who, among other topics, produced illustrations on a cycling theme. Often these illustrations evoked an idyllic scene with a bicycle (or tandem, trike etc) leant against a fence or hedgerow. Some links:
Patterson page at the Headset Press
Page 1
Editor’s notes, in which Bob acknowledges the club members who contribute by helping out at the time trials (then, as now, generally held early in the morning). I hear from my father that Bob himself was notable for the number of events in which he went to help at the turn. But here he praises regular timekeeper Dick Houston.
Colin Turner is described as the ‘Lion’ of the evening, having made a comeback froma year away from racing to take the club’s BAR trophy and the Crookes Trophy for the 25 mile Championship.
Len Chapman won the Malayan Trophy, beating Roger Bingham and David Saunders.
Club President Jack Sharpe was unable to attend the Prizegiving and dinner, owing to living in Wales and the event being held on a weekday - but he supplied a piece for this club magazine.
Page 2-3
This page begins with a note of thanks to “Boff” Empson, who worked hard organising the dinner.
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Times of last trains and buses on the evening.
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Message from Jack Sharpe. As in last year’s club magazine, this is nicely written. Continues through page 3, concluding on page 4, he talks about the club’s values and racing.
Page 4
Conclusion of Jack Sharpe’s piece.
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Results of Club Time Trials, Inyer-clubs, Track and Hill Climb
I shan’t retype all these!
Page 5
More results of Club Time Trials, Inyer-clubs, Track and Hill Climb. Concludes page 9
Page 6
The History of the Club Trophies
The Best All-rounder Trophy - presented to the club in 1950 by the President, Jack Sharpe and awarded annually to the rider with highest average speed over 25, 50 and 100 miles in the season. Won this year by Colin Turner with an average of 22.273 mph (1950: Tom Simpson; 1951: Terry Howard; 1952: Alan Stratman).
The Junior Championship Trophy (the “Malayan Trophy”) donated by Mr R. J. Moreton, a rubber planter on leave from Malaya, and awarded to the Junior with the best average speed over 10 and 25 miles. See issue 6 for more on this. Won this year by Len Chapman with an average of 23.243mph. (1951: Alan Stratman; 1952: Ken Dopson).
The Crookes Trophy - presented to the club this year by Crookes Laboratories, and awarded to the rider recording the fastest ’25’ of the year. Won by Colin Turner for his 1:02:04.
Page 7
News Flashes, by Ivor Storey. His little anecdotes seem to be a bit more scurrilous this issue! And since they are completely lost on me, I won’t pursue this…the piece is concluded on page 10.
Page 8
The order of prize presentations
Page 9
Prize presentations continued.
Race Results - the inter-club ’25’ vs the South Ruislip CC. This is the event won by Colin Turner, but which was won overall by South Ruislip CC.
Page 10
Cyclists’ Medical Dictionary (continued from issue 13)
Saunders Disease. Apparently the victim’s mind wanders into the realms of fantasy with a distorted picture of their own physical capabilities! The treatment is to keep the patient away from alcoholic beverages - these aggravate matters - and to make available copious quantities of stodgy food.
Bonkosis. Only seems to occur while riding a bike, and attacks with startling rapidity - symptoms of ‘porridgy feelings in the lower limbs’ and the tripling of the bike’s apparent weight. The disorder occurs during the early hours of the morning or in remote locations when the only known cure (copious quantities of refreshments) is likely to be unavailable. Recommendations is extract of TRACKMITTS, administered with a bicycle pump.
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More from Ivor Storey.
Page 11-13
G. M. Empson describes a camping weekend at Bovingdon. This is an amusing article in which all the participants are given mock military ranks! The story concludes on page 14.
Page 14
Conclusion of “Bovingdon”.
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Annual Night Ride to Stonehenge, by David Saunders (Touring Secretary) - reading this I had a sense of deja vu, as the story is a reprint fron Issue 12! Concludes page 16.
Page 15
Final Racing Results of the 1953 Season
This article presents the result of the final ’25’ - complete with new nicknames. You can read a bit more at the Open Roads entry for September 1953. I must say that it would be interesting to know how the rider’s alter egos were derived!
Page 16
Conclusion of the Stonehenge report.
Current Club Records. Record for 10 miles (Junior), 25 miles (Medium Gear) and the 25, 30, 50 and 100 miles time trials are listed. Also 30 and 50 mile tandem time trials and the Winslow and back place to place record for solo and tandem bicycle. The only club record broken this year was the 25 mile record, by Colin Turner (1:02:04).
Page 17
The final page has an overview of the year by Club Secretary Sheila M. Johns. The club’s showing in open events wasn’t up to that of previous years (though it’s not clear if this refers to performances or participation), though club events have been well supported.
Good growth in the ladies section, with several new members, and general attendance at club meetings has been good. Indeed a bigger room was needed!
Marshalling obligations were met, despite much of this being in horrible weather.
A note about the flourishing club magazine, with thanks to Fred Reynolds for typing and duplicationg.
Finally, an optimistic note for the future of the club.
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