North Road Anniversaries - Some Personal Memories by Graham Thompson

(From September Gazette)

NORTH ROAD ANNIVERSARIES – SOME PERSONAL MEMORIES 

I have been around for all the anniversaries celebrated by the Club, although I have to admit that the first 50 years celebrated in 1935 escaped my attention as I was only taking my first steps after my arrival at Burbage Road in Herne Hill two years previously. The occasion was marked by the publication of “The First Fifty Years of Road Riding” by S. H. Moxham and this was regarded as an “important milestone in the history of cycling” according to one review. The main celebration for the Golden Jubilee was the Dinner at which Faed Wilson and five fellow founders were present, and some names crop up who I had the privilege of meeting when I became a member – it is worth naming Cheveley, Cessford, Paget, Armond, Shillito, Frankum, Smith, Capener, England, Copping, Couzens, Foot, Turner and Cockerill. 

We now have to move forward to 1960 when the Club reached its 75th year. Harry England was the President and also editor of “Cycling”. I missed most of the celebrations as I was engaged on National Service with the army and also recovering from illness after languishing in Leicester Royal Infirmary – the only good aspect was three months at home in Leicester. There was a President’s Appeal for the Anniversary Dinner and the International Memorial “50” in June on the old E1 course starting and finishing at the 32nd milestone The field was made up of English, Welsh and Scottish national teams with riders from Belgium, Holland and France who had been taking part in the Isle of Man international week. The event was won by big Ron Jowers with Frank Colden and Gordon Ian second and third respectively. Riders from Belgium and Holland took fifth and sixth places which were excellent rides considering the nature of the course and time trialling being an alien aspect of cycling, but second nature to the home riders. 

The “24” incorporated the RTTC National Championship and three riders from the Middlesex RC dominated the event, namely Burrell, Harding and Poole who eventually went on to take the End to End record in 1965 in under two days for the first time. Ken Davis and Tony King represented the Club in this event whilst George Wingfield, Ken Lovett, John Blackman, Ken Davis and Ron Hayden rode in the “50”. The Anniversary Dinner was held at The Connaught Rooms in London, the Club’s traditional venue for annual dinners. 240 attended and great names from the past and present decorated the ten tables, and to use a cliché a great time was had by one and all. 

The Club reached its 100th birthday in 1985. We may not be the oldest club in existence, but I think we can claim to have made major contributions to cycling in this country so the anniversary was celebrated in some style. Darryl Webster started our year by winning the Hardriders “25”, eventually clocking up five straight wins. The Memorial “50” incorporated the National Championship with the usual early Sunday morning start on the F1 whilst on Saturday afternoon the ladies had their event preceded by a tandem event. Darryl Webster 1:47:37 and June Pitchford 2:03:28 were the champions. 

We were not finished yet as the “24” incorporated the VTTA championship. First overall was Pieter Hoffman from Germany with nearly 470 miles: he was a regular visitor to the event. Malcolm Green was third and led the North Road to the team victory. To complete the special events the Club promoted the BCF Ladies National Championship Road Race. The race was marred by a massive pile-up on Mardley Hill which took much of the glamour away from the event. 

The club was very active as there was a Centenary York Run with a dinner in the Freemasons’ Hall and medals for those who completed the run plus a Centenary Ride from Barnet to Hatfield on period machines followed by lunch at the Bush Hall Hotel. All of this makes me feel tired just recalling the many events, but happy and proud reading about those exploits in the 1985 Gazettes. 

The finale was the Centenary Dinner and Prize Presentation in the County Hall at Hertford, and 333 places were laid for North Roaders and their guests. The late Colin Lovegrove devoted hours to ensure that the evening was a memorable success. There were speeches from many of the leading figures in the cycling world and from club members, and so that its members could attend our event the RTTC even arranged its monthly meeting at the Cromwell Hotel in Stevenage. This was the first and only time that I walked to one of its meetings.  

Just catching the tail end of 1985 was the publication of The Second Fifty Years of Road Riding by Messrs Gates, Lovett and Sellens and a team of proof readers spotting factual errors and printing slips. A large print run appeared excessive at the time and many thought that the Club would be storing them into the next century. They were right, but I think that all copies have now been either sold or donated to new members. I should mention that the late Arthur Smith was initially given the task of writing this book, but his effort did not meet with the approval of the Club. However, he published his book “Along the Great North and Other Roads” and it makes a fine companion work alongside our book.  

Anything which has happened since perhaps may have seemed to have been an anti-climax, but not so! 1995 was marked by the promotion of the Centenary “50” to celebrate the first time trial for which the Club can claim credit for coming up with the concept. Up to 1895 most races on the open road were run as massed starts which brought cyclists into conflict with the public and other road users. Trouble ensued so starting at minute intervals was the answer. The rest is history! Another landmark which quietly slipped by was the 100 years of North Road Gazettes reached in 2003. A monthly private publication is an achievement of which any organisation can be proud so Mr Groves keep going! 

The Club has now reached 125 years so let us get out the cake and light the candles to mark another special birthday. The president can light the candles, but he may need some extraordinary puff to blow them out.

 Graham Thompson