Page 24 - PBCJuly2012

24 Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine. Volume 9 No.2 July 2012
Charitable Works
The Pickwick Bicycle Club is well known for its charitable work and donations, the origins
of which go back very many years, as reported some time ago. Individual members are
also engaged in supporting deserving charities, including the recent Help For Heroes,
various disability groups and several hospices.
Most notable amongst these are perhaps the annual charity bike rides organised by Baillie
Mac Something in the name of his Wembley Road Club and in which the major fund raisers
have been our Pickwick members for many years and proud recipients of the appropriate
trophy. So many others run marathons and other events.

Latest of the individual’s work has been that of The Red Nose Mr.Stiggins, who reports
below on his effort on behalf of his Golf Club:

A Year Ends for Captain “Stiggins”

The Red Nosed Mr.Stiggins is shown presenting a cheque for £3110 to the “Alzheimers Society,”
Litchfield Branch, when a similar cheque was also presented to “Midlands Air Ambulance,” plus
almost £1000 to the Salvation Army, thus ending for him, as Captain, one of the “best years of
my sporting life.”

Tom Cox, The Financial Times Golf Correspondent described Stiggins in the Sunday Magazine
supplement on his club’s course, as “The Captain is an irrepressibly cheery sort!” He was also
named and thanked when “Golf Monthly” published
a 4-page colour report of the course. Many
accolades of the club, the course and its
outstanding condition and design, including
envious comments from the Captains of The
Berkshire and Watton Heath that “Your greens are
better than ours.” The pinnacle, he feels, was the
invitation, as Captain, to the Royal Berkshire GC.
“So now, it’s back to reality” he says “I would
recommend the opportunity to anyone, (to take
active part in your club), you meet so many
fantastic people who all enjoy ‘giving back to your
club what it has given to you’, fantastic, simply
fantastic !”

“Try an invard application, Sir,” said Sam, as the Red-nosed gentleman rubbed his head
with a rueful visage. “Wot do youe think o’ that, for a go o’ wanity varm, sir?”
Mr. Stiggins made no verbal answer, but with his manner was expressive. He tasted the
contents of the glass which Sam had placed in his hand, put his umbrella on the floor, and
tasted it again, passing his hand placidly across his stomach twice or thrice; he then drank
the whole at a breath, and smacking his lips, held out the tumbler for more.#

Nor was Mrs. Weller behind-hand in doing justice to the composition.
Pickwick Papers Chapter XLV