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4 Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 11 No.1 March 2014
Captain’s Observations

ell another great December Garden Party has
passed, leaving many pleasant memories and
Wunfortunately quite a few that would not be
considered worthy of our club. I am not referring to
the poor organizing skills and service given by some of
the catering staff, that, we will be taking up, with the
management of the venue. It is unfortunately, as it would
seem, outside influences existing our modern society
today are beginning to creep in to our events in the form
of un-gentlemanly behaviour.

I highlight some below but by no means are they the sum total. For instance, those
members who devote time and effort, in trying to ensure the smooth running and
enjoyment of the luncheon, encounter abuse when attempting to get the co-op-
eration of some individuals. Another example is the bad manners displayed by
those who arrived late, (in some cases fortified by drink), who insisted on still
having a pre-dinner drink with their friends at the bar despite being requested
to take their places for lunch. This also applied to the ordering of wine, aggravat-
ed by members not allowing sufficient time for same. Yet another, members who
changed their seating arrangements on the day despite, the carefully arranged
seating plan prepared by Mrs Bardell.
The last point I wish to make is by far the gravest encountered, it was the
concealment of pre-ordered member’s wines under the tables by others and the
removal of bottles witnessed without sanction. Remember our events are organized by
gentlemen for gentlemen and should similar behaviour be encountered in the future, it could
have major influence on future arrangements.
This is a very special, elite club with honourable objectives and surely they
are worth preserving
How dangerous is cycling asks your editor?

………………….. there has been a lot of publicity about the pros & cons of cycling
recently with the unfortunate deaths of a number of riders in and around London.
I found a news bite in a well known broadsheet that related a similar situation in
1898.
“On October 5 1898, the members of the United Wards’ Club of the City of
th
London debated the proposition: “It is the opinion of the members that cycling
through the City between the hours of 9 & 6.30 is both dangerous to the cyclists
themselves and a great annoyance and danger to the pedestrians and traffic, and
that cyclists should be compelled to dismount and walk through the City during
the above mentioned hours”

The motion was carried overwhelmingly, there being only three dissensions. One
hopes that those three were early members of our august club! Also what wasn’t
established was whether any cyclists took any notice of the proposition – I hope
not!