Page 17 - PBCMarch2016

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Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 13 No.1 March 2016

Joseph Atto……..the World’s Oldest Clubman

At December’s AGM, Mr Brooks passed around an article and other items of interest about
the above mentioned Club member. Apparently he died aged 85 in 1918 and his grave is in
Chingford Mount Cemetery. Mr Brooks informed us that Bill the Turnkey (aka Don Keen)
has persuaded local management to tidy up the grass
around the gravestone and allow the engraved wording
to be painted thus making it easier to read.

It's difficult to reprint the whole article but it is
summarised below:
“A#o’s soubriquet was Nathaniel Pipkin, and he was s:ll
cycling regularly un:l a few years prior to his death
when he had one leg amputated. At the age of 60 in
1893, he won the gold medal of the Pickwick Club for
his ride of 281miles in the Great North Road 24hr :me
trial. He also rode 198.25miles in 19.5hours, earning
himself a Club silver medal.
He was elected President of the Pickwick Club in 1913, and some members recall him riding
to Poynings (Brighton) & back to a#end a club run in 1914. Joseph A#o had a ‘boyishly
robust’ temperament and was at his happiest when recalling his life in the ‘70s (1870s!). He
worked hard & played hard, and put his longevity down to his favourite past :me of cycling,
He was a disciple of the open road and believed himself to be a living, talking advert for its
health giving advantages.
Due to his likeness to Lord Roberts(?), he enjoyed the many great recep:ons he received
during one of the old “ Irish Wheelman Tours”, where somebody had amusingly announced
that the Lord was par:cipa:ng. Joseph took the homage most gracefully as the Irish went
wild in their enthusias:c welcomes at each town.
During his Presidency of the Pickwick Club, he was paid the excep:onal compliment of
being elected an honorary member of the Boston Bicycle Club - the oldest cycling club in
America.”

Mr Brooks suggested to the committee that the Club should commemorate the centenary
of the death of Joseph Atto on June 30th 2018, with a visit to the cemetery to pay their
respects. Further discussion by the Club committee will follow, and members notified.

Winkle Snr