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Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 13 No.1 March 2016
Bilson - this character did not exist
“'I should like to hear that same story,' said the red-faced man with the cigar. 'Should
you?' was the only reply of the bagman, who continued to smoke with great vehemence.
'So should I,' said Mr. Tupman, speaking for the first time.
He was always anxious to increase his stock of experience. 'Should YOU? Well then, I'll
tell it. No, I won't. I know you won't believe it,' said the man with the roguish eye, making
that organ look more roguish than ever. 'If you say it's true, of course I shall,' said Mr.
Tupman. 'Well, upon that understanding I'll tell you,' replied the traveller. 'Did you ever
hear of the great commercial house of Bilson & Slum? But it doesn't matter though,
whether you did or not, because they retired from business long since. It's eighty years
ago, since the circumstance happened to a traveller for that house, but he was a particular
friend of my uncle's; and my uncle told the story to me. It's a queer name; but he used to
call it THE BAGMAN'S STORY.”

C Adams pre 1881 to 1911
Col. H F Kemball TD DL 1920 to 1969
Richard C Bladon 1970 to 1994
David J Henstone 2000 to 2004
Arthur Wilkinson 2007 to present

Tommy the Waterman
“'Golden Cross,' said Mr. Pickwick. 'Only a bob's vorth, Tommy,' cried the driver sulkily,
for the information of his friend the waterman, as the cab drove off. 'How old is that
horse, my friend?' inquired Mr. Pickwick, rubbing his nose with the shilling he had
reserved for the fare. 'Forty-two,' replied the driver, eyeing him askant. 'What!'
ejaculated Mr. Pickwick, laying his hand upon his note-book. The driver reiterated his
former statement. Mr. Pickwick looked very hard at the man's face, but his features were
immovable, so he noted down the fact forthwith. 'And how long do you keep him out at a
time?'inquired Mr. Pickwick, searching for further information. 'Two or three veeks,'
replied the man. 'Weeks!' said Mr. Pickwick in astonishment, and out came the note-book
again. 'He lives at Pentonwil when he's at home,' observed the driver coolly, 'but we
seldom takes him home, on account of his weakness.' 'On account of his weakness!'
reiterated the perplexed Mr. Pickwick. 'He always falls down when he's took out o' the
cab,' continued the driver, 'but when he's in it, we bears him up werry tight, and takes him
in werry short, so as he can't werry well fall down; and we've got a pair o' precious large
wheels on, so ven he does move, they run after him, and he must go on--he can't help it.'”
T J Agar 1942 to 1956
J C Beauchamp 1963 to 1980 President (1977), Acting Captain 1966 to 1970
J Aston 1980 to 1982
Ramon E Hutton 1982 to ?
John Davies 2015 to present