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Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 14 No.1 March 2017

Hampton Court Action on October 13th 2017

As ever the sun shone on the righteous – Pruffle & Hunt!

Pruffle, assisted by an equally stern lady commissar, laid down the law during the briefing,
with strict guidance on our behaviour-no wheelies for Mr Watty otherwise he’d be thrown out
of the event. Very harsh I thought. Reporting in a different format this year, Hunt – who
was ‘hors de combat’ (allegedly) withdrew from the oldies (sorry – veterans) Thames footpath
ride but has offered the following view from the club-house as an introduction to the event.

“As I did not put pen to paper this year about the Hampton Court ride, I decided as an aside to
the ride, a bit of background on Hampton Hill (and myself) might be of interest to the
members. Many of the participants who’ve ridden with the veteran side of the Hampton Court
ride over the years will know, the mid-morning refreshment stop is in Hampton Hill, which is
my home village. This year The Star kindly hosted the riders on their return journey. As you
will also know, the first recorded bike race started and finished in Bushy Park in the 1870’s;
the Park borders the High St, which in 1946 my father, William Hitchman took over a cycle
shop “Burts Cycles”. The shop itself started life as a
blacksmiths in the 1880’s, and according to a gent I met
back in the ’60’s, who was the Saturday boy for Burt the
Blacksmith, it was where Penny Farthing cycles were
repaired, sold and possibly even built on the site. So, when
my father was looking for an emblem for the shop, the
Penny Farthing was a perfect fit. About four years ago, I
decided to build a row of cottages on the grounds at the rear
of the shop, and with all the local history of cycling, it was
quite an easy decision that I should name the road ‘Penny
Farthing Mews’.” Hunt /Roger Hitchman

The Lycra Louts Prepare

Mr Brooks takes on air The Vets are Ready