Page 27 - PBCMarch2020

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 17 No.1 March 2020 27

Over the years we did have many excellent speakers and some very poor ones, but the ones to
recall were Graham Hill (racing driver), Brian Johnson (hilarious cricket commentator), Jackie
Blanchflower (pro’ footballer) and of course Ron Moody (actor of repute), who from his role as
Fagin in Oliver Twist, regaled us with singing the like of which was never heard before (or since)
on both occasions he was invited. Such was his ability to hold the room in 2003 that I seem to
remember he kept us going until 5pm then, and on the next occasion as well.
The years rolled by and a newsletter appeared around the early 90’s edited by the late Stuart
Benstead (Mr Warren) as a single A4 sheet. The military trumpeters began to frequent the
lunches, and the Chelsea Pensioners became ever present. The late Stan Rose (Joe the Fat Boy)
took over the Newsletter around 2000 and took it from the A4 sheet to the current A5 magazine
format appearing three times a year. Guest speakers began to be less well known than those
from a sporting background, more, professional after dinner speakers, although we do still have
some ‘names’ attending.
There was very little Club cycling activity during my early years, and this, along with our male
only membership was highlighted in Cycling magazine on many occasions. Many of the members
were however keen cyclists across the spectrum in their own racing /touring clubs, plus world
champions (Hugh Porter, gold medallist pursuiter), TdF riders, 6-day riders etc , etc., and of
course there were those who owned or acquired vintage bikes and participated in Veteran
bicycling events.

Baillie Mac Something introduced his Summer Charity Ride in 1988, open to all members &
nd
friends, and now in its 32 year and raising thousands of pounds for local children’s
organisations. BMS also introduced the Mr Pickwick goes to France trip, primarily to see the TdF,
eat&drink well, and with limited cycling activity. Collective Club cycling activities began to increase
particularly with the re-introduction of the Hampton Court Bike Ride in 2007, which originated in
1874. There was already the annual Club Golf day, with the choice of playing golf or a bike ride,
then all join together for lunch. At the 2005 event, Pruffle (Aiden Hegarty) was ‘peeved’ that there
were so many Club trophies for……playing golf. So he proposed to the Club committee that a
cycle event around Hampton Court should be started to re-enact the original event in the 1870’s.
And in 2007 this took place with just a few riders, but Hunt (Roger Hitchman) suggested that there
should be a separate ride for those with vintage bikes. The result has been that since that first
ride, every October the Hampton Court Ride is held for those ‘modern day’ cyclists to romp
around Surrey, whilst those on the vintage machines can gently ride the Thames towpath via
Hampton Court Palace and the Diana Fountain in Bushy Park (as seen in the 1877 drawing).
Not escaping comment and one common denominator throughout my 48 years as a member,
has been the Grand (sometimes not) Connaught Rooms. The Grand Hall has always lived up to
its name, creating a great ambience for the Club functions. Notwithstanding the memorable
occasion when they provided a Christmas Tree for the December Garden Party. It appeared to be
barely 2m high, probably artificial and was somehow secured high up on the far wall and looked
much like a dead branch! The food has also proven to be a roller coaster of quality, but is certainly
much improved nowadays.
Looking back over my many years in the Club though, it has been an unique experience - mixing
with members from all walks of cycling (that doesn’t sound right?) - enjoying each other’s
company and making many new friends. The Club is certainly more vibrant than in ’72 especially
with the increase of cycling activity. Let’s hope that members who have joined in the past few
years can sustain the Club as it moves onwards to another 50 memorable years. Winkle Snr