Page 25 - PBCOctober2017

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 14 No.2 October 2017 @25

Thomas Groffin – chemist, juryman.

“'Answer to your names, gentlemen, that you may be sworn,' said the gentleman in black.
'Richard Upwitch.' 'Here,' said the greengrocer. 'Thomas Groffin.' 'Here,' said the chemist.
'Take the book, gentlemen. You shall well and truly try--' 'I beg this court's pardon,' said the
chemist, who was a tall, thin, yellow-visaged man, 'but I hope this court will excuse my
attendance.' 'On what grounds, Sir?' said Mr. Justice Stareleigh. 'I have no assistant, my
Lord,' said the chemist. 'I can't help that, Sir,' replied Mr. Justice Stareleigh. 'You should
hire one.' 'I can't afford it, my Lord,' rejoined the chemist. 'Then you ought to be able to
afford it, Sir,' said the judge, reddening; for Mr. Justice Stareleigh's temper bordered on
the irritable, and brooked not contradiction. 'I know I OUGHT to do, if I got on as well as I
deserved; but I don't, my Lord,' answered the chemist. 'Swear the gentleman,' said the judge
peremptorily. The officer had got no further than the 'You shall well and truly try,' when he
was again interrupted by the chemist. 'I am to be sworn, my Lord, am I?' said the chemist.
'Certainly, sir,' replied the testy little judge.”

L E Morgan pre 1881
Arthur A Pike 1896 to 1932 Committee 1924
J Hammond 1950 to 1981
Alan Rushton 1983 to 2011 President (1995)
Organiser of Tour of Britain
Richard Walker 2013 to present

Captain Dowler – formerly in army; traveller by coach to Bath.

“Of course, an interchange of friendly salutations followed this gracious speech; and the
fierce gentleman immediately proceeded to inform the friends, in the same short, abrupt,
jerking sentences, that his name was Dowler; that he was going to Bath on pleasure; that he
was formerly in the army; that he had now set up in business as a gentleman; that he lived
upon the profits; and that the individual for whom the second place was taken, was a
personage no less illustrious than Mrs. Dowler, his lady wife. 'She's a fine woman,' said Mr.
Dowler. 'I am proud of her. I have reason.' 'I hope I shall have the pleasure of judging,' said
Mr. Pickwick, with a smile. 'You shall,' replied Dowler.”

J Long pre 1881
Walter Percy 1900 to 1914
John Roderick Hopper 1928 to 1940 President (1935), Winkle Cup 1930
E Owen 1959 to 1986
Guy A Turnell 1989 to 1995
C E Lobley 1999 to 2001
Seth Ennis 2003 to present