Page 15 - PBCOctober2018

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 15 No.2 October 2018 @15

Pilgrimage to the grave of Joseph Atto on the 100th

anniversary of his death aged 84 on 30th June 1918

Joseph AKo’s Grave at Chingford Mount Cemetery

Joseph Atto was a famous cycling character and celebrated member of the
Pickwick Bicycle Club which he joined in 1878 and of which he was elected president in
1913.

His obituary in "Cycling" of 11th July 1918 reported that he was ever ready to work
hard, play hard or ride hard; in 1890 he won the club's silver medal riding 198 1/4 miles in
19 1/2 hours and when 60 years of age he won the gold presentation medal of the club
riding 281 miles in the North Road "24" Open. On his 70th birthday he rode from London
to King's Lynn (108 miles) in the day. Nathaniel Pipkin was a celebrated cyclist and a great
servant of our Club.

In his will, Joseph Atto left a significant bequest to the club ultimately manifest in the
very splendid silver punchbowl paraded by the Chelsea pensioners at the President's Lunch
and the annual Garden Party. "Cycling" reported that Nathaniel Pipkin was escorted to his
last resting place, Chingford Mount Cemetery, by a bodyguard of fellow members of the
Pickwick Bicycle Club.

Mr Brooks (Michael Radford, Past President and sometime Club Historian) was of the
view that the club should recognise his passing on the centenary and thus it was that a
small group of members attended the grave (it having been located by Bill the Turnkey:Don
Keen) on Saturday 30th June 2018 at noon.