Page 21 - PBCOctober2018

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 15 No.2 October 2018 @21

‘Perhaps he may hang himself.’ ‘Very good,’ rejoined Mr. Simmery, pulling out the gold pencil -
case again. ‘ I’ve no objection to take you that way. Say, makes away with himself.’ ‘Kills
himself, in fact,’ said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. ‘Just so,’ replied Mr.Simmery, putting it down.
. '"Flasher-- ten guineas to five, Boffer kills himself." Within what time shall we say?' 'A
fortnight?' suggested Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. 'Con-found it, no,' rejoined Mr. Simmery,
stopping for an instant to smash a fly with the ruler. 'Say a week.' 'Split the difference,'
said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. 'Make it ten days.' 'Well; ten days, 'rejoined Mr. Simmery. So
it was entered down on the little books that Boffer was to kill himself within ten days, or
Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, was to hand over to Frank Simmery, Esquire, the sum of ten guineas;
and that if Boffer did kill himself within that time, Frank Simmery, Esquire, would pay to
Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, five guineas, instead. 'I'm very sorry he has failed,' said Wilkins
Flasher, Esquire. 'Capital dinners he gave.’”

A E Bennett 1912 to 1919
J Mackenzie 1923 to 1932 ( Committee 1927)
N G Tyson 1937 to 1941
C R Jordan 1946 to 1980 ( President 1964)
Charles O Messenger 1981 to present

Daniel Grummer - the elderly constable in top-boots

“Mr. Pickwick had a great deal more to say, which he would no doubt have said, very little to
his own advantage, or the magistrate's satisfaction, if he had not, the moment he ceased
speaking, been pulled by the sleeve by Mr. Weller, with whom he was immediately engaged in
so earnest a conversation, that he suffered the magistrate's inquiry to pass wholly
unnoticed. Mr. Nupkins was not the man to ask a question of the kind twice over; and so, with
another preparatory cough, he proceeded, amidst the reverential and admiring silence of the
constables, to pronounce his decision. He should fine Weller two pounds for the first assault,
and three pounds for the second. He should fine Winkle two pounds, and Snodgrass one
pound, besides requiring them to enter into their own recognisances to keep the peace
towards all his Majesty's subjects, and especially towards his liege servant, Daniel Grummer.
Pickwick and Tupman he had already held to bail.”

Colonel Jack W Beningfield 1874 to 1902 (Life Member; Chairman 1883; President 1891;
Vice-President 1890,1897,1900; Captain 1880,
1882,1883,1884,1891; Sub-Captain 1876,1877;
a forceful personality)