Page 27 - PBCOctober2018

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 15 No.2 October 2018 @27

Passing of more Friends…….

We have had a sad year in 2018 with a number of Club members joining the Bicycle Club in
the sky. Here we record the passing of three more:

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Club member, Old Nobs (Retired)/Don Booth sadly passed away in May this year.
Secretary Sgt Buzfuz sent Club condolences to his family.

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In July, Mr Green (Retired)/Monty Young passed away.

Long time friend Justice Stareleigh recalls their long friendship:
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Monty passed away on peacefully on 20 July 2018 shortly after his 88 birthday. He
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had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for a number of years, which had worsened over the
last few months. He has moved into that Big Bike Shop in the sky where he is still building
his famous wheels. Monty founded Condor Cycles in the Balls Pond Road with his brother-in-
law in 1948. They soon moved to Gray’s Inn Road opposite the present premises as business
rapidly increased. Monty was a larger than life, real character – his personality and
charisma were fantastic. He was a real gentleman too, who, once he had befriended you, was
a friend for life. Nothing was too much for him, and he would help you out whether you were
royalty, pop stars (Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton amongst others), MPs or just “Joe Public”.
From the 1950’s he supported cycle races and events in his Condor van. In the 60’s he
formed the ‘Condor Mackeson’ racing team which include Hugh Porter MBE
Jonas Mudge) and Dave Bonner (The Scientific Gentleman) among its members. Amongst
other famous riders they helped were former World Champions, Sir Bradley Wiggins and
Colin Sturgess. Even now, including Team Sky rider Tao Geoghegan Hart, all were among
hundreds of cyclists helped along the way. In the early days, Mont’s Condor service car was
seen at all home international races including the Milk Race, Sealink International, National
Championships, one-day races and on on overseas duties in Europe and even the three-week
Peace Race behind the then Iron Curtain.
Monty was a great benefactor behind the scenes, to the sport, assisting so many people
with various forms of aid, including the supply of two tandems from the Pickwick Bicycle
Club to the Manchester Velodrome for disabled riders.