Page 10 - PBCOctober2020

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 17 No.2 October 2020 10

Buzfuz tells his story - What a difference a move made!

Back in 1985 my wife and family moved into our current house. Shortly after moving in
our neighbours introduced themselves and asked if they could borrow our daughters for a
photograph. My neighbour had recently restored a
Victorian child’s fairy cycle with post office side
car. The girls were dressed in pinafore dresses and
straw boaters and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

We were then asked if we could ride bicycles as
neighbours supported the local village parade, riding

Victorian and Edwardian cycles. We said yes, and
dressed in appropriate costume road in the parade. I
remember I rode a Walls ice cream tricycle; a very
heavy machine, the ice box being metal lined.

After this experience we were offered a ride in the
Benson Veteran cycle club rally and were again lent
cycles to ride, again in costume. It was clear that the
family enjoyed the experiences.
Buzfuz on High

That autumn I really got the bug and bought my first Edwardian cycle a Premier helical
tube bike of about 1908 for the princely sum of £75. We joined the Desford Lane Pedlars
cycle club, there being no local club in our area at that time. This was soon put right and I
was invited to join the committee of the Solent Veteran Bicycle and Tricycle club and two
years later became club Captain, a post a still hold.

A member of that club was none other than Mr Brooks who kindly invited me as a guest
to a Pickwick Bicycle Club luncheon and soon was proposed and elected a member and in
1999 became secretary. With my neighbour and local club members I have attended many
fairs and gatherings displaying vintage and veteran cycles and ridden in and organised
many National Rallies of the National Association of Veteran Cycle clubs an organisation I
have been a Vice President of for many years and President for 6 years.