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Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 11 No.2 September 2014 !23

Who Were Your Early Namesakes, Researching Your Ancestors

The Pickwick Bicycle Club has been in continuous existence since its
formation in 1870, and the soubriquets of its members have been
faithfully passed down from generation to generation. If you would
like to receive the available history of your soubriquet please
contact Joseph Smiggers at steve@stephenbullen.com and you will
have this information by return.

Boffer – an expelled stockbroker:

“ 'I see there's a notice up this morning about Boffer,' observed Mr. Simmery. 'Poor
devil, he's expelled the house!' 'I'll bet you ten guineas to five, he cuts his throat,' said
Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. 'Done,' replied Mr. Simmery. 'Stop! I bar,' said Wilkins Flasher,
Esquire, thoughtfully. '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.”

A E Bennett 1912 to 1915

J Mackenzie 1923 to 1934 Committee (1927)

N G Tyson 1937 to 1939

C R Jordan 1946 to 1980 President (1964)

Charles O Messenger 1981 to present