An Introduction to our History

Compiling the early history was relatively straightforward from the first Addiscombe Cycling Club in 1883 through to the early years of the current century including the formation of the present (3rd) Addiscombe Cycling Club. However, by 2006 I was considering how to close this record to actually get it into publication. In addition, modern material was becoming more difficult to track. An unfortunate happening in the June of that year helped me make the decision.

On 11th June 2006 the last remaining founder member of the current Addiscombe Cycling Club passed away just nine months short of his 100th birthday. Sidney E. Armstrong, or “Sid” to his contemporaries, had acted as runs leader, promoter, time trials officer, and president 1959-61. He had given much of his time to the encouragement of others.

Despite moving to Dorset in the 1970’s Sid Armstrong had maintained a close association with the club right to the end. Following rheumatic fever as a child this slight man, a mere 5 ft 2 ins in height, defied the doctors who predicted an early death for him and went on to finish 4th in the National Championship 24-hour of 1950 (third counter of the winning team) as well as breaking no fewer than seven Southern Road records on a tricycle. This was at a time when the racing tricycle was still very popular.

Whilst acknowledging the support of all members past and present, I decided it was fitting that this history would draw to close with the passing of this last founder member. It is therefore dedicated to the memory of Sid Armstrong (1907-2006).

During 2006/7 my own health suffered and the tidying up and publication of this history became rather protracted. As the final details were being checked in January 2008 the club suffered another tragic loss when Eddie Mundy, so long part of the Addiscombe, collapsed at the clubroom. Despite urgent action by the members Eddie died in hospital later that evening.

This photograph, taken by Jim Love, Willesden CC during the Veterans’ West Group 2-up time trial in October 1978, was passed on by Eddie’s family and provides a fitting tribute to both Sid and Eddie. For the record the pair recorded 1 hr 11 mins for the 25 miles and took the award for the pair having the greatest combined age (54 and 71).

In presenting this history of the Addiscombe Cycling Clubs I have taken material from The Cyclist 1884, Cycling / Cycling Weekly, the 1930’s magazines of the Southern Counties C.U., the club magazine “The Gazette”, minutes of meetings and reports from various officials. I have also referred to cuttings from local papers and used photos, fortunately preserved in the club’s scrapbooks and private collections. The experiences and memories of others have also been sought yet too many names and events inevitably go unrecorded and for this I apologise.

To Johnny Helms my thanks for permission to use a few of his apt cartoons. In a letter from Helms giving his permission for the reprinting of these he adds a postscript “I learned a lot about 24 hour feeding from the Addiscombe”.

Many of the sketches and photographs used were the work of people now departed. To any photographer whose work I may have inadvertently used without permission I offer my sincere apologies, some having been loaned already mounted in scrapbooks. My thanks to Cycling Weekly, John Mullineaux of London Cycle Sport and photographer Jim Love for their co-operation.

For the benefit of newcomers to our sport I have attempted to briefly explain national cycle racing organisations with a few of the major changes that have occurred over the years. The history has been broken down into sections, partly to make for easier reading, but also to make it manageable to my rather basic computer skills!

In reading it will be noted that membership has gone through several peaks and troughs and long may the current upsurge continue. What has become apparent in my research is that future historians may well find gathering material difficult. Gone is our club magazine (and with it the interest of a few of our senior members who are not computer-literate), minutes tend to be briefer, and reports often lapse into forenames or nicknames only. Enough said. It is now up to someone else to take over as historian of the club.

What we can be proud of in this the twenty-first century is a vibrant club of enthusiastic cyclists, a website, a forum, well supported club runs, and riders participating in all manner of disciplines whether seriously or just for pleasure.

The future is yours

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