History
The old Brighton section by Brian Hutton and Ken Wells
Brian Hutton Remembers
Mr Moreman to the Rescue! And Brian wins again, 1954
The Shoreham Toll-Bridge half a century ago
Brian's Weekly Training Ride (c1950)
A Look at Sussex Cycling Cafés of the 1950s
Ken Wells recalls the Clarion in the late 1940s
Brian Hutton is the long time cycling correspondent of the Argus. He was a member of a Brighton section of the Club in the later 1940s. The section secretary was Wally Newman, a local Labour councillor. Of him Brian says 'I vaguely remember Wally Newman. He was a nice guy but I think some of the riders were put off as he was very much into Labour politics and wanted Clarion members to go leafleting and so on. He probably influenced me towards the Left, but I think at that time most riders were not really interested in politics.'
The Brighton Clarion went in for racing pretty seriously and included some local champions. Most of the members, though, like Brian himself, tended later to concentrate their racing efforts with other local clubs like the Brighton Mitre and the Clarion, Brian believes, disappeared sometime in the mid-1950s. Certainly, we know from the Handbook for 1962-63 that Ed turned up that it had disappeared by then. Brian is a current member and thus our link with the former Brighton organisation. As well as the pieces on this history page see Brian's article 'The Early Days of Road Racing' in Boots and Spurs Autumn 2004.
Ken Wells is another member of the former Brighton Section who Brian put me in touch with. Ken now lives in Bognor.
Brian Hutton Remembers
Mr Moreman to the Rescue! And Brian wins again, 1954
[Michael Walker found the local Clarion-recommended repairer in 1951 was E.G.F. Moreman, 24 George Street, Brighton (also on this history page) this rang a bell for Brian.]
Mr Moreman of George Street had a small cycle shop and dealt with ride-to-work cyclists and not racers, but I did get to know him and gave him some custom. He was very helpful on occasions.
One such occasion was in September 1954. It was a Sunday and I was all keyed up as a BLRC rider to try and win the rival Sussex NCU's road race championship.* I lived in Camelford Street off St James's Street and several friends called round to ride the 15 miles to the start of the race which was in Newick.
I had checked my bike the previous day but after a couple of pedal revolutions my bottom bracket packed up. I panicked and my only hope was that Mr Moreman might be able to help. I freewheeled with my mates down St James's Street and found his shop was closed, but I saw him in the shop. I explained the position and in typical fashion he offered to help and quickly fitted a new bottom bracket.
We then had virtually to do a team time trial to get to Newick in time. Nearing Newick a mate said something was not quite right and we found the cranks were not exactly in line. They were just a little out. I didn't have time to remedy the situation and as I hadn't noticed anything wrong I had no choice but to ride the race. I was very keyed up and started the winning break and won the title in a four-up sprint finish.
At the time I was noted for writing hoax letters to Cycling magazine. For example I told them I had filled my tyres with water to make finding punctures easier. One day the water had turned to ice and it had a flywheel effect vastly increasing my speed. When I told riders I had won the championship with my cranks out of line, and still gone like a bomb they all thought it was another hoax story!
Brian
[*for those unfamiliar with these bodies, the British League of Racing Cyclists was a breakaway organisation from the National Cyclists Union. The BLRC was frustrated with the very conservative attitude of the NCU particularly its reluctance (until more or less forced to by the activities of its rival) to promote 'massed start' road racing, rather than sticking exclusively to time trials (races against the clock rather than directly with other riders)... I B]
The Shoreham Toll-Bridge half a century ago
The mention of Shoreham Toll Bridge in the 2005 Annual Report revived some old memories.
In the mid-1950s there used to be two toll collectors who stood in the road at the Red Lion end. One would collect money from the cars coming onto the bridge and travelling west and the other would collect the toll from cars coming off the bridge. They carried leather satchels. Cyclists had to pay an old penny.
I would often be among a dozen or so riders who headed west over the bridge during an evening training ride. Approaching the bridge we would get into single file and cross at speed. The front rider would callout that the rider behind would pay and so on right down the line with the last rider taking evasive action as both collectors tried to thump him! It wasn't a question of not wanting to pay but of not wanting to hang around fumbling to find the money and if the riders in front hadn't stopped then you had either to follow suit or pay up for all of them and then have to chase to catch up.
The real fun came on the return journey a couple of hours later when the collectors would be on the lookout for us. Some riders would filter through the queuing cars, but if you didn't time it just right you would get a cuff round the ear when you passed by. Still it was good practice for taking evasive action during a race when riders fell in front of you during the final sprint!
Brian
Brian's Weekly Training Ride (c1950)
Here are the details of my 'secret weapon' during my racing days the tough circuit I devised to train on. I usually had to go round solo as other riders thought it was far too tough [surprise! Surprise! IB] and no race circuits were as hard. As a result I actually came to like hills instead of fearing them as many riders did. I saw them as a place to apply pressure and break away rather than just hanging on! The circuit sounds a long way but I think it was only about 35 miles and I used to top up the mileage by finishing with extra laps round a town-centre circuit
BASIC CIRCUIT
This started at the Palace Pier. East along Madeira Drive and up Dukes Mound to the top road. East to Arundel Road and East Brighton Park and up Wilson Avenue. Turn right to Downs Hotel and then left to Falmer cross roads (as it then was). Left towards Brighton and right up Coldean Lane. Down to Patcham and up Mill Hill. Right on to Saddlescombe and down to Poynings. Right on the A23 up Dale Hill to Pycombe. Left to Ditchling. Up Ditchling Beacon and down Coldean Lane. Turn left to Falmer and continue towards Lewes. Do a U-turn at the bottom of the hill and then back up to Falmer. Left to Woodingdean and down Elm Grove to complete circuit.
SECOND CIRCUIT
From bottom of Elm Grove to Kemp Town and up Freshfield Road (or Wilson Avenue) and down Elm Grove. Maybe do a U-turn and climb back and do the circuit in reverse. Carry on with more variations of circuit depending on the time available.
I only used to do this super-hilly riding once a week. Other nights I used to go out with groups of riders and have really fast riding over more conventional routes. If you rode over the hilly route more than once a week you probably would have lost all your ability to sprint and so forth. But once a week definitely helped to develop my hill climbing.'
Brian
[It's interesting that Brian's second circuit (Elm Grove/Wilson Avenue) featured both in the two Wincanton Classic races in 1990 and 1991 and also at the end of the Dover-Brighton stage of the 1994 Tour de France. Great minds clearly do think alike! IB]
A Look at Sussex Cycling Cafés of the 1950s
Ah, yes, cycling cafés. I remember them well. It may be hard to believe now but there was a golden age in the post-war years when café owners hung out 'Welcome' signs to cyclists and cycling clubs. So too did some country pub landlords, such as the one at The Star Inn, at Waldron, who took bookings for teas from local clubs. Many cafés and pubs were granted official status as caterers by the CTC and the NCU (National Cyclists Union). The last one I was there a year ago one ancient sign still remained outside the Smugglers' Inn in the centre of Alfriston by the Market Cross.
[I think the last one we've seen on a ride was the one at The Lamb Inn at Ripe. I B]
Sussex had several outstanding cafés that were especially welcoming to local riders. For example, there was The Old Forge at Sayers Common, ten miles north of Brighton on the main London Road before it was bypassed. On Tuesday evenings Brighton club members used to go training and then wind up around 9pm at the Old Forge Café which was next to a petrol station. Up to 50 riders would gather for a cup of tea and then someone would start to leave and this was the signal for a mass exodus and for all the riders to indulge in a massive 'burn-up' back to Brighton that would have two monumental sprints, one for the 30mph sign at Braypool and the other to the end of Preston Park.
Nearby, in London Road almost underneath the viaduct, there was another very popular café, the FILO (First in Last Out). This was run by a local cycling family and cyclists from all the local clubs could be found there in the evenings after their training rides. It was also handy for taking refreshment after watching or participating in the Preston Park track meetings. Several thousand spectators used to attend the big open meetings there which featured riders such as world sprint champion Reg Harris whose name became a byword in Britain. Pedestrians and motorists would shout in a friendly fashion at speeding cyclists, 'Oi, who do you think you are bleeding Reg Harris?' Now of course they are more likely to be psychopaths who will pursue you and try to run you down in their 4 x 4s.
Another very interesting and quite unique café was The Polar Bear in Lewes. This stood in Cliffe High Street just a couple of doors east of the bridge across the river. The Polar Bear was a milk bar and hung around its walls were a number of large framed cycling cartoons. Like the Old Forge it was the starting point for many a frenzied burn-up back to Brighton sometimes straight back via Falmer and occasionally over Ditchling Beacon which was my favourite.
There were also popular cafés welcoming cyclists near the bridge in Arundel, in Horsham near what is now the Piries Place car park, and in Worthing next to the Dome cinema. There was also a café in Boreham Street [We could have used that on the last but one ride! I B] where riders changed in a small garage before taking part in races around the Battle Circuit! The Swan pub at Forest Row was a popular HQ for many races around the Ashdown Forest.
Outside Sussex there was a café at Green Street Green, just east of Croyden and off a roundabout. Green Street Green was the starting point for t he classic London to Battle and Back road race and the café was a Mecca for all the top London riders.
Unfortunately, not only are there very few such cafés and pubs now, but riders today tend to turn up in their cars, race, and then disappear. There is no doubt about it; the 'Fifties was a great time to be a cycling club member.
Brian
Ken Wells recalls the Clarion in the late 1940s
I was a member from early 1948 to 1949, when I left to join the Prestonville Nomads, I have been in Brighton Mitre since Prestonville Nomads ended in 1968, and am currently treasurer and official for Sussex CRL.
Unfortunately, I do not have any results from that period, but I remember riding an SCA 25 in September 1948, when Clarion had quite a good team, and several club events. Principal rider was Mike Moreton, another rider for Clarion in that event, and second team counter was Brian James, also a Mitre member who lives at Bracknell. He may have records. Mike Moreton left shortly after to join the Brighton and Hove Wheelers, he is no longer in the district. A few more names of 1948-1949 members, but I have no idea of their whereabouts.
Derek Payne who joined B & H Wheelers later and emigrated to Canada, Derek? Howson, Derek Grover, Brian James. Derek Marsh, who was club captain in 1948
Also ? Bush (cannot remember his first name), Len Blackman, Mike and Pat Moreton.
Pat joined the Prestonville when I did, and Mike Joined B & H wheelers shortly
before being called up on National Service. National Service was the cause of a lot of people giving up cycling after being posted to distant shores with no bike. Mike was Sussex Pursuit champion and won several other championships in Wheelers colours, Clarion the team prize in an SCA 25 in Sept 48, which was my first 25, Mike did a 1-1 Brian James did a 1-4 in his first 25, I cannot remember who the third team counter was. It was not me.' Brian, who is still in touch with Ken, adds a few more names though he's not sure whether or not all of them actually joined the Claron Ivan Kettley, 'Faz' Farrell, Derek Cover, Dave Gravett [who is well known to several of us and has joined us at Christmas get-togethers].
At Easter 1948, what was, I think my second club run, was to Herne Hill for the Good Friday meeting at which Reg Harris was due to compete. (He did not owing to being injured in a car crash.) The run went on to a youth Hostel tour into Kent. I joined in as there was a vacancy, without letting my parents know. This caused a certain amount of alarm, as this was before wide availability of telephones, before I turned up in Monday evening. Club runs to Herne Hill were a common occurrence, Sunday runs were well attended: 20-30 attendance usual. In those days if you wanted to go anywhere, you just got on the bike and went. No cars and no money for train fares.
We also rode to Southampton Track and back to see Mike Moreton ride in an event (140 miles round trip).
One other small nugget of news, when I joined the RAF for national service in 1951, one of the standard questions was "Are you a member of a political party or cycling club". Clarion was regarded as a political party.'