"Sixty Years On" - 1964 |
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On 20 July, Vic Jenner, whose energetic and wide-ranging cycling career had started with Woking members in 1924, died suddenly of a heart attack. After considerable success in the field of racing - once beating the great Frank Southall in a Catford C.C. time trial - he went to Rome to compete in the 1932 World Championships, at his own expense because there was no official British team entered. In the following year he promoted the first massed start race with an event on Brooklands motor track. Vic with Bill Stickley and others, kept the 'Ville alive throughout the war and, at its conclusion, was elected as their President. He was on the N.C.U. Selection Committee, a member of the R.T.T.C. for 25 years and was responsible for every one of the Best All-Rounder concerts. He also acted as chief commissar of the 1947 Paris/London race and, in 1948 was chairman of the committee that ran the Olympic Road Race in Windsor Great Park. And it all came about because, riding on his own up the rise from Godalming to Milford one Sunday in 1924, his pedal spindle snapped just as he was passing a stationary group of Woking C.T.C.'ites. The mishap threw him off so the bystanders came to his aid, managed to locate a new pedal in Milford and, from then on, took him under their wing. Vic had a great influence on the D.A. in its early days, serving on committees and speaking at various functions but still taking an active interest in the racing game.
One of his early eccentricities was to carry a live snake in his jacket pocket and this would be produced at wayside picnic lunches much to the consternation of any new members.
But back to 1964. As Kingston were no longer available to organise the Annual '50', the event was taken over by the D.A. and henceforth became a regular Spring event with the '100' in the Autumn but that year there were only eight entries for the '50' and ten for the '100'.
A Treasure Hunt, the Rough-stuff, Speed-judging and Map-reading became part of the Benstead Cup programme and were held as part of Sunday runs. Local schools were circulated inviting pupils over 14 who had a cycling proficiency certificate to take part in an invitation ride and, in good weather, 15 responded.
The Club changed the name of its official organ from the "C.T.C. Gazette" to "Cycletouring".
Councillor Len Steel attended a committee meeting in Woking and suggested that the Club's President, Mr. Lionel Blundell, Q.C. be invited as guest speaker at the D.A. dinner in December.
Les Gray's son Bob came into prominence and was elected Map Librarian, and, on the Sunday before Christmas, riders turned out in fancy costumes - including a pirate and Farmer Giles - and there followed a bumper tea at the home of Ian Child in Godalming.
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Web page by Chris Jeggo. Last revised: 9 January 2005.