[HAMR] 1937 publicity

[Salvatore]

Some snippets from contemporary newspaper accounts of Rene Menzies' ride

Menzies is described as "Anglo-French" (Aberdeen Journal 20/12/1937).
 Also "a native of France but of Scottish extraction" (Hartlepool Mail 12/10/1937)
Also as "the 48-year-old Cricklewood cyclist" (Hartlepool Mail 27/12/1937)
During his record ride he crashed and broke his arm near Biggleswade (Aberdeen Journal 27/9/1937).
He broke the record at Alexandra Palace (Dundee Courier 30/9/1937)
Like Billie Dovey/Fleming and Bernard Bennett he rode a Rudge.
His weight had dropped from 10 st 7 lb to 10 st by the end of September (Western Daily Press 30/9/1937)
He wore out 12 pairs of shorts and made 39 million pedal strokes (Dundee Evening Telegraph 8/1/1938)
There were 4000 people to welcome him at the new Horticultural Hall, Westminster, at 11:30 pm on 31st December 1937. (Aberdeen Journal 3/1/1938)
During his 100,000 mile ride in 585 days, he consumed 240 lb chocolate and cocoa and 350 gallons of milk. (Lichfield Mercury 26/8/1938)

[Peter]

I could do the chocolate bit but you can forget about stroking the pedals.

[GrumpyBob]

On one memorable day (July 5th 1952), my dad encountered both Rene Menzies and George Herbert Stancer while riding near the Chalfonts.  Presumably still a big enough name to attract attention from young lads out on their bikes!

Robert

[Peter]

That's lovely stuff, Bob!

[GrumpyBob]

That's lovely stuff, Bob!

It's a website I put together about my Dad's old cycling club (now long-defunct) and based on his old cycling diaries. I occasionally hear from former members, which is always good - but sadly rare these days.

Robert

[Peter]

Love's Labour's Not Lost - on me, anyway!

[Grandad]

Fascinating diary page.

I see you have updated the reference to Ken Webb, similarly Pat Kenny's total has been exceeded by CCP Davies who reached 900,0000 in 2010
 http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/chris-davies-is-britains-900000-mile-man-63441

He was only 72 then - does anyone have any more recent information about him?

[LittleWheelsandBig]

CCP is in a home and won't be adding to his total.

[tonyh]

Sad news. Thanks LWaB. I was wondering about CCP yesterday.

[GrumpyBob]

Fascinating diary page.

I see you have updated the reference to Ken Webb, similarly Pat Kenny's total has been exceeded by CCP Davies who reached 900,0000 in 2010
 http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/chris-davies-is-britains-900000-mile-man-63441

He was only 72 then - does anyone have any more recent information about him?

I'll do a further update this evening. The main text on the website was written some years ago!

Robert

[red marley]

A long shot (and I realise not a '1937' publicity topic as such), but does anyone have any images of Cycling Magazine from 1939 in which Tommy's weekly milage and accumulated distance were reported? I am writing an article and lecture on the way progress information then and now (OYTT) have been shared and I'd love to be able to include such an image.

The only images I can find tend to be of the various adverts in which he appeared after the event. Godfrey Barlow's Unsurpassed book has plenty of photos but none from Cycling magazine that include a 'live' progress report.

[Citizenfish]

I have shedloads jo and images of his mileage diaries. Drop me a line.

[jsabine]

I linked earlier (in the conversation about Bennett, I think) to an archive copy of an Australian local paper (Townsville Gazette or similar) that had a mileage report comparing Bennett and Godwin midway through the year, but a month out of date: the site included a facsimile page.

(Older post at https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=87255.msg1795453#msg1795453)

[Salvatore]

Western Daily Press - Thursday 19 January 1939

Apart from Mr Morris' sling, the most remarkable thing in this article is that it is considered notable that a mere 60-year-old should achieve an annual total of 6051 miles.
I suppose it shows how we are living healthier and longer than previous generations.

[red marley]

Great to see Billie Dovey (Fleming) get a mention in the column too.

[bryn]

CCP is in a home and won't be adding to his total.

That is sad news.  Met him on one of the St Lo Easter Cider and Cycling festivals in the 90's (still got the T shirts!).  If he was 72 in 2010, then 76/77 seems a bit young to be in a home.  He must really miss the cycling.

[Salvatore]

Great to see Billie Dovey (Fleming) get a mention in the column too.

She gets plenty of mentions in the press, but in contrast to those for Menzies, Bennett, Godwin etc, (where newspapers rarely reported much more than mileage) they are largely detailed accounts of visits she has made to Rudge dealeships, club dinners, CTC sports days etc. There's no mention (that I can find) of any intention to set or break any record - the intention seems to be to promote women's cycling (and Rudge Cycles). This is what the Western Daily Press  wrote about a visit to Bristol

[Salvatore]

In contrast this couple of paragraphs in the Burnley Express (Friday 07 July 1939) is not much more than numbers

[Arry-R]

Russ Mantle is our highest 300, 000 mile club member.  a young 78 year old he only managed 15608 mls in 2014. his best was 22550 in a year.  Hopefully in half a dozen years he may reach the million miles but who knows what lies ahead or round the next corner!   he is certainly ahead of my total!   GO RUSS!
 

[Arry-R]

Chris Davies ended up with 916, 791 miles.  Pat Kenny at 909, 654 who would have overtaken Chris within seven months had he not been killed by motorist. save travels to you all.
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