Albert Winstanley.

[seasider]

I read in the Guardian Obituaries section on Saturday an ' other lives' about Albert Winstanley of Bolton. He had done his share of cycling around the Lancashire area and had written a couple of books.Does anybody know if they are still in print and if they are worth a read. Tim Dawson who wrote the article paints a picture of a dedicated rider that was a pleasure to read.

[clarion]

The obit was not one done by the paper's staff, but the Other Lives section for obits penned by readers.  Sad really.  Mind you, the person who wrote it seemed not to mention his lifelong support of the Clarion and socialist ideals.

In the 80s, I used to love reading his articles in Cycling World, and his talk of Kuklos and Wayfarer and the rest.

[Canardly]

Tsk, does this mean Clarion is taken from the Clarion cycling cloob? (I know the answer honest)

[jogler]

In the 80s, I used to love reading his articles in Cycling World, and his talk of Kuklos and Wayfarer and the rest.

me too

 

[Peter]

Hello All,

AW was someone about whom I knew nothing, so thanks for that!  But the thread prompted me to look up Charlie Chadwick, whose ride reports were lovingly resurrected in Northern Wheel, the late-lamented magazine of Manchester DA.  When I looked him up, I came across this site:-

www.charliechadwick.org

If you love "cycling writing", I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy this.  I think I've found a gold-mine!

[hellymedic]

In the 80s, I used to love reading his articles in Cycling World, and his talk of Kuklos and Wayfarer and the rest.

me too

 

And me.

[billplumtree]

I read in the Guardian Obituaries section on Saturday an ' other lives' about Albert Winstanley of Bolton. He had done his share of cycling around the Lancashire area and had written a couple of books.Does anybody know if they are still in print and if they are worth a read.

Seasider, I saw that obit too.  I've got his books - came across 'em in an Oxfam shop a while ago.  His name rang a bell with me, I met him on a couple of xmas Rough-Stuff meets in the Lakes - lovely bloke. 

The books are very much of their time, of a certain era - if you're also of that era, and especially if you're familiar with the NW of England, you'll probably like them.  They're listed here and here, but don't seem to be available any more.  You're very welcome to a loan of mine if you want?

[E.C. Ryder]

I first came across Albert Winstanley many years ago when he wrote some great article in Cycling World magazine, I have just one of his books `Golden Days Awheel` which is a signed copy.
Does anybody remember Arnold Robinson who also wrote in the Cycling World magazine about the same time, I just wonder if he is still with us.

[clarion]

I was going to mention Arnold Robinson.  A very different man, being an ex-copper and more conservative in his views, but with the same lyrical ability to convey the joy of cycling in print (with smudgy b/w prints).  He it was who inspired me to first circumnavigate the Derbyshire reservoirs.

[jogler]

I remember Arnold Robinson.
My recollection is that he & AW were the most frequent & readable contributors to Cycle World magazine for a long while.

[clarion]

There was also Ray Racey (sp?) and the technical chap, who was quite amusing.

[JoeWarner]

AW was someone about whom I knew nothing, so thanks for that!  But the thread prompted me to look up Charlie Chadwick, whose ride reports were lovingly resurrected in Northern Wheel, the late-lamented magazine of Manchester DA.  When I looked him up, I came across this site:-

www.charliechadwick.org

If you love "cycling writing", I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy this.  I think I've found a gold-mine!

Great to hear that you think that you have found a "gold-mine", Peter - that is certainly what we think. My Dad (David Warner) originally started to push some of Charlie's material out through the Northern Wheel. But then he got offered the opportunity to produce a book for the VCC (and I think the Northern Wheel finished at about the same time).

However, it was clear from the start the the book(s) would only ever take the cream of what Charlie had produced - so I offered to create the website so that we could get all of the material out to the very widest possible audience.

[Peter]

Well, thanks, Joe.  I'll certainly be spreading the word!

[jogler]

www.charliechadwick.org

If you love "cycling writing", I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy this.  I think I've found a gold-mine!

You certainly have...that's a cracking good site/read.

I particularly enjoyed the Meriden blog,not least because I could relate to all the route & been to the Memorial

[Cudzoziemiec]

The name Albert Winstanley rings a bell, but I couldn't have said exactly what. I'll have to have a look. ISTR also hearing of a Winstanley's bike shop, don't remember where, is that anything to do with him?

As for Cycling World, I didn't come across it till the 90s but have heard of Kuklos and Wayfarer from... don't know where, could be CTC sources? Could be I came across them in some 1930s cycling magazines I picked up around the same time from an fondly-remembered indoor market in Bath in an old tramshed or bus depot (it's now a trendy restaurant  ). Anyway, someone mentioned on another thread yesterday they'd picked up the latest issue of CW but it wasn't in Smiths, who normally have it. Shame but never mind.

snippets
Kuklos
Wayfarer

[loafer]

I remember Arnold Robinson.
My recollection is that he & AW were the most frequent & readable contributors to Cycle World magazine for a long while.

remember these two well  and there great reads in cycling world ..(is it still in print)

[jogler]

is it still in print

Yes
I got the current issue yesterday

[TimC]

ISTR also hearing of a Winstanley's bike shop, don't remember where, is that anything to do with him?

This one?

[Cudzoziemiec]

That'd be them. It seems they're in Wigan, which is pretty near Bolton, at least according to my hazy tra'or droiver's geography. But whether that means a connection I don't know.