Copy of the programme from 1995
Cyril passed on this copy of a programme from 1995. I think that the only person still riding with us from then must be Hamish Smith. Let me know if you know differently. I asked Hamish about his early days with the BTOTC:
"I started riding with them in 1995 after I had been retired for a few years. My first ride was over the bridge to Magor. There were twelve of us on the ride, we met at the viewpoint at Almondsbury (what we now call Almondsbury tump). There was snow on the ground, I had the only bike with gears, the others were all on fixed. And I remember that Pete Baldwin was wearing cut-down wellies"
The front cover of the programme does not look as slick as our current "desk-top published" item. Can I detect a bit of Letraset among the typing. Ashton bridge has survived as a start point but Keynsham has been overtaken by Bitton station and Aztec by the Rexam meeting place. The intention of a pleasant day's cycling in good company lives on.
Some of the venues are still in use today, others have fallen by the wayside. And here is a picture from the July 6th ride to Beachly taken at the Old Ferry Inn. You can see Eileen Keen, Dave Amesbury, Pete Baldwin, Hamish and Ted King among others. Anyone able to name the rest?
Of course! Here is the full line-up from Cyril: Paddy Padfield, Eileen, Mike Brennan, Dave Amesbury, Gilbert Packer, Arthur Rich, Pete Baldwin,Trevor Gardiner, Hamish Smith, Les Catell, Joan Griffiths, Ted King.
The note about traffic danger is just as relevant today. I did not know that Roy Williams could wax so lyrical about a "propitious group of golden aged persons"