It All Began at Ripley
2025 marks the 70th anniversary of the formation of the Veteran-Cycle Club and there is no better introduction to the Club’s first few years than the words written by Cyril Hancock in 2010 . In his book, “The Veteran-Cycle Club 1955-2005” he writes:
“The Veteran-Cycle Club started its activities in mid-1955, arising from actions taken by John and Derek Roberts. A meeting of six interested people, the founder members, led to the distribution of a circular and an initial meeting at Ripley where a short ride took place. The meeting agreed a set of actions which included the planning of the first veteran-cycle run in mid-1956.”
At this meeting it was decided to call the club the Southern Veteran-Cycle Club (SV-CC) with the objective of stimulating interest in all types of old cycles. The initial subscription was fixed at five shillings per year.
“A quarterly club journal was proposed with the first issue to be ready for the autumn; it would comprise of eight to ten pages, with a photographic print of an old cycle. Historical notes on the cycle with other articles and items of interest and correspondence were to be the contents of the journal. The first issue was to be duplicated and 25 copies run off. Derek Roberts was persuaded to arrange this and to become Editor. Little did he know how long he was going to hold that title” (Hancock 2010, p13).
The inaugural meeting was held at Ripley on Sunday, 28th August and was attended by 13 members, 8 on veteran machines including a Bantamette, Tom Tit tricycle, two Dursley Pedersens, two ordinaries, a cross-frame safety and a 1910 Rudge Whitworth. Following a short ride along the Portsmouth Road and back, everyone gathered in a local café.
In the same year there was a visit on 9th October to Godwin Southon’s collection of old machines; the first issue of The Boneshaker was published on 20th of the same month and there was a meeting of all known veteran-cycle clubs at Meriden to discuss the formation of a national organisation.
The Club’s activities in 1956 were mainly to do with establishing operational detail, the publishing of a journal and a newsletter. The first Annual General Meeting held on 5th February when the Club’s first set of rules was agreed. The only ride to be arranged was Ripley and Hyde Park, “The Ripley Run” was for pre-1914 machines only with 55 entering with two non-starters and two non-finishers.
On 8th April that year a national meeting took place at Meriden which resulted in four clubs forming the National Association of Veteran Cycle Clubs. They were Bawtry, Coventry, SV-CC and Peterborough.
During the first two years of the Club’s existence the foundations for future activities were made. These comprised The Boneshaker, an annual run, Library, AGM, and Luncheon and further developments were soon to come with marque enthusiasts, club machines, study groups and booklets, a wider range of runs, regional sections, club camp, family fun day, newsletter, club sales, video and film library and a yearbook. Many of these features of the Veteran-Cycle Club are still available to members although the internet has impacted greatly on the way we operate now.
Our fundamental values are still the same as 70 years ago at the Club’s foundation – we exist to stimulate interest in all types of old cycles and our by-line is “for whatever you ride”.
To celebrate our 70th Anniversary join us at:
22 February Club Luncheon at Burford, Oxfordshire – Oxford Section (see elsewhere in this issue booking information).
2 March The Boot and Back at Rattlesden, Suffolk – The Flat Section.
5/6 April Annual General Meeting and Memorial Ride – Midlands Section.
12/13 April Pedersen Gathering, Dursley, Gloucestershire – V-CC Committee.
20-23 June 70th Anniversary Celebrations – Ripley Road Section.
2-9 August Summer Camp at Kington, Herefordshire – Hereford Section.
3 September Spitfire Ride – Hampshire Lightweight Section