History of Chester Cycle Touring Clubs

In the 75th anniversary of Chester & North Wales, The Chain booklet mentions that there was discussion at the 5th birthday of the Chester Section about the formation of Chester & North Wales.  Therefore, Chester as a cycle touring group were in existence and formed (I think) in 1931.  I am aware that in the 1930's- 50's there were two cycle touring groups in Chester - The Cestrians and [another group - Chester CTC?]

Harry's History

Harry Watson, b.1928, is someone I have had the dubious honour of knowing since 1993 (and probably before) and I have ridden with him on many occasions, accompanying him on birthdays and celebrations of his 500,000+ miles and his 500+ pubs.  He shared some of his early photos of the Cestrian Cycling Club from the 1940/50's, dates are a bit vague I am afraid.

To ride with the Cestrian's you needed to be a member of the NCU (National Cycling Union), and membership to the Cestrian's at the time was 1 shilling a year.  On top of that you were fined a shilling if you came out without a mudflap on your mudguards (I am tempted to re-instate this!!)

Over the Wayfarer's: This is a trail from near Cynwyd (Corwen) over the Berwyn's to Llanarmon DC.  It was a favourite of a member of Merseyside CTC, known as 'Wayfarer', who rode in the hills between the great wars, and there is a memorial stone and tin box with a log book in it.
Harry recalls that he was cycling this route in 1971, with wife (Celia) and son (Colin), and he left a note in the tin for his son, saying 'dinner will be served in the tent' - Colin was 15 at the time

https://walksfromthehand.wordpress.com/tag/nant-rhyd-wilym/

http://www.cyclingnorthwales.co.uk/pages/wayfarer.htm

http://www.cyclingnorthwales.co.uk/pages/wayf_1st_rough.htm

These two pictures show a rather splendid cyclists picnic - it was Janet Clift's 5th birthday - pictured with her brother Steven (who still helps with the Bob Clift Memorial Rides) - I think Bob is taking the photos, and Dorothy his wife is attending to the cake in the picture below.
Cyclists capes were clearly also good as groundsheets!

 Here is Harry on a Cestrian club run to Denbigh (I think) - I understand that the railway bridge is no longer there, and it is hard to place the location.

Maeshafn hostel was a favourite of Merseyside and Wirral clubs, it is now a private house; but I remember a club ride to it to attend a meeting against it's closure (in the mid eighties); I have stayed there once when friends were visiting, which must have been about the turn of the millennium.

Harry recalls members of the cycling club also formed into a skiffle band, demonstrating quite a social side to their cycling club.  You will note, among the harmonica's a double bass made with wood and string, a horn of some description, and Harry wearing his famous Tam O' Shanter playing the piano left of centre.  I think he sleeps in that hat!

The club members attended an annual rally to Llangollen, they met at Chester and rode out in fancy dress - not only wearing costumes but also decorating the bikes in elaborate fashion.  

One year Harry remembers he rode out wearing Celia's red swimming costume. This was fine until the return journey the next day, and he had not packed any other clothes, it was pouring and he had to ride back in the cold and wet wearing the swimming costume.




 Harry also recalls that a lady came out and gave them some knickers (I really have no clue!) and you can see them strung up in the photo on the left - bamboo poles on bike and a line between them.

Harry and Ron Davies outside his house in Blacon.  Just an ace picture!

This is taken at the top of the Horseshoe Pass, at the Ponderosa.  Look at the cars!  On the far mid right you can see a sidecar.  Colin, Harry's (long suffering) son was dragged everywhere in this, till the age of 5 - including in the winter in the ice and cold over the same horseshoe pass!  It is a Watsonian Side Car, the Hudson Tandem (1930) cost Harry £5 in 1960 (approx date)

The club used to cycle camp to Rhos on Sea (Harry's favourite pasty shop is still there, which he liked to frequent!)

This photo is worth it again, this time for the signs in the background.  The four wheeled bike was hired from a holiday park at Gronant, on one of the club weekends away.  Harry and Denis Nelson (a PT instructor in the army) rode it around for the weekend, towing the ice cream truck.  They had to be towed up Marford Hill.  

Tramps ride to Llangollen, in fancy dress, 1950's.

Here is the group at Llangollen approx 1964, outside the old Hostel.  The chap on the far right, Ted, allegedly had a different girlfriend each year!

Club weekend to Blackpool (obvs!)















The Cestrians used to meet at Abbey Gateway (this is actually inside Abbey Square) on a Tuesday at 10:00.

Harry remembers there was a cafe on the corner, and on the other side there were underground toilets.

Tramps ride to Llangollen, c.1954

More Photos

From Roy Spilsbury - shared on Facebook

Ted Donnelly, Den Jones and Trevor Hargreaves (3rd, 4th and fifth from the left)

Bill Skelding is on far right; According to the CTC Gazette July '45 Bill returned from service in the middle east in the spring of that year. He remained active in the club until the 1980's when Roy recalls he was told he had a leg amputated - not as a result of a road incident. That would be around 1985. 

I want to know why - on what must be a summer photo (shorts, picnic) someone is wearing WELLIES and another (Ted) a BOBBLE HAT!!!!