History of the club

I’ve never heard of a cycling club in Grantham before the First World War (1914 — 18) but there easily may have been.

The first recorded club is the Grantham Road Club, formed in 1923 and it flourished exceedingly well up to the start of the Second World War (1939 — 45). A regular pattern of club runs and time trials was established, with annual highlights being the President’s opening run of the season, the Grantham — Skegness Race and the Annual Dinner. Other entertainments were devised, suppers with a ‘booze–up’ at the Plough Inn, Barkston (now closed) being very popular.

One of the top riders of this period was Andy Bone, Club Champion. He went to Nottingham in the early 30s and set up as cycle dealer and frame builder. He was a good builder and his ‘Paragon’ frames became very popular, many club members riding them. Andy is still alive (remember this was written in 1980) and attends VTTA functions when he can. Other riders of this time who are still around today are Fred Branston and Tom Page (Tandem Champions of Lincolnshire), Jock Money and Bill Bailey. Tom Page still rides one event a year, a Vets 10 in the Isle of Man and Bill raced regularly until a couple of seasons ago. During the war years 1939 — 45, the Club just ticked over and afterwards two fast men established themselves, Walter Watson and Jack O’Connor.

Jack, who had more bright ideas in his little finger than most of us have in our entire bodies, left the club in about 1948, after a disagreement over policy and formed the Kesteven Aces CC. This was at the height of the post–war cycling boom and for several years both clubs flourished. The chief event for the (Grantham) Road Club was the Grantham — Skegness Race (A Time Trial). This became a wonderful day out. A bus was hired to take the non–racing members, wives and friends and after the race the day was spent on the beach and among the other seaside delights. The fit among the racing men would then ride back while those, whose exertions during the day had been too vigorous, shamefacedly put bikes into the boot and returned on the bus. During the ‘50s’ the boom receded and both clubs suffered, although the (Kesteven) Aces weathered the storm the better. And then Jack O’Connor was off again.

But before coming to the birth of the Witham Wheelers, I must mention briefly another local club that I dare say no one else now remembers. This was the Grantham Section of the Lincolnshire DA (District Association) of the CTC (Cyclists Touring Club). Formed in 1951 by C. V. Glenn–Smith it never grew very large, although for several years regular Sunday club runs and holiday weekend tours were held. Perhaps its chief claim to fame occurred when a photograph of the club appeared on the dust–jacket of ‘Teach Yourself Cycling’, a cycling handbook published in 1953. The club had gone by the end of the 50s, although the Lincolnshire DA, itself in decline for a number of years, is now enjoying a revival.

In 1958 Jack O‘Connor fell out with the (Kesteven) Aces and, as I said, was off again. Like most men brimming over with ideas, Jack was a good ‘starter’ but a bad ‘consolidator’. The outcome was the Witham Wheelers (Cycling Club) and it grew and grew, so much so that in 1960 the (Grantham) Road Club and the (Kesteven) Aces amalgamated to become the Grantham and Kesteven Aces — but that didn’t last long closing down in 1965.

In 1959, owing to small numbers competing in club events, especially the longer distances, The Road club, the Aces, the Wheelers and the then Sleaford Wheelers formed the Grantham and District Cycling Association and joint events were held until 1963. By the way, I said the ‘then’ Sleaford Wheelers because this club folded in 1962. In 1965, principally due to the efforts of Nev Crane, Sleaford Wheelers restarted to become the club we know today.

So by the middle 60s the Witham Wheelers held the stage alone. Cycling was still in the doldrums and numbers in the club declined until there were only a few old stagers, notably Don Ray, keeping things going.

And then the rebirth, in 1976 John Newman, another ‘starter’, formed an ESCA (English Schools Cycling Association now BSCA — British Schools Cycling Association) group at the King’s School. For administrative reasons ESCA members had to join an established cycling club and an influx of new members resulted. Nor was this all, non–Kings friends of ESCA members wanted to join. Dads dusted off their old frames and Mums got down to the job of feeding and watering the multitude at club events and social functions.

Since then the club has settled down, become what it is now and here the story, by one who has been a member of every local club mentioned, ceases.

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The start of Witham Wheelers CC as remembered by Brian Mallett, the retiring Chairman see the press report in Press Releases in Social.

The club was formed in Jan/Feb of 1958, by a group of about 20 who were interested in starting a new club in Grantham. The first steps were taken by Jack O'Conner, who had a cycle shop in Welby Street. Jack used to belong to the Kesteven Aces but had decided to leave them. We all met in one of the local pubs in the Market Place and decided at the beginning just to have touring runs on a Sunday, to see how it went. Racing was not the main thing at that time but Jack started to organise the league 10s, which is still very similar now. Racing started in the April of 1959 with the 10s starting on the Belton Straights by the turn off to Gonerby. The turn was at West Willoughby just before Ancaster. As time went on, more events followed and we had club events at 15, 25 and 30 miles. trophies were donated by different fathers, etc and a BAR was started in 1959. I think the qualifying events were a 25, 50 and 100 mile time trials. I must admit, I won the tropy for 5 years on the trot!!!!! Then it was decided to include a 12 hour, so I didn't win it any more...

We started to organise the Open 25TT when, unfortunately, David Chantry, an up-and-coming junior, was killed on the A52 at Elton. This was about 1963/64, I'm not quite sure. We also organised the odd open race around the Croxton Kerrial area at about the same time. The largest Road Race we organised, was the Grantham Quincentenary event, basrd on Princess Drive, Harrowby Hall Hill and Londonthorpe. This was in in 1963 and Albert Hitchen and all the independents rode the event. I managed to finish last...

By this time, we had one or two juniors who were at national level. The main one being Paul Bennet, who rode for Lincolnshire and the National Team. Geoff Ellingworth was riding for Lincolnshire Juniors at that time.

We also had a rider who joined us from Romford RC, when he moved up to the area in 1962/63. This was Terry Law, who rode the then tour of Britain for the Lincs team. He finished, but I'm not sure which position, but he was good. I rode with him in many events to try and help him as much as I could. the events going to Romford for the Tour of Essex two day, which was a very good experience for me.

The club lost it's way a bit in the late 60s, but along came Ian Wilkinson, John Edwards and a few other men, again under Jack O'Conner and the club started to get going again in the 1970s. At one time there were over 100 members.

A lot of new events were arranged and the Open 10 and 25 were well supported and the Road Races took off. Although the club had a lot of members, we were a family club concentrating on club events.

I must close but I will continue later.