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LONDON CLARION CYCLE CLUB HISTORY

The London Clarion Cycle Club was first mentioned in the Clarion newspaper on 11th May 1895 by W H Crisp, who was looking for members to join the club. W H Crisp resided at 45 Wirtemberg Street in Clapham SW4, which was later renamed Stonhouse Street. The inaugural ride of the London Clarion Cycle Club took place on 25th May 1895 from Sydenham Station to Farnborough.

​Formation of North London Clarion Cycling Club.

 

On 4th July 1896, the Clarion reported the formation of a North London Clarion Cycling Club, with a ride to Hatfield.

 

By July 1898, the HQ for the North London club had moved to the North London Socialist Club on 30 Durham Road, Finsbury Park. Later that year, a Bohemian Concert was organized by South London members at the Albion Hotel, Ludgate Circus.

 

In 1899, a club ride from Balham to Banstead Corner for an annual picnic at Otford was held on 18th June.

Norther London Clarion Cycling Club Formation June 1896.png

1908 Summer Olympics in London - Charlie Denny - London Clarion Cyclist and Olympic Silver Medallist

South London Clarion Cyclist 

Charlie Denny South London Clarion Cyclist.jpeg

Boots Magazine 1930s to 1940's

Boots! was a magazine produced by the London and Southern Counties Cycling Union in the 1930's and 1940's. We have 7 copies which you can now read online.

Boots Magazine 1930 front cover

Middlesex Clarion Cycling and Athletics Club

Middlesex Clarion Cycling and Athletics Club was started on 10th December 1948 as a racing club and was very strong in the 1950's to 1970's Their badge shown below is very distinctive.

Middlesex Clarion Cycling Club Badge_edi

1938 - Tom Oldershaw - London Clarion Cyclist and Spanish Civil War Hero

Tom Oldershaw died in Spain fighting in the International Brigades. His death was reported in the London and Southern Counties Union magazine Boots in October 1938, he was just 24 years old. Tom Oldershaw was a keen cyclist and cycled with the Clapham part of London Clarion Cycle Club. Over 2000 people attended his funeral in Battersea. 

Tom Oldershaw on bicycle with Shephard

1960 - The Tricycle Marathon

London to Brighton on Raleigh Children's Tricycles completed in 1960 by Clarion Cyclists from Hounslow to raise awareness of the Refugee Crisis. Pathe published a short film about the ride which you can watch. 

London Clarion Cyclists on Childrens Raleigh Tricycles
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