LONDON CLARION CYCLE CLUB
History of the London Clarion Cycle Club: Fellowship Is Life
The Radical Origins (1895): Fleet Street and the Call to Arms
The London Clarion Cycle Club was born from the pages of The Clarion, the influential socialist newspaper founded by Robert Blatchford. While the movement began in Manchester, its heart moved to London in 1895 when the paper established its headquarters on Fleet Street.
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The London club was ignited by a "call to arms" on May 11, 1895, by W.H. Crisp of Clapham. Responding to Blatchford’s vision, the club combined the "propaganda of socialism with the pleasure of cycling."
Early members were deeply influenced by the Arts and Crafts pioneer William Morris, whose motto "Fellowship is Life" became the club’s official creed.
Artistic & Intellectual Architects
The visual identity of the Clarion movement was crafted in London. Walter Crane, the renowned artist and Kensington resident, was a dedicated member who designed the famous Clarion bugle logo and many of the club's early banners. Even the world of classical music had links to the club; the composer Gustav Holst lived in Brook Green and Barnes, participating in the Hammersmith Socialist Society and joining Clarion-related musical and cycling activities in West London.
Equality on Wheels: The Pankhurst
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Unlike most Victorian cycling organizations, the Clarion championed total inclusivity. From 1895, women held full membership, viewing the bicycle as a "freedom machine."
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This progressive stance attracted Sylvia Pankhurst, who lived and worked in London for most of her activist life. While her family’s roots were in the North, Sylvia became a fixture of the London socialist scene, using the Clarion network to promote the Suffragette cause. She eventually lived at the "Red Cottage" in Woodford Green, maintaining a lifelong connection to the club's radical spirit.
Sporting Excellence: Charlie Denny & the 1908 Olympics
The London Clarion proved that "Socialism and Sport" were a winning combination. Charlie Denny, a joiner from Wimbledon and a member of the South London Clarion CC, became a local legend when he won a Silver Medal in the 100km race at the 1908 London Olympics.
Denny remained an active "Clarionette" throughout his life, embodying the club's commitment to athletic excellence within a socialist framework.
The Interwar Years: Walter Southgate and the Hackney Clarion
In 1910, Walter Southgate, a Bethnal Green-born socialist, founded the North East London (Hackney) Clarion CC. Southgate’s dedication to the movement was lifelong; he would go on to found the People’s History Museum.
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During the 1926 General Strike, London Clarion members utilized their mobility to act as scouts and messengers for striking workers, ensuring news reached across the capital when the mainstream press was silenced.
Fighting Fascism: The Sacrifice of Tom Oldershaw
In the 1930s, the London Clarion’s commitment to internationalism took its most courageous form. Tom Oldershaw, a carpenter from the Clapham Section and a member of the Battersea Communist Party, volunteered for the International Brigades to fight against Franco in the Spanish Civil War.
Tragically, Tom was killed in action at the Battle of the Ebro in 1938, aged just 24. He remains the club’s most poignant symbol of the fight against fascism, representing the ultimate expression of Clarion fellowship.
Post-War Racing & The 1960 Tricycle Marathon
Following WWII, the club’s racing heritage flourished with the founding of the Middlesex Clarion Cycling and Athletics Club in 1948, and the Richmond & Twickenham Clarion, which met at "The Three Kings" in West London.
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The club’s flair for "propaganda by deed" returned in 1960 with the Tricycle Marathon. Members of the Hounslow branch rode children’s tricycles from London to Brighton to raise funds for the World Refugee Year—a stunt captured by Pathé News that proved the Clarion’s sense of humor and social conscience remained as strong as ever.
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 1950s to 1970s. Their club badge shown is very distinctive.
Richmond and Twickenham Clarion Cycling Club
Sources & Further Reading
The history of the London Clarion is preserved through several key archives and publications:
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Vestry House Museum (Walthamstow): Houses the extensive archives of Walter Southgate, a key figure in the club's history and founder of the People's History Museum.
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Boots and Spurs Magazine: Digital archives of the club's historic journal (1930s–1940s) are available online for free.
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Pathé News Archive: Features original footage of the 1960 Tricycle Marathon (see video link below).
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The Clarion Newspaper: Early editions containing the original "call to arms" and Blatchford's editorials.
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Fellowship is Life: The National Clarion Cycling Club history book (by Denis Pye) which details the wider movement's story.
Our Sporting & Political Heroes
Charlie Denny
The London Clarion has always been home to individuals who rode for more than just a trophy.
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Olympic Excellence: In the 1908 London Olympics, club member Charlie Denny took home a Silver Medal, proving that socialist cyclists could compete and win on the world stage.
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Walter Southgate
Founder of the Peoples History Museum
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Born 8th May 1890 in Bethnal Green, East London.
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Joined the Social Democratic Federation (SDF) in 1905.
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In 1910 he founded a North East London (Hackney) Clarion Cycling Club. "One of the best periods of my life was the days I spent cycling through the Essex countryside".​
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Be Part of Our Next Chapter
From the racing strengths of the Middlesex Clarion in the 1950s to our modern-day social rides through the Surrey Hills, the London Clarion continues to grow.
History isn't just behind us—it's under our wheels. Whether you’re a historian, a competitive rider, or a casual Sunday cyclist, there is a place for you in our fellowship. Join Today!
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Do you have photos or stories of family members in the London Clarion? We'd love to archive them. Contact us
