Cyclists' Touring Club Louth 40th Anniversary

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY ‘CYCLISTS’ TOURING CLUB LOUTH’

Cyclists’ Touring Club Louth’s inaugural ride took place on Sunday 27th April 1986, almost 40 years ago to the day. April 1986 was one of the coldest on record in the UK, with the first three weeks characterized by snow, sleet, and cold winds but miraculously, the 27th marked a break from the snow and frost. 40 years later and there was still a cold easterly wind to contend with but it would be sunny skies that would add cheer on our ride to the Little Village Tea Shop in Saltfleetby for the Anniversary Lunch.

Ty Harness, John Rickett, John Parish, Paul Linder, Alan Hockham, Mike Housley and Tim Newbery took the option of cycling to the venue. We’d meet up with members old and new to include Paul and Julie Kissane, John and Celia Ambler, Rod and Flora Forster, Margaret Wilson, Eric Cubbin and Roger and Caroline Howlett. Apologies had been received from Chris and Ying Owen, Steve Croton, Barry Jordan and Jim Brennan.

CTC LOUTH EFFORT CUP

A recent attendee, Harvey Wright at 18 years of age, has lowered the average age of our active club members considerably, as there’s a couple of us who are now octogenarians. Alan Hockham is our most ‘senior’ active member (John Ambler is a few years older but no longer riding) and in recognition of his stamina, fortitude, perseverance and for all the advice he gives, we were delighted to present him with our ‘EFFORT CUP’. Congratulations Alan.

BSA MERIT CUP

With Ty Harness not able to attend the Lincolnshire AGM a week or so ago, we were also delighted to present Ty with his trophy to honour ‘significant contributions to the running of the Member Group and its activities’ in the past year. Having joined the group a couple of years ago, Ty’s the first to help members who have had mechanical issues and he also volunteers as a mechanic for Active Lincolnshire’s ‘Wheels For Life’ bike donation scheme, to aid those in transport poverty, and for Louth’s Repair Café. Ty also offered and led shorter, more gentle rides on Saturday mornings. These Cycling UK ‘Steady Saturday Rides’ proved popular, encouraging and giving confidence to those who find cycling a little daunting either as a beginner or for those taking up cycling after a break. A well-deserved award.

CYCLISTS' TOURING CLUB LOUTH EARLY HISTORY

There was a Louth Section of the Cyclists’ Touring Club back in about 1886.

In 1935 notable members Sid Hill and George Marshall won the Lincolnshire 50 Mile Championship but WW2 largely put an end to the club’s activities.

After a long absence, it was Julie Kissane who re-formed the local section in 1986.

Julie was encouraged to take up cycling in 1983 by her husband Paul, who was riding with the Lincoln Wheelers. Her first ride with the Lincoln group was a run out to Newark encountering quiet lanes and glorious countryside. So enthused was Julie that she’s been cycling ever since. Julie then moved to Louth, working as a teacher at De Aston School in Market Rasen. At that stage there were wasn’t a Cyclists’ Touring Club section in Louth and so she started to cycle more locally with a friend, Peter Launchbury, who lived in Alford.

On 16th April 1986, Julie Kissane decided to hold a ‘Roving Club Room’ meeting at the Greyhound Public House in Louth to see who might be interested to join a new Louth Section of the CTC. Julie with the help of Peter Launchbury, said that they were willing to cater for anybody, young or old. “The only item you need to become a member of the club is a bike”. The meeting was a big success with over 50 prospective new members turning up (maybe it helped holding the meeting in a pub!)

The Louth Section’s inaugural ride followed soon after, on Sunday 27th April 1986. It was a short, flat ride to Alvingham. John Ambler was present on that day and has been a member ever since, clocking up 40 years, although no longer actively riding with the club.

Flora Forster’s first ride was in June 1986, meeting up accidentally with the club on an ‘ice cream’ ride to Brigsley organised by Rod Forster. It was on that ride she met up with Rod, whom she would later go on to marry. Flora became a regular member of the club, eventually taking over from Julie as Secretary in 1990, a position she volunteered for until 1993. Tim Newbery ‘temporarily’ took over from 1993 to present.

The Louth Section continues as Cycling UK Louth with organised rides and activities typically on Wednesday’s, Saturday’s and Sunday’s.