WPELLOWSHIP IS LUPE"
LONDON AND SOUTHERN COUNTIES UNIONs OF THE NATIONAL CLARION CYCLING CLUB.
No words could be read on this page.
a
AUGUST 1940. "BooTs!" PAGE I
DID All repérts md contributions must [FEDIT Ok AIL bea sent to the Editor not later
than the 15th. of the month prior
“to publication. Articles published do not necessarily represent the Editor: views of the Editorial Committee.
iiss L. Gardner, 54 Oak Avenue, Tottenham, N.17-
Volume V. Number VIII AUGUST. 1940.
us Do you remember our cartoon last month, and the few short notes that accompanied it, in which we pointed out the danger of. the excessive hours now being worked in many factories? This danger, has been stressed many. working-class organigations since the beginning of: the war and it now’ seems that even the Government has begun to-realise that people ;camnot work a 70 or 80 hour week without, production being affected, and. we-see instructions being issued to factory inspectors to enforce the Factory Acts after lst August. This will give some of our members a little more opportunity to partake in “Club activities, though it seems that free week-ends ‘will be no more frequent than before abott once every siz weeks. However, we hope that all members affected by overtime work will make a point. of meeting their sections as 4£ten as they
possibly can for: their own sakes and for the sake the Club.
I wonder how many Sections have experienced difficulty with the tea rationing. I know of two sections who, on the first Sunday after. the rationing was announced, turned,up to elevenses together, and were told that: they coukd have any tea or coffee but could be served with cocoa, milx,.or soda and milk, This may have been all very:well for, any "Last men" on a training diet, but the mere "poddlers" missed the sight of~the-club-sizs tea pote On the same day, at tea time, these two sections were remarking how fortunate they were that’ after everyone had had as much tea as they wanted, there was still some good strong brew left in the vot until they: realised’ that some bicarbonate of soda had been put in to eke out the supply. This, of course, was a "dodge", but at the
‘game timd’-I.ican not help sympathising with some of the cyclist
caterers who, working on a comparitively small scale as they do, must be having quite a bit of difficulty with rationing. Perhaps we can:also feel a litte sorry for the directora of
the Anglo Dutch Plantations of Java, Ltd. who have to worry
what to do with their profit of £335,476 as compared with
£198,622 last year.
While on the subject of caterers we would remind you that it is more important than ever to book your teas in advance. If you find any caterers that have to close down, perhaps you would let us know for the benefit of other sections. Up..to the moment we have been informed ‘that the Temple: Inn, Royden: The Lamb, Whitwell and the Cock, Sheering, have all stopped catering for cyclists.
AUGUST #1940 wBOOTS 1" PAGE
Let mo disillusion from the start ,anyone who thinks this Is g0ing to be an announcement of another best dressed girl -coLipe’ ition. Tho "Wiss Clarion" that I have in nind is the ordinary girl mouber who supports all the Club activitics and yet sone how nover sccris to take any responsible part in running the Club
inow this has something %o do with the rather condescending attitude taken up by soje of the boys put I think that as they realise how much of the very existonce of the Club will depend on the activity of the girls in the coming nonths ,this attitude will be changed. Already we have some Clarion girls coming to tie fore and winning the respect of all Club folk both male and fauale. For instance only this week there news of a Clarion girl breaking wiss Wilson's record for a "50" -there is nany 2B male Clarionctte who would be very glad to be able to .do that and in another sphere ,We hear of Miss Dora Clark taking om 4 position in Fastliegh which as mevor pofore boomheld by a girl. We can all think of very good examples of Clarion girls who P are keeping the Club on the map ,but unf ortunatelythese exarpl es are all.too few
We must remember ,too, that by asserting ourselves in the Club,we are giving oursolves more confidence to be able to clain that at all tines ,if we are doing a job that is normally done by then our services are worth just as much as a nans! «Having convineed ourselves and our workmates of this, our nexy job is to convince our trade union ,and through thon ,our amployers. Just as the activity of the girls in the a Club is joportant for the whole Club ,both nale and female our activity in an industrial sense is of omportance to all workers because there are many eiployers take on girls in preference to men if they think thoy are prepared to dg the sane work for a lower rate of wagese
"THE WORKERS THEAT RE."
unity's present production of "Distant Point" by the Soviet dranatist ,Afinogenov, which opened on July 9 th. is having 4 similar success to The Star Turns Red". It has threc weeks to run and no Clarion menber should miss seoing it
1a jon A ant
PAGE
It would be difficult to say how many cyclists have responded to the appeal fcr aluminium and sacrificed their feeding bottles, etc. The question uppermost in many poople's minds .is “if this metal is needed so urgently, why are stocks not requisitioned before they reach tne shops". The answer is given by the Ministry of Aircraft Production who nave. ne intention at present of taking over stocks of aluminium goods
in the shops. It will be done, if necessary, at a later date.-
They fcel that people a too patriotic. to’ buy such aluminium goods for their own use, and that purchases will only be made
to present the articles to the ration.” A handy method of ensuring that the trader will got his provit,
OUR. BEST THANKS to all subscribers to the "Boots" fund this
month. They are Kensington Section 6/~. Bill Cooper 1/-.- 5 7, Bs
Clapham Section 5/-. These donations have been very welcome but WHY have all other "Boots" readers left the job to a lonely thres?
the Ramblers! Own Paper.
appears monthly. Yearly subscription 2/6a pest free.
Writs for specimen copy to the PROGRESSIVE RAMBLER, 4a Parton Strcet,-Southampton Row,
PAGE 4. "BOOTS," AUGUST 1940.
(comtinued from Pge.7
It was all along old Taffy, which Taffy hed the name,
Of being a true racin' man and always was the same.
But being we all ‘as weaker moments, which Taffy 'e ‘ad one,
went and bought a motor-bike and took it out for fun,
Well, Taffy took ‘is motor-bike and moted ‘ere an' there,
A-frightening the cyclists an' poisonin' the air,
'e wore a bloomin' diving suit, but Lor', what did 'e know,
Except that if you turned the grip the thing would stop or go?
Ant then one day it wouldn't go. 'E gripped and gripped again,
But somethin! jammed an' there 'e stuck in the mud of a country lane.
It 'urt ‘is pride most cruel, but what was ‘e to do?
So at last ‘e bade me fetch the boys to pull the blighter through.
I found old Bill an' fetched ‘im, an' when we reached the bike,
We braced ‘im tight and proper vou'd never seen the like,
and buekled up ‘is braces and lashed them to each side,
While 'e 'eld tis 'ead so ‘aughtily an' looked most dignified,
Not bad tempered, mind you, but kind of pained and vexed,
As if to say “Well bli'tme! Wot will you ask me next?
I've put up with some liberties, but this capa all, by crike?
To be assistant engine to a croaky motor-bike,"
Well, Taffy, 'e was on the bike, a-twiddlin' with the gear,
Ant old Bill was meditating, an' I was standing near,
When Taffy 'e touched somethin' whet it was we'll never know
But it sort o' spurred the boiler up and made the engine go,
"Old tard old pal” saya Taffy, and “gently then" says I,
But an engine won't ‘eed coaxing an' it aint no use to try:
so 'e pulled a lever, and then 'e turned the grip,
But the thing kept crawling forard spite all thet 'e could do,
At first it went quite slowly, an' Bill went also slow,
But ‘e tad to buck up faster when the wheels began to go;
For the crock kept crowf#in' on tim and buttint along,
An' in less than ‘alf a minute, sir, old Bill was going strong.
Now, Taffy lost ‘is ‘ead when 'e found 'e couldn't stop,
An' 'e pulled a valve or somethin' an' somethin' else went pop,
An' something else went fizzywig, an' in a flash or-less,
That blessed motor-bike was going like a limited express,
Taffy ‘eld the steering gear an' kept the road all right,
An' away they whizzed an' clattered my aunt! it was a sight.
seemed the fastest racing bloke, you never saw the like,
For all the country juggins thought ‘twas ‘im wot pulled the bike.
'E 'ad 'is 'ead on 'is 'andlebars, 'e was going all 'e knew,
But it bumped an' shoved behind ‘im, spite all thet 'e could do.
It butted ‘im an' boosted ‘im an' spanked ‘in on a'toad,
Till ‘te broke our ten mile record, same as I already said.
Ten mile in twenty minutes! 'E done it, sir, that's true,
The only time we ever found what old Bill could do,
Some say it wasn't 'ardly feir, and the C~cling press made a fuss,
But 'e bfoke our ten mile record, an' that's good enough for us,
How many Clarion members-make a regular habit of secing each new play at Unity Theatre How many even of those tacmbers whgq do go regularly to the theatre know anythimg of the history of this unique organisation?
Unity Theatre gociety Ltd. started originally as the Rebel Players many years ago It was in rovolt against the "escapism" and false ideology of the conventional theatre that they conceived the idea of takimg their theatre tp play on strect corners ,0on lorries and in small local halls. workers by day they became actors at night pohears ing in basenuents and attics and in members housesSe
Im yanuary 1936 ,the sixty active manbers ,;with the threo hundred
nascociate matbers who comprised their audiences ;2ormed therm golves into. the nynity, pheatre clubn and rented St.dude'sHall in Britannia gt.. Kings Cross. There they produced a number of plays including the famous "Waiting for Lefuy"- Clifford Odets drama of a Mew York taximens strikes. and "Wh “olg thats Bomb?" by two taximon ,Herbert Hodge. and Bucktcy Roberts, the former yell Emown his pungent broadcasts on the cincmat Waiting for Leity" a heen porformed by Unity Theatre nearly three hundrea Sunes ,ainy performances outside the theatre ,in Local Labour Halis 7 obo
x In Novomber,1937, the present theatre at: Goldington st. st Pancras,was opened.sFormerly the Aldenham Inst. used’ successively as chapel and tramps shelter,it. was converted in two months by the voluntary labour of London trade unionists into a mordcrn theatre. Besides prickLayors, plastorers, clectricians and othor craftsucn who came after working hours,most of the Club‘e ménbers lent a hand .The architect was Raglan Squire FoReLToB-Ac gon: Sir gohn Squire,and the cost of reconstruction was £1200 A building contractor would have charged £2500 amd taken six months
Tho theatre is one of the best equipped Litas tle theatres in Europe, fitted with a Lighting installation of roarkable flexibility,a workshop and office accommodation. The auditoriun seats 320. Thé stage is rauarkably large in proportion to the auditorium. Unity was the first London theatre to reopen after the taapory closing of all theatres on the outbreak of Ware In 36 hours the mawbers got together, wrote, produced.a complete political revue "Turn Up The Lights".This was followed by anit revuc "Sandbag Foliies";this too was written by the theacres members "Turn Up The Lights" went: into a sccond dition carly in the new year ,and ran to full houses until the opening might. probably the greatest event in the history of the amateur theatre in Gt. Britian if not the wholes world. The first presentation of "tho Star Turns Red,a gripping play by the world famous dramatist,Sean O* Casey. No other auateur dramatic socicty in any country has ever.bean entrusted with the first presontation of a play by a dramatist of such repute as Sean 0’ Cascy. "The Star Turns Red"ran for four months to packed houses every nNight.Not only the theatres! regular nembers cane to see it put also tho West End audiences trecked to the Little theatrein Goldington Street to admire amd to wonder! Cont. om page Two)
PAGE 4.
AUGUST 1940.
By
Apparently EKastleigh Section is the only ote that has done anything again this month --or at least it is the only section to let us have a report. It seems that this section has had to make certain. changes in its officials as their chairman,
“Nobby Clarke, has been called up... It-is interesting to note. that the new vice-chairman isa lady wiss Dora Clark. Another old manber has been lost to the section as his offies has evacuated to a "safe" area where, incidentally, a bomb has nearly dropped in the window, As in many other sections, the effect of overtime working has been felt, put the members ‘affected by this participate 4n club activities as often as
they can, and thoroughly enjoy doing so. Living in a protected area as they do, Rastleigh members feel it is even more important for them to support the Youth Hostels which are available to them but which are unable to look for support from outside the area. Burley is one’ that is so placed, and for any-
one who-can get. to this hostel, we have the assurance of Eastleigh Section that it ig still open. Glarion dances.are still the talk of the town and the profits have gone to various
deserving causes, including the "Boots" fund.
We have gleaned some very encouraging news from the London
Union, though most sections seem to look upon their reports as
"official: secrets as "Boots"-is concerned. It seems
‘there is a tendency for sections to get together more just ‘lately. For instance, we hear that at Weybridge one Sunday there were five sections represented. On the other side of the river, North London are doing all they can to promote inter-section runs and last month a very enjoyable run was held in conjunction with East Ham section and a large proportion of Leyton's members also joined in. This type of. activity is very good and is something that has been advocated in "Boots" for some months.
Cyclists who, during the last fow months have been
struggling to keep the sport going in spite of heavy odds, will be amazed at the suggestion which has been discussed in
Parliament for compul sory physical training. Surely physical fitness will be achieved much more easily ‘through a free sports movement which does not have to combat such obstacles as long hours in the factories and high prices charged for sports accessories: but the people who are gaining the profit from these increased prices are the same type of people who advocate compul sory physical training and that is what makes..the suggestion look particularly suspicious.
We hear. that Frank Beldham of Kensington Section is anxious to procure a copy of May 1939 "Boots". If there is
anyone who has one to spare perhaps they would hand it to him or forward it to us.
AUGUST 1940. "Boots!" i PAGH 7.
FAST MENS CORNER
by Frank Brown. There is little to report of our boys riding in events during the last month. This is due to there being very few events in the London area. We have had tiders in several first class “opens” in tho "Velma" 50 Frank Boldham clocked a 9.24. In the "Baling 50" R.&. Butler clocked a 2.25 and Don Swoetland a 2.26. C.Cumin and A.Oakman were disappointed at the cancelling of the Oak Tandem "100". George Ackficld, riding his first"100" in the North Midds. did a 5.11 plus some gear trouble.
A very windy morning was selected for the Ladies and Junior tio", All the boys managed to beat evens. C. Cumins clocked 26.51. Of the girls Miss G.Spill was the only one to beat evens, clocking 29.40.
We wore pleased to see Les Bailey home on leave, all the way from India. I am sorry to say that Sam Edwards has now been dragged into the Army.
I expect some of you remember that Reg. Bailey's forks broke some time ago during a time trial. The other Sunday, when he was staggering up Stag Hill his frame broke in two
tt amazing"
As there is little news this month I have decided to include a story by our Hon, Timekeeper. The story is purely fiction although tho characters in it were, or still are, members of the Glub. W.D. (Bill) Cooper, past social secretary of the London Union. Taffy Cohen, member of North London Section,
racing man, now in Now Zealand. He had a motor bike.
The "Windmill" is a pub on the Newmarket Road at Stanstead
Mountfitchet, frequented by racing mon.
THE TIME KEEPERS STORY by Bert Brown. Ton miles in twenty minutos, '6 done it, Sir that's true. William Daniel Cooper, him wot's sitting next to you. I've seen some better racers, I've seldom timed a wuss, But 'e holds our ten mile record and that's good enough for us. We knew 'as it was in it 'im- ‘es thorough Veg., three part. 'B joined us to go rac but we found "9 had no ‘eart For ‘se was sad and thoughtful and amazin' dignified, It scemed a kind o' liberty to ask *im out to ride: For 'o never seemed a-thinking of what Ye ag ¢bo; dO,
But 'is thoughts was set on ‘igher things, admirin' of the viow.
'R looked a puffect picture, and a picture 'e would stay, wouldn't even ring 'is bell if a cow got in ‘is way. And yet we knew 'twas in-*im; weo-knew as ‘'e could fly, But what we couldn't get at was 'ow:to make ‘im try. WE'd almost turned the job up, until at last, one day, Wo got the last yard out of ‘im in the most amazin’ way. (continued on Page ay
PAGH 8.
AUGUST 1940.
SPOTLIGHT on SOUTHAMPTON.
Way 26 it that the Clarion is.so vowilaD around this’ way 2. where hardly a week goes by without a new recruit and already a membership On Over SO. Well this*how we dowt,.
We have a very active member as social secretary supported by four charming female comrades as Social Committee, who organize a variety ef social events at the Club room cach week and have equipved.us:with deserts, table tennis, billiards, cards and gramophone. Each Thursday evening we can see them perspiring in the kitchen serving refreshments and washing-upe
Not only do the Section indulge in social activity emong themselves but played a »orominent part in the Cyclists Dart League during the Winter months, finishing second to top. The lads are eager to meet. and beat the L.U. at this game.
Our Club-runs are well supported through the Winter and Summer months, although a number of our lads have been called up. Again three girl comrades have come to the fore in starting a fund to provide smokes and "BOOTS" for our servir not lose contact with the Section. Southampton still.goes Youth Hostelling. Last year we were able to meet the L.U.- How about it again, London Oxford is also on the waiting list.
One reads in "BOOTS" about Taylor and J. Hurrell, we too have our fast men-but on a lesser.scale. C. “Ac,C. events are run off regularly and the lads have gathered quite a few medels but overtime working doesn't improve their speéd. Our lasses haven't yet hed an oppor-
tunity this season of proving their worth but last year a team entered
every loce 1 ladies' events This is Southampton's second yesr on the track and as this goes to vress-we find ourselves,with the assistance ads 3
of Gastleigh section, at the tod’ of the League. Keep it up, Lads
All this helps to improve ‘the elub life. Food rationing and defence regulations may try and make things difficult but Southampton is sure that the Clarion will come out on top.
Change of Address: Miss M. Richardson, Secretary of North London Section has now moved to 12 Florence Road, Stroud Green, N.4.
y lads and girls, thus ensuring that they do