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No words could be read on this page.
FeBRUARY 1940. "Boorea" PAGE 1.
All reports and contributions
must be sent to the Editor not ad later than the 15th of the
month prior to publication.
EDITOR: E.H.Ward, Articles published do not nec-— 53, Mirabel Road, essarily represent the. views. Fulham, 8. 6.. of ‘the Editorial Committee. Volume V. No.2. FEBRUARY. L840
AN APPRECTATION BY_G.d JACKSON
_It is not often that the Editorial is not written by the: Raitor. The fact that I am writing this one marks an occasion that is not a very happy one for our journel or for the London Union. The next issue of the journal will not bear’the neme of Ted Ward on the title page as its Editor because Ted is not. only resigning the Editorship but will shortly be leaving. London for “somewhere in Northern England." aed
Since the magazine idea first saw the light of day in
an insignificant back room in Finsbury it hes made great. strides,
poth from the literary and the technical standpoint. Without in any way detracting from the splendid work done by former: Editors, I think I can say without any shadow of doubt:.that
the last two years, under the Editorship of Ted Ward, has geen...
a steady improvement. pee
When the present Baitor took office, he set about the
task of trying to mould a journal that really reflected the life of the Unions that. made,it their official journal, In addition, he introduced new features that. meant that “BOOTS!".
could be sold outside, cyclist. In other words: he gave.
our journal just that touch tliat took it out of the realm of the ordinary Club magazine into that of a cyclists! paper.
We+all tender to the Editor dur sincere thanks for the splendid work he has done for the last ‘two years and congratulate. the South West Lancs and Cheshire Union.on its. gaining a super new member.
the next mecting of the Union Committee, the WBOOTS 3" sub-committee will recommend the new Editor, or rather Editress, in the person of Miss Lou Gardner, of the North Tondon Section. Lou is certainly not a new assistant for our magazine, indeed she has been an active worker for quite a considerable time, But I can assure you that if the Union Committee accepts this nomination, Lou will need all the help’ that cen be afforded her in the coming months, For one thing, ‘contributions are not so copious as before, distribution is more difficult and cost of materials rising elmost weekly. May I therefore, in conclusion, ask every reader to bear all these points in mind and lend a hand in any way possible.
Leisure time is.a big.subject write about-in a small space so I am not going to attempt to deal with it comprehensively. Primitive man had to toil dey. for his daily bread, he had no leisure, but in a modern industrial community this should. be necessary, and the fast that it often is shows how badly society is organised. After all we don't live.to work, but work. to live, to enjoy the things we like, learn.the things wé want’. to know, create those things we take a joy in creating in short we work to live our own lives in our leisure time,
Cycling is one of the pleasantest uses to which I put leisure time, but in these wintry blackout’ days that pleasure is curtailéd to a considerable extent, Then I fali back on.a sécond, which is reading, As cycling in the physical sphere, so reading in the mental sphere is invigorating, educative and pleasurable, It is by no'means the despised’ occupation that so many “tough! men affect to think. oa vi systh Sn Alaina
vos
“*-It is impossible to. give you a guide to reading here, but for those who haven't ventured very far into those illimitable realms I’can give a little indication of the things that are waiting, to be read, Titles are unimportant, it is the authors that ‘matter,"so I shall, mention books, but all the writers mentioned make geod reading. The literature of cycling is small, the only decent touring books I know are those by bernard Newman and Kuklos. Books on the countryside, on the other hand, are innumberable, You will have no difficulty in covering every county in the British Isles several times over, There are many too, on wild life, a subject much neglected by cyclists which could add greatly--to the enjoyment of their rides, oa
If you want :know. something not only. of the physical back-. ground but also of the historical wackground of your country, the best book I know is "A People's History of England" by A.L,Morton, You will be surprised-to. find out how history has even changed the appearance of the countryside, A good book. to be dipped into, put not read. from cover to cover is that old classic, Willian Cobbett's "Rural Rides." He was a tourist with a spechal purpose, usually a political one, and he was gaoled for telling the truth, Contrary-to the general idea he much preferred to see a good field of wheat than a-beautiful view.
Then for’ humour there is P;G, ¥odehouse and #.W%.Jacobs. For. fine novels you can go with confidence to L.A.G,. Strong, David: Garnett, Richard Aldington and E.M.Forster. The latter's "A Passage to India" is one of the finest ever written.- Some of them are published. in the Penguin series, but you can get them all in the library. For something really educational but tougher, try David Guest's "Dialectical Materialism" or for a mere us gsixpence you can’ get Lenin's "Socialism and War." ch
PEBRUARY 1940, VBOORS Ti PAGE 3.
This year quite a few of us are going to lose our summer tour, and we shall be lucky if that is.all we dolose, But to
go no further into the possibilities of the future, we are:
going miss badly that highspot in the year to which so many of us look forward eagerly.
AN
I am not going to suggest that looking back over pleasant
days in quieter years is any substitute for our loss, To dream
of the past or the future is not the way to approach these critical times of ours. It is the sort of occupation that capitalists encourage so that the workers should not look too closely at their present state. But taken as a recreation, without loosening our grip on present reality, a backward glance can be both pleasant and harmless.
Memories are strange and wayward things. They ignore the order and sequence of time. and have standards of importance quite their own. The oldest mingle with the newest and the most insignificant incidents stand out and overshadow what. we thought at the time were unique occasions. One of my most vivid touring memories-is that of climbing up a rough track into the Forest of Clun and seeing the hillsides covered with stately conifers, Years of careful reafforestation had ‘resulted in thousands of symmetrical rows that stretched up Hill and down dale into the dim blue distance. The contrast between nature's pleasantly scattered hills and man's determined precision was wonderful to look upon.
Then, far from that Shropshire borderland there comes to mind a tortuous hilly road that leads along the Cornish: coast from St.Mawes beside the wide river Fal to Mevagissey, passing on the way a hundred perfect views of cliff, headland and sea, Quiet lanes these, which bring a cheery smile and greeting from every passing Cornishman, and constantly reveal the. beauty of the rugged coast. Not so far away are the immensely ancient earthworks on Trencrom from which you can see across the breadth of Cornwall, from St.Ives to St.Michaels Mount.
In a swift procession there passes before memory's eye the broad fertile acres of East Anglia, the quiet flowing Avon, the turbulent streams and roaring cascades of. Cumberland, Snowdon with his head hidden in the clouds, the barren windswept Northumbrian moors over which Hadrian's Wall still climbs and falls sinuously like a serpent jealously separat— ing the English from the Scots. And many more. But there I'll leave you to tuminations of your own. There's many summers in the womb of Time, and many miles of open road
for our swiftly flying wheels, Perhaps we shall travel some of them together,
"Boors!" 1940.
BEND 1 TREM BOOTS
By Lou tivdners
Wo. are peoowiae ee auPine: these last. few weeks, hearing all kinds of appeals to send knitted goods, etc, to the troops. Presumably, if the Government i's undertaking to assist Mannerheim in his "fight for democracy", we must expect ‘them to call upon us for ever increasing contributions tothe "war effort” but there are many workers who are already- questioning why: they should be called upon to pay for the bossés' ‘war at all... However, our appeal is for nothing more than a modest ld ‘per month in. order to keep our’ ‘boys: in touch the ae
I there noticed that. there are very fen members Forces on the "Boots" subscription list and I..can only hope that. Section’ secretaries are. sending the magazine to their members.:. «Know..: this is so in‘ some cases.and I have heard that this: gesture very much appreciated .by the lads who have ‘been forced to part company with the Club for the time being. From the point of view of the Club, too, it is vitally important that members should be kept. in ‘touch with .one another; so don't forget;: for 1/6d a@ year your friends who have been. called up.can: be. placed on-our subscription list, or if you prefer, you can.. appoint someone’ in your..Section to. undertake: this job, but whichever method you choose:- send them "Boots"
YOU. THINK YOU KNOW?
1. Who was called “The Butchor” and why? What campaign was said to heve been won by Generel Jenuery “and, Goneral Februery? agents Who seid, “If any would ‘not work, neither’ should he Cake if Fou wore planning cy¢ling tour from Leningrad ‘to ‘He mburg through what stétcs would you pasg 5, What is the Fabian Society and why-is it “so called? ay 6. How many nails are. there Horseshoe? 7, What 11s) usducbaugh? mane nemc dia Dickens adopt ‘at the beginn 1ing of his Literary ashe i ay states erc there in the United ‘Statcs of iicttbar 10. On which side does a ship display a red “Light, and on which side a green Light? 11, Who originated the phrase, aie worda ‘ust be safe- ‘for democracy? 12. What were the “Hungry Porties"?pene For answers see page Bs:
CHANGE OF SECRETAR lephem. Mf.F. Wetohem, 23 Geskell St. “Sale
Friends of Ved Riches of the Clephem Section will be cohevetineat to: know that we have now heard from him and:thet he is quite well. although having to put in plenty. of hard. work We-wish’ him all the .best’ and hope hoe will soon be with us again. For those wishing to write. te. hin his addvess' is 0/S Riches E,J.. Hut’ M/T.18, H.M.S.. Golmingie ot,
Farcham, Hants,
THE LAW MAKES UF EASY TO FIGHIF FOR YQUR_COUNTRY~
His Majesty may from time to time r\ by proclamation direct that, save ‘yas otherwise provided by this Act, every male person.,..shall on the date of the proclamation... become iiable under this Act to be called’ up for service in the armed forces
of theCrown:
(National Service Act, 1939
BUT ITS A DIEFERENT THING WHEN YOU WANT TO. WALK_ON
In relation to a contravention of or failure to observe a limitation or condition specified in an oréer made under section three of this Act, this subsection shall have the effect only if it is expressly provided by an order so made that this sudsection shall have effect in relation thereto, and the Minister shell not make an order containing such provision unless he is. satisfied that it is necessary to do.so in order to prevent ‘the continuance of contraventions f; or failure to observe, the condition
(or limitation, or in the public. interest.
Caccess to Mountains Act, 1989.)
EVEN A LORD CHANCELLOR COULDN'T SAY WHAT THAT MEANS!
(Reproduced by kind
permission of the Ox
Although Union social events have been cancelled for this year, partly owing to difficulty in obtaining halls, the resignation of the Social Secretary, and probable black-out problems with members from outskirts, it is pleasing to note that local activities in this 1ere continue
pecently attended the Kensington and Fulham joint dinner
e, report of which appears in our columns this month.
all be going to the East Ham Section's Dance ich is being held at the Hast Ham Labour Hell, m. The price is 1/64, and there will be the
and I hope that you will on February 10th, Katherine Road, East usual snot prizes.
eevee .st Hem section writes thet it has been encuiring at loce cinemas for the price of a slide to advertise the club and foun stra ngely enough, that none were favouable to the iédea, THe section is wonder ing whether it is because the Club is better known than we imagine, The section is also. wondering whether the London Union has evacuated to “somewhere in North London,” or
it has.faded out. Neither, East Hem, but there is never in December end the January meeting will be held at tne ing of February.
vom the Southern Counties comes more news of social events. December the Eastleigh Section cycled over to attend the
of .rthur Pocock and Brenda Saunders; of the Soton district, e Club formed a guard of honour. Among Eastleigh's Saale es was a goodwill dance which brought £6 to the "Goodwill Fund" for old people whilst New Year's Eve was celebrated with a pe ey at the home of the joint secretaries, Charlie end Alice Knott.
ceee Although only a few of the Southampton boys have been” far. called up for military service, long hours of rk is beginning to. make section life more difficult, This section, at a recent mectine, passed a strong resolution condemning the Imperialist nature of the War and calling for its immediate conclusion.
Monthly socials are being organised and to keep the lads and lessies in good training, physical training classes are being conducted at the club-room on Thu-sday nights.
I was very sor to hear of the death of George Dove, a
ne Clarionette from the Yorkshire Union, because he was one few older members of the Club who did’ not wish to cut off ub from the rest of the cycling world, He always stoo’ ‘for sest co-operation petween the Club and the other Netione was one of the few id not hold up horror et the Paddington solution for mass 4 o the N.C.U, but) treated solution on. its merits.
Ave you sending “BOOTS!” to your members in the Forces.
eens
JARY 1940. cs a
Military conscription of JOuHE sunied for, ‘tiie i i iS ‘J 1 2 gn the the .woekly clubroom, disappear and once again tha... grim-realities of the system under ‘which we exist are ‘brought home: us and .adequately serve as an-answer
19.86 who say :in peacetime that..sportsmen \should not be soncerne with politics. Rob Maison who in‘ his Berist uk scddon Wdturen no creditable times (he won two club
handicap awards) is now somewhere in Kent with the R.—ngineers.: Les Bailey. our untamed trackman and chess expert, who
distinguished himself in the London N.C.U. novice championship... ...«.'s by taking, second place, is now in the Irish Rifles (no he is
not Irish) and stationed in India. Other x ers in khaki Mime are Alec Kravis (R. Artillery.in Kent) Brnis Goodspeed, one «by Tucker, novice ‘champion, is in France with the .RiEnginéers, Harry Highteen, one of the Leyton ‘lads, ‘is fifth ‘engine in the, Merchant: Navy; he is sérving’ on an tanker best of lucky Harry} a
Ss a
The iother Monday. at the Marquess we had a: visitor von the R.,Enginéors; ‘name of uickey Macefield,:home on save for days. Anyone who knows the C. and: A.0; sual at all will know that Mickey is very popular with the DOV guers and we gertainly had .a lively time that night. Whilst writing about Mick, I should like to congratulate him on his recent marriage. Other members expecting immediate call-up are Benny urrell, Dick Davis and Les Layo, South you owe them any money, settle up!
Refusing to undertake military service, Stan' Pocock, Bill Hawkins and Haddon Judson have registered as conscientious: objectors. Many friends of the last montionec, who handled. the organisation 'of the.club- events last season, will be interested to know that after stating his objections to military service at the ‘tribunals, -has been ordered tc do non-combatant.. duties. He has now received a notice to attend for medica] sini examination which he has refused ‘to comply with; -hi's future’ therefore, is rather uncertain,
Incidentally, that class conscicus Clarion centre, West Scotland G0. and A.C. provide a strong team of conchiss in national champions Jack Taylor, Willie Mowatt and John Waterson, all of whom are refusing to fight.
Al1.C. and A.C. members please note:- SUBSCRIPTIONS for 1940 should be paid as soon as possible to your Cvank Avo, delegates. The speedy collection of gubs. is essential to. the future of our club.
SH ON]
“an attempt ection, bu rather an attempt to persuade you to say a little more about yourr, For months we have been trying to get Section reports inte the meg. but your oysterlike tendencies have frustrated us, Only Rastleighs and Southampton have responded generously and most others not as all, lven they tell us very little of the personalities in their sections, which is a pity. So Fulham have got a couple of hundred words or so to tell you about themselves in the hope that you will pluck up courage to do the gama,
Pulham, although I say it myself, is a very good section, It has had many ups and downs, but the ups have always won, It has grown slowly and because of that has acquired a stability whieh larger and more quickly developed sections often don't possess, as the L.U., has seen to its cost. Although never large in numbers, the highest figure being just over forty, it has nevertheless always been very active. The turn-out on Sunday runs has been very good even in the.depth of winter and Union events have always been enthuslastically supported. The section has lost several members to the forces, chief of them being 9.W. Woolley who founded the section nearly four years ago, and Johnnie Burke, and delegate who managed to secure bunch of medals last season, which inoidentally, was practically hia firat. Several members have been in the section since its beginning, notably George Blofield, the captain, Frank Humphries and Eric Wilkinson (better known as "Wilkie",) The last two are now working in Wales,
Despite the war, section activity still continues to. be considerable. A dance held a week ago was a groat success. Many old friends were there, and Wilkie even travelled all the way from Wales so as not to miss it! Fulham "do's" are never dull, on the contrary but you'll have to come and see for yourself. The dinner run jointly with the Kensington Section was, if anything, even more successful. Bert Brown presented the prizes in his own inimitable way. The spotlight could not ‘be extinguished without alighting on Secretary Harry Newell-and assistant. Secretary Flo Saich, Their energy and ability has done a great deal to keep the section together in difficult times. But that's enough to show you how good we are. What about you?
ee i. The Duke of Cumberland because of his severity efter the Battle of Culloden. 2. Napoleon's expedition to Moscow. 3..St, Paul, 4, Russia, Esthonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Dangig, Poland, Dehmark. 5.A society of intellectual Socialists, founded towards the end of the last century. Fabian is derived from the name of Febius Cunctator, the conqueror of Hsnnibal, who wes very slow and cautious, 6, Seven. Six for race. horses. 7, Whiskey (Gaclic) 12. The period between 1840 and 1850,
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No words could be read on this page.