GE GLARION
National Clarion Cycling Club 1895 an association of Clarion Cycling Clubs
September 2022
‘Over the tramlines’
Easter Meet of Clarion Clubs Leicester 2023
“Over the tramlines; past the factory gates; past silent warehouses; through slumdom, through villadom, through the straggling village that just divides the country from the town: and then with the back of your hand and the sole of your foot to the smoke and grime of mill and workshop quicken up the pace along the highway to Shrewsbury and the Clarion Meet. Ah! This is better. One can breathe now. Clear away from the mucky towns; clear away from the pent up streets; the sun high in the morning sky; the larks singing over the fields; a score or more wheels humming a merry tune; a thousand or more Clarionettes to greet the meet” So wrote Tom Groom, one of the founding members of the Clarion Cycling Club, prior to the Club’s
20" Easter Meet in 1914.
The Clarion Easter Meet 2023 will take place in the city of Leicester from Good Friday, 7" April until Easter Monday 10 April. The Premier Inn Leicester City Centre Hotel will serve as the Meet Headquarters. All Clarion Cycling Club members are welcome to attend the Meet and share a weekend of easy cycle rides, good fellowship and ‘boundarising’. There will be no MEET LEVY.
Meet programme: Good Friday: Riders assemble at Meet HQ at 12 noon for ride to site of the Battle of Bosworth Field (40 mile round trip). 5pm Reception at Leicester’s historic Secular Hall in Humberstone Gate, for distribution of traditional Meet ribbons, (courtesy of London Clarion) and souvenir programme. Easter Saturday: Assemble Meet HQ at 10am for: Ride 1 to Market Harborough via the Foxton Locks. (35 miles round trip). Ride 2 will extend this route to Geddington to visit one of the three remaining Queen Eleanor’s crosses. (60 mile round trip) Easter Sunday: Assemble Meet HQ at 10am for a ‘pork pie tasting’ ride to Melton Mowbray. (40 mile round trip). Caution: it is highly likely that time will be found for some ‘bounderising’ on all of the above rides. Easter Monday: Assemble Meet HQ at 9am for the short walk to the statue of Clarion cyclist and suffragette Alice Hawkins...and then to Peace Walk to pay homage at the memorial to Clarion cyclist and International Brigade volunteer Roy Watts, who age 23, made the ultimate sacrifice fighting the fascist hordes during the civil war in Spain. Members can visit the tomb of Richard III (entry fee payable). The Meet will conclude with a farewell drink in a local tavern and a chorus of the Clarion Cycling Club’s traditional song ‘England Arise’.
Clarion Sunday 12 June 2022.
Once again Clarion Sunday, the largest annual gathering of Clarion cyclists held at the Nelson ILP Clarion Tearoom, attracted a huge turn out with an attendance of well over 350 cyclists, choristers, ramblers and supporters. Fourteen Clarion Clubs were represented: Barnoldswick, Blackpool, Bolton, Brighton, Bury C&AC, Clitheroe, Cotswold, Crewe, London, National Clarion 1895, North Lancs C&AC, Saddleworth, Stockport and Yorkshire Coast.
The artist James Fox presented Clarion House with a magnificent new Fellowship is Life banner which he had designed. Saddleworth Clarion also presented a memorial bear dressed in their Club colours in memory of one of their members, Louise Harrot, who had
recently lost her life whilst out riding her bike.
A massive vote of thanks to David Bissett from Bolton Clarion who stayed up half the night making hundreds of sandwiches and Sharon Urmston, Barlick Clarion, for baking loads of cakes. To Liz Robertson for recording an oral history of the event for Mid Pennine Arts and to Alex and Alan from London Clarion 1895 for providing the Meet ribbons.
Credit for the photographs to: Craig Stubbs, Andrew Livesey Nick Hider
My Clarion Sunday
by Andrew Livesey (London Clarion) Clarion Sunday, the second Sunday in June is very special to me. It sits immovable in my diary from year to year. As I have got older it has become more important to me, it is a point of reunion, a constant in an ever-changing world. For me it is something of a pilgrimage, it’s over 300 mile each way from my home near Canterbury in Kent, it takes almost a full day of driving. It is worth every minute of the slow-moving traffic on the M6 between Stafford and Preston, sitting in the narrow lanes of the 50mph limit road works, inches from the wheels of the leviathan trucks. This makes me remember riding with Burnley Clarion on the A6, the trucks puffed out black smoke and we occasionally clung on the back of them to be pulled slowly up the hills, freewheeling with our new Benelux 5-speeds. I have been visiting the ILP Clarion House on Jinny Lane for over 70 years, yes seventy years. I also used to go to the ILP Hut at Roggerham with my parents. I talk about this in my book Shot at Twice in One Day.
ROGGERHAM SOCIALIST COTTAGE EASTER OPENING
FRIDAY, BATURDAY, SUNDAY, MONDAY. Ordinary Arrangements. Open Saturday Afternoon and Sunday All Day. Come and Enjoy the Mountain Air, 2196)
Clarion Sunday reminds me of my early life, my mother was active in the Weavers’ Union, they used to organise an event day at the Clarion-ILP House. These were great family days out, we walked to one or the other Clarion-ILP huts from our house on Colbran Street, Burnley. The only cost was ‘a pot 0” tay’ as my father would say this was one or two pence old pennies. We would play cricket, have running races, listen to music and drink tea.
I work as a university college lecturer, cycling with Burnley Clarion taught me grit do not give up this job allows me to travel up on the Friday before, so that I can have Saturday free. Last year on the Saturday I met up with Charles Jepson to be timed riding up Pendle Hill on an electric bike. I also wanted to be photographed for AM CLARION with my 1951 all-chrome Hill Special track bike. This year, having read an article in the British Cycling Newsletter AKA the BCF, about electric bike hire in the Lake District, I decided to try it. Wow a cycle path from Ambleside to Grasmere, some steep hills, with the electric bike in ‘Turbo Setting’ and 29er wheels, it was a wiz. If you want to try one I recommend Ghyllside Cycles, they are about 100 yards now we have left the EU there is no requirement to use metres from the start of the actual cycle path.
I’'d written an article for the Burnley Express the week before Clarion Sunday 2022, expressing my desires to make this a big event, a post-COVID special. It certainly turned up a very big surprise for me. One voice that I did not expect to hear ever again. My name called out from behind me. I thought I know that voice, teachers’ voices never change. Like listening to Tony Blackburn on the radio, it could be any year at all. The number in attendance was over 300, this included Clarion Cyclists, Clarion Ramblers, Clarion choir and ILP stalwarts. So, who’s was the voice. I could not believe it. Mr Burrows, my woodwork teacher from Able Street Secondary Modern. He taught me a lot of very useful hand skills and took my class cycling to Youth Hostels in the Yorkshire Dales. I used to copy him by taking my students on trips in my early teaching career, we joked, rather sadly though, that the current regulations no longer allow this this type
Andrew Livesey on the left with Jack Burrows
The cost of a weekend cycling and staying at a Youth Hostel in my school days was the equivalent of about 20p, if you were to do it now, with all the legal requirements, including insurance and indemnity it will be about £200.
Time at this event goes very quickly, I did not get time to speak to all those I wanted to, I was interviewed by Mid Pennine Arts about socialism and the Clarion. Sadly, the National Clarion has dropped socialism from its agenda; but Clarion 1895 has picked up the challenge with gusto. The Clarion ILP House continues the tradition. Socialism, in my book is not about left-wing politics, it is about engaging with fellow man a term which I still use to cover ALL PEOPLE, so please don’t say it’s not PC. There was a group from my local club London Clarion CC, they provided the commemorative ribbons. All the local clubs and some others from far away were present. Special mention to Blackpool Clarion for a big turn out on this 100mile club run.
Long may Clarion Sunday continue, along with the special social values it shows to the world of cycling, rambling and choir singing.
My first Dieppe Raid by Alison Miller
My first Dieppe Raid weekend with the London Clarion, from start to finish, was an experience packed with laughs, cycling, beer, wine and lovely French nosh. I was grateful for the planning that had gone into the weekend, including the renting by Alex and Alan of an elegant five storey house perched on a hill, with lovely views across Dieppe and beyond, which became the London Clarion temporary a la maison.
Travelling to catch the ferry at Newhaven, we showed our solidarity with the RMT strike by getting there on our bikes or taking up the offers of lifts from other club
members.
A smooth Ferry crossing was followed by unrelenting sheet rain on arrival in Dieppe. Undeterred once we'd made it to our gaff, a volunteer crew braved the heavy downpours to get our weekend provisions. Given the weather conditions, a sensible decision was
made to transport the shopping back by taxi, while holing up with other Clarion members in a bar, to wait for the deluge to subside. On their return, they discovered all the unpacking and putting away had already been done, as well food and drink prepared, laid out and waiting for them. This was indicative of the mucking in, sharing and comradely nature of Clarion club members on this trip, which contributed to it being for me such an enjoyable event.
Woke up next morning to grey clouds, but not accompanied by the curtains of rain that had besieged us on arrival. So we were hopeful of the weather holding out for a planned cycle and picnic in the afternoon. Off we went to the Dieppe Farmers market, which is worth a trip to Dieppe itself to experience; streets and streets of Market stalls selling colourful produce of amazing
variety and quality at non-inflated prices.
However, as some of us set out along the cycle path, it started to rain. We shrugged our shoulders and agreed, what's a little rain between comrades. It'll clear we said to ourselves in time for our picnic. Several hours into the ride, we were all grown up enough to admit that the continued downpour had rendered the purpose of our
trip unviable. What again impressed me, was a collective ability to arrive at an easy consensus to turn back. needless masochism that cyclists sometimes fall victim. The trip was all about fun. Next year we concluded that we could have a relaxed communal picnic in the lovely terraces and gardens a la maison instead.
I have to mention in passing that it was no mean feat to have organised restaurant bookings for a ten plus group on both the Saturday and Sunday evenings at superb restaurants on the quayside. This was achieved by London Clarion stalwarts and
much appreciated.
Back to the cycling Sunday morning we were all up and ready to get our bikes out and set off for the HQ on Salle Paul Eluard to get registered for the ride. Most people opting for either the 60km or the 100km route though Bob Harber (Brighton Clarion) chose the 120km route.
Happily, the sun was out and there was little wind. These were the weather conditions that prevailed for a day of glorious cycling. There were stand out moments cycling through the stunning scenery of the three valleys, with hardly a car in sight. However,
the tone was set early on when we had a brief pit stop at a village bakery to purchase meringues the size of melons. Throughout the ride, local people were very friendly and seemed genuinely pleased to these hordes of cyclists coming through their lanes and villages.
Those new to the Dieppe Raid, like me were
warned about the large array of awards to be handed out after the ride by the worthies of Cyclo-Club Dieppe back at the HQ. I just sat back and enjoyed the good humour and enthusiasm of the event organisers, the volunteers, and the cyclists themselves. One London Clarion member, who shall remain nameless, won the top raffle prize of a brand-new cycle, but he deferred suggesting it goes to someone in need in Dieppe. Well done that man.
After the award event London Clarion returned to our HQ, to commemorate the life of John Howell a London Clarion member and regular Dieppe participant, who recently passed away at the untimely age of 46. As the sun was setting outside on the terrace beautiful words were spoken in his memory. I hope to be back next year to continue in the tradition of friendship and fun forged by London Clarion members both past and present.
Clarion Club Houses
William Morris, the famous 19" century Art and Crafts textile designer, poet and artist wrote in his novel ‘A Dream of John Ball’. ‘Forsooth, brothers, fellowship is heaven, and lack of fellowship is hell: fellowship is life, and lack of fellowship is death ‘Fellowship is Life, Lack of fellowship is death’ was adopted and still remains the motto of the National Clarion Cycling Club 1895.
William Morris was never a member of the Clarion Cycling Club, but his Socialist writings greatly influenced the early pioneers of the Clarion Movement and led indirectly to the founding of Clarion Club Houses over 120 years ago.
In August of 1895, just a few months after the birth on the National Clarion Cycling Club, Charlie Reekie of Manchester Clarion organised a 3 week summer camp at Tabley Brook near Knutford. The camp with its bell tents, kitchen and dining marquees had over its duration 400 campers and over 2,000 visiting cyclists.
The success of this camp coupled with his reading of Morris’ novel ‘News from Nowhere’ in which the author describes an utopian country house, inspired Charlie Reekie to set up the Clarion Cyclist’s Club House Company selling shares at 5 shillings. The successful sale of shares enabled the company in 1897 to rent on a 5 year lease a house called the Acropolis (see top) at Bucklow Hill in Cheshire for ‘the refreshment, recreation accommodation at a reasonable cost for Clarion members’.
Many other Clarion Cycling Clubs soon followed Manchester’s example and began to rent properties out in the countryside. One or two were purchased outright and several were purpose built. The vast majority were rented on short term leases. Some even provided overnight accommodation or at least camping in the grounds. T’ Clubhouse for tay, became the regular cry towards the end of a day’s cycle ride’.
in northeast Lancashire ihe Clarion Cycing Club had two clubhouses: the North Lancs Clarion Union’s Ribble Valley clubhouse near Ribchester (see above) and the South East Lancs Clarion Union also had a clubhouse at Tottington close to Bury.
South:
Club ie
Carry your card with you, and show it when bookisg, otter ‘ise non-member cates will be
mastets Member's Card,
Some Clubhouse lasted for over 100 years, other for just a year or two. The last National Clarion Cycling Clubhouse at Menston in Wharfdale, which opened in 1902, finally closed its doors in 2010.
Prodace this Card tien renering your suiscrpnes
Yorkshire Clarion Clubhouse at Menston
i
The wooden dormitory and camping field at Menston. The dormitory burnt down.
Clarion cyclist Colin Coates, a stalwart at second Manchester Clubhouse at Handforth during the early 1930’s wrote: “J fear we were guilty of attempting to make the most of two worlds: the Clarion Cycling Club with the claims and charms of the road, and the benefits which the House afforded in the way of concerts, games, plays etc. There were amongst the members at that time many who were able and willing to draw from their store of talents; singers, players, reciters could always be tapped to provide good entertainment. Weather permitting, concerts were arranged in the orchard. On
the stage beneath the pear trees artists did their stuff’ (Handforth Clubhouse below).
There also similar houses belonging to other socialist organisations such as the Social Democratic Federation (SDF) and_ the Independent Labour Party (ILP). Many of these houses were also known, formally or informally, as Clarion Houses.
The Independent Labour Party, which had close links with the Clarion Cycling Club opened a number clubhouses. Nelson ILP was first when in 1899 it rented a cottage in Thornyholme Square close to Barley,
such was its popularity, in 1902 they moved to a larger premises at nearby Nabs Farm and then in 1912 bought a piece of land and built the present Nelson Clarion Tearoom on Jinny Lane between Roughlee and Newchurch, this is now the only surviving Clarion Clubhouse in Britain.
In 1911 the Colne Branch of ILP followed Nelson’s example and purchased the Farmer’s Arms a former moor side tavern, at Shelfield opened their own Clarion House.
In 1912 Burnley ILP opened a Clarion House in a cottage which they rented at Roggerham, close to Worsthorne.
The Marxist Social Democratic Federation also had Clarion Houses at Lane Bottom, Brierfield and for a short period in Blackho. See:clarionclubhouses.cambrianmoons.com. If you know of a ‘Clarion House’ do tell us.
Socialist Cycling Club The Willesden Cycling Club was founded in 1884 some ten years before the Clarion Cycling Club, but in 1914 along with many other clubs it was disbanded at the outbreak of the Great Imperialist War. In 1926, a group of socialist activists led by Eric MacDonald, formed a new club, the Willesden Socialist Cycling Club, with the aim of spreading the Labour Party word to a greater audience. Club runs consisted of a ride out to a town or village outside of London, where they would hold a political meeting. A platform for the speaker was devised, which could be broken down to component parts carried by the various members on their bikes! (sounds a bit like getting the guns to Dien Bien Phu ed.) The club grew rapidly, and in 1931 it was decided to change the name to the Willesden Cycling Club, since cycling had overtaken politics as the main aim of the club. (vow where have we heard that before ed.)
This very rare Club badge dates specifically from between 1926 and 1931. The hammer, sickle and quill suggest that the politics of the founders were firmly to the left of the socialist movement.
Iain Mentiply (London Clarion).
FELLOWSHIP FELLOWSHIP FELLOWSHIP FELLOWSHIP FELLOWSHIP 1S LIFE 1S LIFE IS LIFE iS LIFE IS LIFE
DENIS PYE DENIS PYE DENIS PYE DENIS PYE DENIS PYE
Fellowship is Life revised edition, Published by National Clarion 1895 Publishing
This 2022 edition revised by Christopher Goode, with an introduction by Wendy Pye, contains new information on the history of National Clarion Cycling Club.
Fellowship is Life was originally written by lifetime Bolton based cyclist Denis Pye. Denis was a historian and local school master. It tells the story of the Clarion Cycling Club from its inception in 1894 to 2021.
The Clarion Cycling Club took its name from the socialist newspaper, called The Clarion. The clarion call is defined by most dictionaries as, ‘a very clear message or instruction about what action is needed.’ It was the start of social democracy. Clarion cyclists delivered newspapers and tracts promoting social democracy.
The book traces the cycling club through both world wars and the Spanish conflict in between. It is a good read about twentieth century political history on two wheels.
The publication of this book also marks a line in the sand drawn by bicycle wheels in the spring of 2021, when the National Clarion Cycling Club chose to remove the word ‘socialism’ from their Constitution. The National Clarion 1895 was formed to ensure that socialism remains a unique selling point of this cycling organisation. The banning of cycling club outings during the Covid pandemic was a large factor in this situation; there was no place to talk. So, as you close the last page of this book, look out for the next book which is being written with the turning of bicycle wheels which are now increasingly becoming assisted by electricity.
Review by Andrew Livesey MA: Andrew@Livesey.US. Author of Bicycle Engineering and Technology.
Fellowship is Life is available priced £10 from: London Clarion Cycle Club On-line Shop