The Adventures of the Rye & District Wheelers Past and Present
Goodbye to a Fine Gentleman of the Road
Gentleman Jim Catt, who was one of the Club’s few surviving prewar members has died.
Jim, who moved away from the town when his job as mechanic to Odell the Cycleman in Market Road came to an end with the closure of the business in the sixties. He was in his nineties and cycled, albeit on a battery assisted tricycle, until very recently.
He was one of a squad of six tandem riders from the Club who relayed a flaming torch, that had been ignited by the Mayor of Westminster, from London Bridge to Rye. They ran on time and the flame was used to light the 1946 Bonfire on The Salts.
Jim was in contact with the Club up to last year. He will be sadly missed in Kent and Sussex cycling circles.
point in the epic 1946 Bonfire torch relay.
Where do the Wheelers go in winter? To parties of course and judging by the look of these well known faces they have a very good time! No doubt they will all be seen out on their bikes during the next few weeks working off the holiday surplus.
Wheelers in Party Mood
Tuesday Afternoon Runs
The new short runs on Tuesday afternoons have proved a great success. Rides to Winchelsea (via Rye Harbour and Winchelsea Beach) on 6 January and Stone on 13 January, kicked off this new regular Wheelers innovation and was enjoyed by the riders, especially the stops for beverages. The weather was kind and new members Kevin Hall and Rita Thomson found cycling an enjoyable discipline to get off those extra pounds gained over the Christmas period. Anyone with a bike is invited to join the Tuesday runs. they are ridden at the speed of the slowest rider. Join us any Tuesday at 1 pm. in the Riverhaven Car Park.
Wheelers Plan to Help Rye St. John Ambulance
There are plans in hand to run a Sponsored 24 Hours Indoor Cycle Marathon to raise cash for Rye St. John Ambulance.
A similar event last year raised £750 and helped former member Richard Mwangi with his education in Nairobi. Full discussion and early planning for this event will take place at the Annual General Meeting on Thursday 12 February at the Riverhaven.
Rye’s Own February 2004
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