THE REVIVAL FROM 1990
Increasing contact between former members occurred from 1990 onwards.
Peter Roscoe joined Gordon Rigby and his wife Joan on leisure rides.
This led to the revival of annual reunions – the first in 1991 to celebrate 90 years of our existence was very successful with former members joining us from far and wide.
However, so far we have not been able to re-establish ourselves as a club with a regular programme of Sunday runs. This could well have led to the proposal from two of the longest standing members of the club that having achieved 100 years we should wind up the section.
No other member was in favour of the proposal and a vote of confidence can be seen in that twelve members bought the new club racing vests.
Bob Duckworth, a member from the 1960s who rejoined in 1999 is worthy of a mention as it is through his efforts that this initiative has been taken – no one else showed any willingness to take on the task which proved to be extremely hard work. At this point in time it appears that our future depends on our commitment to racing activities.
THE CENTENARY YEAR 2001
One hundred years of continuous existence was an achievement worth celebrating. The foremost event was a centenary reunion when sixty current and former members came together for a reunion at Bolton Road Sports Club.
The Leg Platters Ceilidh Band entertained and former member Barbara Gunshon took the initiative in organising a super buffet with the help of her husband.
Joe Rowley ‘put the icing on the cake’ by making and donating a splendid birthday cake. Everyone enjoyed a great evening – meeting old friends and enjoying the entertainment. Inevitably for some it was for the last time but we must all be pleased that Charlie Westlake, who died three months later, was there to collect a certificate for an age group record he established in our annual hill climb.
The following morning fifteen of us were out on a celebratory ride that included Tottington and Greenmount as this was on the route of those who rode the first run in January 1901. The mayor, Councillor Bill Johnson, despatched us and, to our surprise, he knew the Clarion clubhouse in Tottington.
In June 2001 we organised a celebratory 100 kilometres reliability trial over a demanding course around the Pennines and West Lancashire Moors. Alas, only four of our members rode and completed the event but we did have 16 other successful participants on a fortuitously sunny day.
Peter Roscoe
