Founded 1925 Affiliated to: BCF, RTTC, BCCA, ECCA, ECRA

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A Brief History of the Becontree Wheelers

It all began in 1925 as a result of a conversation on a train (one person being the first president Dr J. Prosser-Evans and another the first chairman Mr Phil Brannigan), as a result a small Social Sunday Run was formed and from this small beginning the Becontree Wheelers was formed. The annual subscription in those days was 4/6d which included affiliation to the National Cyclists Union.

In 1927 the course record for 25 miles stood at 1:13:40 and by 1929 had gone down to 1:09:23. 

The 1931 Club Handbook shows the record held by H M Heffer at 1:07:24 and the H R Heffer memorial trophy taken by C Damant.

On 22 September 1932, the General Secretary wrote to the Racing Secretary to seek clarification of the eligibility of certain members for club championships. This is an early example of correspondence between committee members.

In 1933 the Eighth Annual Dinner and Dance and Distribution of Prizes was held on Thursday 23 November at the Robin Hood, Dagenham with dancing to the Rhythmic Four. A demonstration of the Tango was given by Mr & Mrs W. E. La Thangue.

The 1933-34 Winter Programme showed the club Headquarters at the Dinkie Tea Rooms, New Road, Rainham; meeting every Thursday evening.  The meeting place for Sunday runs was opposite the "Chequers", Dagenham at 9:30 AM.

Albert Pethica born 1911 was a member of the Becontree Wheelers in the 1930's. He held a 25 Mile Standard medal timed at 1:15:34 and a 100 Mile Standard medal timed at 5:41:54, both from 1934. His son Frank has kindly sent some photos from that era.
In 1934 the Ninth annual Dinner and Dance and Presentation of Awards was held on Thursday November 29th at the Robin Hood, Dagenham with dancing to the Rhythmic Four.

By the end of 1939 a young man by the name of Len Eshouse had lowered the 25 mile record to 1:02:39.

Club activates were severely curtailed during the war years but some riding was done including club runs such as is shown in this photograph from 1942.

A club junior 10 mile time trial was promoted in 1944 and won by Bill Pickton. Bill Griggs was second and Son Pickton third. Gordon Damant and Ginger Weddall also rode.

Derek Damant has supplied photos of club life in the period shortly after WW2.

1946 was the club's 21st Anniversary year. A photograph was taken to mark the occasion. Amongst those present were George Fell, Jimmy Whittaker, 'Mac' Mactaggart, Arthur Lofts, Derek Damant, Gordon Damant, G Mundie, Bill Lewis, Tommy Maybank, Bill Pickton, Don Ansell, Jack Higgs, Eddy Baker, Roy Carter, A A Hawkes, Mrs Prosser-Evans, Bobby Heffer, Thelma Vale, Jimmy Vale, Lily Johnson, Syd Johnson, Daphne Spragg, Lee Baker, Margy Littlechilds, Margery Willgoss, Harry Skitt, and Bill Griggs,

The 1947 21st Annual Dinner-Dance and Distribution of Awards was held at the Fanshawe Tavern, Becontree on Thursday 13 February 1947. Dancing to Les Brown's Band. An account of the club's formation and the history of the first 21 years was publshed with the menu. In the same year, Derek Jennings joined the club, and our team of George Fell, Nobby Clarke and Len Eshouse broke the National 30 team record. The following year, George Fell went under the hour for 25 miles with a 59:31.

1949 started with George Fell being the first man in England to go under the hour and broke the competition record with a time of 58:00.

On Saturday 21 May the club promoted the first of six Grass Track meetings held at the Romford Football Ground. Those events incorporated the Essex Centre NCU Individual 2 mile pursuit championship, the Eastern Counties Team pursuit championship, and the Essex Centre NCU 5 mile championship.
Nobby Clarke won the 100km Road Race at the V1 International Silent Games ( The Deaflympics ) held in Copenhagen from 12 to 16 August. He successfully defended his title at the next games held in Brussels in 1953.
Jock Miller was a member during this period and is pictured here with track stars, J Heid; Sid Patterson from Australia (World amateur champion in 1949 and 1950); Reg Harrris, multi World amateur and professional sprint champion for Great Britain; and Arie Van Vliet from Holland, World Sprint champion in 1953. The back of this flyer contains the autographs of some of the great figures in the cycling world from that period, including our own George Fell.

In 1950, the Jubilee Dinner & Dance and Prize Presentation was held at the Robin Hood Hotel, Longbridge Road, Dagenham with dancing to Reg Covell and his Band. Amongst the prize winners was Charlie Jepson who took the President and Vice President's trophy for the mens club BAR over 25, 50 and 100 miles. In that same year he was part of the team that equalled the National 25 team record. Charlie was still a club member and active cyclist in 2007. Stan Broom won the H R Heffer Memorial Trophy. Although no longer a Becontree member, Stan was still an active rider and heavily involved in local cycling administration in 2007. Club membership stood at 160 in that year.

1952 - Derek Jennings married Helen on 7 June. In later years, Derek would hold many official positions with the Club including Secretary, Chairman and President as well as winning Championships and holding club records.

The Annual Dinner and Presentation of Awards for 1954, the club's 30th year, was held in the White Hart Hotel, Romford with music during the evening by Ken Dawes and his Band.

In the mid 1950's Eric Blundell was a member and following his death in January 2002, his daughter sent us some pictures of club life in those days.

On Sunday 22 July 1956, the Club promoted a Ladies 25 mile Time Trial on the Southend Road E3 course. There were 88 entries including 3 from the Becontree Wheelers, for a first prize of £2.
The Official Result shows S M Ball of the West Kent RC winning with a time of 1:03:31, to set the course and event record. 12 of the entrants did not start and 2 of the starters did not finish. Two of the Becontree members started, the fastest ride being by B J Taylor with 1:11:13.

On Saturday February 9th 1957 the club promoted a Cycle Roller Racing Competition at Pettits Lane School, Romford in aid of the National Spastics Society. Seven Clubs were represented by 25 entrants, including J Adams and R Lyne from Becontree Wheelers. There were 4 events, each with prizes valued at £2 for first place, £1 for second and 10 shillings (50p post decimalisation) for third.

The 1958 Annual Dinner and Presentation of Awards was held at the Cauliflower Hotel, Ilford on 21 November. Music during the evening was provided by Jay Taylor and his Band. The President and Vice President's BAR Trophy was again presented to Charlie Jepson.

A stage of the 1968 Tour of Ireland was won by Mick Wishart.  In the same year George Fell's record 30 was taken by Vic Nott in 1:10:52. A special general meeting was called to change the club colours.

In 1971 the club had a good year in open races with 17 wins, 13 seconds, 15 thirds, 22 fourths, and 17 sixths.

The club celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1974 with a Lands End to John O'Groats cycle ride. Those taking part were Derek Jennings, Tony Dewerson, Les Charnley, Alan Sanders, Andy Hale, Norman Bonham, Charlie Jepson, and Frank Ryan. Click Here to see the full story of the ride. 

1977 Club track Championships were held at Herne Hill on 19  October. Amongst the riders were Tony Foote, Rob Morrell, Ian Damant, Trevor Sanders, Chris Terry, Martin Koester, Simon King, Keith Harrod, Mark White, Phil Thorpe-Apps and Chris Pople.

1978 saw Becontree riders active in Essex Road Race League events. On Saturday 8 April, The 3/J race around the Yardley Industrial estate was won by Phil Thorpe-Apps from Trevor Sanders 2nd with Mark Shaw 4th, supported by Tony Foote, Craig Stevens and Ian Damant and managed by Keith West.
The 1/2/3 race on the same day saw Rob Wishart, Rob Morrell, Keith Harrod and Martin Koester riding but unfortunately without success.
The following weekend saw Ian Damant, Craig Stevens, and Phil Thorpe-Apps riding in the 3/J event at Highwood. Ian won the bunch sprint for 4th place.

The 1980s saw club members participating in Road, Track and Circuit racing as well as Time Trials. Click here to see a photo gallery of this period.

For the past decade, Derek Jennings has dominated the Senior and veterans Championships.

In the same period unfortunately, membership had dwindled as it became more and more difficult to attract young blood into the sport. Throughout this period however the club had the good fortune to have several very loyal members who have kept the club alive. To quote Tony Dewerson "If to keep the club alive it means just me riding a turbo in my front room - then so be it." It is this spirit that has kept it going.

The future now looks bright, the club is emerging, albeit slowly from those difficult times. Last year saw the club junior 50 mile record smashed by Andrew Hawtin and this year Francis Jackson broke the Junior 25 record.

We have started to do well in the Counties events. In 1994 we took the Junior and handicap B.A.R. awards (Andrew Hawtin & Pat Goodwin). This year thanks to some brilliant rides by Francis Jackson, the club has retained the Counties B.A.R.

In the same year we have amassed 20 plus Counties medals, had a team of three finish the ECCA 12 hour in which we took the VTTA team prize and attracted several new members , all keen to compete in club colours.

The future of the Becontree looks good but we must encourage this growth, to bring the club back to its former glory.

When the Millennium celebrations start I for one hope to be there along with the Becontree celebrating its 75th year.

Pat Goodwin 1995

1996

Click on picture to see full size.

Francis Jackson receives the ECCA Junior BAR award from former Tour De France rider, Vin Denson	Paul Hardy receives the BCF Essex Division Gold Badge of Honour from Alan Sanders. Watched by club President, Derek Jennings.

1998

In July, several members joined the trip to the "Tour de France" organised by Brendon Ladd. 

Click Here to see an account of the trip written by Peter Harries of the Epsom CC, which is very funny insight into the serious(?) competition that took place.

This Web site was published for the first time.

1999

In July,  Brendon Ladd again orgainsed the trip to the "Tour de France"
Click here to see the Photo Album.

Arctic Challenge

At the end of June, Rob Smith from Totnes rode to the North Cape in Norway in Becontree colours.

This was part of the RNLI Arctic Challenge, a sponsored ride to raise money for lifeboats. The ride is from Tromso to Nordkapp, a journey of 483 km or 300 miles in 8 days and visiting the most northerly lifeboat station in Europe.

Click here to see Rob's account of the journey and some photographs of the ride.

2000

Becontree Wheelers CC in the Millennium

The new millennium coincided with the club's 75th anniversary. Celebrations started with the inclusion of the prestige Romford-Harlow Road Race promotion in the BCF Premier Calendar. Click here to see a web site dedicated to the race.

In a repeat of the 50th anniversary ride, 10 members cycled from Lands End to John 'Groats. The party included 4 veterans of the 1975 ride and were ably assisted by Karen Lifford. Click here to see the full story.

2001

Cycle Montana

At the age of 75, our President, Derek Jennings, revisited part of his 1976 ride across the USA. Click Here for details.

2002

George Fell The Becontree's most successful rider, George Fell passed away in February. George was twice National 25 Champion and held 5 RTTC Competition records, two for his solo rides and three as the leader of Becontree teams. Click Here for an obituary and to see photos and copies of the Competition Record certificates.