Portsmouth Cycle Touring Club has been going for 95 years and needed to celebrate in some way.
Covid pandemic has impacted activities for over 18 months and large indoor gatherings have not been encouraged, so the current president of the club, Joy Forrow and her husband Wilf agreed to combine the annual prize giving which had been postponed by the pandemic, and hold a celebration in the garden of their home on Hayling Island.
By 3:30 pm members started to arrive, mostly by bike, of course, but those with non cycling partners drove to the address, and gathered in the garden where there was space to mingle, in a socially distanced way. After so long only being able to meet in prearranged groups with limited numbers it was gratifying to meet up with old friends, and to renew stories of rides and activities enjoyed.
Also attending were Jack and Peter Davies, the brothers of the late Chris Davies, with their wives as mentioned elsewhere. Chris had left provision in his will for a celebration tea for club members, and Joy had organised this to take place at 4:00 pm by which time we had all gathered and were able to sit at well spaced garden tables. A few of the club members had volunteered to act as waitresses bringing round tea and coffee pots to replenish mugs as required so there were no crowds milling round the tea tables.
The culmination of the refreshments was a magnificent cake. Designed, baked and decorated by Joy and Wilf, it incorporated two types of cake underneath the icing so that members who preferred fruit cake could have that, or a Madeira type cake as an alternative.
The cake was formally cut by Derek were unable to be present so the trophies had to be set aside for a less formal delivery to them in due course.
By 5.00 the formal part of the gathering was over and some members hopped on their bikes and went home while the rest settled down to an evening barbecue to round off a rare and special afternoon birthday party.
Hayday (right), the oldest member present.
At 5:00 it was time to present the awards, starting with a celebration of the past 95 years. There followed a formal presentation of a certificate from CTC reflecting the clubs achievement in surviving so many years, and introducing and developing so many riders into the joys of club cycling and cycle touring. Portsmouth CTC was founded in 1926, just 48 years after the original founding of the CTC (then known as the Bicycle Touring Club originally for high wheelers, or penny farthing bikes as some people know them)
Sadly, due to the particular circumstances, many of the prize winners were unable to be present so the trophies had to be set aside for a less formal delivery to them in due course.
By 5.00 the formal part of the gathering was over and some members hopped on their bikes and went home while the rest settled down to an evening barbecue to round off a rare and special afternoon birthday party.