National Clarion Cycling Club 1895 & London Clarion Cycle Club - Easter Meet Programme 2019

NATIONAL CLARION CYCLING CLUB 1895 & LONDON CLARION CYCLE CLUB

EASTER MEET BRADFORD 2019

AT The Midland Hotel, Forster Square, Bradford BD1 4HU

Programme & Souvenir

The City of Bradford and its surrounding area has a strong tradition of radicalism dating back to the early years of the industrial revolution. In the spring of 1848, Bradford was ‘the most outstanding centre of physical force Chartism in England’. In December 1890, the Manningham Mill dispute (where the factory owners sought to cut the wages of 5,000 low paid, nonunionised workers, many of whom were women, by 15 and 33 %, after issuing 8 % dividend to shareholders) resulted in some of the largest ever mass meetings in Britain, let alone Bradford, attended by 60,000 to 90,000 people. A 5 month strike followed and led to the formation of the Bradford Labour Union in 1891, Bradford Independent Labour Party (ILP) in 1892 which became a national party in January 1893 and was the forerunner to today’s Labour Party. During their formative years, the ILP and The Clarion movement were closely intertwined.

Edward Hartley of Bradford, one of the founding members of the ILP and later founder of the local Social Democratic Federation branch, went on to become the secretary of the Clarion Van Movement between 1910 to 1912. One of the earliest Clarion Cycle Clubs was also founded in Bradford in 1894. Such radical traditions continued in to the twentieth century with the foundation in 1981 of the 1 in 12 Club, a collective based on anarchist principles.

For all of these reasons it is only fitting that we have chosen the City of Bradford for our National Clarion Cycling Club 1895 & London Clarion Cycle Club, 2019 Easter Meet.

“The Clarion Cyclist is a Socialist utilising his cycle for the combined purposes of pleasure and propaganda”

https://www.nationalclarioncc1895.co.uk/ national.clarion1895@gmail.com

https://www.londonclarion.org.uk/ londonclarion@gmail.com

Friday 19th April 2019 5.00pm Self Guided Walk Meet for a self guided walk around the German quarter as well as some of Bradford’s other historic buildings and places of interest

7.00pm Curry Suggestion: My Lahore, 48 - 52 Great Horton Road, Bradford BD7 1AL Menu: https://www.mylahore.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Cafe_Menu_V9.pdf Visit The 1 in 12 Club 21-23 Albion Street, Bradford BD1 2LY

Saturday 20th April 2019 10.00am Cycle via Saltaire UNESCO World Heritage Site to the former Yorkshire Clarion Club House and back via the Saltaire Brewery Yorkshire Clarion Club House LTD, Chevin End, Menston-in-Wharfedale. “The Switzerland of England”… was started at Hawksworth in 1901 by the Bradford Clarion and later taken over by the Yorkshire Union of Clarion C.C... (It) is situated at the Menston End of Otley Chevin, the locality where Turner obtained sketches for some of his finest pictures whilst he visited at Farnley Hall, near Otley… (It) is on one side of the Wharfe Valley, one of if not the most beautiful valleys in England… The company has purchased the land (about four acres), and just erected a substantial dining and concert room. Visitors can be accommodated in the dormitory or tents as desired. The food is of the best quality, at most reasonable charges.

National Clarion Cycling Club Annual Meet York, 1913 Programme and Year Book

Suggested route: https://www.strava.com/routes/18068675 Evening Suggestion: Dinner & Pub Crawl

Sunday 21st April 2019 10.00am Cycle through some spectacular scenery, along the Great Northern Railway Trail including over a number of impressive viaducts and a visit to the Halifax Piece Hall Suggested route: https://www.strava.com/routes/18121946 7.00pm Easter Meet Dinner Suggestion: The Midland Hotel, Forster Square, Bradford BD1 4HU

England Arise

by Edward Carpenter England, arise! The long, long night is over, Faint in the East behold the dawn appear, Out of your evil dream of toil and sorrow – Arise, O England, for the day is here!

From your fields and hills, Hark! The answer swells – Arise, O England, for the day is here!

Over your face a web of lies is woven, Laws that are falsehoods pin you to the ground, Labour is mocked, its just reward is stolen, On its bent back sits Idleness encrowned.

How long, while you sleep, Your harvest shall it reap?

Arise, O England, for the day is here!

By your young children's eyes so red with weeping, By their white faces aged with want and fear; By the dark cities where your babes are creeping, Naked of joy and all that makes life dear; From each wretched slum Let the loud cry come — Arise, O England, for the day is here.

Forth, then, ye heroes, patriots and lovers!

Comrades of danger, poverty and scorn!

Mighty in faith of Freedom, thy great Mother!

Gi-ants refreshed in Joy’s new rising morn!

Come and swell the song, Silent now so long; England is risen, and the day is here!

People of England! All your valleys call you, High in the rising sun the lark sings clear, Will you dream on, let shameful slumber thrall you?

Will you disown your native land so dear?

Shall it die unheard – That sweet pleading word?

Arise, O England, for the day is here!

The Red Flag

by Jim Connell The People's Flag is deepest red, It shrouded oft our martyred dead, And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold, Their hearts' blood dyed its every fold.

Chorus: Then raise the scarlet standard high.

Beneath its shade we'll live and die, Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, We'll keep the red flag flying here.

It waved above our infant might, When all ahead seemed dark as night; It witnessed many a deed and vow, We must not change its colour now. (chorus)

It well recalls the triumphs past, It gives the hope of peace at last; The banner bright, the symbol plain, Of human right and human gain. (chorus) It suits today the weak and base, Whose minds are fixed on pelf and place To cringe before the rich man's frown, And haul the sacred emblem down. (chorus) With head uncovered swear we all To bear it onward till we fall; Come dungeons dark or gallows grim, This song shall be our parting hymn. (chorus)