Newsletter of the National Clarion Cycling Club 1895 (North Lancs Union) April 2008
MAY DAY GREETINGS to cyclists, trade unionists & Socialists everywhere. WALTER CRANE ~ ARTIST & SOCIALIST
Walter Crane, born in Liverpool in 1845, was to become one of the most prominent artists supporting the young socialist movements at the turn of the 19th to 20th century. He was a member of the marxist Social Democratic Federation to which Tom Groom and the founder members of the Clarion Cycling Club also belonged. Deeply influenced by William Morris’ pamphlet Art and Socialism, Crane became involved in both the Art Workers’ Guild and the Arts and Craft Movement. In November 1887 he was present in Trafalgar Square on what became known as Bloody Sunday when 3 people were killed and over 200 injured after the police and a regiment of soldiers attacked a peaceful public meeting. A talented book illustrator, his painting were regularly exhibited in the National Gallery and in galleries across Europe. Between 1880 and the Great War he developed his socialist art in the form of posters, pamphlets, membership cards and trade union banners. He drew a number of sketches for The Clarion newspaper and the National Clarion Cycling Club including our much treasured Winged Angel badge proclaiming ‘Socialism the Hope of the World’. Walter Crane died in Horsham Hospital on 14th March 1915 age 70.
In 1936 the Spanish people election a left wing Popular Front government. In an attempt to overthrow this democratically elected government, a small group of army generals, led by General Franco, launched a military uprising. These Fascists had the support of the Catholic Church, Adolf Hitler and Mussolini. The cries of the Spanish people went unheard by the governments of Britain, France and the U.S.A. Yet scores of Clarion members left their jobs, their homes and their families in order to help the Spanish people. Sadly at least two of our members Ray Cox and Roy Watts were to pay the ultimate sacrifice. Many Clarion Sections worked hard to support the Republican cause by organising meetings, collecting money, writing letters to the press and to M.P.s. The Tottenham Section had a collection one Club night resulting in twenty cigarettes being sent to the front. This seemingly small gesture would have meant so much to our Clarion comrades on the frosty heights above Teruel. Robin Muir, Secretary of Preston Clarion wrote in a letter to the press: I read ‘Augur’s’ article on Spain. I agree with him on one point - food ought to be sent to the refugees by the Government but more importantly it should be accompanied by arms for the Republicans. …. The National Clarion Cycling Club have been asking for ‘Arms for the Democracy’ for a long time. We, as individuals, cannot send arms or we would, but we can send food and we do. Why is the cry…. not head in Downing Street….we want to help Republican Spain. Comrade Ray Cox was a founder member of the Southampton Section of the National Clarion Cycling Club. When the fascists launched their cowardly attack on the democratically elected government of Spain. Ray immediately gave up his job as a clerk and travelled to Spain where he joined the Tom Mann Centuria. He wrote to his mother: I believe that by fighting for Spanish people against the forces of fascism I shall be helping to preserve peace throughout Europe. He fell mortally wounded during the defence of Madrid on 15th December 1936 age 22.
Comrade Roy1938 Watts was the September age 23. Chairman of the Portsmouth and District National Clarion Cycling Club. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War he was working for the Co-op in Leicester. When the Call came he answered without hesitation stating: ‘I am happy and proud to places my services with the workers of Spain in their heroic fight against the bestialities of Fascism’ Roy fell victim to fascist fire during the Ebro offensive on 25th September 1938 age 23.
1938 Glasgow to Barcelona Cycle Ride In July 1936 Geoff Jackson, a member of Kinning Park Clarion was in Spain as a member of a cycling team representing England at the Barcelona Worker’s Olympiad. Unfortunately on the day the Olympiad was to be held the fascist-led counter-revolution broke out and Geoff had to return home. Two years later along with another Clarion member, Ted Ward, Geoff set off on a ride from Glasgow to Barcelona with the aim of raising funds for the Republican cause. The pair rode the length of England visiting towns and cities where the Clarion had a strong presence. Each day Clarion riders would ride out to meet them in a gesture of solidarity. Each evening the local Clarion Section would organise hospitality and arrange a political meeting. By the time the pair had reached Newhaven they had collected over £350. From Dieppe relays of French cyclists guided them to the Spanish border.
Glasgow to Barcelona Ride 2008 In memory of Ray Cox and Roy Watts & in Aid of the International Brigade Memorial Trust. On Wednesday 30th July 2008, 14 cyclists from various Clarion Sections along with riders from Spain and Catalonia will depart from the International Brigade Memorial on the banks of the River Clyde in Glasgow, their destination Barcelona. The aim of the ride is to publicise the 70th anniversary of the original ride by Clarion members Geoff Jackson and Ted Ward, and to raise awareness of the work of the International Brigade Memorial Trust. The ride will be accompanied by a Clarion propaganda van selling literature relating to the Clarion and to the Spanish Civil War. The riders hope to carry fraternal greeting from the mayors of various town en route to the mayor of Barcelona. See: www.1938Glasgow2Barcelona.wordpress.com
The Club’s first ride of 2008 saw members cycle along the Longdendale Trail from Hadfield to the western entrance of the Woodhead Tunnel in order to join a demonstration against the National Grid’s proposal to re-direct its cables through this now disused railway tunnel. It is in the interests of all cyclists that rail closures are opposed and were the National Grid to use this tunnel for their cables the chances of reopening this once valued rail link under the Pennines would be lost forever.
The Clarion Scouts ‘Hurrah for the Clarion Scout! Hail him with strenuous shout! As bold as Lysander To push propaganda Hurrah for the Clarion Scout’
104 Years late, but better late than never
Women’s Social and Political Union, probably better known as the ‘suffragettes’ was founded in the parlour of the Pankhurst family home in Nelson Street, Manchester in 1903. The fact that there has been no public commemoration of the Pankhursts on the streets of Manchester for the past 100 years has been a long standing source of shame on the city. However better late than never, 3 recently restored and renovated 1960’s tower blocks in Collyhurst are being named after Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Sylvia and Christabel. Their names will be etched in huge neon letter across the north Manchester skyline in recognition of their contribution in the fight for women’s suffrage. Perhaps Birmingham could follow suit and recognise the contribution of Tom Groom to Clarion cycling and to the spread of Socialism.
Even before the formation of the National Clarion Cycling Club in 1895 a number of Clarion Cycling Clubs had formed groups of Scouting Corps whose task was to spread Socialist propaganda. In the first issue of the The Scout – A Journal for Socialist Workers, Robert Blatchford, editor of the Clarion wrote advice as to how scouts should distribute tracts, leaflets and copies of Merrie England. Liverpool Clarion Scouts even stuck labels on the flanks of grazing cows stating: ‘Socialism is the Only Remedy’. The magnificent former marching banner of a Clarion Scout (pictured above) is now in the Touchstones Museum in Rochdale. Unfortunately nothing is known of the history or the origins of the piece of Clarion history. If you know of any other archive material please lets us know.
Pause for Thought To commemorate Tom Groom and the founders is not to look wistfully backwards, but to remind ourselves of the necessity of unflinching principles, vision and determination in looking forward.
FELLOWSHIP IS LIFE
113th Easter Meet in Stamford A thoroughly enjoyable Easter Meet organized by Steve and Linda Hope and their comrades in the Fenland Section of the National Clarion Cycling Club. The cold and windy weather made Saturday’s time trial course very difficult indeed and a fall of snow over night caused the Cyclesportif to be cancelled. Fortunately by 11.30 the snow had thawed just in time for the Club (or should that be Pub) Run to start.
Samm Topp’s Pub Guide to Stamford Complied by that uncanny pirate of the pedal pub and pint: Norman Luxford of London Clarion. A summary of Norman’s well researched and extensive guide follows to give you a flavour of Stamford’s best and best avoided. George Hotel: walk in, walk out, stay out. (Score 0). The Periwig: sells a selection of beers badly. (score low 2). Black Bull: If anything can be wrong with a pub this has it all. (low 2). The Crown: a heartless pub. (low 2). Otter’s Pocket: A pub going for an off-beat style and misses by a mile.(low 4). Melbourne Bros: if ever a pub was going to disappoint, this does with both barrels (5). The Green Man: Now this is what I call a pub, if Hippies get old you’ll find them here. Has an Easter Beer Festival (strong 7). The Hurdler: a local pub where you can get a drink at 8 in the morning. The landlord doesn’t like bikes, but dogs and kids are OK, stupid man. (Score strong 7). Punchbowl: a pub as simple as pubs come, a MUST visit (8).
Wales 1894 revived In August 1894 the first Clarion Cycling Club based at the Bond Street Labour Church in Birmingham had a tour to Wales, after which their leader Tom Groom wrote: ‘What this Club wants is not a speedometer but a boozometer’ ~ good ideas are those which stand the test of time.
The Tom Groom Boozometer Ride 2008
On Easter Sunday morn Merlin Evans led the inaugural ‘Tom Groom Boozeometer Ride’ of the combined ‘Real’ Clarion and ‘Bogus’ Clarion Cycling Clubs. A ride where the pints were far more numerous than the kilometers. Copies of the above postcard are available from the Secretary (address below). The cost £1.50 for 5. POST FREE.
CTC York Cycle Show This event takes place over the weekend of June 21st/22nd and after decades of having no presence at this annual gathering, this year there is to be two Clarion stalls in the Club marquee. Ours will be the RED one, handing out Clarion Fellowship.
Forth coming events and rides.
Spot the Real Clarion Competition Mark your entries with a cross (Easter you know)
Expelled and shot ~ well not quite shot. A special Appeals Panel sitting at the Easter Meet expelled former National Secretary Charles Jepson from the National Clarion Cycling Club for the hideous offence of setting up National Clarion CC 1895 (North Lancs Union). A decision which at least seemed to cheer up the present ‘General’ Secretary. The Panel announced: ‘This matter is now closed’
Sunday, May 4th: Club Run to Sarah Reddish’s Grave Monday, May 5th: May Day Demo in Manchester. Sunday May 18th: Club Run to Ribblehead. Tuesday May 27th: Club Tour to Ireland ~ Pole to Pole Sunday June 8th: Club Run to Cragg Vale Friday June 21st: Stall at York Cycle Show Sunday June 29th: Club Run to Dent Saturday July 5th : Stall at South Yorkshire Festival Sunday July 6th : Choirs at the ILP Clarion Tearoom Saturday July 12th: March at Durham Miner’s Gala Sunday July 13th Club Run to the Howgills Friday July 18th: Tolpuddle Martyrs Rally ~ 4 day trip. Tuesday July 29th: Glasgow to Barcelona ride departs. For further details on any of the above contact:
The future? ‘Diluting your product to make it more commercial will just make people like it less’ Hugh MacLeod. Members attending the National Clarion Cycling Club’s annual Easter Conference in Stamford betrayed over 113 years of Clarion independence by voting to affiliate to the CTC, an organisation reviled by many of its own members for its distain of history and tradition. No doubt the Club will now be required to register the Winged Angel as a Leisure Pursuit Provider (sounds a bit like a prostitute), but on the positive side at least her wings and Clarion trumpet will be insured.
National Clarion Cycling Club 1895 (North Lancs Union) Secretary: Charles Jepson, Aysgaard, Beardwood Brow, Blackburn, Lancashire. BB2 7AT. Tel: 01254 51302 Email: clarioncc@yahoo.co.uk