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Biographies

This page is a start on writing biographies for the predominant members of the club. As I collect more information I will add it to this page. There are a large number of people that deserve an entry including George Jenkins, Percy Bliss and Bob French. Please email us at hastingsccarchive@gmail.com. if you can help with any information.

 

Biographies

Please note that the start and end date are not complete at this stage

Name    Joined Date    Left/Died Date
Arthur Coleman

Ernie Spray first noticed this tall, slim cyclist riding in a rather elegant manner as he passed his home on St Leonard's seafront. This was about 1943 and no later than May. Ernie didn't know him then, and later learnt he rode to his work at Page's Garage in Bexhill where he was a mechanic. Arthur would have been about 15 years old at this time. Ernie was the Treasurer and first entered Arthur’s name in the Club cashbook in July 1946.

Arthur served on the Committee and had a spell as President. He was involved with the East Sussex C.A. Kent C. A and a was a member of the V.T.T.A. Kent Group and their Chairman for many years Arthur lost his legs in the early 1970s. This only put an end to Arthur's physical cycling. He continued to be involved in the administrative needs of the Club and the other Groups and Associations.

Arthur was a leading figure in the Fellowship of Kent and Sussex Cyclists. He served two terms as President of the Fellowship 1979—81 and 2003—05. In 1970 and 1982 he was awarded the Fellowship Trophy for service or endeavour of the highest order.

One race event Ernie recalled was the Wittersham Sprint which Arthur always thought he could have won. The riders gathered at the Ewe & Lamb pub in Wittersham on Saturday where they drank all evening and then collapsed and slept on the floor till the morning. They were then judged and handicapped by the amount of beer they had consumed before they rode off for a circuit of the Isle of Oxney. The landlord was so impressed he presented the event with a silver tankard. This tankard is now the property of the RSC and is presented to the President for use during his term of office.

Tim Carpenter recalls: "At a 1066 Fellowship Tea held at Brownbread Street Arthur popped to the toilet. At this stage Arthur had lost both of his legs so was using prosthetic limbs, and crutches. There were two steps up from the gents and as Arthur swing himself up the two steps his legs stayed behind!!!. I still don't know how he did not fall over. The loudest laughter came from Arthur himself"
B Deane (Rye Wheelers)

I am not sure if I had the correct club for Bernard Deane. The results for 1955 for the club events do not show a club name. The first event of 1955 showed B Deane as a Private Time Trial, which suggests he was not a club member. In 1957 he was riding for the Rye Wheelers, so he should have been shown as a Rye Wheeler in the club events.

Bernard then moved to the Spartan CRC in 1958.

I have not been able to find any result sheets at the moment to confirm Bernard's clubs.

Thanks to Michael Lingham for highlighting this.
Chris Parker

Chris has been the backbone of the club for many years as Secretary, as well as organising events and club activities.


Chris came to the club during the 1980s, and has kept the club going over the intervening years. He still races, works tirelessly for the club and the East Sussex Cycling Association.
Dominic Windsor

Dominic joined the club in the late 70s and held numerous time trial records. He also regularly travelled to Eastway while still a schoolboy to compete in road races.

Sunday 19 July 1981 won the Sussex Junior Road Race on the Turners Hill Course outsprinting Dave Brooker of East Grinstead CC.

Dominic went on to have a successful amateur career in the USA.
Frederick March

The March family had close connections with the club. In 1885, Freddie March’s father Tolly, led revival the club's flagging fortunes by securing the first away win. Frederick March won his first “event at “Tunbridge Wells in 1908.

Fred was a famous track rider during the 1920s and had a mass of trophies and certificates to his credit. He would frequently ride to Margate in the morning by way of a warmup before competing on the track during the afternoon. After collecting his awards, he would ride back to Hastings. Fred was the hero of many exciting sprints when sports meetings were held at Hastings Central Cricket Ground.

During the 1914-18 war the club remained alive and after the war Freddy March won several N.C.U. Sussex championships.

He still enjoyed a ride on Sunday, weather permitting in his 76th year.

Freddie died at the age of 77 (3 February 1966). The coffin was covered with the Union Jack in token of his service in the First World War and his membership of the British Legion.
Jack Southerden

Jack Southerden was born in Hastings on 5 November 1915. Although cycling dominated his life he did not learn to ride a bicycle until he was 15.

Jack spent a brief period with the Hastings Wheelers, before switching to the Hastings and St Leonards CC in 1934.

He raced up until the middle 80s. He broke various club tandem records and was a member of the Club Team 12 Hour record holders. In 1950 he was the East Sussex CA Best All Rounder.

Jack held a range of official positions from club captain, time trials secretary, chairman and finally as President in 1988. He was awarded Life Membership around 1957.

He was the club archivist (before that role was really thought about). In 1962 he published his book 80 Years Awheel, that covered the history of the first 80 years of the club. In late 1970 he drafted a supplement for the club’s 100th anniversary, ”From the fifties to the seventies” covering 1956 to 1976.

After landing at Normandy during WWII he kept a detailed record of his mileage and joined the prestigious 300,000 mile club in 1975, and completed half a million miles in 1997.

Jack died on 13 January 2001.


Mark Markowski

Mark Markowski became Sussex Senior Road Race Champion in June 1985 on the Cowbeech Course.

Mark had many wins both locally and further afield with a noticeable victory in the Prestige Perfs Pedal Race in 1988. Previous winners had been Sean Yates, Glenn Longland and Tim Stevens to name a few.
Maurice Carpenter

Maurice was a record breaker at all distances on both his Bike, Trike, Tandem and Tandem Trike. Maurice held the Road Records Association record for the fastest ride from Brighton to London and return with Micky Dunn of the Catford CC on a Tandem Trike. He also held Southern Roads Record Association records on the Tandem Trike with Mickey Dunn and John Mansell.
Robert Allen

Rob Allen along with Mark Markowski enjoyed riding the road with many top 6 places. In 1985 Rob finished in 38th place in the Amateur Paris - Roubaix 140 mile race.
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