Latest:

Published: December 9, 2020

Welcome Guest

Pete Swinden Tribute

It was Easter 1956 and large groups of cyclists were riding to the annual St. Christopher’s Rally at Morecome. Proceeding up the A6 trunk road towards Preston the North Staffs. Section combined with the Birmingham Section and Peter Swinden met Peter Hambley. Within a year the two sections had met at a National St Christopher’s Get Together, the Annual Dinner and organised Youth Hostel cycling weekends together.

Cyclists had always ridden off-road on old tracks, bridle paths and canal tow paths but in 1955 a formal identification of difficult rides was undertaken by a new organisation the Rough Stuff Fellowship. Riders had to complete 3 routes approved by the committee before obtaining membership. Soon St Christopher’s members Peter Bowyer, Reg Carter, Michael Evans and John Withers were riding over Cannock Chase, up Jacob’s Ladder and along Lathkildale. Not to be out done the two Petes with Barry Blagg were crossing the Berwyns in a 1957 March blizzard to find the Wayfarer Memorial stone. Did Mountain Biking originate in the United States?

Peter H was called up for National Service so Peter S decides to team up with John Withers on a racing tandem bicycle. For eight years they rode all over Britain planning, exploring and then racing in an attempt to win 24 hour competitions and claim long distance cycling place to place records. A total of 6 Midland Road Record Association records were approved including the 24 hour in 1961, culminating in the National R.R.A. 1000 miles record in 2 days 18 hours 9 minutes in 1964 and the Lands End to John a Groats record in 50 hours 14 minutes and 26 seconds in 1968.

In 1965 Peter S married Barbara and in 1966 Peter H married Margaret. The two wives were very supportive of cycling and St. Christopher’s. Soon the two families and their children were meeting together on a regular basis for meals and exercise. Judy was more than capable of holding her own competing with five boys, cycling or walking along the Shropshire Union Canal at Brewood and skateboarding in Longton Park. Sadly Barbara died after a courageous fight against cancer in 1988.

Peter changed his job and before long many of his workmates were inspired by his enthusiasm for walking and cycling. They were joined by a second generation, in the Birmingham Section, Philip Swinden, Andrew Withers, Paul Willig and in North Staffs, James and Philip Hambley. They continued to ride socially and competed in a 10 mile inter section time trial which Birmingham won.

The Birmingham riders organised successful tours of France and Spain but in 1990 John died in Normandy. The tandem partnership was ended.

Margaret died in 1997. The two Peters planned to cycle in Northern Spain following the pilgrimage way to Santiago de Compostella. Unfortunately because of an accident they missed the boat and ended up touring the Isle of White. The followig year they completed the traditional route from Bilbao and returned via the Northern route, 943 miles in 19 days.

Every Thursday they would ride around the Staffordshire lanes having lunch in a cafe or pub. Soon the word got around and as the riders retired from work they joined in In December there would be as many as twelve enjoying a Christmas dinner. In addition Peter was a keen walker enjoying the Fells of the Lake District, Munroe’s in Scotland and the mountains of Wales during the year, he would then organise the popular “ Swindy Christmas Walk” in Derbyshire.

Brian Horstwell a friend of Michael Evans now living in South Wales collected Irish Butter coupons and he now had two spare tickets for a return boat trip to Ireland, Michael offered them to the two Petes, Birmingham , North Staffs. And South Wales were now linked and the foundation of the Mayfest had been laid.

For 49 years in the middle of the night the two Petes would turn out, one at Gailey, the other at Trent Vale to support a Lands End to John a Groats record attempt. Celebrity hard man James Cracknell with Rebecca Romero had failed to break the record even though the route was 12 miles shorter following the building of the first Forth road bridge. Finally in 2015 Irvine and Mitchell claimed the record

When discussing their family histories the two Petes found that they shared an immigrant Italian Great Great Grandfather Joseph Baldaro from Sicily. No wonder there was an attraction.

Peter Hambley