FESTIVAL ROAD CLUB EARLY HISTORY Author – David Lidyard, with additional material from Tom McCall
The Festival Road Club was in fact called Unicorn Wheelers when it was first formed in 1950. Permission was then obtained to rename the club Festival Road Club in 1951, which was the year of the Festival of Britain. The main names for that first period were J.Gammon, B.Banks, L.Searle, M.Bailey, G.Bungay, N.Fisher, K.Sheppard, T.Green, R.Weatherly, J.Tricky, G.Payne, R.Parkes, J.Leader, J.Jennings, J.Sleven, and J.Bonfield.
The club met at Winters Bridge Cafe in Thames Ditton before moving to Sandown Tea Rooms near Esher. The very first organised club run was a trip to Blackbushe Airport.
Most of the early members were keen racers in local Time Trials, but one name was to emerge as an early star. In 1952, Neil Fisher recorded a time of 58.26 in a 25 mile Time Trial. He was stylish and streamlined on his bike, and in the days when you could count “under the hour” rides on the fingers of your hands, this was a remarkable ride. (PSB note – Comp record at the time was Higginson’s 57:08, so that’s equivalent to a short 45 today). His club record was to stand for many years.
When Neil Fisher came back from National Service, he started cycling again. However, although he did manage a sub-hour ride, he felt he could not find his previous form, and he retired. His Carpenter bike was purchased and ridden by David Lidyard (pictured) who had joined the club in 1954. David was a regular competitor in Time Trials at all distances, and represented the club meritoriously for a number of years.
Local bike shop owner Frank Carpenter of Carpenter Cycles, who supplied many members with their bikes, agreed to become Club President in 1954, and remained in that capacity until his retirement in 1961, when he was made an Honorary Life Member.
Club members were at that time involved in a wide range of cycling activities including Time Trials, Place-to-Place records, and Reliability Trials including the Catford 100 (100 miles in those days, not 100kms as now), and the infamous Bath and Back ride which only the intrepid and truly mad undertook. Festival RC had also started to promote Time Trials.
The club became nomadic with it’s meeting place for a while. At one time, it was at a pub near Carpenter’s shop in Surbiton, before moving to Sunbury-on-Thames. Friday night at the Sunbury venue always produced a race afterwards back to Hampton Court roundabout, with the sprint starting at the Water Board. This always developed into a mad dash, with riders all over the road, and, thankfully, more by luck than judgement, there were no casualties! The club then moved to the Labour Club in Grange Road, Kingston for a number of years.
Apart from racing, there were a lot of other cub activities in the 50’s including evening runs out to Runnymede, and Holly and Pub runs around Christmas time. Regular reports of club activity appeared in the Surrey Comet compiled by Les Searle.
The first Dinner and Dance was held in the Bun Shop in Surbiton before moving for a long run at the Royal Oak, New Malden. Subsequently, well-known cycling personalities were invited as guests of honour to present the prizes – among them Eileen Sheridan. Many Dinners were covered by famous photographer Ted Lees, who also took great action shots in local Time Trials.
David Lidyard and John Gammon were very much involved with the organisation and creation of prize plaques for the club Dinners at the Royal Oak, with numbers rising to over 100 attendees. The next port of call for club Dinners was the Surbiton Assembly Rooms followed by a the Jolly Boatman, Hampton Court.
The club could not have gained such momentum without the help of so many. Among them John Gammon and his wife who organised picnics at Frensham Ponds apart from helping with the Dinners. John Wallis became our vice President and regular Timekeeper. David Lidyard became club General Secretary after Mike Eaton and Mike Bailey, and was appointed Vice President – later awarded Life Membership for services to the club.
Any members who got married was presented with a clock engraved with the date. David Lidyard reports that his is still working well!
The later years of the 50’s saw an influx of new racing blood – among them Jim Wheeler, John and Brian Froud, Mike Eaton, John Rowlands, Fred Miller, Tom McCall, and Mike Woodall, to name but a few, with membership moving to over 80 by the early sixties.
The early sixties saw a halcyon period for Festival Road Club, as several riders rose to National prominence. Jim Wheeler won the classic Bath Road 100 Time Trial, then returned a series of Time Trial rides at high National level. John Froud developed into a formidable talent in Road Races. He won the Division Road Race Championship, then represented his country at the Peace Race in Eastern Europe. Jim Wheeler, John Froud, and his brother Brian won the team award in the National 100 mile Championship. The club also had a good track Team Pursuit squad with John Froud, Jim Wheeler, Tom McCall, Chris Gray (who had joined from Norwood Paragon) and Graham Edwards gaining Bronze medals in various National Championships, and winning the all-London Championship. These early successes paved the way for future club achievements, which were to continue in the future.
In this 1961 pic, Tom McCall and Chris Gray are in shirtsleeves at the back, the Froud twins are front left – also in shirtsleeves, Graham Edwards is under the ‘Exit’ sign. Frank Carpenter and his wife are at the front, David Lidyard is immediately to Frank’s left with wife-to-be Linda.
Members included:
Twin brothers, Brian and John Froud (still riding!) John rode in the Tour of Britain , the Milk Race and the Berlin –Warsaw – Prague Peace race.
John Froud second from left, Peace Race opening ceremony 1964
Jim Wheeler: Won the Bath Road 100 in 1961 ( 4hr.2min.27sec)
John Barclay became one of the leading coaches of his generation, inducted into the Cycling Hall of Fame.
Tom McCall (still serves the sport as a BC Comm)
Ellens Green in the early days of the Surrey League – probably 1983 or 4. Des Keenoy and Dave Matthews on the left are first claim Festival members. Andy Swanson and Tom McCall on the right were Second Claim members. More details on Tom McCall’s page under ‘Riders’
Pete Kennish
Festival Road Club Dinner and Prize Presentation 1959. Inter-Club Junior Team
Trophy – presented by the late Chris Watts
Right to left- Peter Kennish, Tom McCall, Tony Dupres at left. John Froud
smiling in the background.
Club medals – Pete Kennish 
Chris Putland http://www.classicrendezvous.com/British_isles/carpenter_fh_main.htm
Some highlights:
1961 National Championship 100 team award. (Jim Wheeler. John and Brian Froud)
1960’s All-London team pursuit champions, (Tom McCall, John Froud, Jim Wheeler, and Chris Gray). Two bronze medals in the National team pursuit championship.