Becontree Wheelers

Cycling Club

Founded 1925

Founded 1925

Affiliated to
British Cycling, Cycling Time Trials, CTT London East, Eastern Counties CA

- welcome to the Becontree Wheelers Web site.

Becontree Wheelers in the 1950's


If you have any material which will add to the record of the club's history, please contact the club. Photos, documents, results and stories are all welcome.



1950 Jubilee Dinner In 1950, the Jubilee Dinner & Dance and Prize Presentation was held at the Robin Hood Hotel, Longbridge Road, Dagenham with dancing to Reg Covell and his Band. Amongst the prize winners was Charlie Jepson who took the President and Vice President's trophy for the mens club BAR over 25, 50 and 100 miles. In that same year he was part of the team that equalled the National 25 team record. Charlie was still a club member and active cyclist in 2007.

Stan Broom won the H R Heffer Memorial Trophy. Although no longer a Becontree member, Stan was still an active rider and heavily involved in local cycling administration in 2010.

Club membership stood at 160 in that year.
1950's. Don Ansell & Brenda Middleton. Right, Bill Preston, ?. Left Charlie Jepson, Whacker Jennings. Seveal club members married during the year.
Derek marries Helen 1952 - Derek Jennings married Helen on 7 June. In later years, Derek would hold many official positions with the Club including Secretary, Chairman and President as well as winning Championships and holding club records.
1954 Dinner The Annual Dinner and Presentation of Awards for 1954, the club's 30th year, was held in the White Hart Hotel, Romford with music during the evening by Ken Dawes and his Band.
Club life in 1950's Deborah Blundell from Ontario, Canada provided some pictures of club life in the nineteen-fifties. These include her late father, Eric Blundell.With some help from current club members we have been able to put some names to the people present. If you remember any of the others, or the location where the picture was taken, please let us know so we can update the pictures.
Prize Presentation with Graham Wood and Mrs F E Prosser-Evans Nigel Wood has provided some photos from the early 1950's. These include some showing his father Graham and his mother Dinah, fomally Dyer.

They include amongst others, Prize presentation, the club ladies team and Grass Track racing in Valance Park.
Club members 1955 1955 - Leonard Halls has sent a group photo of club members from his time in the Becontree.
Harry ‘pasha’ O’Shaughnessy and friends. Bob Rothwell has sent photos from his Brother-in-law, Harry ‘pasha’ O’Shaughnessy's time in the Becontree. Sadly, Harry passed away at the age of 88 in October 2017.
Ladies 25 start sheet 1956 On Sunday 22 July 1956, the Club promoted a Ladies 25 mile Time Trial on the Southend Road E3 course. There were 88 entries including 3 from the Becontree Wheelers, for a first prize of £2.
Ladies 25 result sheet 1956 The Official Result shows S M Ball of the West Kent RC winning with a time of 1:03:31, to set the course and event record. 12 of the entrants did not start and 2 of the starters did not finish. Two of the Becontree members started, the fastest ride being by B J Taylor with 1:11:13.
Roller competition  1957 On Saturday February 9th 1957 the club promoted a Cycle Roller Racing Competition at Pettits Lane School, Romford in aid of the National Spastics Society. Seven Clubs were represented by 25 entrants, including J Adams and R Lyne from Becontree Wheelers. There were 4 events, each with prizes valued at £2 for first place, £ for second and 10 shillings (50p post decimalisation) for third.
Margaret & Tony Rayment Easter 1958 1958 - Margaret Rayment has sent photos of her and husband Tony from their time in the Becontree. These were taken on the Isle of Wight at Easter.
1958 Dinner The 1958 Annual Dinner and Presentation of Awards was held at the Cauliflower Hotel, Ilford on 21 November. Music during the evening was provided by Jay Taylor and his Band. The President and Vice President's BAR Trophy was again presented to Charlie Jepson.