THE MADE IN BIRMINGHAM NEWSLETTER IS BACK!
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| Hercules- By the 30s the largest cycle manufacturers in the world |
2010 - CELEBRATING THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF HERCULES CYCLES
Dont miis the Hercules 100 at Rocky Lane, Aston, Sunday August 1st 2010
TOMMY GODWIN - A True Birmingham Champion
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| Tommy Godwin with his Olympic Medals |
The amazing 90 year old Tommy Godwin started his working life as delivery boy at Wrensons but soon found he was the fastest delivery boy in Birmingham! Working as a an electrician at the BSA cycle racing became his life and he went on to become a double Olympic bronze medalist in the 1948 Games in London and also British national sprint champion.
Tommy also ran his own cycle shop in Birmingham for 36 years and found time to start a cycling club and be national cycle coach. Tommy coached many hopefuls including Graham Webb so why hasn't this man got an MBE? I should add you wont find Tommy on the web telling people how marvellous he is either!
Click for link page for Tommy's shop
Tommy is now an Ambassador for Birmingham to the 2012 Olympic Games and is trying to persuade the Chinese Team to base themselves here.
His book "It Wasn't That Easy" tells of his life as an exceptional competitor in the days of amateur sport, and of his principal competition in the form of that other great cyclist of the era, Reg Harris. The book also encompasses the personal aspects of Tommy's life working as an electrician for BSA to support his wife Eileen and their family, and his relationship with his father Charlie, who was Tommy's manager and coach. The book gives insight into life in the middle of the 20th Century as well as the thrills of bike racing. "It Wasn't That Easy" is published by the John Pinkerton Memorial Fund.
YOU CAN MEET TOMMY AT THE HERCULES 100 EVENT AT ROCKY LANE ON AUGUST 1st 2010 - 9.00 am- Everyone is welcome, in any vehicle classic or modern.
Please support this event.
After meeting at 9.00 am a procession of classic vehicles, including cycles, cars, motorcycles and lorries will proceed to The Trimpley Vintage Rally near Kidderminster where over 450 classic vehicles are entered.
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| Ron Swinburnes Austin K9 will be at Hercules! |
Both Sir Edmund's Cranes grandchildren will be at this event together with ex- Hercules employees. The event is also the starting point for this years BIRMINGHAM TESTERS RUN-dont miss it
Listen to Carl Chinn this Sunday!
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| The Birmingham Testers Run-Birmingham's largest classic motorcycle run (Pic Simon West) |
RIP TREVOR BULL- ANOTHER BIRMINGHAM CYCLE CHAMPION
We are very sorry to hear of the death of the professional racing cyclist Trevor Bull, age 64, who was born in Sutton Coldfield and spent his life in Birmingham, latterly chief cycle mechanic at the Harbourne Cycle Clinic.
Trevor represented GB at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and is remembered by many as the man sprinting legend Reg Harris beat to win the national sprint title at Leicester in 1974 although it was well known that Trevor back pedaled to allow Harris to win! The following year Trevor was not so charitable and beat Harris to become national sprint champion. Trevor also raced professionally on the road, riding for both Dawes and Carlton.
We are very sorry to hear of the death of the professional racing cyclist Trevor Bull, age 64, who was born in Sutton Coldfield and spent his life in Birmingham, latterly chief cycle mechanic at the Harbourne Cycle Clinic.
Trevor represented GB at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and is remembered by many as the man sprinting legend Reg Harris beat to win the national sprint title at Leicester in 1974 although it was well known that Trevor back pedaled to allow Harris to win! The following year Trevor was not so charitable and beat Harris to become national sprint champion. Trevor also raced professionally on the road, riding for both Dawes and Carlton.
Trevor Bull (right) and Reg Harris
NIGEL ROLLASON, ANOTHER OVERLOOKED BIRMINGHAM CHAMPION
Here is another guy who doesn't need to constantly remind you of his status, Walmley's Nigel Rollason is the only man to have won a TT on two wheels and three!
Take a look at this, those walls come mighty close to your head!
Isle of Man TT 1986 Sidecar B Race
Here is another guy who doesn't need to constantly remind you of his status, Walmley's Nigel Rollason is the only man to have won a TT on two wheels and three!
Take a look at this, those walls come mighty close to your head!
Isle of Man TT 1986 Sidecar B Race
THE MADE IN BIRMINGHAM WEBSITE
As most of you will know the MIB website has not been edited since July last year due to a combination of factors but mainly due to the awful service provided by the web hosts (Streamline).
As I write however the engineers are working on the problem (2 days now). The new pages are ready and we expect them to be uploaded within the next month.
Click here for the Made in Birmingham Website
WRENSONS the grocersI have received some very interesting information from Ian Leggett who used to work at Wrenson's the grocers. Wrenson's were widely known in Birmingham, starting business in 1909 and surviving the rise of the supermarkets until the 70s.
Click here for Ians post - This is the sort of information we need to publish a webpage.
CAN YOU SUGGEST A COMPANY FOR A WEB PAGE?
If you have a small amount of information about any Birmingham company and if, like Ian, you could take the time and trouble to put some text together about any Birmingham company from a corner shop to a PLC we would be glad to give you a webpage credited to yourself. Can I also ask those of you who have promised to send information to us to do so-don;t leave it so I need to contact a medium!
LINKS OF INTEREST
HISTORY OF HARBOURNE
Excellent website with comprehensive history
Click here
Harbourne Railway-Birmingham's forgotten branch line
Click here for link
RJ Mitchell - The Spitfire designer
Click here for link page
HUNTLY and PALMERS
Of course this company wasn't directly connected with Birmingham but its products were! I have chosen this companies website to illustrate how a town or city should showcase its industrial history .JUST LOOK AT THIS!Odeon Cinemas were connected with Wrensons-anyone know why?
Has anyone a picture of Wrensons Acocks Green?
Meanwhile see this article about the sad demise of Odeon Cinemas
Click here for article
RIP GIL MERRICK -- Birmingham City & England
Gil Merrick the England and Birmingham City Goalkeeper died earlier this year.
This is the sort of real Birmingham star who should have appeared on the Broad Street walk of stars, not some of the 'pseudo stars' who are honoured.
Merrick was remarkable for the fact that for much of his career as a professional footballer he had a full-time job: from 1951 to 1960 he was also the sports master at Greenmore College, a private secondary school in Birmingham on the corner of Priory Road and Bristol Road, Edgbaston. The arrangement with the club was that he need appear for only one day’s training a week — the one concerned with tactics; his job at the school ensured that his fitness was never in question.
GRAHAM WEBB
Belgium Racing Cyclist Graham Webb Finally Gets Recognition!
Graham Webb, the Birmingham born cyclist, who moved to Belgium in the 60s, has finally got some recognition in England, ironically in Manchester!
Graham seems to have been on every Birmingham forum over the last few years and briefly came back to ours, after a years absence, to promote himself with his picture and award.
AIRLINER CRASHES NEAR BIRMINGHAM
Yes those were the headlines in the 50s but only one person was injured in this miraculous escape when an Aer Lingus DC3 ran out of fuel while approaching Birmingham!
Details at Airliner Crashes
LINKS OF INTEREST
HISTORY OF HARBOURNE
Excellent website with comprehensive history
Click here
Harbourne Railway-Birmingham's forgotten branch line
Click here for link
RJ Mitchell - The Spitfire designer
Click here for link page
Yes those were the headlines in the 50s but only one person was injured in this miraculous escape when an Aer Lingus DC3 ran out of fuel while approaching Birmingham!
Details at Airliner Crashes
LINKS OF INTEREST
HISTORY OF HARBOURNE
Excellent website with comprehensive history
Click here
Harbourne Railway-Birmingham's forgotten branch line
Click here for link
RJ Mitchell - The Spitfire designer
Click here for link page
HUNTLY and PALMERS
Of course this company wasn't directly connected with Birmingham but its products were! I have chosen this companies website to illustrate how a town or city should showcase its industrial history .JUST LOOK AT THIS! |
| Stiff Upper Lip Chaps! Got any comment to make-contact us at www.madeinbirmingham.org/contact.htm |
