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ChrisKENT

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ChrisKENT last won the day on August 12 2020

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  1. I understand & have no reason to doubt the information received from Mr EDWARDS via Mick KOWALL (who also lives in the Philippines) & his (Mick’s wife/widow) that the legend that was “EDGIE” passed this mortal coil today; albeit may have been yesterday!🙏🙏🙏 He was a “ ONE -OFF” for sure who was very kind to Christine & I in our early married life! R.I.P. MICK…. gone but never forgotten🙏👍👏👏
  2. Such sad news indeed, Mike was a thoroughly nice guy whom I always enjoyed having a catch up with usually at our annual gathering or other club events! Mike & Val were notable absentees from our recent getogether. He will be greatly missed, Val & family are very much in my thoughts & prayers
  3. Many happy returns of the day BARRY + hoping that you & yours are all safe and well🙏👏👏👏👏👍🐶
  4. Awesome & many thanks for the pictures Chris👏👏👏👏👏👍🐶🙏
  5. Yes one & all we’re leaving the Bromsgrove Premier Inn @ 11•30 with me leading & heading out to C.C. via Bournheath. I believe that Messrs PATSTON, BRADSHAW, BAYLISS, LeGRYS, Jed the BELGIAN & other Old Stars are hoping to join us plus of course the winner of 2 Birmingham World Overflow RR’s & Shrewsbury’s finest John EDWARDS (ably assisted by Bafang Power)
  6. Well done one & all + miss your company, interaction with you & the wind in my hair (the little I have)! However I have done yet another turbo session as corroborated by the attached images! Have now lost •5 stone👍🐶
  7. Many happy returns of the day Polly, Ed & Yvonne + hoping that you & yours are all safe and well 🙏👏👏👏👏👏🐶
  8. What a loss to humanity & most importantly his family David’s passing represents! Unfortunately I only got to know him in the more recent years following the resurrection of the Club & monthly meetings by Ivor, Chris & Eddy! His racing years were long before mine. It soon became apparent that he & Judith were a significant building-blocks of the Club’s very foundations. The welcome that was afforded the membership by the annual or bi-annual opening of the Jones’s family home over a number of years was kindness personified. David’s knowledge of club events & the good Old days was second to none. A Gentleman par excellence without doubt whom I never heard speak ill of anyone. Another elder statesmen of the Saracen has so suddenly left the Club’s ranks & his family with an unfilled void.
  9. Very well done one & all + Moira for the comprehensive report & pictures👏👏👏👏 Its a ten from Len!
  10. But he, McClure doesn’t have an authentic Saracen jersey just his own home-grown variation masquerading as one!😩😩😩😩 However the correct colours stretched over a particularly short, rotund structure would be a possible giveaway🤗🤣👏👏👏
  11. Dear ALL with regards to the aforementioned I‘m aware of some members contemplating a run of sorts culminating in attendance @ the SWAN P.H.CC. I only wish to offer an alternative due to my lack of mileage & the need to be there early (as close to 12•00hrs as possible). + Some proper greasy-spoon fried food in lieu of our normal fry-up. Therefore can I please suggest a 10•00hrs sharp meeting @ Broadacres Fishery (Ditchford Bank Road) for a cuppa, sandwich or more, followed by a leisurely ride to Chaddesley Corbett.
  12. My clothing consisted in the main of old football & rugby kit supplemented with knitted wooden jumpers. I think football socks over jeans completed the outfit! I cannot remember the destination (other than out in the Banbury direction) or indeed any details of a stop for food & drink but I do remember vividly being dropped again between Warwick & Knowle on the old Warwick Road. Dave came to the rescue not for first time, waiting for & encouraging me to keep going until we could find somewhere open in order to replenish in the inner man, who for a number of miles had been sending emergency signals to my grey matter to get some grub down-here! We came upon “the cat in the window” Café’/ hostelry, where with his assistance, as I don’t remember having sufficient if any funds to my name, I filled my boots 🥾 South Birmingham & home was still distant but David ignored my pleas to “leave me, leave me” until he’d shepherded me to a location that I recognised! This wasn’t a “one-off” & on further occasions when I’d struggled David selflessly came to my assistance without hesitation! I progressed from school to work & racing which included Wednesday evenings @ Salford Park track league in Aston. David was a regular competitor there & source of encouragement to my continued efforts. Work commitments later caused his relocation to Chandlers Ford, Hants & the end of racing years after joining WM Police & marriage to Christine in 79. We became good friends of David & Beryl whom he had met & married in the late 70’s/early 80’s. Such was the kindness & generosity extended towards us that for a number of years throughout the 80’s that we would stay with them over extended bank-holiday weekends on numerous occasions. He had continued to compete in “the race of truth” but if not racing we would enjoy social cycling outings, sometimes with a number of his new cycling pals including the relocated Tim CRUMPTON. In the early to mid 80’s David organised annual group cycling trips to Majorca for the benefit of others & as any organiser will know often with scant thanks but the endemic moans & groans. I became the midland link for these trips which I believe extended over the thick-end of 10yrs, usually with a change of resort & venue most years. B’ham RCC, Saracen RC & Solihull CC members were regular participants with such characters as:- Tommy GODWIN, Paul & Peter CARBUTT, Bob JONES, Alan LLOYD, BOB THOM, Roy MEDDINGS, Harry REYNOLDS, Nick SELIBAS, Mick WRIGHT & Richard TODD with the Hampshire contingent including Dave CARTER, Ray PALIN & Colin CHRISTIE to name but a few! I seem to remember that on one occasion that we were 39 in total, no mean feat to organise for as I’m sure many of you will appreciate! An individual time-trial also organised by David was a regular feature. David put himself out & no doubt incurred significant stress on an annual basis for THE BENEFIT & ENJOYMENT OF OTHERS, such was the mark of the man! In conclusion he continued to race till as recently as 18mths ago, working hard & giving of his best despite failing health! Distance, location & circumstances have precluded regular contact in recent times; something I will always regret & wish I could have given support to David & Beryl in their time of need. It was only in March last year that he finally received a definitive diagnosis & began a series of chemotherapy sessions, which he would update us of over the following months! HE NEVER MOANED, GROANED or COMPLAINED OF EITHER HIS ILLNESS OR TREATMENT DESPITE THE ULTIMATE PROGNOSIS OF WHICH HE & BERYL WERE WELL AWARE OF! So that’s it he bore his illness, suffering & inevitable mortality with DIGNITY aided by his belief , character but principally BERYL HIS “ROCK” WHO WAS WITHOUT DOUBT THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED IN HIS LIFE!🙏 I miss him dearly as a very special friend whom I was privileged to have known & will never forget! GOD BLESS DAVID HANBURY🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏👍
  13. Well where & how does one begin to relate an account of such a thoroughly good, decent, genuine & generous person I was privileged to have known: the beginning I can hear you all already muttering under your breath fearing a KENT style rant or diatribe rivalling War Peace:- So it’s circa 68/69 yours truly has met up with a large group of cyclists on a Sunday morning at the Maypole pub car-park, one of the many long gone land-marks in the Birmingham suburbs. It’s Autumn/Winter time & there’s a variety of local clubs represented (the B’ham RCC, Solihull CC, MC& AC)across the whole spectrum of talent & ability. I’m on my trusty Sun massed-start, 5 speed sports bike with bolt-on 26”x 1 3/8” wheels & tyres. It was my only steed & I thought it was the DOG’s B xxxxxxx S, albeit still being paid for 10/- a week in cash to Mr NASH @ Cotteridge Cycles. TO BE CONTINUED WHEN I’VE WALKED CHARLIE.🤔🐶
  14. Many Happy Returns of the Day Chris + Hoping that You & Yours are all safe and well in these challenging & difficult times!🙏👏👏👏👏🐶
  15. In addition to the above having just had a telephone conversation with AL who actually visited him this morning it seems that Grant was not able to communicate anymore & that his passing was a welcome release. AL was concerned as to whether he had actually passed during his visit! Very sad news indeed regarding an individual whom I never heard speak I’ll of anyone!🙏🙏
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