Christmas Cards
2003 - Harry Aspden
This
year’s card is in memory of Harry Aspden
1911 to 2003
Author, Timekeeper, Photographer, Event Organiser, Coach, Lifetime Clarion
Member and Representative and Hill Special owner - seen riding a war time
all chrome example.
Harry was riding his Hill Specials until shortly before his death and his
daughter is still using one of his Dennis Hill built frames.
This
year’s card is of Ken Hartley of Blackburn and District CTC.
Ken is seen at Peninsular Barracks - Warrington - in 1953 in the Ceremonial
Dress Uniform of the South Lancashire Regiment.
During his National Service Ken raced for the Western Command team of the
Army Cycling Union. He is, of course, guarding his precious Hill Special.
Whilst not riding quite as fast as during his days with Blackburn Eagles,
Ken continues to wield a mean brazing torch and has (using various donated
and damaged frames) produced track bikes for local youngsters to ride at the
Velodrome and small sized touring frames for the younger members of the Section
to use.
2005 - Margaret I'Anson
Miniature
Masterpiece
This year’s card shows Margaret I’Anson of Audenshaw with her 19”
Hill Special, proving that Adam could build an excellent frame in miniature.
For those of you whose card is in black and white the frame is finished in
shocking pink! The bike has served Margaret in many ways, as a time trial
bike, for club runs, for touring, and more recently for shopping. The bike
has also seen service for Her Majesty during Margaret’s time in the forces.
Margaret has recently swapped this road bike for a more comfortable mountain
bike and Bernard White of Wigan has undertaken to preserve this miniature
masterpiece.
2006 - Billy Hill
This year's card shows Billy Hill, who will be remembered by many Lancashire cyclists as the inventor of the Trivelox gear, beloved by tandemists as the chain line remained central, thus giving a very positive drive. By coincidence, as he was no relation, Billy was employed by Adam Hill as a framebuilder at Padiham from the late forties until the Clarion Cycle Works closed. This rare photo of Billy on a solo (he would normally be on one of his tandems with wife Nellie) shows him leaving the Clarion House at Roughlee on Pendle Hill. The Clarion Cycle Club organised a run to the Clarion House this year for all the Lancashire sections. Thanks to a fine day, a good time was had by all and old friendships renewed.