Sunday 1 June 2014

Clarion at the Sky Ride

Clarion at the Sky Ride

1 June 2014 at 17:00
We had an invitation (Bolton clarion) to attend the Sky ride and offered a gazebo to represent the club. Peter, on our behalf accepted, after all we were also offered early breakfast in the Mayor's hospitality suite.
After putting out feelers four or five members took up the offer, four definites being Dave Bisset, Peter Moore, John Shaw and myself.
On the Sunday morning I arrived early on Victoria square, soon to be followed by Dave and Peter. I made enquiries after where we should be, and what the arrangements for the gazebo were, as usual with these things information was a little scant. What we did know was we would be stationed in Queen's Park so off we went. I was loaded down with stuff for the display and my sturdy cast iron shopping bike stood the overload quite well.
After setting up the display, which was beautifully set off with our huge Bolton clarion banner brought by Peter, we began to plan our trip back to the town hall for the Mayoral breakfast, one member was missing however, John Shaw was nowhere to be seen.
Dave volunteered to man the display as Peter and I returned to the town hall, riding along streets closed to traffic was indeed a pleasure.
Before entering the breakfast suite we had another look round for John, still he was nowhere to be seen, so in we went.
The deputy Mayor was there to greet the guests and was genuinely pleased that the oldest cycling club in Bolton  were represented. It turned out he was the same age as Peter and myself, seventy six, but due to the ravages of a political life it has to be said he looked a lot older than us.    
Seated in the room were the guests of honour, Jason Kenny and Laura Trott and from their table came an occasional loud bark, their two dogs were out of sight under the table.
Peter and I had an interesting chat with our Olympic champs along with Jason's parents, Jason's dad was particularly interested in our club. The Deputy Mayor gave a welcome speech and honoured Peter and my self with a mention of how well we looked and how we were proof that cycling is indeed good for you. 
After the bacon and coffee we made our way back to Queens park, again on traffic free roads, arriving back to find John Shaw had still not appeared. This was odd really as he had intended to be in Bolton early, we were soon to find out why he was late. Peter's mobile rang, it was John, completely lost somewhere in Bolton. Instructions were given as to our location but still no John. Again a call to Peter, he was now in Victoria square but still could not find us, eventually he did.
As John arrived we were having our second encounter with Jason Kenny, again showing interest in our club and display. It seems John had taken a detour to get here, via Belmont!
The day was as nice a day as you could wish for an outdoor event which was great for the kids on bikes, warm and sunny, what a great day for them.
At mid day it was Dave's turn for the hospitality of the Deputy Mayor, a mid day lunch was being laid on, again for invited guests, and off he went.
Dave arrived back with a rueful tale of walking the corridors of the town hall looking for the lunch only to find locked doors and an equally bemused Jason Kenny and Laura Trott also trying locked doors. Dave eventually returned with sausage rolls from the 'One Pound Bakery' shop, I wonder if Jason and Laura also went to the One Pound Bakery shop!
Dave Owen called in to give us moral support, followed later by Nick Hockenhull, Carl Bolton and Clive Bryan.
An interesting day and a good one for the kids, had it been good for the clarion, well I'd like to think so, atfer all we had managed to impress the Deputy Mayor and a couple of world champions.