Worcester
St Johns CC
ROY LEWIS
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Roy Lewis was born in Cardington Bedfordshire in 1921, where his father was employed building Airships after the Great War. One year later Roy's family returned to Worcestershire where his family originate.
Roy's father, Frank Lewis, had been a member of the Worcester St Johns Cycling Club before the first war, joining in 1912. He was a close friend and training partner of the Olympic Champion Earnest Payne and regularly rode the same races. In April 1914 the Frank rode from Worcester to Kidderminster to compete in a track meeting where he won the ten-mile handicap event.
When Frank collected his prize he was amazed to receive a “Viennese case” Clock. It weighed about 10 pounds, was 3 feet tall with glass sides and a pendulum. Frank found some string, tied the clock on his back and rode back to Worcester. The clock now hangs in Roy's home.
Roy first took to the road on a tandem with his Father when only a small boy. They would ride out with Earnest Payne and the other St Johns members on Thursday evenings and Sundays covering distances which today would seem foolish.
Like many boys of the era Roy played team sports like football and rugby, but he didn't like cricket so in the summer he and his friends went off on their bikes to see the country around Worcestershire. Later these trips were extended by joining the YHA. In 1939 Roy was cycle-touring in Cornwall and sitting on the beach at Penzance when War was declared.
When Roy decided to join a cycling club in 1938 picking the Worcester St Johns was an easy decision. He met Charlie Greig who had been club champion in 1935 and 1936 and established a life long friendship. Roy was immediately a success in the club. Roy rode Club and Midland time trials and was the Club Handicap Champion in 1939, his four prizes (2 1st and 2 3rd places) added up to £1.10.0, about £150 at today's values. He occasionally rode grass track races but didn't really like these events.
27th August 1939 is important in Cycling History as being the day the first sub one-hour 25-mile time trial was ridden by George Fleming. For Roy the date is important as being the first time he rode a 12 hour event, Roy was just 18 years old. Despite falling off his bike a one point and laying unconscious for half an hour he still recorded a distance of 190 miles 2 furlongs. Alf Watton set a new St Johns club record of 198 miles while the event was won by Percy Nash the then National Champion with a distance of about 210 miles.
Roy continued to race until 1941 but eventually the war put an end to his racing career. After the war Roy and Charlie continued to ride social events with the St Johns but no longer raced. Roy was married to Marjorie in 1944 and tried to interest his wife in cycling. On their first ride there was a rising head wind on the way home which made the ride much longer and harder than expected and Marjorie was put off touring.
Roy was elected an honorary member of the Worcester St Johns CC in 1987 and attended the clubs Centenary dinner in 1988 along with five other pre-war club champions.