2023 is the centenary year of Southend Wheelers Cycling Club. This is a notice that appeared in the Southend Standard in 1923:

TO CYCLISTS

Next Sunday May 13th, there will be an

Invitation run to Epping Forest. All riders 

welcome. Start Victoria Avenue 8 am. So

muster up and see if we can’t get a club in

Southend. Full particulars A. Holmes 50,

Inverness Avenue, Westcliff

(They didn't make it to Epping Forest!) We are planning to replicate the "ride that never was"  on  21st May 2023, and make it to Epping Forest this time, 100 years later! See paragraph below.

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Saturday 13th May Photo exhibition ‘Cycling on Sea’ Launch 

As we move in our 2nd Century, we wanted to use the opportunity to engage with the mayors of Southend City Council and Castle Point Council, the Chairman of Rochford Council, the borough’s MPs, and the press and media.  

The aim is to raise our profile and become instrumental in the plans for the transport policy for Southend City and the cycle network.   

The committee will be at Café Twenty-One Westcliff Esplanade SS1 2EH on Saturday 13th May 2023 at 3:00pm to meet and greet the dignitaries and view the 100 years of cycling on sea photo exhibition, which opens on 2nd May.  

We are also inviting cyclists who raced on Western Esplanade and Marine Parade in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and the 00’s and 20’s. 

Displayed on the walls of the café is the 100 years of Cycling on Sea photo exhibition which will run for the whole month in Café Twenty-One.  The pictures will focus on cycling events that have used Western Esplanade and Marine Parade, as they have been the greatest cycling events in the borough, culminating in the visit of a World tour race in 2021!  

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Sunday 14th May - For current ride members and ex-members and social members.  

Club runs will start at CaféTwentyOne so members can see the pictures in the exhibition.  This is a chance to ride your bike with current and former members from 9:00am. The clubs runs will finish at Red Brick Barn, Shopland Road, Rochford SS41LH between 11:00-14:00 hrs where tea and cake will be served. Or if you are not riding just pop along and enjoy the catering. So we can get an idea of numbers  

please advise social@southendwheelers.org if you are attending at Red Brick Barn.

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Sunday 21st May “The ride that never was” 

A club run is planned to replicate the ride that Wheelers founder Arthur Holmes planned 100 years ago, but this time getting to Epping Forest as advertised, rather than just Hockley Woods!  We have identified the exact spot where the first club run departed from in 1923. So "muster up"  at "Vic Circus" for the start  where Tommy Heath’s bike shop was, adjacent to Odeon cinema Southend SS1 1TJ at 9:00hrs. The destination is the Kings Oak Cafe, High Beech, Epping IG10 4AE. It’s a 70-mile ride there and back, so suitable for orange and red groups. Green and blue groups may create enough interest in a one-way option, with transport back. 

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Check our events listing for other Centenary events. There will also be a Centenary Buffet and Reunion on Sunday 19th November at Saxon Hall, Aviation Way, Southend SS2 6UN from 1:00pm.