Sarah
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Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 20 Apr 1898
Page 8 Column 6
TAUNTON BICYCLE CLUB SUPPER AND SMOKER.
Thursday was the day fixed for the opening of the season in connection with the Taunton Bicycle Club. A run was arranged to take place to Walford Gate, returning by way of Prior's Wood, but rain fell so mercilessly during the afternoon that cycling was out of the question in the evening, and the run had to be abandoned. The members of the Club, however, assembled in good numbers at the supper and social, which would in the ordinary course of events have followed the run, but which, under the circumstances, was the only function by which the opening of the cycling season in Taunton was celebrated. The supper, as usual, was held at the head-quarters of the Club, the George
Hotel, High-street, where Mr. J. LOCK, the genial host, provided a repast which, for the price charged, the modest shilling, could not have been surpassed by any hotel proprietor in the town, and needless to remark, every justice was done by the patrons of the wheel to the meal – for such indeed it was – set before them. The chair was occupied by the Captain, Mr. W. J. VENNER, and among those also present were Messrs. G. PLAYER (deputy-captain), H. A. RYDER (sub-captain), L. C. GREGORY (deputy-sub-captain), F. SCOTT (bugler), G. BROOKES (hon. secretary and treasurer), G. SERLE, ROBERTS, W. A. MASON, A. J. LLOYD, W. H. BELLHAM, LETHBRIDGE, W. GOLDING, W. TURNER, G. MEMBRY, R. THOMAS, CANN, J. GOULD, J. GOULD, jun., F. GOVIER, F. BRACKER, B. GOVIER, H. BROWN, OATEN, A. D. BLAND, J. SALE, TAMBLING, G. HOWE, COLLARD, H. LOVELL, L. CORNISH, &c.
After supper the toast of “The Queen and Royal Family” was heartily honoured, and Mr. G. MEMBRY then started the harmony of the evening with that old but popular smoking concert song “Beer, glorious beer.” Mr. F. BRACHER followed with a parody on “Father, dear father, come home, “ after which Mr. THOMAS appeared upon the scene with a ditty relating to his “Mother-in-law.” The Captain of the Club next gave “Where are those boys?” for which he was heartily applauded, and then that popular tenor, Mr. LETHBRIDGE, who always proves an acquisition at the Club smokers, sang with telling effect “I'll sing thee songs of Araby.” So much was his excellent rendering of the song appreciated that an encore was loudly called for to which he replied by contributing “On the banks of Allan WATER,” which was also very well received. Mr. BELLHAM followed with “After the ball,” and then
Mr. W. TURNER proposed practically the only toast of the evening, “Success to the Club.” He trusted they would be favoured with better weather than they had experienced that day for the other runs in connection with the Club. As to the toast itself very few words were necessary, for with such a captain as they possessed, and with such a secretary and other officers, there was no doubt that the Club would be a success. (Hear, hear.) He hoped, however, they would all put their shoulders to the wheel and work unanimously in making the Club the success it ought to be. (Hear, hear.) He believed in point of numbers they were stronger now than they had ever been in the annals of the Taunton Bicycle Club, and that ought to be an incentive to them to go forward and get more members. (Applause.)
The toast was received with enthusiasm.
The CAPTAIN (Mr. W. J. VENNER), in reply, said he was extremely sorry that the weather should have prevented them from having their run, as if they had only been able to turn out he believed they would have had a still larger gathering there that evening, as he himself knew of several new members who would have attended the run, but who perhaps were a little shy, and therefore had not put in an appearance at the supper. He hoped all those present would make a point of turning out to the first church parade of the season on the following Sunday, for they were on that day to pay a visit to one of their favourite churches – Norton Fitzwarren. (Applause.) The Rev. W. P. HEWETT had at all times received them well, and he was sure he would do so on the present occasion. What would please him most would be to see a record muster, and he therefore again appealed to members to make a special effort to attend the parade.
Mr. G. BROOKES, the hon. secretary, also acknowledged the toast. Speaking of the finances of the Club he said that as far as they had gone that season they were in a much better position than they had been in any previous season, and considering that they has another club in the town again this year, practically working against them, that was most gratifying to him at any rate if not to the whole of the members. (Hear, hear.) However, the fact that they had such a good financial statement to make was, he thought, not so much due to his own efforts as to those of the other members who served on the Committee and to the officers, all of whom had worked with a will for the Club. If they continued working for the Club in the same manner they would easily hold their own. He expected, judging from the way they were going on at the present time, that they would this season do much better than they had ever done before. But this was only as it should be, considering that this year they had attained their majority – this was the 21st anniversary of the formation of the Club – and if only to celebrate that event they ought to do something better than they had ever previously achieved in the history of the Club. They could not, however, do that unless they got the support of every member, and if the members would put their shoulder to the wheel he hoped, in addition to getting new members, they would be able to do something else to show the public that the Taunton Bicycle Club was really alive. Personally he could assure them he would do his best, and he trusted every member would do the same. (Hear, hear.) Numerically they were stronger now than every before, and although he had not yet received 100 subscriptions he had received more than half that number. That as compared with the membership at the same time last season was quite double. If they went on doubling their numbers as they had done during the past three or four years he did not know where they would be in the course of time. (Laughter and applause.) Prior to his taking the secretaryship of the Club the membership was about 50, but since that time it has very greatly increased. The Taunton Harriers had their sports on the previous Monday, and, as they all knew, they were greatly interfered with by the rain, in consequence of which, he was informed, they had practically decided to hold another meeting later in the year. (Applause.) If they did he hoped the members of the T.B.C. who competed in the various events would have better luck than on Monday, and that they would also do their utmost to make the spoils a success. He thanked them for coupling his name with the toast.
At the close of the speechifying Mr. H. LOVELL contributed a song, and then Mr. W. GOLDING, who cannot better be described than as the Taunton comic, made his appearance in a get up which was indeed a parody on the Scotchman. The get up, however, fitted the song splendidly, the title of which was “The Special Scotchman,” and he delighted his auditors so much that a vociferous encore was demanded. While he was changing his costume Mr. BURROW gave “The Friar of Orders Gray,” immediately after which Mr. GOLDING again occupied the attention of the company with “Gilligan's Black Cat.” Mr. SERLE having given a song, Mr. MEMBRY followed with “The Soldiers of the Queen,” which he sung in vigorous style, and for which he was deservedly applauded. “Hearts of Oak” by Mr. BROOKES and “Every Jolly Jack” by Mr. W. TURNER, the latter being very well rendered, brought on Mr. LETHBRIDGE, who contributed “Alice, where art thou?” in splendid style. Another ditty entitled “Nothing” by Mr. W. GOLDING concluded the evening's harmony, and “The health of the Hose and Hostess” and of “The Pianist,” Mr. A. MILLAR BURROW, who accompanied the songs with great ability, having been drunk with musical honours, the proceedings closed, a thoroughly enjoyable time having bee spent by all present.