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AROUND THE GROUPS

EAST ANGLIAN "This past year for us has not been a very happy
Mary Horsnell's musings one. last summer I was still learning to walk again
after the terrible road traffic accident I had in late
The start of the year is well behind, likewise the
start of the competitive season, but first to deal with September. Even now I am still attending the
matters arising........ hospital for physiotherapy for my pelvis, left leg and
dislocated shoulder. When this is completed the
Eric Angell, once a top man in Essex and still a solicitor will then proceed with stage two of the
willing helper at events, took the trouble to sit down claim against the driver who took me off on a busy
and write to me on Christmas Eve, as follows: roundabout. Luckily my solicitor was driving the car
"I was inspired by your 'gloomy, wet power struggle behind the one which hit me, so I could not have a
' in the 1967 National/ECCA '12' [Veteran better witness.
December], so I dug out my well-scribbled-on September brought the tail end of hurricane Dana
(schedule calculations start/result sheet. It makes from America, we had no warning of how bad it
for some great misty-eyed reading of days well past, would be. Our basement just filled up, with water
eh? So many names now lost to us, including coming in from under the floor tiles and walls. It
organiser Alan Osborne. The beautifully hand- took us 2 weeks to physically recover from our
drawn course map is a work of art, and the feeding efforts drying the rooms out, only to get a second
arrangements probably don't meet modern dose of the same. We need to have our
nutritional requirements! foundations strengthened and enlarged, with
Those were the days when we could - within reason drainage to match, and are waiting for the
- ride or race on any road before God Car took over. government to send us their contribution towards
the €6,500 that has to be spent to repair the
My old adversary Roger Stokoe claimed a well damage. This is covered by the insurance
earned fourth. A couple of months before this we companies having to 'donate' a percentage of the
had a ding-dong battle in the Counties '100' (the last money we give them for house insurance."
one to be held on the E1), where he beat me to the
win by 3 seconds! Modestly, I must add that a Lorna has a special birthday to celebrate in 2020,
certain 18 year old - fresh from his win in the which we hope will be a happier year for them.
Goodmayes '100' - managed fifth place. Another record holding lady, nonagenarian Connie
I am now confined to an electric bike after surviving Tapper, sends a message to those entering this
major surgery." category, "Life need not end at 90!" She still rides
her bike in suitable weather and, of course, the
Unfortunately Roger (Stokoe) has also suffered inevitable turbo trainer.
serious health problems, but reports "Now on the
turbo". We wish them both well. Moving a step down, the list of riders over 80 makes
interesting reading, but where are those ladies,
Many famous names have become converts to the whose names graced result sheets for so long?
once despised e-bikes, the latest being Mick They are now only to be found among the officials
Pepper. It has given him a new lease of life, after and organisers, which is still great credit to them.
his many escapades.
Have they, perhaps, become discouraged by the
Lorna and Tony Hanlon in sunny southern Spain phenomenal times being recorded by the younger
were full of praise for their e-bikes and still riding women?
with a group of ex-pats, when disaster struck. This It's a different world, and to read about times past
from their Christmas letter:
Martin Purser's recent book 'The Life and Times of

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