Peddling through Slough. 1935-1940.

The end of a trip

It’s Sunday day of rest, only Paper shops, Churches, “Pubs” and Hospitals are open. Paper shops for the “fags.” Churches for forgiveness for last Sunday’s “punchups”, and hospitals for today’s Beer Bravado.

London cycling clubs are on the move to enjoy a relaxing 40 to 80 mile ride into the lovely countryside. Most of the clubs from this side of London head at intervals, to Langley then Slough.

Cycling past the Scrubs Prison, or the White City Dog track, through Park Royal, Perivale.Greenford, we get nearer to Langley, where we meet up with Ivy and Bill, who gave up riding bikes because they were so much older than the rest of us.

Undaunted they decided to have a bungalow built way back from the road, with the whole frontage concreted over to have tables and chairs scattered around with cyclists in mind. This soon became the rendezvous for so many cycling clubs to rest up and enjoy great company.

Lots of Sundays we came, talked and planned our destination . Ivy and Bill knew every Christian name and helped mend many a troublesome bike in trouble. Of course they loved us to buy a drink, even a piece of home made cake, not that it mattered we were family.

Langley was the beginning of all things bright and beautiful. Even today the bungalow hasn’t really changed, although it is now an estate agents opposite the Saint Francis of Assisi church. I pass it often on the bus and recall many Sundays before the war.

We had King William the 4th pub situated on the corner of the crossroads at Langley. Our club boasted a member whose uncle was a member of the Automobile Association known As the AA.

He was a motor mechanic, and he would if possible get any automobile that had stopped moving, mobile again. His workshop was a motor bike with a sidecar containing all the tools needed to get any broken down automobile, “Car” going again.

This sidecar was easily seen as it was like a private cockpit fitted to the motor bike with a single wheel for balance. It tapered back with the letters A.A in large proud letters.

So the motor bike combination became inspirational in coming to anyone’s rescue ,only if you were a member of the A,A, you then got repaired and a salute.

Sam Pavey was his name and he must have been the first mobile mechanic to boast his mobile ability. When the cycling club passed him by we all saluted him. He saluted in return and on his meal break drove to number three Blacksmith Row where he lived with his wife Ivy, she was always happy to know that the cycling club would be visiting later on.

From Langley to Slough. Such a pleasant relaxing village whose residents loked upon us as a natural part of Sunday. We all had the ability to create a feeling of being welcomed. This was our meeting place and decisions were made, what club was going where? All bikes were sent Peddling through Slough, heading for the Chalfonts, Berkhamstead, Burnham Beeches, Marlow, Datchet during the cricket season, and Runneymede.

Possibly Nothing was known about Slough by any cycling club.
But it was ours, every Sunday many Londoners could be seen admiring the wonderful countryside all around, and thanking Slough for being our village of so many happy memories .

So we peddled through Slough without noticing so many great places of historical interest. But Slough gave cycling clubs peace and contentment. John Betjeman take note.