|
||||
You are here - NewsandEvents / Al;bert Hopkins |
||||
Funeral DetailsTo be held on Thursday 9th December, 10.30am at Leyland Road Methodist Church, followed by 11.30 at the Crematorium. Tea being served afterwards back at the Church. Details in Fridays Visitor. There will be a wreath on behalf of Southport CC Albert Hopkins - 1st February 1920 - 26th November 2010Southport Cycling Club is sad to report the passing of Albert Hopkins aged 90 years, our oldest member. Albert was born in Shaw, Oldham, on the 1st Febuary 1920. Having started cycling in Shaw, Albert joined the Southport Road Club in 1936 when he moved to the town after leaving school. Albert was soon into racing and entered his first ‘25’ in 1937 recording a time of 1 hr 10 mins 10 secs and winning the first handicap award. Albert retained many of the medals he won during his racing days.
The start of the war in 1939 coincided with Albert's marriage to Eunice . Called up almost immediately war was declared, Albert was not to return home for the next three years, seeing active service in Sicily, Italy, Egypt, Palestine and several other countries. During service he became a machine gun instructor, training many troops. The war was a hard time for Albert, and he saw many of his friends killed. A devout Christian, Albert was a lay preacher and Sunday School teacher for the next forty years. Albert and Eunice were also caretakers at Leyland Road Methodist church for many years. After the war Albert, who was a fearsome competitor, loved to race at the Bootle track where he was always determined to win. On one occasion Albert with Bob Bird as stoker, attempted the club record for riding Southport to Blackpool and back. The handlebars came loose in Longton village on the way back and a crash resulted and the record was gone. In 1951 an overnight cycle ride to London to see the Festival of Britain was a big trip for Albert and club members. Arriving in London they fell asleep in a park, were too late to enter the festival that day and had to ride back next day so as to be ready for work on Monday. Work for Albert was window cleaning and for many years he kept Lord Street shop windows clean.
In later years a Tuesday ride to Lydiate and the Dover Fellowship was one of his favourite days out, where he could swap cycling tales with some of his old rivals. He was a chairman of the group for a number of years. When in his late 80s’ he still came to our club meetings on a Monday night for an hour or two with the lads and was always talking ‘cycling’. In later years he rode with his neighbour and friend Doug Malpus, often doing 60 to 70 mile rides. He was made a life member of the club in 2003. KB
Albert at the 75th Anniversary DinnerPosted 28/11/2010 |
||||
Website Designed by Taylored Web Solutions |
||||
