SE LONDON JOURNAL
Born in 1932, Wally has been cycling at Herne Hill Velodrome since the age of fifteen, and still does to this day. Equipped with an endless bounty of knowledge and memories, Wally transported us through the vibrant decades of the fourties and fifties at the club. Part of the Norwood Paragon CC, infamously regarded as the toughest all-male cycling club in South London, he won the ‘Most Improved Track Rider’ trophy in his first year. Among many others, he also won the twenty-five miles Tandem Paced Championship at Herne Hill Velodrome in 1953 to crowds of thousands. The next year however, he was enlisted in the RAF and stationed at Compton Bassett. Defiant to defend his title, he crept under the wire at camp, hitchhiked to Hammersmith, got a train to South Kensington where he lived at the time, grabbed his bike and cycled to Herne Hill, jumped on his track bike from the club cabin and came third in the race – only to hitchhike back to camp through the night. Other anecdotes include the coincidental trend in names of his contemporary riders: Ken Joy, Joe Merry, Brian Jolly and Jack Gay to name a few. After a couple of decades in the army – where he was, of course, captain of the road and track racing teams – and a stint in Normandy, he is now an active member of Velo Club de Londres, and often campaigns to keep Herne Hill Track in use for cyclists of all persuasions. Vehement campaigning is something that, unfortunately, many of the riders have had to take part in for the sake of Herne Hill Velodrome. In 2003, after again, falling into a state of disrepair, the gates were closed and the future looked uncertain. VC Londres and British Cycling secured a series of short leases from landowner Dulwich Estates, which helped grapple some control, but after the old wooden pavilion was declared unsafe and the lease drew to a close, something bigger was required. In 2011, the Herne Hill Velodrome Trust was established, and with the Save The Velodrome campaign at full speed, the club was gaining national press and highprofile support. Launched by local residents, parents of young riders and the established cycling community, the campaign garnered the attention of local MP Tessa Jowell and Olympic boss Lord Coe, helping the trust raise over £40,000 and enabled them to confidently negotiate with Dulwich Estate. With
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momentum now accelerating and a new lease secured, British Cycling was able to finance a resurface. Southwark’s Olympic Legacy program then followed, and in 2013, further improvements were made including a new junior track, multi-use gaming area and floodlighting allowing for use during the winter months. The successstory doesn’t slow there; stage three of the regeneration is now under way, with plans for the brand new pavilion now submitted and waiting for approval, thanks to funding from Sport England and London Marathon Trust. Herne Hill Velodrome Trust is also an official charity of the London Cycle Sportive, which takes place on Sunday May 10th. The ride will begin in the picturesque Dulwich Park, where two thousand cyclists will follow the route all the way out to the Surrey Hills and finishing with a victory lap at Herne Hill Velodrome. For other events, HHV have recently announced their energetic Summer Schedule, which includes general track training for a whole host of different ages, levels and riding styles, as well as an inclusive calendar of events running until October. Head over to their website for the full program and details about how to get involved. hernehillvelodrome.com