Brian Alexander – multiple times former club champion and now Westerley’s oldest living member – writes about some notable riders

The third outstanding Westerley member of the past to be recalled is the late great Freddy.Burrell who, together with a motley collection of other “medically unfit for military service” or in reserved occupations ensured that the Westerley’s racing activities  continued throughout the war years. As a result members in the services still had a full club racing programme to return to after the war, unlike those of many other local  clubs.

It was at this time that I was riding with the West Midds CTC section when these Westerley lads were very active on all  club runs.  The runs were consequently unusually competitive for a CTC section with numerous “tear ups” and all hill summits and destination signs contested.  It was here that Freddy on his  immaculate blue F.H.Scotts (He had two identical examples, one configured as a track iron)  made such a great impression, and became a role model.. His descending skills, regarded as crazy by the more responsible senior members  demonstrated magnificent bike handling skills with which I was deeply impressed and which greatly influenced my preoccupation with descending techniques in later life. I later learned that these skills were learnt in earlier track racing experience at the highly popular  (but now sadly long extinct) Paddington rec..cycle track. (which would now be known as a velodrome  of course.)

When I joined he Westerley as a junior three years later Fred was still very much the man to beat, winning the club championship 4 years in succession from 1942-46.  However  a recurring back problem seemed to prevent him from achieving his true potential at the longer distances. When Albie Griffiths and Jim Whythe joined the club in 1947 we had ambitions of the team award in the BBAR competition, but although Albie achieved a memorable 6th place  Fred’s back problems prevented him from completing the team. Even so Fred continued to compete regularly in club events in the early fifties. 

 After Albie and Jimmy moved on however  the club atmosphere changed somewhat as a younger generation came on the scene.. Fred decided that it was  time for a change, feeling more at home with the mates of his own generation in the Middlesex Road Club. The general opinion at the time was that  it was because the  Middlesex was a mixed club and that Jean Kelly,( who he later married) was the main attraction,  However as I think Jean was actually in the Yiewsley R.C. at the time, I think this is very much open to doubt.  Even so I suspect  that the decision by the Westerley to open its ranks to the fair sex very soon afterwards  suggests that it was largely influenced by Freds resignation.

In later years, under the guidance  of the Middlesex long distance specialists such as “Arch” Harding and,Dick Poole and having obviously conquered his early back problems, Fred finally realised his true potential  In a series of outstanding performances in the RTTC National Championship “24”, becoming National Champion at the distance twice and  quite incredibly  with the exact same distance covered each time of 477.70 miles!

Although these rides were in the name of the Middlesex Road Club. Fred was definitely a home grown  product of the Westerley, a much respected stalwart  of the wartime and early post war years.  Regrettably there can be few people still alive who will remember him, Which is why I felt the need to tell his story.

 Fred was modest and unassuming with a dry sense of humour and could always be relied on to  defend the underdog in any  argument especially if they were not present. He was a great character with never a bad word for anybody, Truly a splendid role model.