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A CONDENSED CLUB HISTORY In February 1895, a group of cyclists met at the ‘Royal Mortar’ in Military Road, Colchester, the occasion being the fifth annual smoking concert of the Colchester Rovers Cycling Club. From this, it can be reasonably assumed that the Rovers have been part of Colchester’s sporting scene for the past 100 years. It is almost certain that the name Rovers has little to do with roving the highways. In 1885 James Stanley introduced the then revolutionary Rover safety cycle and it is thought that riders of this machine broke away from the Colchester Cycling Club, most of whom were riding the high wheeled ‘Ordinary’ or ‘Penny Farthing’. It was the Colchester Rovers that survived the break. Records show that from the earliest days the Clacton Road was favoured for the club’s road time trials and during the 1920’s and 30’s the racing headquarters were situated at The Wayside Cafe in Elmstead. In those days, the Clacton Road had the reputation of providing the fastest 25 miles time trial course in the country and this was confirmed during a 1938 open ‘25’ when the national record time was broken by no fewer than three riders. The club carried on for the first two years of the 1939-45 conflict but by then most of the memhers had more important business to attend to and activities ceased for the duration. By 1946 sufficient pre-war members had returned to enable the club to be re-formed but with a town headquarters: not at all convenient for road racing. At this point, the club’s association with Frating begins. Mr. Charlie Starling and his business associate, Mr. Bill Smith, ran a transport cafe on the site of what is now the Tartan House and it was here that the club met for many of their Sunday afternoon teas. It was suggested that the club might like to convert a building at the rear of the cafe into a clubroom and as this seemed a good idea, the offer was accepted. The building turned out to be a large nissen hut which had been used for rearing pigs but it had a drainage problem. Most members got stuck in; large trenches were dug and the drainage problem removed, the pig sties were demolished and soon the building was turned into a very presentable club hut which was to serve the club for several years. When Charlie Starling sold the cafe, the new proprietors allowed the club to use the hut until they themselves sold their premises to people who discontinued the business and built the Tartan House. The Rovers had to look for a new home. In the first instance, the club hired the village hall for special occasions, meetings and socials but soon a regular Wednesday evening booking was made and has been sustained for over twenty-five years. Although there is little in the way of entertainment this does not prevent as many as seventy riders coming from as far as Hadleigh, Harwich and Clacton as well as Colchester to acquaint themselves with the club’s forthcoming activities, to enter races, organise events or just meet up with their friends of ‘the road’. It is interesting to note that~ during the ‘build up’ period following the war and at a time when the Rovers were one of the country’s most successful racing clubs, at the helm as Secretary was Mrs. Maud Guyott who lived at Solva, Bromley Road, Frating with husband Reg, who was a member of the Rovers 100 Miles Team which won the National Championship in 1956. Article and photographs reproduced from "The First 100 Years" |
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