#086 - 1968 - Peace Race

1. Geoff Wiles
2. Brian Jolly
3. Pete Smith
4. Owen Davies
5. Andy McGhee
6. Roy Cromack

We duly left for Berlin for the Peace Race, Neil Walsh joining Bert and I. What a change we could see in Neil, he was almost an alcoholic, sad to see. The accommodation in Berlin was in the 1936 Olympic Games Village, and quite good. The team met and sorted out the menus for the next fortnight or so, I kept the ticket books to present to the waiters (see previous years). My heart was not in this race, Geoff was a bit down due to his non-selection for the Olympics, and the team had somehow lost their Moroccan edge. Due to our success in Morocco we were feted by the TV, radio and press. But this time we did not live up to our previous successes.

We were given a rousing welcome at Schonefeldt airport at Berlin, non other than Tave Schur headed the party, he had a long chat with Geoff. The race started in a large football stadium in East Berlin (the 1936 Olympic Stadium is in West Berlin)  the race route was out to Frankfurt-on-Oder and returning to Berlin to finish in the stadium. Disaster hit us on the first day Pete Smith, touching a wheel in the big bunch sprint, fell breaking his collar bone. A night in hospital for Peter, he was flown home the next day. We hoped for better in the next stage which was from Berlin to Halle, 189km. All the team rode well Brian and Geoff finishing in the first twenty , putting them in the prizes. Doctor Mirek Slavic made his nightly visit checking up on our team, he had become a great friend of ours.

Halle to Suhl was the next stage 194km, Suhl was a new town to me. All the team finished in the main bunch, the Germans were doing well, their Klaus Ampler was leading on General Class, Frenchman Duchemin (one of our old pals from Morocco) was second and France led the team competition. Bert had settled down well doing the bikes, we had again been given tyres by the Czech Barum Co, these were very well received. We gave the Barum rep a bottle of Scotch as small recompense. Whilst on the subject of bike mechanics Holdsworth had given us twelve new chains and freewheels which Bert fitted before the start. Rica, through Kathleen, supplied us with Radium massage cream, Iodine oil and of course their “Super Plenamin” multi-vite tablets, and also we had the now famous and much acclaimed Siopel Cream for ‘bums’.

The next two stages were split, everybody hates these, the first part was an individual Time Trial of 30km from Halle-Ilmenau, the weather which had been good changed for the worse - it poured with rain and another disaster hit us which very nearly had Bert and I in tears. The new chains that had so kindly been given by Holdsworthy seized up in the rain, every time any pressure was put on the pedals the chain jumped a few teeth. You can imagine how our riders felt. At the end of the split stage Bert and I contacted our mates the Rumanians, we managed to get eight Brampton chains from them in exchange for our Dunlop brass double acting pump. We changed all the chains in between the two events.

The next stage was 170km long from Ilmenau to Aue, the lads were overjoyed with our competence to get the chains, but they had no idea the relief it gave Bert and I. As in the previous year we stayed again at the hospital in Aue, but in twelve months it had been changed to a luxury hotel, ideal for the ‘rest day’ that followed. After a short ride in the morning we were entertained by the staff of an engineering works, relaxed all our worries disappeared. Neil was doing an excellent job as masseur, a bottle of brandy keeping him going, he had a real good time at the engineering offices, introducing himself as “Walsh of Glasgow”.

The fifth stage took us back to our favourite city Prague, again staying at the ‘Hotel International’ facilities there are excellent, with a good, heated, well lit room for the bikes (although by now Bert brought along his own inspection lamp). Prior to this however on passing through Karlovy Vary Brian Jolly was involved in a “pile up”, he was so badly hurt the first aid people put him in ambulance, but after they  had bandaged him up he fought his way out of the ambulance, demanded his bike from the back of our car and started the chase back, we decided to let Brian ride at his own pace until he recovered before we sent anyone back to help him and we followed him in the team car till we were certain that he was alright. He gallantly finished the stage riding   50km on his own until we fetched Geoff Wiles back to help him, what a courageous ride that was, he received the meritorious award for his bravery. 

1968 - Stage 5 Brian Jolly crashes and gallanty continues the race

Four days in Germany had come to an end, we were now looking forward to four days in Czechoslovakia where historically British teams had fared well. Sixth stage Prague-Hradek Kralove (of Graham Greene fame) was only 145km - I thought the hills might suit our team  but we all finished in the main group. The Czechs were coming to the fore now they were on home ground, Dolezel and Konecny doing well, but the DDR team were winning with Klaus Ampler and Peschell in good form, Huster and Mickein backing them up. Our ‘team mates’ the Swedes were having trouble with their Kurt Sauderland and Joe Ripsel struggling. Our other friends from Morocco weren’t doing too bad Morciano, (he did not go to Morocco as his five team mates did) winning a stage.

Stage seven came along and this was a circuit road race starting and finishing at Hradec Kralove  119km a big bunch contested the finish, our team were all there, nice to get back to same hotel not so much hustle. Good food and comfortable lodge here at Hradek Kralove. A short ride in a coach the next  day for the start at Vamberk going towards the industrial part of Czechoslovakia to the large city of Gottwaldof finishing the suburb Octrovice .We had good accommodation at Gottwaldof, food also was first class, mechanic and masseur facilities were also of the best, Czechoslovakia always in front on the course.

We were still only just scratching the service as regards prize money, but at least the team were all finishing the stages. Rest day beckoned at Karvina going from the large city of Gottwaldow to reach there. All the team again finished although Andy McGee was well down. I helped Bert to do the bikes the night before the rest day so he could relax and have a lie in. We all  went a little ride in the morning, just enough to stretch the riders legs, returning then for a light massage and lunch. In the afternoon we were collected in a coach and taken to a coal mine, where we were handed boiler suits and headlamps and down the mine we went.

Living near Nottingham and Derby – in coalmine country -  you would have thought that at least Bert and I would have been down a mine, but no this was our first. It was quite interesting, we came up and had baths in the super pit head facilities, then we were entertained by the office staff, Bert who was very shy at the best of times ‘fell’ for a school teacher, we were not to see him till very late that night. We all enjoyed the meal and wine there, again taking our minds from the hard race.

In to Poland the next day to the coalmining city of Katowice from Karvina in Czechoslovakia, the race finished in the marvellous stadium which in 1955 was just a heap of cinders. Now there was a theme park and an overhead railway which seemed to run for miles, the transformation from 1955 was hard to believe. Good facilities (for Poland) were had, the lads were still there but winning little in prize money. The eleventh stage next day took us to the ancient walled City of Krakow 123km, this stage being relevantly short, finished with fast bunch sprint, and all our riders finished OK.

From Krakow on the twelfth stage we went north to Rzeszow, (we were there in 1962 with the Tour of Poland team).  I cannot remember any happenings at this place, but the next stage was Rzeszow to the eastern Polish city of Lublin 192km, again memories came back of my being taken to that horrific concentration camp at nearby Medanek in 1962. We had a nice hotel here, better than 1962, and the food was good too, and all the team finished once more.

The final day at last arrived and we were all ready for it, the stage today was split into two, the first part being a 49km Time Trial, Roy Cromack excelled himself in this finishing in the first ten, the last stage in the afternoon to Warsaw was from Radum only 123km finishing in the magnificent stadium on the other side of the river Vistula at Praga. The winner this year was Axel Peschel (DDR) from Karel Vavra (CSSR) and 3rd was Jan Magiera (Poland). Poland succeeded in taking the Team prize.

As before  the washing was done by the race laundry and I had told the lads not to put any wool clothing in the wash. Roy Cromack unfortunately put in an expensive wool jersey and much to everyone’s amusement it came back to fit a five year old kid, he was livid. The prize giving and dinner at the Hotel Warsaw was a tame affair for us, the lads were a bit down not having won much. I did assure them that they had done well to finish at all, but we all had a merry time until the early hours with a little help from  Hungarian champagne. We flew home to Heathrow the next day. So ended my eighth and last Peace Race.

A lasting memory for me on the 1968 Peace race was the new freedom, which unfortunately was not to last long for Premier Dubcek’s Czechoslovakia, what a difference the lack of Communism had made, we were all disappointed when the Russians invaded from Kosice where we had been in 1957 - a sad time for them all.

#080 - 1967 - Peace Race

On our arrival in Warsaw we were met by Ian Steel , he soon made it clear that from now on he was in charge. I gave him the baggage and bike dockets and left him to it. On the bus trip to the hotel we were miserable, our team spirit had disappeared. We arrived at the now familiar (to me) Hotel Warsaw to find that Ian had lost three cases. Ironically we had travelled from London in all sorts of transport and lost none. After a search round the hotel I found them. A meal was ready for us, a communal effort with all teams in this large dining hall. It was in this hall that I heard the dreadful news that my Czech mate Milan had died and also my Russian friend Sevette, to compound my grief I also learned that ‘our’ German driver had suffered a fatal heart attack the previous week and had died in Frankfurt on Oder. I went alone to my mechanics room and quietly wept.

 1967 Peace Race Leipzig Stadium

I very soon settled down to race routine, sorting out the menus with Ian and getting him integrated in to the great team we had, however this proved difficult as at a meeting  with the riders it was decided to share any monies won, but Ian who was in demand (owing to his 1952 Peace Race win) did not share his T.V. and radio appearance monies with the team. I suppose we were fed up of hearing about 1952 -  it was brought up with every meal, Ian’s success was a great achievement but it got a bit much after a while. I should have taken him on one side and asked  him to tone it down a bit. But as we entered another  country the whole rigmarole started again. He had of course deserved the adulation.

1967 Peace race, Billy Bilsland enters the Liberec Stadium with a lap to go

Unfortunately I kept no record of the route taken in this 1967 Prague-Berlin-Warsaw. The team rode well, quite a few days finishing in the first twenty (prizes were awarded from 1st to 20th place). The highlight for the team was Billy Bilsland beating the great Russian rider Saidchushin (overall winner 1962). Billy beat him in a two-up sprint in the huge stadium at Liberec Czechoslovakia. The hilly terrain suited our ride, but the weather was shocking, it rained all day. The rest of the lads finished well up and we won the Team award for the day. (a  large cut glass flower vase which they presented to me). Neil was doing his usual great job in the massage room. We did not see a lot of Ian, he was with the UCI people.

1967 Peace race, Billy Bilsland receives the laurels

The race finished in Prague  and Ian got really drunk at the final dinner, he mislaid his prizes too and never did find them. The only other thing remembered about our return to Heathrow, was we were met by several of the boys wives or rather at that time girl friends, journalists and BCF President. We collected our bikes and luggage at South Kensington air terminus, then as we had done in Paris we bundled Neil Walsh in to a taxi and we had a race to St. Pancras station - I won the sprint up the hill to the entrance of the station (Neil had done a “job” on my feet, I was walking on air, his occupation in Glasgow as well as masseur was Chiropody). We had already said our goodbyes to Geoff Wiles who  lived in Kent and Dave Mitchell left us to go to Euston Station. Roy Hempsall Danny Horton ,Billy Bilsland, Neil Walsh and I were on the same train. Alan Lloyd had ‘packed’ in Poland saying that he was a little boy in a mans race. The break up of this team was sadder than usual as we had been together for almost seven weeks .

#077 - 1966 - Peace Race

The usual BCF invite came through, I was refused the managers post once more, very disappointing, especially when they chose Bob Maitland whom I had been with to Tunisia in 1960. The team was again young and inexperienced i.e.

1. Ken Kipping.
2. Dave Nie,
3. Ray Barker,
4. Billy Bilsland,
5. Barry Lawton
6. Bill Townsend,

masseur was Dennis Agnew. For once the riders were fitted with the same equipment, I only had  to do the usual wheel interchange before the start.

The route was new to me, Prague-Warsaw-Berlin, this year going right up to Northern Poland - Danzig, Gydynia and  Stettin all of which were new stage towns to me, food and accommodation in Rostock (north DDR) was in a Seaman’s Hostel and it was absolutely first class. In Berlin too the “Digs” had changed from a poor college to the Hotel Berliner which was a new skyscraper building. I cannot remember much about this particular tour, except Billy Bilsland rode well he being only 19 years old, Ray Barker finished well, Ken Kipping finished although well down, (he had suffered with  bronchitis nearly all the race). Barry Lawton in his first International also finished but Dave Nie on his second Peace race retired. Bill Townsend succumbed after the first four days in Czechoslovakia, he was completely out of his depth.

The night the race finished and after our dinner Ray Barker and I  decided to go over to look at West Berlin, we were close by Check Point Charlie, the DDR guards were very kind and efficient. When they knew we were on the Peace Race they enquired of the well-being of Stan Brittain, Ian Steel and Bill Bradley, that’s how big the Fridensfaht is in DDR. We crossed the bridge to the American sector and we were treated to some harsh questioning  by a young American soldier, he was calling DDR all the names you could think of and I politely asked him if he had visited there and to my amazement he said no. We had a quick look at the shops and returned, quite an experience really.

The race finished in Berlin, the Race Dinner and dance being held in the Sports Halle (Hitler and Goebells made many speeches here). The famous woman pilot Hannah Reitsch flew an early helicopter inside  this hall, so you can imagine the size. I was mysteriously presented with a Gold Medal by the President of DDR. – which to this day I don’t know what it was for. During the dance Tave Schur came over with his wife to congratulate me, I was overawed. (Kathleen and I were to meet Tave and family at their home in Magdeburg in 1973), This night at the Sports Halle was the best I ever experienced in Germany, it was wonderful, we danced the night away, Ken Kipping disappeared with his ‘new’ girlfriend and we did not see him until early the next day.

Also staying in the next hotel to us on Frederickstrasse was Ipswich Town F.C., they had just won the 1st Division Championship in England and were celebrating with a ‘footballing holiday’ in DDR. They had played in the stadium where the race had finished the previous day. They were going out that night asking me to meet them at their Bulgarian Hotel, I didn’t have much deutschmarks with me. As I have previously stated -  each team member and official is presented with a book containing tickets for meals and dockets for beer. As none of our party had used any of the drinks dockets, I tore them out and they were taken as money for any drinks consumed, naturally I was  in good books with the team. It was a treat to meet their chairman Mr. John Cobbold and the players Phillips and Galsworthy etc.

We finished drinking in the hotel and I was about to leave them when they decided we should all go to a night club a few doors away. This turned out to be quite a good place, the interval came along and much to my astonishment when the band retired, some of the Ipswich Town players took their places, accomplished musicians they played ‘Glen Miller music’ and it was terrific. The original band was irate and after a few numbers they were turfed off. I got back to our hotel with half an hour to spare before we caught the plane home. Luckily I had got the bikes and bags already to board the transport for the airport. I saw the bikes on board this snazzy British Airways flight (we were going home via Copenhagen) and I slept all the way to our destination where we changed in to  a Pan American “Clipper”. Bob Maitland said I was in no state to check anything and he would take over seeing the baggage and bikes on to the American plane, I could not care less. When we had settled down in the plane the air hostess introduced us as the English Cycling Team arriving from Berlin with such a tone  of disdain as though a Communist country had the plague. We arrived at Heathrow O.K. but Bob had lost two bikes, Dave Nie’s and Barry Lawton. It took a fortnight to get them from Copenhagen.

So ended another trip to the “Peace Race” , this being  my sixth, but unfortunately the English teams were getting worse the reason being that the best riders were being selected for the British Milk Race, - I said before it is still and honour to finish in this Great Race.

#074 - 1964 - Peace Race

Here we go on another “band wagon”. It was ‘boom’ time in the shop – trade was at its best  and earlier in the year we were awarded the Honda Agency. The first firm to bring in Honda was a company called “Hondis” located in small premises in a Kensington Mews. We bought the motor cycles - C100 models - in container loads. Crated in 3’s they were shipped direct from Japan. They were fitted with winkers, battery lighting, a good flywheel dyno for charging and “sparks,” they were also fitted with very adequate leg shields and all for the sum of £69-19s-6d (£69.95) - they sold like hot cakes, we could not get enough. It was necessary for us  to buy a special ‘Tool and Spares kit’  before we could take delivery of the machines but who thought of these kits I will never know because 15 years later they were still unused. Later in the year we bought C92 and CB92 125cc models and C72 250cc models, these  were delivered two in a crate. Eventually we had a mechanic working full time  assembling these Honda machines (and later Yamaha and Suzuki). (As stated previously he is still doing this job at Roy Pidcocks Motor Cycles).

Earlier in the 1960’s the great bicycle firm of Raleigh decided to go in to production with a moped -  it was the worst model ever. Raleigh soon closed down this side of the business and the managing director of this branch moved to a new firm called Honda Motor Co Ltd in new premises in Nottingham, the representatives that were with Raleigh transferred to Honda.

Early in the year I was asked to go on the Peace Race and the Tour of St Lawrence, this information  was sent to me earlier then usual which helped me a lot -  I could arrange my work load easier. Resentment was still being felt from brother Ernie but underneath he was O.K., his wife goading him on a little. The Manager for the G.B. Peace Race Team was to be Arthur Campbell, a BCF Committee member who had been on the tour the previous year as Scottish Team Manager. I had hoped that with my previous experience  the job would be mine. I had expected to move up the scale and into management, but by now I had got the overseas cycling trips in my blood, disappointed as I was ‘mechanic’ was still an important job.

We were very busy in the shop so I was unable to travel the country to visit and get to know the team members - there were many changes from the original, word getting around that the race was too hard. The ‘Milk Race’  start date had been moved too and it was now nearer to the start of  Peace Race and all the top riders wished to ride in the English event. The team selection was finally made after many alterations,

1. Bill Perkins
2. George Bennett
3. Tony Woodcock
4. John Bettison
5. John Froud
6. Jim Hendry

and my special form sent out  as in previous years, duly returned and acted upon for various spares etc.

My heart was not in this 1964 event, maybe I was getting  ‘blasé’. The masseur was Bill Wood, a good man he came from Lincoln and worked at Louth hospital (where Kathleen did her nursing training). We met up in BCF headquarters in London, the riders were very young and all on their inaugural International race. 

Glancing quickly over  the machines at the airport, I noticed George Bennett’s bike looked as though it wanted a good overhauling. I found out later that – hearing of my reputation - he had  brought along his ‘old’ road bike especially for me to overhaul,  - a good introduction to this North East rider! A young red haired woman came to meet us at the airport, at first  I could not remember where I had seen her before then I suddenly remembered it was Ginette Vachon from Canada, who had been sent as UCI representative and employed as interpreter for the UCI committee. Our usual interpreter met us at the airport and looked after us well as always. We were again at the Hotel Warsaw, in excellent rooms and good food. All my Russian, French, Belgian and Dutch mates were they’re each welcoming each other with bear hugs. The same German driver met me with a warm hand shake.

 1964  Peace Race: Tony Woodcock, John Froud, Billy Perkins, George Bennett, Jim hendry and John Bettison

The first stage was  the 94km “Circuit of Warsaw” embracing tortuous main roads and cobbled streets. On entering the marvellous Stadium, Billy Perkins fell in a large accident breaking his collar bone, he was out of the race and flying home before we had hardly started. The first four days in Poland proved that out team just wasn’t good enough. Only George Bennett and stylish Tony Woodcock able to be up there in the top forty. Our team were like the 10 green bottles -, then there five, four then three, finishing up with only two. This was the first team I had been with that had  not  had at least three men to compete in the overall Team classification. Our third ‘count in man’  Jim Hendry, had packed on the tough 10th stage from Oue to Karlovy Vary (138km)  The race continued and Jim was left in Karlovey Vary, we all assumed that he would be flown home but to our surprise he was waiting at the finish in Prague – (he had been flown to Prague in a 2 seater plane, goggles, helmet and all! Jim eventually progressed to BCF National coach).  Although the work load became easier, I thought I had wasted my time coming on this particular event.

1964 Peace Race Alf, Jim Hendry, Bill Woods, Tony Woodcock, John Froud, Billy Perkins, Arthur Campbell, John Bettison and George Bennett

 

The highlight on this tour for me was that Leeds United were playing in the Berlin stadium  as entertainment for the large crowd. The race schedule into Berlin was way in front of time, the Leeds United players wondered what was happening when, with 15 minutes still to play, and two lead police motor cyclists roared across the pitch and stopped the game! I was later able to chat to Madeley, Alan Clarke, Jack Charlton, Johnny Giles, Sid Owen (I had  met him in Chemnitz some three years previous when he played for Luton Town, he was now coaching Leeds). 

1964 Peace Race meeting to discuss the new Favorit cycle

The DDR, Czech and Polish teams dominated this years race with Jan Smolik winning from Hoffman of (DDR), with Weidman (DDR) 3rd. DDR won the Team Prize with Romania 2nd. As usual, we had an interesting sightseeing tour of Prague, visiting the castle and the Cathedral which was being restored. The event was run in its usual efficient manner. An instance of real organisation occurred before the start from the German Spa town of Aue. We were accommodated at the hospital which was 5 mile from the start. It was pouring down with rain and it had been for hours. The riders were not relishing riding down to the start in the centre of Aue, soaked before they had started.  Like a miracle waterproof suits appeared for everyone in the race, truly unbelievable.  

Some years later reading a book on DDR, I was amazed to find that Aue was the centre of Uranium mining during the war, the only one in Europe (it is all worked out now) and we had been staying in the Isolation hospital for people who had been attacked by Radium poisoning. 

I was pleased to get home from this race, we had hardly any success although Tony Woodcock was a creditable 40th, he was actually in the first twenty up to the last day on the Ceske Budejovice to Prague Stage then went all to pieces. John Bennett was 47th, they could both be proud to finish.

#072 - 1963 - Peace Race

After missing the Peace Races from 1959-62 I received an invitation to go on the 1963 event, the team was made up of the new Independent class of rider the list being

1. John Woodburn
2. John Harve
3. “Gos” Goodman
4. Mick Shea
5. Ged Coles
6. Kenny Daniels

The route  took my favourite way Prague-Berlin-Warsaw. I tried to see all the riders in various events before we left England as usual, luckily apart from wheel differences I only had  to make them interchange (spare wheels included). The team manager was a man I had not met, and he was on his first trip abroad. The masseur, S. Watson from Southport.

This team had not got the discipline of the Brittain, Blower, Bradley, Booty brigade, they slouched about in track suits, no blazer and flannels for them. Picking out the best was not difficult, John Woodburn finishing 14th overall, his highest day placing  was in the Time Trial when he achieved 12th place.  When you have been with a successful team it is difficult to adapt to one not quite so good - mind you anyone who rides the Peace Race and finishes deserves a gold medal.


On the stage in to Dresden  John Woodburn crashed. He was away with a small group and I am sure he would have been in the first three, he was going so well. He came off almost at the gates of the Stadium, both tyres rolled off. He grabbed a lady’s bike and rode over the line on that - the crowd, photographers, T.V. and  radio commentators went wild and he became an instant hero. On John’s bike I had used Barum tyre cement instead of the best at that time ‘Clement’ and as the team mechanic I was very upset at this incident, but John laughed it off.

I was quite friendly with the tyre representative of the Czech company ‘Barum’, and on meeting him in Prague in the hotel, he asked me to come round to see his stock in the Barum van whereupon  he promptly presented me with 30 of their  tyres identical to Dunlop’s. The team members were overjoyed as I was able to fit these excellent tyres on their machines now. (Dunlop had stopped giving tyres to International Teams due to some bad publicity in a ‘Milk Race’ - again some official biting the hand that feeds you). Tyres were a big slice out of riders small budget. The Barum tyres were exact copies of the Dunlop No 2, 3 and  5. (5 years previously, Barum Tyre Co had asked for our assistance and requested samples of all our Dunlop  tyres, we duly obliged and they  gave us a number of their (unfortunately at the time inferior) tyres in exchange).  

I got on well with John and most nights  he would come down to my mechanics room to discuss which team he was to ride with in the next stage (he could not use his own team because every day they were off the back, and 10-20 mins down on the stage winner) this does not detract from the fact that they finished but merely that they were not of the same standard as John. I am forgetting an incident coming in to Dresden. I had been informed that Derby County were playing the DDR National Football Team in the Stadium. This match was to entertain the crowd before the Peace Race arrived. It is a fairly flat run in to Dresden, and the scoreboard inside the stadium could clearly be seen -, DDR 1 - Derby County 3. I was delighted of course and not only that, all the Derby team were waiting for our riders to finish so they could greet them, they had been told of the Peace race and how hard it was, they were honoured that a team from England was taking part.

The next day was a “rest day” and I had stayed at this hotel before. There was night club underneath, so I told the Derby crowd and after dinner I joined them. My hero’s were there Kevin Hector, Roy McFarland, Daniels, Webster, Alan Durban and many other good players. Brian Clough was to take over the club when they returned to Derby and they were a bit apprehensive, we had a real good night together and for me it was one of the highlights of the Tour.

The Tour was run as efficient as ever, the manager and I had sorted the menu’s out for the daily meals and everything was going smoothly, I suppose I was getting used to everything now. That first 1955 tour had been so hard - this one in comparison seemed like a picnic. In this 1963 Tour there was a Scots  and an Australian Team, Arthur Campbell managed  Scotland and right out the blue came Percy Stallard to manage the Australians. After all Percy had been the team manager when Ian Steel won the event in 1952, they had also taken the Team Award overall. Percy found it very difficult to manage this team of Aussies, they resented his dictatorial manner. One thing must be attributed to Percy, all his team finished the race. We finished 14th in the General Class Team,  7hr54min down, the Scots were 15th at 10hr24min and the Aussies 16th at 14hr30min. All six of our team finished. John Woodburn 14th, Daniels 63rd, Ged Coles 67th, John Harvey 74th, Mick Shea 75th and Goz Goodman 76th.

For the  finale and Prize presentation we were taken to a landing stage on the River Spree where 3 luxury river boats, each with a dance band, girls, food and drink, we landed on an island in the middle of the Spree, all lit up by fairy lights etc, it looked and was absolutely brilliant. The Aussies somehow got Percy Stallard completely sloshed and  he didn’t have a clue where he was (he was a tee total too). Apart from a night in the Berlin Sports Halle in 1966 this was the best end of  ‘Tour party’  put on by the Organising Committee. We flew home the following day via Copenhagen. The break up in London came and we departed our separate ways.