Ards Cycling Club are organising a ‘Night of Nostalgia’ in the Marine Court Hotel Bangor on Wednesday 25th February 7.30pm.
The main theme of the evening is a silent cine movie of Cyprus Cycling Clubs 21st Anniversary season (1953). Marshall McAdam was the original film maker and he will be at the event. The film depicts leisure tours, racing and general club life during the 1953 season. The late Billy Hudson who was later an Ards CC member, is featured while others include Irish and Northern Irish multi Champion Billy Dowds, Rob Collin, Gordon Reid, Ronny Millar, Tommy Talbot, Billy Caldwell, Bill Campbell and Alex Dickson who was time keeper and treasurer for Ards in the 1980s. Tommy Burns who won the junior and senior NI road Championships in 1953 is seen as is Isobel Clements the long distance record holder and Ena McKeown.
Millar Wright was responsible for converting the film to DVD and when Billy Kirk and Bronagh Kirk watched it they decided that an evening should be organised to give everyone the opportunity to either reminisce or just to see and compare cycling ‘then and now’. Ards CC committee supported the idea and thought it was a great opportunity for all ages to get together.
A slide show of photographs from the 50s until recent years will also be shown.
Admission will be five pounds which covers the cost of room hire/equipment and includes tea or coffee and biscuits. There will also be bar facilities in the room.
Presently Billy has almost 40 riders from the 50s era who will attend. Others may accompany some of these people. The room we have booked holds up to 80. If we are going to go above this number we need to book the bigger room within the next week.
Could each club please nominate one person to deal with Bronagh to indicate the number of members intending to be there? The evening is open to everyone so if you are not a member of a club or if you require any further information just get in touch with Bronagh 02891468990 or
bronaghkirk@gmail.com If you have any old photos that you would like to be included in a slide show please contact Bronagh to make arrangements to have them scanned. Billy can also be contacted on 02891822413
Ards CC members can contact our social secretary Norman Stanfield 02891821941 07738115802 or
norman@nstanfield.wanadoo.co.uk Report by Brendan Kirk PRO Ards CC