South Yorkshire Times, August 25th, 1951

Miners Tour France

Wilfred from Wath was Feted Like Millionaire

Five Manvers Main miners cycled from Wath to London to catch a ‘plane for Paris. Four arrived at Northolt airport and caught the plane as planned.  The tyre of the fifth punctured on the way and he turned up at London Airport by mistake. The unlucky fifth was 20-year-old Wilfred Hayes, of 7, Crawley Drive, Newhill, youngest member of the party bound for a seven-day cycling holiday in France.  He arrived alone at London Airport at noon on the Saturday.   He saw no sign of his former companions but was not unduly perturbed. He went to the pictures, he had a swim, and had a sleep, but when he woke there was still no sign of them.

Visit to Folies

Then he made a few inquiries.  He discovered he had come to the wrong place. Pell-mell he cycled to Northolt airport but missed the ‘plane by two hours.  Undaunted, he waited for the next and made the flight alone. Then began for Wilfred a week he will long remember. Speaking not a word of French he got fixed up at a hotel in Paris. For three days he walked the streets, saw the sights, and toured the city’s underground, the Metro. He fitted in a visit to the Folies Bergères. On the third day he mounted his cycle and left Paris behind him. On the road he met another cycling Englishman – Secretary of the Manchester Clarion Cycling Club, Mr. George Gould. George was on his way to a cycling rally at St. Etienne, so Wilfred strung along with him. The rally included a seven-and-a-half-mile climb up a hill near St. Etienne. Among the competitors were Wilfred and George. When Wilfred’s group reached the top, they were given – in his words – a bottle of champagne, a bottle of red wine and a “bag of snap.”

Back down again, all foreign entrants were given a banquet – “we were treated to a five-course dinner, champagne, cognac, and every French drink you can think of.” Wilfred said reminiscently said this week.  “We were in our shorts” Wilfred grinned, “and the others were in stiff shirts, dicky bows, and dressed up to the eyes.”  Generally speaking they were made much of in St. Etienne.  Youngsters with books and pencils clamoured for their autographs – “you’d have thought we were millionaires.” commented Wilfred.  During his time at St. Etienne he stayed in a monastery – “single room – double bed – it was nice!” he explained.  During the rally he came across another English party, including Dick Glasswell of 4, Merrill Road, Thurnscoe.

Mountain Ride

Next for Wilfred came a 5 ½ hours’ ride “over the blinking mountains.” From there, still accompanied by George, he cycled to Rouen and from Rouen travelled by train to Orleans.  They stayed in Orleans overnight and then cycled back to Paris. On the ‘plane from Paris back to London he rejoined his original companions – all of them members of the Manvers Main Cycling Club.

They were: Charles Chapman (21), No. 2 Court, Doncaster Road, Wath; Ralph Abbot (25), 125, Sandymount Road, Wath; Douglas Lidster, (22), 127, Avenue Road, Wath; Fred Braisby (25), 6 No. 1 Court, Doncaster Road, Wath; and David Humphries (25), 11, South Avenue, Swinton.

Fred, who broke his arm a week or two ago, had travelled by train from Wath to London and had spent the week in Paris.  The rest stayed only one night in Paris and, after climbing the Eiffel tower, and seeing a few of the sights, had cycled to Rheims, to Chalons, to Lyons and other places. In Rheims they were befriended by a French woman who had relatives living in London. She took them to her home and provided them each with cups of tea and two platefuls of chips.  This was the only tea that Charlie drank during his whole stay in France. The rest of the time he had to be content with wine or milk – lots of milk.  None of the boys spoke French but got along nicely with the help of an English-French phrase book.  All were visiting France for the first time. Next year they hope to visit some other country – perhaps Germany.