Retro: Ace clues will solve mystery

Published 24 Dec 2009 13:00 1 Comment

I WAS handed this badge recently by a man I met in a pub in Caversham - such is the price of fame!

He is a motorcycle enthusiast and he wants me to find out about the Reading Ace Motorcycle Club. As I feared, the club has not left much behind on paper for me to look at.

It is not listed among the clubs in Kelly's directories, nor in the directories of local societies which were produced for many years by the Central Library. I should know - I used to put them together! These days, of course, there is a constantly updated list on the library's website - http://www.readinglibraries.org.uk/

An internet trawl revealed that a founder member of the club, George Andrews, used to work for Phillips and Powis in London Street in about 1960. This firm had a motorcycle showroom on one side of the street and repair workshops on the other side.

I also discovered that the club used to meet on Friday evenings at the Southcote Hotel around 1964-65.

The search engine also brought up information on the famous Ace Café, on the North Circular Road at Stonebridge, which has been attracting motorcyclists since the 1930s. It may have been the inspiration behind the naming of the Reading club.

Since I have not been able to discover much about the history of the club, I asked if I could borrow the badge, photograph it, and feature it to Retro. I would guess there are many people in their 60s, 70s and 80s who remember the club and who may have photographs of rallies.

I'm afraid the badge has lost most of its coloured enamel, but the words are quite clear. Please get in touch if you can help my motorcycle enthusiast friend.

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• 

  Keith Davis
  Unregistered User
  Jan 23, 18:52
  Report comment

  I've been speaking to Pete White today and will be forwarding him information on the subject to collate with other details he already has or is still obtaining.
  
  I've also put out a couple of e mails to other old members of the club that I know to obtain their memories.
  
  again this will be feed through Pete when known.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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