Albert Ayton

The Eagle received some sad news yeaterday with the passing away of Albert Ayton. He was taken ill last Thursday and admitted to hospital and slipped away a few days later on Tuesday, apparently quite peacefully, from pneumonia. He was 89 years young.

Albert's funeral will take place on the 17th March at 2pm, at the Epping Forest Burial Park which is almost opposite the entrance to the airfield at North Weald.

the full address is

Epping Forest Burial Park 
Kiln Road
North Weald,
Epping
CM16 6AD

Comments

[Mike Beasant]

Albert Ayton 1921 – 2010
“One of my favourite cyclists”
I knew Albert all my life, my father joined the Eagle Road Club shortly after Albert in 1937, although my first memory was a weekend when Albert and Arthur Jacobs came over to our house in Buckhurst Hill, to put a cement floor in our cellar, so my father could use it as a darkroom for his photography.
In his way, Albert was quietly confident rather than flamboyant, although his ‘Palmares’ was a match for most of the top cyclists of his day, and his work ethic was rewarded with wins in prestigious events, throughout the 1940’s and early 1950’s, and he was the first Eagle inside the hour at 25 miles, which record lasted just a few minutes, until he was pipped at the post by another member.
He will be remembered mainly for the tandem 50 competition record rides with Harry ‘Nevvy’ Edwards, 1.46.36 in 1951, “both of us were completely shattered and couldn’t walk afterwards” compared with a further improvement to 1.46.17 in 1952, “I was getting married the following week and Nevvy had a bad cold, and it seemed so easy, I don’t know why”.
Albert was one of the first to look at scientific training and think about more than just riding a bike, he had a wonderful bunch of stories, such as riding the Isle of Man TT course in 1947-1950, ha came second one year on a bike fitted with a Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub gear, with 76”, 66” & 56”.
He was employed after the war with Mallinson Denny, a timber company in Hackney Road, which job came about through an introduction from Major Villiers, the clubs President, eventually becoming their chief timber buyer, with exotic trips around the world.
When he retired, the first expense was a fully equipped new touring bike, a Roberts, and we learned some new words, audax and randonee, as Albert expanded his horizons as one of the first audaxers in the UK.
His spirit was such that in 1997, he decided to enter the East West ride from Lowestoft to Ardnamurchan Point, to get a medal. Pete Beresford said,” oh, I fancy that” and Rita said, “your not going to Scotland without me”. This was the start of an epic 10 day ride with Rita driving the back up car and Albert & Peter riding. Not bad for a man of 76.
Albert typified the spirit of the founder members like Harry Cross, George White, Reg Baxter, in that he had a real love of the sport in all its forms, ever willing to help and support riders.
He was a committee member for many years, combining the posts of treasurer and magazine editor, as well as contributing a wealth of practical knowledge to the wider cycling world.
With Bob Hobbs of the Crest, they were the key movers in establishing the 32nd Association, for clubs with weekend HQ’s at Ugley, negotiating with the local council for fair treatment on rates and usage of the huts.
Albert was a long term committee member of the Road Records Association, and in 2003, was President of the Pedal Club. His contribution to the world of cycling was made in a modest manner, but he was a great example of the integrity inherent in his upbringing, which I shall never forget.
In researching this article, I came across the following on the Chain Gang Tours website, which I think sums Albert up beautifully.
“One of my favourite cyclists…..”

I got a letter from one of my favourite ever Chain Gang cyclists earlier this week, Albert Ayton.
Albert first joined us in 2000 at the age of 79 in the Dordogne. He’s an accomplished cyclist – he won the Varsity 100, a one hundred mile time trial that formed a small series before there was an official National championship, in 1948, ‘49 and 50………
See www.thechaingang.co.uk/blog/2008/02/24/albert-ayton/ for the full article
But It’s All Over . . .Albert has finally decided to throw the towel in, he won’t be cycling with us again. But he has asked me to pass on his best regards to anybody who cycled with him on his Chain Gang tours.
Albert packed up his touring at the age of 86, after several falls and serious back and neck problems meant he could no longer ride safely.