Lantern slides of 'Kuklos' ( W. Fitzwater Wray) and 'Petronella'

Glass lantern slides of cycle tours of UK and abroad, 1920s-1930s, with some related papers.

William Fitzwater Wray, was born in Hitchin, England, circa 1870, and died in London, England, 16 December 1938. He was one of the most widely-read cycling journalists at the end of the 19th century and the first third of the 20th. He wrote in national newspapers and cycling journals under the pen-name Kuklos; collections of his writings were published as books. He also gave magic lantern shows which were very popular in the 1920s and 1930s. He was president of the South Bucks DA CTC from 1927-1930.

"Petronella" (Mrs E. Parkes/Mrs G.H. Stancer) had her own collection of lecture slides (sponsored by BSA Cycles) and was given the Kuklos slides when his wife Klossie had to go into a home following the death of Kuklos in 1939. She was was president of the South Bucks DA CTC from 1936-1945.

This collection is available to researchers by appointment at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. See https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/using/

Link to full catalogue: https://mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk/records/NCA/1/69

This collection of slides was donated to the Trust by Leslie Reason (South Bucks DA CTC) who was asked by Petronella to become custodian of the collection in 1954. [Deposited via Ted and Heather Beeson, April 2012. A file of additional papers was added in June 2014].