Papers of the G. A. Widmann Memorial Committee

Scope and Content

Minute book, 1955-2001; correspondence, 1983-2001; copies of the memorial inscription; lists of holders of the Widmann plaque, 1955-1999, and of the Widmann-Nunn Award, 1967-1999; roll of honour of those awarded the plaque, with details of their service to cycling; typescript entitled "In Memory of Paddy", and the same produced as a booklet, c.1986.

Administrative / Biographical History

George "Paddy" Widmann (1881-1954), was the first secretary of the now defunct Bristol Wheelers Club and served as president of the Western Counties Road Records Association, vice-president of the Western Time Trials Association and was a life member of the Bristol South Cycling Club. In his private life he was a schoolmaster, a Dickens recitalist and a journalist, writing a weekly cycling column in the Bristol Evening Post under the pen name of Cotter Pin, publicising time trialling at a time when it was not widely taken up. On his death in August 1954 a memorial fund was set up at the suggestion of the Bristol South Cycling Club, and a Committee formed to launch the fund. A memorial plaque was commissioned with an inscription by George Herbert Stancer to be known as the G. A. Widmann Memorial Plaque which would be awarded annually for outstanding service to cycling by a cyclist west of a line from Southampton through Hungerford to Gloucester. The first presentation of the award took place in 1956. The awards ceased in 1999 and the committee was wound up in 2001.

Access Information

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/

Acquisition Information

This collection was deposited in the Centre by the honorary secretary of the G. A. Widmann Memorial Committee in 2001.

Other Finding Aids

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on the use of this archive, apart from the requirements of copyright law.

Accruals

Further deposits are not expected.

Related Material

Other deposits by the National Cycle Archive (MSS.328).