Frances reads Neville's letter, written for the Machell Cox family Budget; a second instalment, continuing the description of the Bicycling Tour of 1907.
Edmund, Neville, Bernard, Cuthbert, Avice and Vera are cycling 186 miles/300km around England and Neville's letter includes a variety of rich detail.
They have leather Gladstone bags, which travelled by train in the Guard’s van, whilst the siblings cycled between each town, carrying a minimal amount on their bicycles.
Dr Beeching's station closures in the 1960s means the 1907 cycling trip would not have been possible today.
Neville describes his Toura and Lucas canvas bicycle bags, and gives a detailed description of what he carries inside them. Stratford's Memorial Theatre is described as "a regular eyesore" and the trees of the Wyre Forest are "very fine".
Intro - 00:00
Bicycles - 00:34
Neville's second letter 8 September - 7:26
Notes on Neville's letter - 13:28
The Talbot Inn - 21:50
Notes on letter - 27:50
You can contact Frances by email - machellcoxletters@gmail.com
or X/Twitter - @CoxLetters
or Blue Sky - @Coxletters.bsky.social
All content is subject to copyright and belongs to Frances Thompson and the Bodleian Library.