Vintage cycling collection is wheely fascinating!

Cycling fans will be spinning with excitement when they learn about a collection of vintage cycling medals, photos and associated ephemera for sale in Chilcotts September Fine Art and Antiques auction.

The collection was amassed by Eric Cooper, an avid cyclist in the RAF who was stationed in San Severo, Italy before and through part of WW2.

Auctioneer, Duncan Chilcott said: “Anyone who thinks that cycling is a modern obsession should think again.

“The interest in the challenges of road races and hill climbs in Eric Cooper’s day was considerable, as this collection illustrates.”

A cyclist from an early age, Eric took part in many cycling races, road races and hill climbs and was a member of such groups as the Bayswater Wheelers and National Cyclists Union.

During his war years in Italy he set up the Apennine Road Club. The club carried on until 1946; letters from that year detail an order for commemorative medals which were to be issued to members. Another letter discusses the donation of remaining club funds of £10.13s to the Maimed Ex-Service Cyclists Charity. It seems that throughout his time in Italy, Eric still sent orders to England for spare bike parts, which somehow managed to get through to him despite the wartime conditions.

Eric was an erstwhile member of the Vegetarian Cycling & Athletic Club, whose motto urges members to: ‘feed well, speed well’. Membership at the time did not require Eric to be vegetarian, but simply to agree with the principles of vegetarianism. The club continues to this day and is now 131 years old.

After the war he returned to England and bought Hovat, a jobbing print shop in Kent. He was one of the first people in the UK to introduce the new product of self-adhesive labels. Hovat ran successfully until 1972 when paper company Wiggins Teape bought the business from him so they could get into the self-adhesive market.

“When we got in touch with Hovat, they told us that about 10 years ago, a lady turned up and explained that she was the daughter of Eric Cooper,” said Duncan.

“She asked whether she could bring Eric to see the current site as part of the celebrations for his 92nd birthday. Sadly, Eric passed away before his visit but it is good to know he had had a long and active life.”

This fascinating collection includes over 20 engraved silver and 6 bronze medals from the Apennine Road Club, Bayswater Wheelers, National Cyclists Union and the Vegetarian Cycling & Athletic Club; Eric’s YHA membership cards, photographs of Eric, his friends and acquaintances; and his cycling heroes from the day, including Gino Bartali who was renowned for helping to save hundreds of Jews from the Nazis during WW2.

Some of the photos have quirky handwritten notes to accompany them, including one which comments on ‘the woman in the white coat’ whose eye, Eric sorrowfully writes, he failed to catch! The lot is expected to sell for £200-300.

The Fine Arts and Antiques Sale takes place on September 7 at the Silver Street sale room in Honiton, close to Honiton Community College. Viewing is on Thursday, 9:30am to 5pm, Friday 9:30am to 7pm and on Sale Day from 8:30am. The sale starts at 10:30am. Viewing and live online bidding will also be available via the-saleroom.com