1940 continued
THE HISTORY of the
MIDDLESBROUGH & DISTRICT MOTOR CLUB
PART 3
8 of 32
to co-operate with the Motor Club. The Citizens of MIDDLESBROUGH Responded
magnificently and it was triumphantly announced that the object of the appeal and the
Club had been achieved. Middlesbrough would have its Spitfire Aeroplane, and a few
Pounds to spare. The President proposed that some Celebration should be held to mark
the occasion. He would provide a light Supper for this. His offer was gratefully
accepted. At the supper held in the Club on 20th November, the Mayor, Sir Wm
Crosthwaite was presented with a cheque for £5,700 for the Spitfire, and another one for
£5-6-0 for his relief fund by W. Oliver, the Club's Chairman. The Town Clerk of
Middlesbrough was also present, Mr Preston Kitchen. Messrs R. Spark & Sons Ltd.,
loaned Tables and Cloths free of charge. The organising Committee for the Fund were;-
W. Ryan, W. Oliver, A. V. Buttress, T. A. Hanson, F. C. Barker, H. P. Houghton, G. V.
Hickson, F. Hannah & H. Wilson,
The original letter received from Lord Beaverbrook acknowledging the Cheque. The
Cheque and photographs from the Gazette together with photos of the organising
committee were suitably mounted, framed and now hangs in the Committee Room (1974).
SEPTEMBER.
A special issue of the Journal, the Spitfire Number, was printed. On page 2, there was a
resume of the Club's efforts entitled "THEIR GREATEST MOMENTS" by a special
Correspondent together with a list of the subscribers.
The Death of John Gjers, President for 16 years was recorded. His name being
perpetuated in the Club by the very handsome trophy, The John Gjers Cup used
exclusively for a Sporting Reliability Trial. He also introduced the Club to its present Home
in Clarendon Road, formally the Gjers Mills Workman's Club. The Death of A. W.
Dovener, onetime Secretary of the Yorkshire Centre and the Bradford & D.M.C. was also
reported. An appeal from Donald Smith of The Motor Cycle for contributions to defray the
funeral expenses was responded to by the Club with a donation of £1, and a promise to
take a collection amongst the Members. The Editor of The Journal wrote - That although
we in Britain led the World in Motorcycle Design and construction and that the popularity
of motor cycling amongst young men was nowhere greater, the authorities made no effort
to turn this to good account.
Recent Military Developments have, however, driven home forcibly the extreme
manoeuvrability, reliability and general handiness of the modern machine and the Army is
at any rate doing its best to make the whole of its personnel motorcycle-minded. There is
no doubt that the Country today owes much and will owe more to those lads in the Air
Force and Mechanised Units of the Army who received their grounding in speed, trials and
things mechanical on the ubiquitous motor cycle.
Staff changes, C. Scarr - Steward, resigned and his wife was appointed Stewardess, at a
Wage of £2-15-0 per week. C. Matson's wage was increased and an additional assistant,
Miss M. Aspland was appointed.
OCTOBER.
CLUB TROPHIES It was decided to ask for their return.
