Tudhoe & Spennymoor Local History Society: Tudhoe Victory Touring Club Poem

Tudhoe Victory Touring Club Poem by George Warren 1920

Tudhoe Victory Touring Club 1920 - The photo shows the charabanc parked at the start of Tudhoe Lane. The old Tudhoe Victory Club was to the right of the house covered with ivy, now the site of modern flats.

The group includes J R Scurr, Bob Warren, Alf Kay, George Warren, Tom Middleton, Abe Hodgson, Jack Peart, Jacky Hodgson, Bob Shevills, W Swainston, Frank Edwards, Jim White, Bob Proctor, Jack Hanratty, Will Chisman, Jack Myers, Billy White, Bob Overend, Jack Rowcroft, Jack Robinson, George Westell, John Ryder, Joe Ryder, Fred Hood, Jim Warren, Arthur Wrigglesworth and Billy Wilkinson. (Harry Spence)

The Ebor Handicap is a flat handicap horse race run at York. The event is named after the shortened form of Eboracum, the Roman name for York. It was first run in 1843, and it was originally known as the Great Ebor Handicap. In 1920 the winner was "Iron Hand".

1. To the Victory Club one morn there stole
A big charabanc from Hetton le Hole
That Wednesday morning we were out for fun
We were going to see the Ebor run
Now Wrigglesworth kept us quite half an hour
So he gave to each a marguerite flower
We stood in a group, it did look funny
When our two clerks paid out the money.

2. For captain we had Bob Shevill that day
Now he had to see that no one did stray
We also had two to dole out the beer
We each got two bottles, no more-no fear
Our faces were washed, so nice and so clean
So Wharton came up with his photo machine
He stood us in front with the car at the back
When I’ll be kicked if his glass didn’t crack.

3. Now some had ham sandwiches others had pork
As we went that day on the trip to York
Shevills and Myers took up that much room
A small motor car was hired for some
Teetotallers were placed inside the small car
And away they went without a ta-ta
They scooted away, they made that car hop
While Scurr grimly held his bottle of pop.

4. At last we got seated, then raised a cheer
As off we went with our bottles of beer
Bob Warren and Vester from Tudhoe store
We had to leave, there was no room for more
But when we looked back they each gave a smile
And watched us away for quite half a mile
Before on the road we had got very far
Warren and Rider were driving the car.

5. Bob Shevills and those two had the front seat
They said the scenery was quite a treat
I never saw it: you talk about size
Why I couldn’t see past our captain’s meat pies
There was Chismon, the Whites and Robinson
Overend, Alf Kay then Alec Hodgson
Now Westell beside me, cared not a peg
Till I went and sat on his duck egg.

6. Fred Hood sat as though he had bought the earth
Then next to him sat Arthur Wrigglesworth
There was Charlie Proctor and his son John
George Andrews and the brothers Hodgeson
There was Pennington also Bob Soulsby
Anty Welsh, Winter then Jack Hanratty
Bill Goldenbank, Swainston, Scurr and Rowcroft
And mind I can tell you we were all toff’d.

7. Now while we were going round a big bend
The car gave a swerve, we lost Overend
He fell on the wheels and bounced off the tyres
Was rescued again by chairman Jack Myers
At this magic sight we all gave a squeal
But Jimmy and Joe still stuck to the wheel
We wished all day the roads had been wider
When we were drove back by Warren and Rider.

8. They wouldn’t slow down until Alfy Kay
Said in a deep voice ‘Dear friends, let us pray’
That made us all weep, our eyes we did rub
We thought of the good old Victory club
But soon again there was laughter and mirth
When the cards were started by Wrigglesworth
Then there was someone who just for a prank
Pinched a beer bottle off Bill Goldenbank..

9. We stayed for a while at Northallerton
And nearly lost Kay and Middleton
They went for a drink but they soon felt queer
When they had one drink of that Yorkshire beer
At Thirsk also we had a short stay
But Alfie and Tom this time did not stray
Past Thirsk pulled up a small car we did pass
The teetotallers playing cards on the grass.

10. They jumped on their feet and gave us a shout
They must have expected some beer chucked out
Their car had broke down with such a dry load
They passed us again but stopped by the road
That small car had stopped, for something had broke
We couldn’t help laughing it was such a joke
Assisted by Ryder and Overend
Jim Warren, with wire, that car soon did mend.

11. Now while we all played George Weastell had strayed
He thought that for long we would be delayed!
His flower he’d lost, he’d gone for a thistle
So Shevills blew a blast on his whistle
He came running back his face white as chalk
And didn’t recover until we’d reached York
Now when we reached York, the bands they did play
We had quite a good reception that day.

12. Now Wrigglesworth who is a Yorkshire tyke
Went into a shop and did hire a bike
Into the country, five miles he did roam
To see once again the old folks at home
The others all went with quite hurried pace
To have a good look at the Ebor Race
Westell said if he had any luck
When he went back home he would buy a big duck.

13. By taking the advice of Robinson
We all backed a winner at ten to one
In a very short time our hopes were squelched
For when we looked round the bookie had welshed
Now Overend his shilling did peep
He had Manilardo out of the sweep
To back that horse he said he was willing
So went and speculated his shilling.

14. He turned to Hodgeson with serious face
Said he would like a good view of the race
On the stand Alec said ‘You’ll get a look’
The bookie Bob said he might take his hook
We all backed our fancie, - then played the band
When the Ebor was won by “Iron Hand”
So we set off home all gloomy and sad
To think of that horse it made us quite mad.

15. Again at Northallerton, we did stop
While some of us went inside a fish shop
Before we set off we had to seek some
For some of the others had gone for rum.
Now when we got back to Tudhoe once more
We nearly all lay asleep on the floor
Our bottles all broke we all kept a cork
And that’s about all we fetched back from York.

Geo Warren 1920