Roger Stevenson Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 This is a long shot as is said ! Anyone with knowledge of the Millhouses Motor Club whose members met in the Millhouses Hotel on Abbeydale Road in Sheffield. I have an interest from an ex Sheffield lad who lives in New Zealand, his parents were members in the 1930's Nothing found on the web ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponytail Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 Was it definitely called Millhouses Motor Club? There is: Sheffield and Hallamshire Motor Club. https://sandhmc.co.uk/about/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Stevenson Posted January 2 Author Share Posted January 2 Hi Ponytail and thanks for your reply I doubt it was the Sheffield & Hallamshire Motor Club, but I will check. The Millhouses Club could have become the Sheffield & Hallamshire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmund Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 The club was formed during 1926, with a membership of around 40 by September the following year, when thirty members took part in their Badger Trial departing from the Millhouses Hotel at two minute intervals, travelling out via Fox-House, Mam Tor, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Buxton, Monsal Dale and returning via Owler Bar. The winner was S.Rodgerson, presented by president Tom Badger with a replica cup. In May 1928, Joseph Badger of the Millhouses Motor Club was on the committee of the Sheffield Motorists Happy Family, which was organised to take in the region of 5.000 children to Cleethorpes in motor vehicles over the summer. In December that year the club decided to continue its membership of the A.C.U. and to supply over a dozen riders for competition on the new dirt track in Sheffield. Member D.Jones was complimented on a very successful season, winning six out of seven dirt track races, the Yorkshire Championship on Tankersley grass track, ten ascents of Litton Slack and numerous other awards. In January 1929, the Millhouses Motor-Cycling Club held a meeting at the Millhouses Hotel, where Mr.H.Highfield was elected captain and Mr.B.Gillan vice-captain. In June 1929 Millhouses Motor Club member Dave Jones came second in an Inter-Club Match Race at the Sheffield Speedway. The winner was "Dusty" Jenkins of the Sheffield and Hallamshire Motor Club. Jones came off at the first bend on the first lap and a re-run was ordered, but he came off again in the first lap and Jenkins finished alone. I'd bet that the spectators went home dusty as well... In November 1929 the Sheffield and Hallamshire MC held their first inter-club reliability trial against Millhouses MC. This was over three laps of a 25 mile course in Derbyshire. SHMC won by finishing five men out of six started, MMC only managed to finish four men out of six. There were only two observed sections: Mayfield and Callow Bank, both difficult due to recent heavy rain. The MMC riders who finished were: R.Marshland, S.Dexter, R.Watson and A.Lloyd. The same weekend, MMC held their trial for the Mrs Dan Bradbury Trophy. The course was over Lyon Slack, Cowdale and Blackermill, which had to be covered twice. Results were: 1st W.Asquith, 2nd W.Marsland, 3rd W.Beech, the best novices gold medal was also won by Asquith, and the best sidecar performance went to J.Badger. Later in November, the MMC suggested that all the motor clubs in Sheffield should hold a ball in aid of the Sheffield hospitals. They announced that the trial for the Dan Bradbury Cup would take place at Litton (12 times over the circuit) on 23rd November, and that the next weeks meeting was deferred by a day as the club dance was planned for the Wednesday. In January 1930 60 members were present at the dinner and general meeting at the Millhouses Hotel. Officials elected were: President D.Bradbury, Vice-President A.Davenport, general committee: T.Marsland, A.Hunter, J.Badger, T.Dexter and T.Smith. Mr. H.Lloyd the retiring secretary, was rewarded for his service. Trials winners for the previous season were: W.Marsland, H.Sturgess, D.Jones, W.Baxter, T.Marsland, D.Hill, A.Hunter and J.Badger. In June 1930 their 20mph reliability trial for the club cup had 15 riders starting at 2 minute intervals from midnight, for Scarborough. The rules included that riders should have no watch or speedometer for the return journey. The results were: 1. J.Christian, 2. W.Beech, 2. J.Ashmore, 4. A.Parker. In February 1931 the club visited Bamford Clough and Castleton, where they climbed Winnats and went ski-ing in the snow. They announced dates for the season's trials: 29 March Davenport Cup (only 5 riders finished, first was D.Marvin -26 points, 2nd J.Badger -28 points, 3rd J.Deakin -29 points) 26 April Lilleker Trophy 31 May Club Cup 21 June Badger Cup 26 July Hatfield Trophy 23 August Tennants Trophy 18 October Christian Cup. The dates for the Bennett Trophy and Sheffield and Hallamshire v Millhouses MC trial would be announced later. In April 1931 the captain of the club, William Marsland, a 30 year old boat repairer, married Elsie Durham at Norton Church, and they honeymooned in France. In May 1931 the club visited the Ariel motorcycle works in Birmingham, meeting up at the Millhouses Hotel, and opening the invitation to any non-members who would be interested. At the end of the month the trial for the club cup took the form of a midnight run to Scarborough, the first man leaving the Millhouses Hotel at midnight, the rest at one minute intervals. There were two known time checks and several secret checks en route. In June 1931 the Millhouses MC arranged a club social run in conjunction with the Stocksbridge MC, to Hazleford Ferry, Newark, for boating, swimming and picnic, leaving from the Highfield Hotel. In February 1932 a well attended meeting was held at their HQ, the Millhouses Hotel, chaired by Fred Millson. The club would be re-organised, the current club to be extinct and replaced by a club of the same name. Millson asked for an explanation of this action. Joe Badger said it was due to a lack of interest among members, and H.Crowe declared that if members would pull together with the new officials, there was no reason that the club should not be amongst the foremost of motor clubs. It was decided to hold a general meeting on 17th February when Flight-Lieutenant C. Brown would preside with the assistance of Mr Griffiths the well known Sheffield sportsman. In December 1933 their third annual dinner was held at their HQ, still the Millhouses Hotel. After "loyal toasts" Mr.A.Davenport proposed "Our Guests" responded to by Mr.C.C.Brown, Mr.R.Bennett submitted "The Prize Winners", responded to by Mr.L.Holmes. Mr. H.Crowe presided, Mr.L.Whittaker was hon. secretary, Mr E.C.Bell was president-elect, they were assisted by Mr.F.Askew, F.Hargreaves, A.Davenport and F.Milson. Mr.Crowe congratulated the club on its success and reminded them of the progress of motoring since he had first taken it up. In 1903 he undertook what was then considered a long journey, to Bridlington, which took two days averaging ten mile per hour. Mr.L.Holmes, the most successful rider, said that it was gratifying to see that in their first year of joining the Motor Cycle League (Division "B") they had been placed second - he was hoping for first place next year. The prize winners were: Davenport Trophy: L.Holmes (on a James) Maher award: 1. L.Holmes (James, 2. J.Pearson (Sunbeam), 3. W.Crowe (James) Lilleker Trophy: 1. W.Crowe (James), 2. N.Roper (Brough Superior) 3. L.Holmes (James) Club Cup: 1. L.Holmes (James), 2. A.Longley (Scott), 3. W.Crowe (James) Brown Trophy: A.Longley (Scott) Hatfield Bowl: 1. J.Pearson (Sunbeam), 2. J.Hargreaves (Chrysler), 3. A.Hunter (Rudge snr) Christian Memorial Trophy: 1. W.Crowe (James), 2. L.Holmes (James), 3. A.Hunter (Rudge snr) Best Performance of the Year Badger Cup: 1. A.Hunter (Rudge snr), 2. L.Holmes (James), 3. R.Greaves (Rudge) Tennants Trophy: 1. J.Pearson (Sunbeam), 2. L.Jones (James), 3. W.Crowe (James), Best novice L.Jones (James) Bronze Rider: 1. L.Holmes (James), 2. A.Longley (Scott) Slater Cup: 1. L.Jones (James), 2. (tie) L.Whittaker (Ariel), 3. W.Crowe (James) A small contingent attended the 1934 T.T. races on the Isle of Man. In August 1936 Millhouses MC member Reginald Eyre married Dorothy Nadin at Chapel-en-le-Frith. The Sheffield Ace Motor Club was formed in December 1930 with its headquarters the Big Tree Hotel, moving via the Wagon and Horses, to the Millhouses Hotel by December 1937. Presumably they had taken over the Millhouses Motor Club. Tom Badger, licensee of the Millhouses Hotel, sponsor of the MMC club, and a pioneer of cycling in Sheffield, died in May 1938. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Stevenson Posted January 2 Author Share Posted January 2 Good evening Edmund, WOW that's some reply ! Do you have a family or friend connection, I presume you do. Do you know where the dirt track was in Sheffield that you refer to ? I presume the name Dan Bradbury mentioned was the guy who owned the shop on London Road at Highfields in Sheffield Have you any references in the club to Harry And Mary Baggaley ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmund Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 No connection though I attended a few speedway meetings at the Owlerton stadium on Penistone Road in my early teens. Owlerton Dirt Track 1929 Dan Bradbury (born 1880) was secretary of the Sheffield and Hallamshire MC in 1910. In 1911 he broke the 500cc flying kilometre record with a time of 31 3/5 seconds which beat the recent record set at Brooklands. Dan and wife Annie opened the shop at 224 London Road in 1919, it was still there in the '70s. Dan in Scarborough 1912 Here's a mention of Harry Baggaley winning a trial in 1934: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponytail Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 Millhouses Hotel, No. 951 Abbeydale Road, Millhouses. s21758 Photographed by Sheffield Engineers and Surveyors and these notes with the photograph (no date): Millhouses Hotel, Tenanted house. Stone built, old fashioned front. Outside W.C.'s. Facilities for sitting out. Bar, 4 pumps and one from wood (central services). Bar parlour-small. Lounge with Billiards table, service in passage. Living accommodation upstairs. Moderate WandS trade, 1 barrel per week. Present asst. G.V. Agreed asst. G.V. R.A.'s asst. G.V. Tom and Joseph Badger mentioned in the reports were probably also the licensee (or related to). The Badger family kept the Millhouses Hotel for a period from the 1920's. Info from Sheffield History A-Z Public Houses. 1923 to 1925 Thomas Alfred Badger 1926 Joseph Badger (presumably father of TAB), late of the Millhouses Hotel, Sheffield, died 27 Oct 1926. Will proved by Thomas Alfred Badger "London Gazette 22 Feb 1927. 1929 - 1937 Thomas Alfred Badger 1938 Mrs Lilian Badger 1939 - 1951 Joseph Thomas Badger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Stevenson Posted January 3 Author Share Posted January 3 Good morning Edmund and Ponytail and many thanks for the information provided My late cousin Ray Stevenson worked in Dan Bradbury's shop in the early 1950's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Stevenson Posted January 3 Author Share Posted January 3 Millhouses Motor Club. circa 1930's 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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