Jackie finds romance, and a new hobby
Or how Jackie is enticed to a local pub by an unknown gentleman, along with 70 other ladies…
Of course, it was all very innocent, well meaning and with an honourable purpose.
This was back in early 2007, before Stourbug was really formed as a club, and the gentleman in question turned out to be our very own Russell Eden who had placed an advert in the local newspaper ‘The Stourbridge News’ appealing for around 10 women to join him in the pub!
My name is Jackie and I thought I’d go along…
Russell was already a keen cyclist and his idea was for a small group of ladies to be trained to cycle and accompany his sister, Rachel, on a bike ride starting at Stourbridge Bandstand and finishing, appropriately, at Stratford-upon-Avon Bandstand - the advert was asking anyone interested to attend the meeting that he was going to organise.
And so I went along to the Longlands Tavern in Stourbridge. When I arrived there were already several ladies present but luckily I was fairly early so I was number 6 in the queue.
The meeting got off to a flying start - I made the mistake of revealing that I worked in a bank, so I was immediately informed by Russell: “Right Jackie, I’m appointing you as Treasurer, so sit there, take the money and get these nice ladies to fill out the application forms”.
I knew nobody there and nobody knew me! It was a busy evening and I ended up taking applications from over 70 women and took all the money home with me. Luckily for Russell I didn’t spend it, but joined the newly formed organising committee and did indeed officially become Treasurer. I set up the bank account and helped to run the fledging bike club which soon became known as Stourbug.
Russell was good to his word and went on to train us all, with the help of his friend, Paul. We started off cycling 15 miles one week then 20 the next and so on. Most of us hadn't cycled for years, if at all.
On May 12th 2007, around 35 of us cycled in small groups from Stourbridge to Stratford-upon-Avon. Well, it was wonderful! The lunch stop was at Hanbury Church and yes, he really did make us ride up that steep hill! We regrouped on the Stratford Greenway to cycle into the town all together.
What an experience! 35 excited women all following Russell who led us in, ringing our bike bells and calling out to bemused passers-by that we'd ridden all the way from Stourbridge! The tourists couldn't believe their eyes and many a photo was taken. Russell did a good thing in organising the ride and he really did change many lives for the better, and it was the experience of a lifetime.
In June 2010, I became the first Stourbug member to ride 10,000 miles and my achievement was featured in ‘The Stourbridge News’ which somehow seemed quite appropriate.
I’m still active within Stourbug and also very proud to be one of the founders of the club and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed many years of membership. Stourbug means a lot to me, and yes through the club I did find romance when I met my lovely Dave, a fellow cyclist, who was to become my husband - we became the first ‘Stourbug’ wedding couple in July 2011.
So, as you can see, Russell and Stourbug really did change my life!