Boakes & Lewis Morris Memorial Trophy

Boakes & Lewis Morris Memorial Trophy

In 1932 Mr Boakes presented another trophy, in addition to the previously awarded Boakes Shield. It was originally awarded to the club rider with the fastest aggregate time recorded in the two 25 mile time trials that were promoted in that year. A few years later it was awarded to the novice rider whose performances, in the opinion of the committee, have been the most creditable.In 1974 it was re-named The Boakes and Lew Morris Trophy.

Since 2018 t has been awarded for the most significant achievement of the year (September – August) in the Time Trial (TT) discipline as decided in a vote at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Nominees must be presented to the Committee Meeting prior to the AGM, from which process not more than three names will be selected.

Lew joined the club in 1947 when he came to Gloucester for his job in local government, Lew was originally from Colwyn Bay, North Wales, where he was a member of Rhos on Sea cycling club in 1933, then over to the Cambridge Town and County C.C.where he broke their 12 hour record. He was a life long member of the Tricycle Association. Lew also took part in the C.T.C. Royal Jubilee ride in 1928 when he was just twelve years old.

Lew was a true clubman. As a racing man he would tackle everything from hill-climbs, (Portway on a trike using a 50 inch fixed) to 24 hour time trials. In 1948 he held the club 24 hour record with 376.1 miles. He took the Three Cities tricycle record in 1949 with 4hrs 37mins 35secs and in 1950 the Worcester and back with 2hrs 55mins, also on a trike.

He held several club offices, auditor, press secretary, newsletter editor, course measurer and timekeeper. In that position he would be out at almost every club event, even organising unofficial 10s on club nights. He became a vice president in 1972

He was also a strong competitor in the social competition, with map reading skills second to none. Even though he liked to win he would always encourage and teach young members, always pushing them to have a go. Lew put in a tremendous effort with the junior side of the club on all aspects of cycling, touring, racing, youth hostelling, road craft etc. in fact, you name it Lew would do it.

Lew was very strong on the issue of cyclist’s rights. With increasing motor traffic, cyclists were regarded as worse than second class citizens on the roads. He would think nothing of pointing out sections of the Highway Code regarding cycling to over zealous policemen or council officers, especially when the club run was stopped for riding two abreast, which happened regularly on main roads. On one occasion he was issued with a summons for not having a bell on his bike. In court when asked why do you not have a bell on your bike, Lew replied that he only needed to give audible warning of approach.

‘How do you do that Mr. Morris?’

‘I just shout Oi!’

So there was no case to answer!

On Sunday club runs Lew would always be there, sometimes riding a tricycle with a 63 inch fixed gear, or the Raleigh bicycle he won in a competition in 1938 by writing an essay for Cycling under the heading; ‘If. I was a traffic dictator.’ He had a large stable of bikes, one of which, a tandem tricycle, would occasionally be brought out on a Saturday or Sunday with an un-suspecting new member riding stoker! He would organise the Easter Tour, staying at youth hostels, leaving Gloucester on Good Friday and returning ten days later, Destinations included Pembrokeshire, East Anglia, and the Isle of Wight, to name a few.

Outside cycling, Lew and his wife were canal enthusiasts. In 1973 they had a narrow boat built at Saul, hoping to spend the summer months, after they had retired from work, travelling the inland waterways. Due to their work with canal restoration they had an invitation from Buckingham Palace to attend the opening of a restored canal in the Midlands. So in May 1974 Lew and his wife set off on their maiden voyage. Four days later while negotiating a flight of locks at Lapworth in Warwickshire Lew had a heart attack; he fell into the canal and drowned. He was 58.

YearWinnerYearWinner
2023Tim Radley
2022Jon Richardson2021Matt Hill
2020Not awarded2019Louise Smith
2018John Murphy2017Carlo Toledo &
Pete Habershon
2016Dan Kelly2015Ian Lindsay
2014Harry Edwards2013Tom Leach
2012Andrew Godden2011Matt Callaghan
2010Matt Godden2009Aaron Preece
2008Matt Stevens2007S Bartlett
2006Rupert Denny2005G. Reeson
2004Not awarded2003Mike Horsman
2002Tom Veale2001Toby Wooldridge
2000Mrs. Debbie Light1999 N. Platts

1998 Not awarded1997 Simon Roberts
1996Andy Rolley1995 Gary Ridgeway
1994Nick Swan1993Andrew Jackson
1992G. Hobbs1991R . Rowles
1990Keir Williams1989J. Ingmire
1988 C. Hanby1987 A. McCree
1986 R. Tedaldi1985 A. Palmer
1984 Miss Marie Cahill1983 A. Marvsyczenko
1982 Not awarded1981 John Barnes
1980 D. Hayward1979 Keith Trinder
1978 K. Baker1977 P. Hughes
1976 A. Davis1975 A. Perry
1974 K. Tagle1973 C. Ransome
1972 M.Green