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On the 15th June 2008, Cerrig-y-Drudion butcher Alun Jones (35) led family members and friends on a 60 mile sponsored cycle ride between Menai Bridge and Flint. The ride was in aid of the Paddington Ward at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, where Alun's daughter Elain died at seven days old. She suffered meningitis and septicaemia after contacting Group B streptococcus.

Thanks to Alun, his wife Teleri and their supporters over £14,000 was raised, What is noteworthy is that Cerrig-y-Drudion is such a small rural community to raise so great a sum. Largely Welsh speaking, it has a long history as an overnight halt for long distance travellers. In his classic journal, 'Wild Wales', George Borrow (1801-83) stayed at the White Lion Hotel - although he couldn't remember its colour!

We illustrate below photos of Alun's sponsored ride. We also show two photos depicting touring cyclists passing through Cerrig-y-Drudion in bygone days. There is one featuring the Queen's Hotel in the early part of the last century. This is now a private house. It displays the initials CTC. Accreditation by the Cyclists' Touring Club was highly prized. Unfortunately, as in this case, some establishments used the initials without authorisation. Only a Winged Wheel wall plaque guaranteed the endorsement of the Cyclists' Touring Club. For further information on these click http://www.wingedwheels.info/ and http://www.cyclingnorthwales.co.uk/pages/ctc_wing_whls.htm

In the 1950s the country was still recovering from the ravages of World War Two and its aftermath. Wearing army surplus togs cyclists were much in evidence in the byways of North Wales. Youth Hostels provided simple overnight accommodation. We feature four cyclists returning home to Liverpool on a Sunday afternoon in 1955. They had spent the weekend at Cynwyd Youth Hostel.

We are grateful to Eric Bradshaw from Canada for the photo of the Queen's Hotel. It seems he was given this by the current owner of the property. Eric is currently researching his family history. His great, great grandfather, William Parry, was landlord of the Queen's Hotel. If you have any old photos featuring cyclists in North Wales, please let us know. If they are of special interest you may wish to share them with our other web visitors.