Lawrence Fletcher

Lawrence Fletcher was an enthusiastic pioneer cyclist who helped Stanley Cotterell found the Bicycle Touring Club (later renamed CTC) in 1878 and distinguished himself in various cycling exploits. It is partly due to his energetic championing of the right of cyclists to use public highways for competitive events that time trials can today take place on roads.

For a number of years in his early cycling days he lived in Birkenhead and he had an important influence in the development of Anfield BC. Also to his credit, he married a Welsh girl from Llanfairfechan!

He is mentioned in several pages of Walter Dutton's Sketchbook Diary of 1887 (pp. 15, where he collides with a cow, 16, 23 & 24, where he wins a Liverpool CC road race) .

David Birchall has written an article about this influential early cyclist. It was published in The Boneshaker and David has kindly given us permission to use it here.