Albert Winstanley, who has died aged 95, evoked his lifelong love of touring on his bicycle in a series of articles that stand comparison with the very best writing about the outdoors. Collections of his works appeared in 1985 (The Golden Wheels of Albert Winstanley) and 1991 (Golden Days Awheel). In these he captured a sense of wonder and delight at discovering the world on two wheels that won him many fans, of whom I was one.
He rode his bicycle from his mid-teens until he was 92. When, reluctantly, he was forced to give up riding, he described himself as feeling like “a fish out of water”. Typically his rides took him into the Yorkshire Dales, the Trough of Bowland or the Lake District. He would often plan his routes as a quest – to find an intriguing feature that he had spotted on a map, or to sit where a famous line of verse had been composed. Retold as stories in cycling magazines, his adventures took on a magical quality that made them a delight to read.
Alas, he had few competitors when it came to relating his cycle tours – although he followed in the tradition of the great cycling writers of the inter-war years such as Kuklos, Wayfarer and Ragged Staff.
He once wrote: “To me a bicycle is a machine of magic … taking me on to the ways of satisfied happiness; giving to me the good friendship I enjoy with others, and to share with me the delights and ecstasies of the outdoors. It gives to me the pleasures of mingling the past with the present … always discovering … always learning. Above all it gives to me also, memories to cherish and store inwardly, as I wheel my ways on joyous days … such a day has been today.”
Born in Bolton, Albert would remain in Lancashire for his entire life – save for service during the second world war when, as Sergeant Winstanley, he took part in the landings in North Africa. It was there that he met his future wife, Kathleen, herself undertaking war duties as a nurse. They married and, once back in Bolton, had a daughter, Ann.
Albert spent his working life as an aircraft technical clerk, but he lived to cycle and would often take off straight from work on a Friday night for a weekend on the road. As well as writing up his experiences of touring all over the UK, Ireland and the European continent, Albert also gave famed slideshows about his tours, accompanied by classical music, and appeared on Radio Manchester. Also a keen gardener, he delighted in feeding his grandchildren from his annual harvest.
Kathleen died in 1993. Albert remained in his own home until his final year and was cheering on his beloved Bolton Wanderers (outside whose stadium he is commemorated on the Spirit of Sport monument) until the very last weeks of his life. He is survived by Ann, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
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