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W. G. (Bill) Paul, one of the great time triallists of the 1930's, passed away on 29th January, just short of his 93rd birthday. A founder member of the Addiscombe C.C. formed in January 1929, Bill was one of eight club members who started their time trial career in the Kentish Wheelers' Novices 25 that year. Tandem racing was extremely popular in the 1930's. In 1930 partnered by Percy Huggett they won the Southend tandem 30 followed by the Archer 30, the latter from a full field of 100. Huggett and Paul were to win the Southend 30 again in 1931 and 32 from fields of 50-60 pairs, as well as being highly placed in other races. In 1933 E. V. (Ernie) Mills who had recently joined the Addiscombe was already showing his speed by notching up solo wins. By September, Ernie paired up with W.E. (Bill) Wells and entered and won the Epsom 30, soundly beating Huggett and Paul. From then on partnerships changed and it was Mills and Paul who were to go forward into the record books. In 1934 Mills and Paul broke the British amateur unpaced one hour tandem record at Herne Hill despite puncturing and changing machines twice. The distance covered was 28 miles 653 yards. Over the next four years they also notched up five tandem Competition records, at that time recorded by "Cycling": Epsom 30 1936, 1.05.03, Epsom 30 1937 1.03.14, Marlborough 50 1937 1.49.00, Marlborough 50 1939 1.48.16 and Oak 100 1938, 3.53.12. They also broke Southern RRA records at 50 and 100 miles. Having recently lost the British hour
record by less than 600 yards they went again in 1936 covering 30 miles
893 yards, the greatest distance covered by a tandem pair in the World. On
February 18th 1937 the pair were invited to sign "Cycling's"
Golden Book of Cycling, a book now maintained by The Pedal Club. Then
followed the Southern Counties Good Friday meeting at Herne Hill where the
pair decimated the field in what was billed as a 10 minutes Pursuit Match.
Mills and Paul had the track to themselves after just 3 mins 53 secs.
They continued with successes in numerous other races and by September 1937 a Fund "Cycling" had opened to send Ernie Mills to Milan to attack the world's hour unpaced record was expanded with the idea of sending both Mills and Paul. The U.C.I. did not officially recognise tandem records but Mills and Paul already having recorded the best mileage for the hour "Cycling" decided to send the pair "to the fastest track in the world". To quote "Cycling" of September 1st 1937, "cycling clubs are already collecting willing donations from members who are anxious to share in the honour of gaining for Britain a record that stands so high in the estimation of the world of sport". On 17th October 1937 Mills and Paul set up a new World's tandem record on the famous Vigorelli track of 31 miles 113 yards, collecting a further twenty-two intermediate world records on the way. It would be 63 years before the record was finally bettered by Rickards and Keaton of Rutland CC. Bill Paul also notched up many 25 and 30 mile solo wins during his career including Competition record in the Alton 30 of 1938 in 1.13.46. In 1998 he made several TV appearances, still awheel, when a pair from the Leo RC attempted to break the 61 year old tandem record, and in 2000 Radio Essex interviewed Bill on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Bill maintained his interest and contact with his club and cycling in general right to the end. Goodbye Bill, we shall miss your phone calls and interesting articles in the club magazine. When Bill phoned at Christmas he was busy writing a piece concerning Percy Huggett. He broke the news that he had just been diagnosed with stomach cancer but said "I'm not finished yet and I will get this article to you". Bill's last contribution will appear in a later issue of the club magazine. Chris Watts
More Bill Paul links: Bill and Ernie get the World Hour Record Riding with Ernie Mills and Charlie Roberts
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