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Gus Andrews RIP

GUS ANDREWS lost his fight against leukemia on 14th March. Gus is best know to our current membership as the quiet man who cleaned and arranged all the trophies at the club dinner and took the Chair at the AGM. He joined the club in 1945 and shortly after was drafted into the Army. At the time of his demob in 1948 ownership of a car was a rarity and club members were well used to 'eating up the miles'. Cyclists used their weekends, bank holidays and two weeks' annual leave to just 'ride a bike' and built up an enormous stamina awheel. Gus started time trialing and by 1950 had finished second in the Luton 12 and won the Southern Counties 12 with a mileage of 239.52.

Addiscombe riders had already made their mark in the RTTC National 24 hour Championship with Stan Harvey in 1947, 48 & 49 being placed 3rd, 2nd and 1st respectively. In 1950 Stan had finished 2nd with Eddie Mundy 3rd and Sid Armstrong 4th to take their first Team Championship win and Competition Record. John Watts finished 11th.

The 1951 season had commenced with a third place for Gus in the Kingston Hilly 75 (now the Redmon 73) and plans were ahead for the Championship 24 being run by the Catford CC on the roads of Surrey and Sussex. Riding his first '24'Gus Andrews ran out the winner with 461.31 miles, a new Competition Record. Backed by Stan Harvey 3rd and John Watts 5th, he also led the Addiscombe to team victory and yet another Competition Record.

Clubmate Eddie Mundy took the title off him in 1952 with another competition record ride but Gus finished third and second counter to yet another team win and the club's third Team Competition Record.

In 1953 Gus confined his time trialing to the shorter distances recording 247.02 miles in the National Championship 12 hour to take eighth place. This ride and his 4.36.15 for 100 miles and 2.07.45 for 50 miles gave him the Club Championship that year.

In 1954, finishing 4th in the National 24 hour Championship, Gus led the team to a third national victory with Eddie in 5th place and Stan Harvey 7th.

Like many good club folk Gus decided to repay the sport he loved. He had joined the committee in 1952 and from 1958 to 1974 was general secretary. As Club President 1975-76 and 1978-80 he instigated the President's 10, an end of season 'social' event that continues to be extremely popular with members. Gus was awarded Life Membership in 1962 and has twice held the Memorial Trophy for service to the club. His last act for us was to polish the trophies up to brilliance for the Dinner in January. Unwell, he made the effort to attend along with his wife Anita and went into hospital shortly after. We have truly lost a great friend.