John Borland Wadley (1914-1981)
Rovers committee member Kelly Philips has kindly researched and put together the piece below explaining who Jock wadley was and why it is important for us to keep his name alive.
Before the days of Eurosport or GCN, there was John Wadley, or Jock as known in local cycling circles. Jock was a journalist and author, whose passion for cycling and cycle races, brought the Tour de France and other continental racing to fans in Britain.
He did this through the magazine articles he wrote under the name J.B.Wadley. In his career Jock covered 18 Tours de France from his very first back in 1956. He worked for the
British weekly paper, ‘The Bicycle‘ and then started and editing monthly bike magazines like the ‘Coureur’ (later known as ‘Sporting Cyclist‘) and ‘International Cycle Sport‘.
Jock Wadley began cycling with the Colchester Rovers club at the age of 14. Jock, and his friend, Alf Kettle, were out riding between Kelvedon and Coggeshall one evening. Struggling to see the way whilst riding by the light of acetylene lamps. They took a wrong turn onto a farm track. Alf said to Jock the ride was “like the Tour de France”.
This was the first time Jock had heard of the race, which was still in the era of daily stages that started at dawn and rode on unsurfaced roads. Jock wanted to know more. In 1933 at the age of 19 Jock travelled to the world track championships which were being held in Paris, he came home in awe of riders like Jeff Scherens and Lucien Michard.
So began Jock’s working life as a journalist, writing about cycling for over 40 years. It’s fair to say that Jock Wadley had a passion for cycling and racing in all its forms. When it came to race reporting, Jock always ensured that the reader knew what was going on, every twist, turn, acceleration, even when it became complicated during the mountain stages, he’d stop the action to explain it to the reader. Jock’s skill at reading races, made many of his reports compelling reading.
Jock received official recognition during the 1970 Tour de France where he was awarded La Medialle de la Reconnaissance du Tour De France. This accoloade was a medal of gratitude from the French in recognition of his work as a non-French national covering the tour.
Jock’s writing encouraged British riders who at the time wre trying to break into the continental racing scene. Many would seek out Jock on the start lines to ask his advice.
At club level Jock rode in the local and national Time Trials which at the time were the core of club racing and activities. Jock personally loved the time trial and especially the longer ones.
In 1971 Jock Wadley rode PARIS-BREST-PARIS. This ride along with his account in the book ‘Old Roads and New’ with other cyclist’s long-distance endeavors, assisted in paving the way for the 1976 formation of the organisation which is now known today as Audax UK.
Jock Wadley was a true clubman and former president of the Colchester Rovers and loved to be on his bike whether covering races with his panniers and typewriter; or popping to get some eggs at a little farm shop a two hour round trip from his home, he loved to ride his bike.
Jocks unexpected death in 1981 is why the prestigious Jock Wadley Memorial Road Race exists as a very fitting and long-lasting tribute to a pioneer, gentleman, clubman and passionate cyclist.
References:
Personal copy ‘ From the Pen of J.B. Wadley ( Selected & Edited by Adrian Bell)