THE MAIN CHARACTERS

CHARLES JAMES POPE

Charles was born on 11th March 1879 in Bridge Road, Hammersmith, London. The Popes of Hammersmith were synonymous with the furniture and auction business for generations until the late 1960s. Charles’ father, also named Charles James Pope, was a furniture warehouseman who sadly died in 1881 when Charles was only two years old.

It seemed that Charles spent most of his working career as a solicitor’s clerk. His mother, Harriet, is recorded in the 1911 Census as living by her own means and his brother Edward Brownfield’s occupation is listed as a clerk.

Charles enlisted in the First World War and served in the 5th London Rifles. During the summer of 1916 he trained at the Fovant Camp in Wiltshire. Prior to leaving for France, the Rifles carved their regimental badge into the chalk hillside. Other regiments followed the example of the London Rifles and carved their badges alongside. The hillside became a monument to those whose lives were lost in the Great War.

Charles’ cycling diaries commence in 1924 at a time when cycling was beginning to be extremely popular and a means of escape and adventure from the working week. Charles became a member of the increasingly popular Cyclist’s Touring Club in the early 1920s and later became a Life Member. The CTC provided an opportunity for likeminded cyclists to meet and socialise. Indeed, after the untimely death of his brother Edward, Charles found companionship with Francis and Alphonsine Sissons and in 1933 Charles married his latest cycling partner Doris Willson. Charles, Doris and their children lived happily in Chearsley, Buckinghamshire until his death at the age of 72. Charles was killed in a road accident when cycling back home in May 1951 (see Postscript).

EDWARD BROWNFIELD POPE

Edward was born in 1877 and named after his grandfather and uncle. He worked as a clerk and served in WWI in the Royal West Sussex Regiment. The brothers shared their love of cycling and the early diaries record their adventures with Charles being the author. Edward died in 1930.

FRANK & ‘FON’ SISSONS

Francis Thomas and Alphonsine, Charles in his diaries affectionately shortened her name to ‘Fon’, Sissons (nee Vaillant) were Charles’ cycling companions in the early 1930s. Although they were much younger (born in 1903 and 1905) than Charles and a tandem pair, they all became great cycling friends. The Sissons lived at No.8 Highview Gardens in Edgware. The ever dependable ‘Fon’ served in Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in WWII.