the arlesey
pram race
In the 1980’s the Arlesey Pram Race was a big day out for what seemed like
the whole village. It certainly looked as if all Arlesey folk stepped out of their
houses to watch the teams go past. Held every year, around September
time, it was organised by Arlesey Young Wives.
We have put together a picture montage of some images we have been
sent of some of the races over the years it took place. Unfortunately details
such as when was the first, who won what and how fast did they go are a
bit illusive so hopefully we can get this information together and put this in
next month.
The races themselves had different categories such as the men’s race,
the women’s race, the novelty race and the children’s race. Each race was
made up of pre-enrolled teams, with three people in a team – two ‘runners’
and a ‘baby’.
The teams were encouraged to have a theme for their entry with some
very creative costumes and outrageous designs. They serious race teams
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Image: Bron Martin
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had to have a manufactured pram, but the novelty prams seemed to have no
restrictions on the design and construction, resulting in some fantastic displays.
Each team would set off from Old Oak Close and stop at each ‘beer stop’
and drink half a pint of beer. children had soft drinks. The first stop was the
Old Oak, the second The Steam Engine (now the Vicars Inn) and on down
the village calling at all the pubs and clubs finishing at the Prince of Wales
in Hitchin Road with a bar-be-que. In total there were about 12 beer stops
along the route. The whole route was around two miles long, and the fastest
time was recorded at about 16 minutes.
One memorable team who were in the very first Pram Race constructed
a ‘Dragster’ from some car parts and used this for their pram. From here
the novelty classification was born. The team consisted of Neil Bardell, Rick
Brabrook and Robin Ghisi and after putting their pram together found it had
opposite steering (steer left and the pram would turn right). Unfortunately the
team have only one picture of the Dragster (below) as it was stolen after the
race. So if you have any images of the Dragster please get in contact.
The team also put together an aeroplane with a water canon and smoking
engines (stage smoke), a steam engine with a water canon, a tank that fired
confetti mortars and a main gun that fired too, a helicopter with working
rotors and a water canon as well as a working hovercraft. Needless to say
with the novelty race they didn’t finish the race quickly but took time to travel
the length of the course – usually about two hours.
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March 2014
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1 Start: The Old Oak
2 The Steam Engine
3 The White Horse
4 The Rose & Crown
5 The Three Tuns
6 Arlesey Social Club
7 The Crown
8 The Star
9 The True Briton
10 The Mallard
11 rlesey Town Football Club –
A
Lamb Meadow
12 Finish: The Prince of Wales
Image: Peter Wright
Image: Neil Bardell
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to advertise telephone: 01462 834265 or go to the website: www.onthebuttonarlesey.co.uk