Marguerite Wilson was a record-breaking cyclist from Bournemouth

Bournemouth

Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...

. In 1939 she broke the Land's End to John o' Groats

Land's End to John o' Groats

Land's End to John o' Groats is the traversal of the whole length of the island of Great Britain between two extremities; in the southwest and northeast. The traditional distance by road is and takes most cyclists ten to fourteen days; the record for running the route is nine days. Off-road...

 and 1000 miles (1,609.3 km) records. When World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 stopped her efforts in 1941 she held every Women's Road Records Association (R.R.A.)

Road Records Association

The Road Records Association is a British cycle racing organisation which supervises records on the road but not in conventional races. It is one of the oldest cycle sport organisations in the world, formed in 1888.-Remit:...

 bicycle record. For her achievements she was celebrated in the Golden Book of Cycling

Golden Book of Cycling

The Golden Book of Cycling was created in 1932 by Cycling, a British cycling magazine,to celebrate "the Sport and Pastime of Cycling by recording the outstanding rides, deeds and accomplishments of cyclists, officials and administrators." There exists only a single copy of this compendium of...

  and received the Bidlake Memorial Prize

Frederick Thomas Bidlake

Frederick Thomas Bidlake was an English racing cyclist of the late 19th century who became one of the most notable administrators of British road bicycle racing during the early 20th century. The annual Bidlake Memorial Prize, was instituted in his memory...

Career

Wilson started racing in 1935, when she was 17. She broke broke three records riding as an amateur in 1938. Then in 1939 she turned professional and broke 11 records (including two of her own from 1938). The pinnacle of her year was completing the End to End ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 2d 22h 52m, continuing to complete the 1,000 miles in a record 3d 11h 44m. When World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 stopped her efforts in 1941 she held all 16 Women's R.R.A. bicycle records. In her career she won over 50 medals and trophies, including the Frederick Thomas Bidlake

Frederick Thomas Bidlake

Frederick Thomas Bidlake was an English racing cyclist of the late 19th century who became one of the most notable administrators of British road bicycle racing during the early 20th century. The annual Bidlake Memorial Prize, was instituted in his memory...

 Memorial Plaque for her End-to-End record.

Palmarès

1935

21/07/1935, 10 Mile Solo Record — 29 minutes 14 secs

1936

26/07/1936, 10 Mile Solo Record — 28 minutes 54 secs

05/09/1936, 10 Mile Solo Record — 28 minutes 02 secs

1937

06/06/1937, 10 Mile Solo Record — 27 minutes 57 secs

1938

19/06/1938, 10 Mile Solo Record — 27 minutes 15 secs

1939

29/08/1939–2/09/1939, Land’s End to John O’Groats in 2 days 22 hrs. 52 mins.

29/08/1939–2/09/1939, 1,000 miles in 3 days 11 hrs. 44 mins.

Honours

In 1939 she received the annual Bidlake Memorial Prize that has been awarded from 1934 until the present in honour of Frederick Thomas Bidlake

Frederick Thomas Bidlake

Frederick Thomas Bidlake was an English racing cyclist of the late 19th century who became one of the most notable administrators of British road bicycle racing during the early 20th century. The annual Bidlake Memorial Prize, was instituted in his memory...

. Her citation says:

Marguerite Wilson for her bicycle records, Land’s End to John O’Groats in 2 days 22 hrs. 52 mins. and 1,000 miles in 3 days 11 hrs. 44 mins. accomplished in one ride, 29th August – 2nd September 1939.

On April 30, 1947 her achievements were celebrated in in the Golden Book of Cycling

Golden Book of Cycling

The Golden Book of Cycling was created in 1932 by Cycling, a British cycling magazine,to celebrate "the Sport and Pastime of Cycling by recording the outstanding rides, deeds and accomplishments of cyclists, officials and administrators." There exists only a single copy of this compendium of...

 

Personal life

Marguerite Wilson was a stewardess for British Overseas Airways Corporation

British Overseas Airways Corporation

The British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...

 (B.O.A.C

British Overseas Airways Corporation

The British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...

) in 1948, working Short

Short Brothers

Short Brothers plc is a British aerospace company, usually referred to simply as Shorts, that is now based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Founded in 1908, Shorts was the first company in the world to make production aircraft and was a manufacturer of flying boats during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s...

 Flying boat

Flying boat

A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...

s from the Marine Airway terminal

British Marine Air Navigation Co Ltd

British Marine Air Navigation Co Ltd was a short-lived British airline operating flying boats across the English Channel in 1923 and 1924. It merged with three other airlines in 1924 to form Imperial Airways.-Formation:...

, Solent

Solent

The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...

, Southampton

Southampton

Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...

, Hampshire

Hampshire

Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...

.

External links

• British Pathe library 1249.07 | Airways Girl (1:08:21:00 - 1:09:29:00) 05/07/1948 - 14 images (and 68 second film clip) of Marguerite Wilson as B.O.A.C. stewardess and track cyclist.
• Picture of Marguerite Wilson in Spoke. The Magazine of Meridian CC (pdf)
• Image of Marguerite Wilson's page in The Golden Book