And bonus points for finding a cycling one too, thanks
@Katherine .
Some history now from Walthamstow, its E17 postcode stolen and made famous by the godawful 80's boy band. I came across this character who I initially thought was some kind of Al Capone gangster. It turns out its film director and producer Walter West. West was involved in movies from the days of silent films, and owned local film Studio, Walthamstow Studios.
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During the second World War, West was commissioned by the Government to make propaganda films for the war effort.
Nearby at 18 Grosvenor Park Road is a blue plaque commemorating another local resident.
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*zoom*
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Beryl was a trailblazer, but as can be seen in this old Pathe News report, faced a real struggle against the attitudes of the time. The last sentence of this clip shows what she was up against. ""slowly but surely women, the weaker sex, are muscling in on mans domain, practically no sport is sacred, thank goodness for dear old rugby league".
Beryl had mechanical problems during the 1962 race in the 50cc class she was racing in, but still managed to get the bike round what is still regarded as the worlds hardest motor cycle race, finishing 22nd out 25 riders. She vowed to come back next year and improve her time.
However Beryl's entry into the TT appears to have ruffled a few feathers and dented some fragile male egos, and the governing body changed the rules. Throughout the history of the TT races there have been injuries and fatalities, but while the death of male racers was one thing, the fear was too great that if women participating in road races were involved in a fatal accident, it would generate too much bad publicity for the sport. And so Beryl's race licence was not renewed by the governing body. Despite appealing and trying to get support to reinstate her licence and let her continue with the sport she loved, sadly Beryl was not permitted to race at the Isle of Man TT again, and was forced to retire from motorcycle racing. Beryl did go onto become a successful store manager at Sainsbury's and passed away in 2007 aged 71, but its sad to see such a clear case of sex discrimination crushing someones dreams. It was not until 1978 that another woman was permitted to race at the Isle of Man TT.
The people of Walthamstow have not forgotten Beryl or her trailblazing spirit, and earlier this year along with the unveiling of the plaque above, where Beryl lived during her TT race in 1962, artist Helen Bur did this excellent mural on nearby Wood St of Beryl racing.
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Today in 2019, shockingly, there are still parts of the world where women are not allowed to drive. But while there is a still a long way to go for equality, I'm delighted to report to that Pathe News reporter above, who will be spinning at 9000rpm in his grave somewhere, the last bastion has fallen, women's rugby league is a thing now
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