Category: Transport: Road

Friday 19th July 1963

A Cycling Proficiency Test was held on Friday 19th July 1963, under the aegis of Warminster Road Safety Committee, at 27 Command Workshops, REME, Imber Road, Warminster, by kind permission of the Officer Commanding, Col. R.B. Brenchley.

The black and white photo above shows a scene from that July 1963 test.

In the July 1963 test there were 34 entrants – 22 passed and 12 failed. To pass the test, a child had to obtain 75% in each of six separate tests which covered covered signs, signals, cycle control and knowledge of the Highway Code (practical and theoretical).

The names of those who passed were:

Christine Bray, Michael Brayshaw, Linda Butcher, Sheila Butcher, Barbara Cox, Ian Harvey, Marilyn Heath, John Humphrey, Barbara Ingram, Andrew Jefferies, Susan Laing, Ann Martin, Ian Matthews, Kevin McGarry, David Middleton, John Prela, Heather Randall, Martin Smith, Kevin Spiers, Nadine Weston, John Whelan, and Helen Willsher.

The highest marks were scored by Ian Harvey and John Humphries (both achieved 92%).

Those who passed received a triangular shaped National Cycling Proficiency badge. The colour photo below shows the badge that John Prela received in 1963. (Photograph taken 62 years later in 2025 – John still has it in his possession).

In the five weeks leading up to the test, children attended instructional sessions on Saturday mornings at the Avenue School, Warminster. The trainers were Messrs. H. Hicks, N. Titt, P. Briggs, E.S. Cotterill, and M.H. Green.

The helpers at the actual test were:

P.C. A. Lythgoe, S.P.C. J. McGarry, S.P.W. J. Pratt, and Messrs. P. Briggs, A. Brock, E.S. Cotterill, M.H. Green, H. Hicks, L.H.A. Hosey, R.W. Rump and N. Titt.

The Committee expressed a wish that more children would take part in future tests as there was still a very high accident rate among young cyclists, although the current figures were lower than last for the first part of the year.

The Committee agreed to hold another course in September 1963.