The Wanderer. LWCC’s universally adored full colour magazine.
Thanks for the memories :o)
72 Editions of ‘The Lewes Wanderer’ - No. 190 January 2006 - No.262 December 2012
If you are reading this, chances are you have found the new
club blog or have received the ‘new’ club newsletter and are wondering what the
hell happened to the 32 page, full colour bumper womble fest that popped
through the door nearly every month. I
say nearly every month, who could forget the notorious edition where the mag
was sent with insufficient postage and most copies were returned to the editor
in chief.
When Chris Martin took the reins in 2006 no-one could have
imagined what had been born. The
January newsleter, as with previous material, had the usual mix of news and
results and at a humble 6 pages was no bigger than some previous newsletters
but Chris injected a hefty amount of banter mixed with a little sarcasm topped
with a pinch of ‘Hard Shoulder’ to spice up the back page. But that wasn’t all, there were visual
changes too, it was produced in colour and there was a new layout.
February 2006 and the newsletter has doubled in size to a
previously unheard of 12 pages, still in colour but now with added photo’s of
Wanderers actually riding bikes.
April 2006 and we have a fresh front page with a picture of
a Wanderer on the front (waves) and extended to 14 pages.
It wasn’t until August 2006 that the newsletter completed
its metamorphosis into a magazine and at 20 pages was a bit of a monster.
In 2010 24 pages became the norm, March-April 2011 was a
monster 32 pages, bettered by the July/August summer special at 48 Pages!!
What the magazine had in quantity, it equalled in quality, I
know because I read each and every magazine from cover to cover at least twice
(normally back to front?), not bad for someone that hasn’t read a cycling
publication for over 3 years. It wasn’t
just me though, my parents, my Nan and occasionally my brother were also avid
followers of the mag.
The importance of the magazine for a club can never be
underestimated. With circa 140 members
spread across most of East Sussex a bit of West Sussex and beyond, the magazine
has to be at the heart of club life, helping those who aren’t involved in the
day to day club activities feel a part of the club.
If you get a moment have a look at the club website and
flick through a couple of magazines across the years, it bought back many
memories for me.
We owe a huge thanks to Chris for his efforts and the many,
many, many hours he spent putting the magazine together but we must not forgot
all those who contributed articles, results and photographs must also be thanks
for creating what I believe to be the best cycling club magazine. Often on the
various cycling forums there would be a topic comparing club magazine, I never
contributed to this discussions, there was no point, our mag would blow the
others out of the water.
As is tradition, one last photo for the back page - I've been saving this for just such a special occasion:
Thanks for the fun, thanks for the banter, thanks for the
memories and thanks for making the club feel as one!
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