At some point during the 1950s, the East London Motor-Scooter Club pull up outside Oxford House and are photographed in situ. Roughly five years later, the Bethnal Green District Motor-Cycle Club awards an honorary membership certificate to head of house Peter Duke in ‘appreciation of the Services you have rendered to the Club during the period we have been connected with Oxford House.

Unknown, East London Motor-Scooter Club, Oxford House Archive.

Oxford House may not seem like the most obvious place for Motor Scooter and Motor Cyclists to have gathered in the 1950s. Yet, we were the founding place in 1956 for the East London Motor-Scooter Club, which was the second oldest bikers’ club to be set up in Britain. It continues to this day as members gather from around the Southeast for an annual ride on Vespas and Lambrettas alike

The Bethnal Green & District Motorcycling Club, however, is a bit more of a mystery. Our 1960-1961 Annual Report includes a section written by committee member S. Rolfe, who writes ‘1960 – Not a good year for motorcycling. Rain, rain, and even more rain. It never seemed to stop. But even so the Club did manage a few outings to the coast and country and also managed to attract a few new members.’ Following this, however, there is little to be known about the club – no photographs, no mentions in future annual reports, nothing to be found online.

Bethnal Green and District Motorcycle Club honorary certificate for Peter Duke, Oxford House Archive

We tried to investigate further and called the General Secretary of The Motor Cycling Club – Britain’s oldest motor sporting club who have been established for over 100 years. He hadn’t heard of them himself, and despite a  message in their weekly newsletter the trial ended there!

1960-1961 Annual Report, Oxford House Archive