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TOMMY GODWIN CYCLES
Silver Street
Kings Heath
90 year old Tommy Godwin was one of this countries greatest track racing cyclists and one of cycle racing's greatest ambassadors. Born in 1920 in the USA he spent his adult and working life in Birmingham. He was a national sprint champion and an Olympic medalist, winning two bronze medals at the 1948 London games in the team pursuit and the 1km individual time trial. Tommy also won a further bronze medal at the 1950 British Empire Games. Tommy was also manager of the British National Cycle Team at the 1964 Tokyo Games.
Tommy's first bicycle was a Wrenson's (the grocers) delivery bike and he soon discovered he could ride and deliver eggs and bacon faster than anyone else!
Tommy joined the BSA in 1936 as an electrician and worked there till 1950 when he left to set up his own cycle shop in Silver Street, Kings Heath, which he ran for 36 years.
In between working at his shop Tommy was the national cycle coach and coached and encouraged many a future champion. He was the manager of the British cycling team at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo and later became president of the Solihull Cycling Club
He ran the first British training camp in Spain (Majorca) and the first national cycle track racing course at Lileshal Hall in Shropshire. He also founded the Birmingham Racing Cycling Club. He was one of the first training coaches, training and mentoring a generation of British track racing cyclists, many of whom won national and international titles and medals.
In the 36 years that Tommy was in business he was agent for BSA, Raleigh, Phillips, Viking, Dawes, Claud Butler, Sun & FC Parkes. There was also a Tommy Godwin own make cycle, the frames being at one time built by Tommy in the rear of the shop. Eventually because of his coaching work the frames were built by the Derby company of Mercian.
At 90 Tommy is still president of the Solihull Cycling Club. In 2007 he completed his autobiography, It wasn't that Easy, which is an excellent book worthy of the attention of any sportsman as it exposes some of the trickery and trechery surrounding sport at a time when the public would have been very ignorant of such goings on. The book at times is controversial and especially brings into question the reputation of Reg Harris, at that time a household name. Tommy's father also comes in for some criticism for the way he manipulated the boy and tried to profit from his success in an appaling manner. It's a mark of the man that despite his fathers treatment Tommy admits he still loved his father.
It wasn't that Easy: Tom Godwin. John Pinkerton Memorial Publishing Fund, 2007. 200 pages paperback, £15. ISBN978-0-9552115-5-3
Unfortunately this book is currently out of print, sign up for the MIB newsletter if you want to be notified when the re-print will be ready (see contact page).
Tommy attended The Hercules 100 event on August 1st 2010 at the former Hercules cycle factory in Aston Birmingham, organised by this website, Made in Birmingham.
Tommy has also been actively supporting the campaign to save the world famous cycle track at Herne Hill which was used for the 1948 Olympics and is the last remaining finals venue of those games.
Tommy said
“The Herne Hill Velodrome is still a magnificent track and full of wonderful memories for me and the whole country from the 1948 Olympics. I cannot believe that something so historical and still important today could be threatened. So many of the tracks in London from my days have gone, leaving just Herne Hill. I went to the Velodrome recently and saw some of the youth members using it. It was an inspiration to hear their enthusiasm and it would be such a shame if it was lost forever.”
Support the campaign at Save Herne Hill Velodrome
Tommy is the Birmingham ambassador for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Dont miss these videos of Tommy
Tommy rides the Velodrome again with Bike he won on in 1948
Cycling legend Tommy Godwin interviewed by the BBC
We are very sorry to report that Tommy's wife Eileen, died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after a short illness on the 5th January 2011. The funeral service took place at Knowle Parish Church on the 2nd February. Our deepest condolences to Tommy and his family.