Albert Hitchen

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Albert Hitchen
Albert Hitchen after winning the 1964 Edition of London-York
Personal information
Full nameAlbert Reginald Hitchen
NicknameKing Albert and Albert the Dominator
Born4 July 1938
Mirfield, England
Died13 May 2015 (Age 76)
Mirfield, England
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineRoad

Track

Cyclo-Cross
RoleRider
Rider typeSprinter
Professional teams
1959Ellis Briggs Cycles
1960-1963
Viking Cycles
1964Bertin - Porter 39 - Milremo
1965Falcon
1966-1967Willem II - Gazelle
1966Mottram Cycles - Simplex
1966Broadhurst - Milremo
1966Bertin - Porter 39
1968-1970Falcon
1971-1972Falcon - Tighe
Major wins
National Championships
National Road Race Championships (1963, 1965)

One-day races and Classics

London - York (1963, 1964)
Albert Hitchen - 1964 London-York (11210725135) (cropped)

Albert Reginald Hitchen (1938-13 May 2015) was an

British Railways, becoming later known for his work in the preservation of steam locomotives
.

Cycling

Raised in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, Hitchen was a keen cyclist from his boyhood, winning the Yorkshire Junior Championship aged 16. He then toured East Germany the following year, sponsored by the Corona (soft drink) brand.[1]

First racing as a semi professional from 1959, he turned professional in 1967, and retired in 1973. During this period he recorded 30 victories, including the UK national title in 1963 and 1965, as well as two Lincoln Grand Prix victories. In 1963 Hitchen made his one and only appearance in the Tour de France, with a best finish of 41st on stage 1a before withdrawing after stage three.[1][2]

The majority of his cycling career was spent with

Viking Cycles, with whom he won two editions of the 275-mile London-Holyhead race, and Falcon Cycles for the final five years.[1][2] During this time frame he was known as "King Albert" thanks to his cycling success.[3]

After his retirement from professional cycling, he was appointed the racing team manager of the Falcon Sales Team.[1]

Major Results

1960
1st Overall Corona - Tour of the South West
1st Stages 1 & 3
1st Sheffield - Newark - Sheffield
1961
1st London - Holyhead
1st Nottingham - Skegness
1st Sheffield - Newark - Sheffield
1962
1st Overall Corona - Tour of the South West
1st Stage 3
2nd Stage 2
1st Bath - London
1963
1st Corona - Tour of the South West
1st Stages 3 & 5
1st Points Classification Huddersfield R.C. - Hammonds Prize Medal Two Day
3rd Stage 3
1st Lincoln Grand Prix
1st London - York
1st Road race
1964
1st Lincoln Grand Prix
1st London - York
1st London - Holyhead
1st Golden Wheel Trophy
1st Merseyside Easter Four Day
1965
1st Golden Wheel Trophy
1st Skelmersdale Reporter Two Day
1st Huntsman Ales - Easter Four Day
1st Stages 1 & 2
1st Tour of East Anglia
1st Road race
1970
1st Mountain Classification Tour of the Isle of Wight

Railway career

Whilst working his way up towards a professional cycling career, from school Hitchen joined

British Railways (BR) in 1952 as a fitter at Mirfield where he worked for the previous 36 months. After leaving BR, and during his semi-professional cycle racing career, Hitchen spent three years looking after Barclay tanks and fireless locomotives at ICI's Dalton works in Huddersfield
.

After retiring from professional cycling, Hitchen returned to BR, initially working at Ravensthorpe MPD.[2]

Railway preservation

In 1980, Hitchen bought

scrapyard. Moved to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for restoration, after running-in she moved to the East Lancashire Railway in 1982, and then the Severn Valley Railway in 1985. After mainline certification, she was based at Stewarts Lane alongside SR Merchant Navy No.35028 "Clan Line" and operated the VSOE British Pullman
alongside other charter trains.

After selling No.34027 in 2001 to Phil Swallow, Hitchen became a quarter-owner of

Fort William to Mallaig in 1995. Hitchen sold No.75014 to the Dartmouth Steam Railway
in 2002.

Hitchen's last locomotive was

LMS Black Five 4-6-0 no 45231 The Sherwood Forester. After completion of an overhaul at Loughborough on the Great Central Railway, she moved to the Watercress Line in 2005 for running-in. After a proving run to Fratton that year, she entered mainline service. During Hitchen's ownership, she worked the 40th & 45th anniversary trains of 1T57 (Fifteen Guinea Special), in double headed formation with sister engines 45407 & 44932. Bert could often be seen travelling with 45231 out on-board railtours as part of the support crew travelling behind his black 5 to locations around the north of England including trips down the famous Settle and Carlisle line, the engine was till Bert's death based at Carnforth MPD. After Bert's death she was sold by the Hitchen family in November 2015 to Jeremy Hosking
.

Personal life

Hitchen died of heart failure at home in Mirfield on 13 May 2015, aged 76.[1][2][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Former national champion Albert Hitchen dies aged 76 - Cycling Weekly". cyclingweekly.co.uk. 15 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d Zientek, Henryk (15 May 2015). "Tributes paid after sudden death of former cycling champion Albert Hitchen". examiner.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Falcon Star of the 60s: Bernard Burns Gets PEZ'd!". PezCycling News. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Albert Hitchen : Obituary". jpress.co.uk.[permanent dead link]
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