Les Archer, member of Stourbridge Velo and long-time LVRC member and organiser, has sadly died at the age of 85. He will be missed by many fellow riders and friends in the LVRC/BMCR. His son Nick has asked for this obituary to be posted.
Les Archer 30th April 1935 – 6th August 2020
After a short illness Les passed away at the age of eighty five, in a care home in Stourbridge, where he spent the last few weeks of his life.
Les was a cyclist for the majority of his life. He was initially a member of North Worcestershire Road Club, which in 1964 after an amalgamation, evolved into Stourbridge Cycling Club. In 2008, after a schism within that club, Les became a member of Stourbridge Velo. During National Service in Egypt he was a member of Exiles Cycling Club.
Les loved cycling in all its forms. In the fifties and early sixties he was a successful local rider, winning both time trials and road races as well as competing on the track and taking part in touring activities. In 1960, he was a member of the winning team in the R.TT.C. National’ 50’ Championship.
Les married a fellow member of the’North Worcesters’, Pat Lavender and they had two children. They lived all their married life in Kingswinford.
By the mid sixties racing had taken a back seat to work and family commitments, but Les remained an active club member as well as becoming a cycling coach, commissaire and commentator.
In 1974 Les made a comeback to racing which was to last into the 21st century. In 1984 he was proud to break two hours for a’50’ for the first time, while he loved road racing in LVRC events, achieving many good results. He was president of Stourbridge Cycling Club for over twenty years and his organisational achievements included three promotions of the National Amateur Road Race Championship, and several promotions for the L.V.R.C. on the Astley and Bobbington courses.
In 2001 he returned to Egypt with former colleagues of Exiles Cycling Club. This initiated a reformation of the club and Les was a regular participant in subsequent social gatherings and club runs.
Les only stopped cycling in 2016 due to the need for a hip replacement, but continued to take an interest in the sport which played such a large part in his life.