Alex Crowton
On the trail of Granddad Jack
Fundraising for Shelter
Story
'On the trail of Granddad Jack' - A 200+ mile cycle ride to honour the memory of Granddad Jack and to raise awareness for homelessness issues.
Friends raise money for homeless charity in a bid to honour the memory of ‘Granddad jack’ a migrant worker who cycled from Banningham , Norfolk to Pocklington in East Yorkshire in a bid to find work amid an economic slump and housing shortage in the 1930’s.
"A humble man in life, Granddad Jack would never have understood the fuss that we are making to honour him by taking 'the route that he might have taken' all those years ago from Norfolk to Pock. However, as someone with a strong social conscience and empathetic nature, he would appreciate that we are also doing it to raise awareness of issues of homelessness, as it is something that he and others like him dealt with (unless you can call a comfy hedge a home).
Granddad Jack was quite a character to his family and friends in East Yorkshire, as well as in the West Midlands. He was well known for his appreciation of simple things in life, words of wisdom ("always keep a knife in yer pocket" has got me out of many difficult situation - steady constable!), generosity and legendary flat-cap (I don't think I ever saw him without one).
People who met him generally did not forget him in a hurry. However, behind the smiles and canny grin lay a survivor - someone who had to deal with abject poverty at a time of national crisis. It is important that we don't forget what he and people like him went through. This is why we are retracing the path that he might have taken.
John William Eastoe, in taking foot to pedal from 'Banny' to 'Pock' as you did, we salute you!"
We intend to update the Granddad Jack blog (see below), produce limited edition t-shirts, film the trip (of the route we think he might have taken) and make a tour log that will be released after the event.
The lads would encourage you to check back on the Granddad Jack blog regularly for photo's and video posts leading up to the event.