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Betty and Nancy Debenham

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The Debenham sisters on their 2,000 mile tour in 1929

Betty (30 November 1895 – ) and Nancy Warner Debenham (1897 – ) were English sisters, motorcyclists, and sports journalists. The sisters were heirs to the Debenhams department store fortune, and were both attached to the BSA works team.[1]

Motorcyclists

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By 1923, the two were already well-known colourful figures,[2] sometimes working as stunt riders to promote motorcycle sales at events such as the Olympia Motor Show.[3] In 1924 Betty Debenham completed a 500 mile trial on a 1.25 horsepower motorcycle from London to York and back, and then to Brighton and back.[4]

By 1926, they had both become formidable racers, and were competing in events across the country. They competed in their first trials in February, winning gold (Betty) and silver (Nancy) cups.[5] Each earned a silver cup in August's London-to-Barnstaple trial, riding 2.25 horsepower BSA motorcycles.[6][7] A few weeks later, Nancy Debenham came out on top in a 200 mile reliability trial organized by the London Motor Cycling Club involving about 40 riders, mostly men.[8]

In 1929, the pair made a wager with racing driver Kaye Don that they could complete a 2,000 mile tour without spending any of their own money.[9] They set off south from London in February, but were forced to turn back due to snow.[9] Having already completed 600 miles in wintery conditions, and earned a few shillings helping stranded motorists, they headed north and encountered better weather.[9] They made more money by posing for photographs and writing about their journey, and at one point delivered a tyre for a local garage in exchange for petrol and oil.[9][10]

Writers

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In 1928, the Debenhams published a book entitled Motor-Cycling for Women. Based on their extensive experience, the slim book is part travel guide, part manual, and part shopping guide.[11][12]

Motor-cycling is an ideal hobby for the tired business girl. She can seek health and pleasure during her precious week-ends by exploring the countryside and the seaside. She can gather her violets and primroses from the woods instead of buying them in jaded twopenny bunches, and her whole week-end's holiday need only cost her the price of her return fare to Brighton.

Betty Debenham was press secretary for the London Ladies' Motor Club.[13]

Later life

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Betty Debenham went on to become a golf writer for the Daily Sketch[14] and, in 1938, was a founding member of the Association of Golf Writers.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Wheels of Glory". Western Daily Press. 26 February 1994. p. 37. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  2. ^ "The Standard Union 02 Dec 1923, page 34". The Brooklyn Standard Union. 2 December 1923. p. 34. Retrieved 12 July 2023. Schoolchildren are always on the lookout for Miss Nancy Debenham, who gives the youngsters of her district a treat by carrying a whole load of them to school in the morning.
  3. ^ "Exhibiting new cycles: Model home on wheels". Birmingham Gazette. 16 Oct 1923. p. 10. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Girl's splendid motor cycle runs". Daily Mail. 14 March 1924. p. 9. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Motor-cycling twins". Sunday Pictorial. London. 21 February 1926. p. 2. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Twin Sisters' Fine Ride". Sunday Pictorial. 1 August 1926. p. 23. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Brilliant Girl Riders". Daily Mirror. 2 August 1926. p. 15. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Champion Test Rider". The Daily News Leader. Associated Press. 9 September 1926. p. 4. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d "Girls' 2000-mile motor cycle tour". Birmingham Gazette. 20 Feb 1929. p. 3. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  10. ^ "2000 mile venture". Citizen. Gloucester. 14 February 1929. p. 6. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  11. ^ McEwan, Jo-Ann (29 March 2020). "REVIEW: Motor-Cycling for Women (1928)". In Venus Veritas.
  12. ^ Youngs, Tim (2015). "'Take out your machine': Narratives of Early Motorcycle Travel". New Directions in Travel Writing Studies. Palgrave Macmillan UK: 145–160. doi:10.1057/9781137457257_10. ISBN 978-1-349-56767-6.
  13. ^ "London Ladies Motorcycle Club (founded in 1927)". IET Archives blog. 2017-11-30. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  14. ^ Wright, Ben (1 May 2005). Good Bounces and Bad Lies. University of Nebraska Press. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-8032-9854-5.
  15. ^ "Betty Debenham – AGW Member (1938 – ?)". Association of Golf Writers. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
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