Although born in Scotland, Bob Carmichael-Riddell and his late wife Margaret settled in Leeds in 1941 and joined the Cyclists’ Touring Club simultaneously. They toured extensively together on a tandem throughout the next forty-one years, in every county of the British Isles, throughout Europe and also in the USA.
Bob was the Section Secretary and Runs Secretary for the Leeds Section of the CTC from 1941 to 1945, being instrumental in keeping the section going during the war and in extending this after the war. In 1945 he was elected to represent Yorkshire on the National Council of the CTC and has remained so ever since, serving on most of the CTC standing committees.
He was the chief organiser of the British Cycle Tourist Competition from 1951 to 1980. He was a founder member of the York Rally and, but for a short break for business reasons, has remained Chairman of its organising committee to the present time.
In 1953 Bob organised the celebration for the 75th anniversary of the CTC, which was founded in Harrogate in 1878, and in 1978 when the CTC attained its centenary he was Chairman of the committee which organised the extensive programme of events, including a round Britain non-stop relay ride.
Bob Carmichael-Riddell’s contribution to Yorkshire cycling, touring cycling in particular, is of the highest order and his efforts over a period of more than forty years more than justifies this Award.
10th February 1985