As a member of the Memorial Court of Trustees from its inception in 1961, Tom Anderton was ineligible for consideration for the annual award, an award for which he would, without doubt, have been a most worthy candidate. In recognition of this, The Court of Trustees has agreed that this citation be duly inscribed in his memory.
Tom Anderton, by the breadth of his contribution to the sport of cycling had few, if any, equals, either in his native county of Yorkshire, or the country as a whole. Cool, dignified, and formidable in debate, he carried the respect of all who came into contact with him.
Starting his cycling career in 1929 with the Cyclists’ Touring Club, he soon teamed up with Cyril Hepplestone and Jack Fancourt, producing a section of riders who were respected throughout the land, and which formed the basis of the subsequently all powerful Yorkshire Road Club massed start team.
Tom’s involvement in the sport of cycling was as varied as it was intense. He was as prominent in the massed start world as he was in time trialling. His list of promotions is endless, from being Frank Slemmen’s assistant at the 1948 Olympic Games Road Race, to staging his own club’s Victory 50, for which he donated the silver trophy.
As an administrator he was feared by many. He held numerous offices, but he was happiest and perhaps most effective, when free to debate from the floor. At his best few, if any, could match Tom’s powers of persuasion when putting his case.
As a timekeeper of national standing, he was second to none, and over a period of nearly fifty years his remorseless attention to detail must have caused the downfall of many an aspiring competitor.
He was a life member of the Yorkshire Road Club, of which he was secretary at the time of his death. Few have aspired to achieve so much and even fewer have attained the level of perfection that was Tom’s.