Alf Tabb

Alf Tabb (March 1883, London − 1976, Kidderminster, Worcestershire) was a bicycle shop owner and trick cyclist from Kidderminster, Worcestershire. He is most known for building and riding miniature bicycles.

Biography

Tabb was born in London in March 1883, where his father owned a cycle manufacturing company. His first job was as newspaper cyclist in London at the age of 13. In 1921 he married and moved to Kidderminster, where he set up a cycle workshop business in the Stourbridge Road area of town. He ran the shop for 17 years. He retired when he was 75 years old [1]

Trick cyclist

In 1938 Tabb built a 15 inch bicycle as his father used to do, to hang outside his shop as an advertising gimmick. Curious as to whether he could ride the bike he tried and found with a little practice he could ride the cycle.[2] He was then encouraged to perform his act at the local gliderdrome. This spurred Tabb to make further miniature cycles including an 18 inch tandem and a miniature penny farthing which had a 12 inch front wheel. Tabb, his daughter Peggy and grand daughter Pauline[3] then performed acts of trick cycling to television audiences in the UK and America on TV. He also set a world record for an unchallenged riding a 12 inch miniature cycle. For over 40 years nobody could beat Tabb by riding the 12 inch cycle more than five yards. He was interviewed by a young Chris Tarrant on ATV in 1972 aged 89.[4] His last official performance was at a mayor's ball in 1974 where at the age of 91 he was still able to ride his 12 inch miniature bike. Tabb died in 1976 aged 93. Since his death a road in Kidderminster, Tabb's Gardens, has been named in his honour.[5]

References
  1. "Alf Tabb interviewed by Chris Tarrant in 1972 (From Kidderminster Shuttle)". Kidderminstershuttle.co.uk. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  2. "Mr Tabb Makes A Bike". British Pathe. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  3. "Miniature Cycles". British Pathe. 30 June 1958. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  4. https://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-26071972-trick-cyclist-alf-tabb
  5. "Coombe House and Rose Orchard Newsletter Autumn 2010" (PDF). 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.

Further reading
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