Alf Tabb (March 1883 − 1976) was a bicycle shop owner and trick cyclist from Kidderminster, Worcestershire. He is most known for building and riding miniature bicycles.
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 cyclistedit
In 1938, Tabb built a 15-inch (38 cm) bicycle as his father used to do, to hang outside his shop as an advertising gimmick. Curious as to whether he could ride the bicycle, he tried and found that he could, with a little practice.[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 (46 cm) tandem and a miniature penny-farthing which had a 12-inch (30 cm) front wheel.
Tabb, his daughter Peggy and granddaughter Pauline,[3] then performed acts of trick cycling to audiences in the UK and America on television. 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 5 yards (4.6 m). He was interviewed by a young Chris Tarrant on ATV in 1972 aged 89.[4]
Tabb's 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 bicycle. Tabb died in 1976, aged 93. Since his death, a road in Kidderminster has been named in his honour, Tabb's Gardens.[5]
In popular cultureedit
One of Tabb's miniature cycles was featured in a 2020 episode of The Repair Shop television series, having been brought in for restoration by two of Tabb's granddaughters.[6]
Referencesedit
^"Alf Tabb interviewed by Chris Tarrant in 1972 (From Kidderminster Shuttle)". Kidderminstershuttle.co.uk. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
^"Mr Tabb Makes A Bike". British Pathe. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
^"Miniature Cycles". British Pathe. 30 June 1958. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
^"ATV Today: 26.07.1972: Trick Cyclist Alf Tabb". 23 June 2017.
^(PDF). 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
^Smith, Gwendolyn (11 November 2020). "The Repair Shop, BBC1, review: The profoundly soothing series makes a welcome return". iNews. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
Further readingedit
Ken Tomkinson (1977). Characters of Kidderminster. Kidderminster: Kenneth Tomkinson Ltd. ISBN0-9504718-2-8.
Burling, Adam (24 December 2009). "Horsefair statue 'fitting tribute' to fun-loving Alf". The Shuttle. Kidderminster.
January 01, 1970
tabb, march, 1883, 1976, bicycle, shop, owner, trick, cyclist, from, kidderminster, worcestershire, most, known, building, riding, miniature, bicycles, tabb, riding, miniature, bicyclebornmarch, 1883london, englanddied1976, aged, kidderminster, worcestershire,. Alf Tabb March 1883 1976 was a bicycle shop owner and trick cyclist from Kidderminster Worcestershire He is most known for building and riding miniature bicycles Alf TabbTabb riding a miniature bicycleBornMarch 1883London EnglandDied1976 aged 93 Kidderminster Worcestershire EnglandOccupationBicycle shop ownerKnown forRiding miniature bicycles Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Trick cyclist 1 2 In popular culture 2 References 3 Further readingBiography editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed March 2011 Learn how and when to remove this message 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 edit In 1938 Tabb built a 15 inch 38 cm bicycle as his father used to do to hang outside his shop as an advertising gimmick Curious as to whether he could ride the bicycle he tried and found that he could with a little practice 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 46 cm tandem and a miniature penny farthing which had a 12 inch 30 cm front wheel Tabb his daughter Peggy and granddaughter Pauline 3 then performed acts of trick cycling to audiences in the UK and America on television 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 5 yards 4 6 m He was interviewed by a young Chris Tarrant on ATV in 1972 aged 89 4 Tabb s 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 bicycle Tabb died in 1976 aged 93 Since his death a road in Kidderminster has been named in his honour Tabb s Gardens 5 In popular culture edit One of Tabb s miniature cycles was featured in a 2020 episode of The Repair Shop television series having been brought in for restoration by two of Tabb s granddaughters 6 References edit Alf Tabb interviewed by Chris Tarrant in 1972 From Kidderminster Shuttle Kidderminstershuttle co uk 24 December 2009 Retrieved 3 March 2011 Mr Tabb Makes A Bike British Pathe Retrieved 3 March 2011 Miniature Cycles British Pathe 30 June 1958 Retrieved 3 March 2011 ATV Today 26 07 1972 Trick Cyclist Alf Tabb 23 June 2017 Coombe House and Rose Orchard Newsletter Autumn 2010 PDF 2010 Archived from the original PDF on 15 July 2011 Retrieved 5 March 2011 Smith Gwendolyn 11 November 2020 The Repair Shop BBC1 review The profoundly soothing series makes a welcome return iNews Retrieved 5 June 2022 Further reading editKen Tomkinson 1977 Characters of Kidderminster Kidderminster Kenneth Tomkinson Ltd ISBN 0 9504718 2 8 Burling Adam 24 December 2009 Horsefair statue fitting tribute to fun loving Alf The Shuttle Kidderminster Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alf Tabb amp oldid 1091733744, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
