Ernie 'The Worcester Wonder' - local Olympic athlete who went to War

Ernest Payne was born on 23 December 1884 in Worcester and lived until 10 September 1961. Ernie was an English track cycle racer and won a gold medal in the team pursuit in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London for Great Britain. Quite the sportsman Ernie went on to play football, including two games as an amateur for Manchester United.

Ernie put his riding skills to a different use during WWI serving as a dispatch rider with the Guards’ Division. When the War Department called for motorcyclists to volunteer with their machines for despatch work at the start of August 1914, the response was huge. The London office had 2000 more applicants than places, and a similar response was reported in regional centres around the country.

If a rider and machine were approved then £10 was paid immediately, £5 to be paid on discharge (unless due to misconduct), and pay was 35s per week. The motor cycle would be taken over at valuation price, or replaced with a new one at the close of operations. Enlistment was for one year or as long as the war might last.

All machines had to have a "change speed gear". The following list of spares was also required to be carried :

• One valve complete with spring, washer and cotter

• One sparking plug

• One piston ring

• A tyre repair outfit including spares for valve

• A spare tube

• A spare belt and fastener (if belt driven)

• Spare link and a spare chain if chain-driven

• Complete set of spares for the magneto

• Selection of nuts and washers

• Two valve cap washers (if used on machine)

• Complete set of tools

• Two gaiters for tyre repairs

• A spare 'cover' to be carried by signal units for each machine (a tyre)

Ernie’s Olympic gold medal was lost whilst he was in France during the War, however a replica is held by Worcester City Museum and Art Gallery. A sculpture on the pedestrian and cycle bridge at Diglis over the river is also dedicated to Ernie ‘The Worcester Wonder’.