Betty and Nancy Debenham

Betty and Nancy Debenham (born c. 1906[1]) were twin sisters, motorcyclists, and sports journalists in the United Kingdom. The sisters were heirs to the Debenhams department store fortune, and were both attached to the BSA works team.[2]

The Debenham sisters on their 2,000 mile tour in 1929

Motorcyclists

By 1923 the two were already well-known colourful figures,[3] sometimes working as stunt riders to promote motorcycle sales at events such as the Olympia Motor Show.[4] In 1924 Betty Debenham completed a 500 mile trial on a 1.25 horsepower motorcycle from London to York and back, and then to Brighton and back.[5]

By 1926 they had both become formidable racers, and were competing in events across the country. They competed in their first trials in February, winning gold (Betty) and silver (Nancy) cups.[6] Each earned a silver cup in August's London-to-Barnstaple trial, riding 2.25 horsepower BSA motorcycles.[7][8] A few weeks later, Nancy Debenham came out on top in a 200 mile reliability trial organized by the London Motor Cycling Club involving about 40 riders, mostly men.[9]

In 1929 the pair made a wager with racing driver Kaye Don that they could complete a 2,000 mile tour without spending any of their own money.[10] They set off south from London in February, but were forced to turn back due to snow.[10] Having already completed 600 miles in wintery conditions, and earned a few shillings helping stranded motorists, they headed north and encountered better weather.[10] They made more money by posing for photographs and writing about their journey, and at one point delivered a tyre for a local garage in exchange for petrol and oil.[10][11]

Writers

In 1928, the Debenhams published a book entitled Motor-Cycling for Women. Based on their extensive experience, the slim book is part travel guide, part manual, and part shopping guide.[12][13]

Motor-cycling is an ideal hobby for the tired business girl. She can seek health and pleasure during her precious week-ends by exploring the countryside and the seaside. She can gather her violets and primroses from the woods instead of buying them in jaded twopenny bunches, and her whole week-end's holiday need only cost her the price of her return fare to Brighton.

Betty Debenham was press secretary for the London Ladies' Motor Club.[14]

Later life

Betty Debenham went on to become a golf writer for the Daily Sketch[15] and, in 1938, was a founding member of the Association of Golf Writers.[16]

References
  1. "Sports". The Fresno Morning Republican. 31 August 1926. p. 14. Retrieved 12 July 2023. ...Nancy Debenham, a girl still in her teens...
  2. "Wheels of Glory". Western Daily Press. 26 February 1994. p. 37. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  3. "The Standard Union 02 Dec 1923, page 34". The Brooklyn Standard Union. 2 December 1923. p. 34. Retrieved 12 July 2023. Schoolchildren are always on the lookout for Miss Nancy Debenham, who gives the youngsters of her district a treat by carrying a whole load of them to school in the morning.
  4. "Exhibiting new cycles: Model home on wheels". Birmingham Gazette. 16 Oct 1923. p. 10. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  5. "Girl's splendid motor cycle runs". Daily Mail. 14 March 1924. p. 9. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  6. "Motor-cycling twins". Sunday Pictorial. London. 21 February 1926. p. 2. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  7. "Twin Sisters' Fine Ride". Sunday Pictorial. 1 August 1926. p. 23. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  8. "Brilliant Girl Riders". Daily Mirror. 2 August 1926. p. 15. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  9. "Champion Test Rider". The Daily News Leader. Associated Press. 9 September 1926. p. 4. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  10. "Girls' 2000-mile motor cycle tour". Birmingham Gazette. 20 Feb 1929. p. 3. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  11. "2000 mile venture". Citizen. Gloucester. 14 February 1929. p. 6. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  12. McEwan, Jo-Ann (29 March 2020). "REVIEW: Motor-Cycling for Women (1928)". In Venus Veritas.
  13. Youngs, Tim (2015). "'Take out your machine': Narratives of Early Motorcycle Travel". New Directions in Travel Writing Studies. Palgrave Macmillan UK: 145–160. doi:10.1057/9781137457257_10. ISBN 978-1-349-56767-6.
  14. "London Ladies Motorcycle Club (founded in 1927)". IET Archives blog. 2017-11-30. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  15. Wright, Ben (1 May 2005). Good Bounces and Bad Lies. University of Nebraska Press. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-8032-9854-5.
  16. "Betty Debenham – AGW Member (1938 – ?)". Association of Golf Writers. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
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