I WAS born and lived at the time of the 1944 Boat Race at the junction of Cambridge Road and St Mary's Street in what is now the beauticians next door to Snippetts Hairdressers. On the opposite side of the road was the Kum-in-Cafe. Can anyone remember the large teapot over the door? I can remember the students from Cambridge coming through Ely to get to the Boat Race.

This was before the bypass and Queen Adelaide Way. The memory that has remained with me is a cycle made for four stopping at the Kum-in-Cafe. The cycle was parked outside and caused great interest.

I cycled to the Boat Race with my parents - and parked on Queen Adelaide bridge was the same cycle. Then, about six weeks ago, I was looking an an exhibition of photographs by the Nortfolk Industrial Archaeological Society and there was a photograph of the cycle made for four. I was given a copy and, on the back, was written: Made by the Hon Charles Stuart Rolls - of Rolls Royce fame.

I contacted various museums connected with Rolls Royce and discovered that Charles was a student at Trinity College, got his half blue for cycling and designed and built the cycle as a pacing machine.

Four people pedalling produced the right speed but, in later years, they were replaced by a motor-cycle. I have been unable to trace the cycle but I have been told a cycle for three and another for five still exist. Not the sort of things to ride in today's traffic. Can anyone else remember the cycle made for four?

Before the Second World War, Cambridge University had a thriving cycle club with their own track. All I can think is that Charles Rolls left his cycle with the club and members used it to get to the Boat Race.

Published in the Ely Standard of August 15, 2002