Edgar Milner… hills, perseverance and prowess

“Cycling keeps you fit and healthy” said retired postman Edgar Milner to a local newspaper in 1973. 78-year-old Edgar was busy proving it too. From his home in Leavening, Edgar was still regularly taking 10-mile rides on his trusty 1914 Rudge-Whitworth Cycle, which he had owned and ridden for 60 years!

In 1912, when automobiles dared not approach the daunting ‘Gill Brow’ above Rosedale – also known as Chimney Ban but 17-year-old Edgar was not deterred. One October day, astride his simple ‘safety bicycle’, Edgar achieved an astonishing feat. He successfully ascended the notorious mile-long and 500-foot climb without stopping or putting a foot down. The road was very rutty and loose stones were in abundance. It was an incredible achievement.

Edgar was awarded a special medal for the inaugural climb and it is believed to have been a gift from Fraser Nash, the car company struggling to conquer the same ascent with their vehicles, and a testament to the impression Edgar left on them. Today the medal is part of the collection at Ryedale Folk Museum in Hutton-le-Hole.

Two years later, in 1914, Edgar took part in a competitive hill climb up the notorious Sutton Bank. Rising nearly 250 metres in 1.4km, with an average gradient of one in eight, Edgar ascended the bank on his bicycle in 8 minutes and 12 seconds. He was fourth. We can’t help thinking he might have been a little disappointed. But Edgar received many accolades for his cycling endeavours and courage over the years, including £1,000 in gold sovereigns and a fine array of clocks, cups, medals and table silver.

In 1973, Edgar had a rather gloomy view of the future of cycling, telling the local newspaper that he believed that the cycle trade was ‘dying’ and it would only pick up when petrol reached £1 a gallon (it was around 40p/gallon at the time). “If people started cycling again they would get the fresh air that they need to be healthy” he said. Perhaps he would have been quite surprised to see the large numbers of people taking to their bikes for fitness and fun across the North York Moors today!

In his time, Edgar was the licensee at the Hare and Hounds in Leavening, ran a bicycle shop and was the district postman for fourteen years until 1972. He was also Rural District Councillor for Leavening.