# Albert Hitchen > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Albert_Hitchen > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Albert_Hitchen.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Hitchen > Source revision: 1343184740 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|English cyclist}} {{Infobox cyclist | name = Albert Hitchen | image = Albert Hitchen - 1964 London-York (11210725135) (cropped).jpg | caption = Albert Hitchen after winning the 1964 Edition of London-York | full_name = Albert Reginald Hitchen | nickname = King Albert and Albert the Dominator | birth_date = 4 July 1938 | birth_place = [Mirfield](/source/Mirfield), England | death_date = 13 May 2015 (Age 76) | death_place = [Mirfield](/source/Mirfield), England | currentteam = | discipline = Road Track Cyclo-Cross | role = Rider | ridertype = Sprinter | majorwins = '''[National Championships](/source/British_National_Road_Race_Championships)''' :[National Road Race Championships](/source/British_National_Road_Race_Championships) (1963, 1965) '''[One-day races and Classics](/source/Classic_cycle_races)''' :London - York (1963, 1964) | proyears1 = 1959 | proteam1 = Ellis Briggs Cycles | proyears2 = 1960-1963 | proteam2 = [Viking Cycles](/source/Viking_Cycles) | proyears3 = 1964 | proteam3 = Bertin - Porter 39 - Milremo | proyears4 = 1965 | proteam4 = Falcon | proyears5 = 1966-1967 | proteam5 = Willem II - Gazelle | proyears6 = 1966 | proteam6 = Mottram Cycles - Simplex | proyears7 = 1966 | proteam7 = Broadhurst - Milremo | proyears8 = 1966 | proteam8 = Bertin - Porter 39 | proyears9 = 1968-1970 | proteam9 = Falcon | proyears10 = 1971-1972 | proteam10 = Falcon - Tighe }}thumb|Albert Hitchen - 1964 London-York (11210725135) (cropped) {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} {{Use British English|date=December 2016}} '''Albert Reginald Hitchen''' (1938 – 13 May 2015) was an [English](/source/English_people) professional [road racing](/source/Road_bicycle_racing) [cyclist](/source/cycle_sport), who had also trained as an engineer with [British Railways](/source/British_Railways), becoming later known for his work in the preservation of [steam locomotive](/source/steam_locomotive)s. ==Cycling== Raised in [Mirfield](/source/Mirfield), [West Yorkshire](/source/West_Yorkshire), Hitchen was a keen cyclist from his boyhood, winning the Yorkshire Junior Championship aged 16. He then toured [East Germany](/source/East_Germany) the following year, sponsored by the [Corona (soft drink)](/source/Corona_(soft_drink)) brand. First racing as a semi professional from 1959, he turned professional in 1967, and retired in 1973. During this period he recorded 30 victories, including the UK national title in 1963{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004848/19631014/529/0023 |title=Hitchen wins road title |work=Daily Express |date=14 October 1963 |page=23 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=2 November 2025}} and 1965, as well as two Lincoln Grand Prix victories. In 1963 Hitchen made his one and only appearance in the [Tour de France](/source/Tour_de_France), with a best finish of 41st on stage 1a before withdrawing after stage three. The majority of his cycling career was spent with [Viking Cycles](/source/Viking_Cycles), with whom he won two editions of the 275-mile London-Holyhead race, and [Falcon Cycles](/source/Falcon_Cycles) for the final five years.{{cite web|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/cyclist-albert-hitchen-dies-mirfield-9256794|title=Tributes paid after sudden death of former cycling champion Albert Hitchen|first=Henryk|last=Zientek|date=15 May 2015|work=examiner.co.uk}} During this time frame he was known as "King Albert" thanks to his cycling success.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-05|title=Falcon Star of the 60s: Bernard Burns Gets PEZ'd!|url=https://pezcyclingnews.com/interviews/star-of-the-60s-bernard-burns-gets-pezd/|access-date=2022-01-07|website=PezCycling News|language=en-US}} After his retirement from professional cycling, he was appointed the racing team manager of the Falcon Sales Team.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/former-national-champion-albert-hitchen-dies-aged-76-171833#cvDy7o1oBLTlzlqM.99|title=Former national champion Albert Hitchen dies aged 76 - Cycling Weekly|date=15 May 2015|work=cyclingweekly.co.uk}} == Major results == {{div col|colwidth=25em}} ;1960 : 1st 20px Overall Corona - Tour of the South West :: 1st Stages 1 & 3 : 1st Sheffield - Newark - Sheffield ;1961 : 1st London - Holyhead : 1st Nottingham - Skegness : 1st Sheffield - Newark - Sheffield ;1962 : 1st 20px Overall Corona - Tour of the South West :: 1st Stage 3 :: 2nd Stage 2 : 1st Bath - London ;1963 : 1st 20px Corona - Tour of the South West :: 1st Stages 3 & 5 : 1st 20px Points Classification Huddersfield R.C. - Hammonds Prize Medal Two Day :: 3rd Stage 3 : 1st Lincoln Grand Prix : 1st London - York : 1st 20px [Road race](/source/British_National_Road_Race_Championships) ;1964 : 1st Lincoln Grand Prix : 1st London - York : 1st London - Holyhead : 1st 20px Golden Wheel Trophy : 1st 20px Merseyside Easter Four Day ;1965 : 1st 20px Golden Wheel Trophy : 1st 20px Skelmersdale Reporter Two Day : 1st 20px Huntsman Ales - Easter Four Day :: 1st Stages 1 & 2 : 1st 20px Tour of East Anglia : 1st 20px [Road race](/source/British_National_Road_Race_Championships) ;1970 : 1st 20px Mountain Classification Tour of the Isle of Wight {{div col end}} ==Railway career== Whilst working his way up towards a professional cycling career, from school Hitchen joined [British Railways](/source/British_Railways) to work on steam locomotives in Mirfield for 18 months, followed by a further 12 months at [Wakefield](/source/Wakefield)'s shed, and then six months at [Bradford](/source/Bradford) Hammerton Street. He finished his service with [British Railways](/source/British_Railways) (BR) in 1952 as a fitter at Mirfield where he worked for the previous 36 months. After leaving BR, and during his semi-professional cycle racing career, Hitchen spent three years looking after Barclay tanks and fireless locomotives at ICI's Dalton works in [Huddersfield](/source/Huddersfield). After retiring from professional cycling, Hitchen returned to BR, initially working at {{rws|Ravensthorpe}} MPD. ==Railway preservation== In 1980, Hitchen bought [Bulleid West Country](/source/SR_West_Country_and_Battle_of_Britain_classes) Pacific No.[34027 "Taw Valley"](/source/SR_West_Country_class_21C127_Taw_Valley) for preservation from [Woodham Brothers](/source/Woodham_Brothers) [scrapyard](/source/scrapyard). Moved to the [North Yorkshire Moors Railway](/source/North_Yorkshire_Moors_Railway) for restoration, but as very little progress was being made on the project the decision was made to move the locomotive to the [East Lancashire Railway](/source/East_Lancashire_Railway) where it arrived in November 1982p25 Taw Valley by Ian McDonald Midland Publishing Ltd 1993. A further move was made to the [Severn Valley Railway](/source/Severn_Valley_Railway) in November 1985 and restoration was completed in 1987p27, p29 Taw Valley by Ian McDonald Midland Publishing Ltd 1993. After mainline certification, she was based at [Stewarts Lane](/source/Stewarts_Lane) alongside [SR Merchant Navy No.35028 "Clan Line"](/source/SR_Merchant_Navy_Class_35028_Clan_Line) and operated the [VSOE British Pullman](/source/Belmond_British_Pullman) alongside other charter trains. After selling No.34027 in 2001 to Phil Swallow, Hitchen became a quarter-owner of [BR Standard 4](/source/BR_standard_class_4_4-6-0) 4-6-0 no 75014. Based at [Grosmont](/source/Grosmont%2C_North_Yorkshire), the 4-6-0 became a regular on charter train duties, working the first season of the Jacobite along the [West Highland Line](/source/West_Highland_Line) from [Fort William](/source/Fort_William%2C_Highland) to [Mallaig](/source/Mallaig) in 1995. Hitchen sold No.75014 to the [Dartmouth Steam Railway](/source/Dartmouth_Steam_Railway) in 2002. Hitchen's last locomotive was [LMS Black Five](/source/LMS_Black_Five) 4-6-0 no [''45231'' The Sherwood Forester](/source/LMS_Stanier_Class_5_4-6-0_5231). After completion of an overhaul at [Loughborough](/source/Loughborough) on the [Great Central Railway](/source/Great_Central_Railway_(heritage_railway)), she moved to the [Watercress Line](/source/Watercress_Line) in 2005 for running-in. After a proving run to {{rws|Fratton}} that year, she entered mainline service. During Hitchen's ownership, she worked the 40th & 45th anniversary trains of 1T57 ([Fifteen Guinea Special](/source/Fifteen_Guinea_Special)), in double headed formation with sister engines 45407 & [44932](/source/LMS_Stanier_Class_5_4-6-0_4932). Bert could often be seen travelling with 45231 out on-board railtours as part of the support crew travelling behind his black 5 to locations around the north of England including trips down the famous [Settle and Carlisle line](/source/Settle%E2%80%93Carlisle_line), the engine was till Bert's death based at [Carnforth MPD](/source/Carnforth_MPD). After Bert's death she was sold by the Hitchen family in November 2015 to [Jeremy Hosking](/source/Jeremy_Hosking). ==Personal life== Hitchen died of heart failure at home in Mirfield on 13 May 2015, aged 76.{{cite web|url=http://announce.jpress.co.uk/yorkshire-weekly-newspaper-group/obituary/albert-hitchen/41865672|title=Albert Hitchen : Obituary|work=jpress.co.uk}}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ==References== {{reflist}} {{British National Road Race Championships (men)}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Hitchen, Bert}} Category:2015 deaths Category:Sportspeople from Mirfield Category:Cyclists from Yorkshire Category:English male cyclists Category:British male cyclists Category:Road racing cyclists Category:British people associated with Heritage Railways Category:Deaths from dementia in England Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in England Category:1938 births Category:20th-century English sportsmen --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Albert Hitchen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Hitchen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Hitchen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.