The following extracts from "CRIMES AND ARNOLD - The Story of Two Great Racing Cyclists, Friends and Rivals" are included with the permission of the compiler - Martin Purser: "Albert was born to John and Martha Annie (nee Dunn) Crimes on a farm on Broughton Road, Coppenhall, Crewe, on Thursday, 17th March 1921.... his siblings being Winifred, Tom and Nancy. They attended Warmingham School and also the
Warmingham Road Methodist Sunday School." From The Derby Evening Telegraph of 7 June 1945: "MARRIAGES. CRIMES - RICE - On June 2, by the Rev. W. Brown, Marjorie Lorna Rice, of Derby, to Albert Crimes, of Coppenhall, Crewe." Further extracts from "CRIMES AND ARNOLD - The Story of Two Great Racing Cyclists, Friends and Rivals": "In 1945 Albert married Marjorie Rice, who he had met when working in Derby [on war work]. They wed at Warmingham Road Methodist Chapel, and later had two children, Margaret, born 23rd June 1948, who married and moved to South Africa, and sadly died at an early age; and John, born ... May 1951, who became a nurse." "Albert had the nicknames 'Alb' or 'Ab'." "Albert continued to work at the Crewe Locomotive Works as an Inspector Engineer. He and Marjorie were still at the bungalow on Swinburne Drive, Crewe, and his extensive collection of colour slides show a great interest [in] the countryside country-wide. They even went on holiday to South Africa, where daughter Margaret lived with her husband Geoff in the early 1980s." "John's old friend, Albert, in Crewe, was losing a long battle against Cancer that had spread into his bones and he was very poorly indeed. Eventually, at the age of only 64, he died on Thursday, 18th April, 1985. It did not seem possible that one of the toughest
competitors of his era had passed away so young. Albert's funeral on Tuesday, 23rd April, was at Coppenhall Methodist Church where he and Marjorie were married 40 years before. It was very well attended. So well attended that loud-speakers were put up outside for those wishing to pay their respects and could not be accommodated inside. Not only officials from the world of cycling and club men and women attended, but also representatives from Crewe Locomotive Works and Crewe Borough Council, such was the affection and high regard in which he was held. Later the cortege made its way to Crewe Crematorium, where again the congregation capacity of just 68 was insufficient for the number of mourners. Albert's ashes were interred in Crewe Garden of Remembrance." See the story on this website "Albert CRIMES - greatest exponent of the tricycle ever" (opens in a New Tab). Albert's Grant of Probate reads: "CRIMES, Albert of 5 Swinburne Dv Crewe died 18 April 1985 Probate Liverpool 29 May £34800" |