No bridge too far to beat stroke

Pedal pushers from around the country are invited to don their cycling shorts and take to the streets of London as part of The Stroke Association’s annual Thames Bridges Bike Ride on Sunday 14th May. The event, now in its eleventh year, raises vital funds to support all those affected by stroke.

The Thames Bridges Bike Ride weaves across 14 of London's most historic bridges on its 32-mile route through the heart of the capital. Starting at Tower Bridge, the route follows the River Thames to Hurst Park, Hampton Court, passing landmarks in Westminster, Battersea and Kew. You could find yourself pedalling over the grand 19th century Albert Bridge in Chelsea - the only bridge in central London never to be replaced! It still boasts a war-time notice at each end warning marching troops to break their step when they cross. For more facts and stats on the 14 Thames Bridges see notes to editors below.

TV Presenter Sarah Greene who has long supported The Stroke Association said: “The Thames Bridges Bike Ride is a fantastic opportunity for people to get out and celebrate the capital whilst raising vital funds to beat the UK’s third biggest killer. It’s a unique event that cyclists of all ages can take part in and know they are making a real difference to all stroke survivors, their families and carers.”

Beverley Silke, Head of Events at The Stroke Association said: "The Stroke Association’s Thames Bridges Bike Ride has gone from strength to strength over the last 10 years. Now into its’ second decade, the support of every single participant remains invaluable. Even raising £100 in sponsorship could fund The Stroke Association Helpline for five hours, actively supporting the 250,000 people in the UK who are currently living with the effects of stroke. ”

To receive an application form please call Katie on 020 7566 0311 or email nationalevents@stroke.org.uk

ENDS

For other enquires please contact the Media Team at The Stroke Association on 020 7566 1500 or email press@stroke.org.uk

Notes to editor

1. Photos of TV Presenter Sarah Greene are available on request

2. Facts on fourteen fantastic bridges:

Tower Bridge Completed in 1894 Tower Bridge was the world's largest and most sophisticated hydraulically operated bridge able to raise the central road span in 90 seconds. Until 1976 the winding machinery was powered by steam but is now electronically operated. Because the Act of 1885 stipulated that the public should have access over Tower Bridge at all times, walkways were built between the towers, 143 feet above the Thames. In 1910 the walkways were closed to the public because of the large number of suicides.

London Bridge The original wooden bridge was a barrier against the Danes who regularly sailed up the Thames to fight the Anglo-Saxons. In 1014 the Danish King Olav managed to sail right up to the bridge and destroyed the supporting piles sending the bridge and its’ defenders collapsing into the Thames. This is believed to be the origin of the nursery rhyme 'London Bridge is falling down'. Work on a new stone bridge started in 1176 and took 33 years to build complete with drawbridge. For 600 years, until Westminster Bridge was built in 1750, this was the only bridge in the city. The drawbridge was protected on the capital's side by a gatehouse called Drawbridge Tower which exhibited the severed heads of those executed at the Tower of London. The display of heads was later transferred to Southwark Gate, complete with portcullis. This gate was the main bastion of the bridge and the city's southern defences. To prevent icing in freezing conditions, a heating system was built below the surface of the roadway and pavements. The old London Bridge was sold and shipped out in sections to Lake Havasu City in Arizona, USA. Lake Havasu is an artificial stretch of water. Today, it is the focal point of annual London Bridge days held in early October, with the people of Havasu dressing up as Elizabethans, archery contests, pancake races, and square dancing. In 1984 the Royal Navy warship HMS Jupiter hit London Bridge broadside. The ship suffered considerable damage to her superstructure and the granite parapet of London Bridge was dislodged. Now and then London Bridge still witnesses the traditional walking of a flock of sheep into the City - a right of all Freemen of the City of London.

Southwark Bridge was built to accommodate an increasingly high population during the Industrial Revolution. In 1913 the demolition work started on the old bridge but due to World War I it was not completed until 1921. Its five spans were designed so that the river piers line up with those of Blackfriars Bridge and London Bridge. Flanked on either side by St Paul’s Cathedral and Southwark Cathedral, Dickens grew up around the area and often wrote about it.

Blackfriars Bridge is the third bridge to be built across the Thames in central London, after London Bridge and Westminster Bridge. A competition was held in 1759 to find the best design, the winner Robert Mylne, was appointed to build the bridge in 1760. You can see the the designs of this bridge on the walls of the southern pedestrian subway under Blackfriars Bridge. The bridge was named Pitt Bridge after the Conservative Prime Minister but when the bridge was opened in 1769 Pitt was out of favour. It was renamed Blackfriars Bridge in honour of the Black Friars who moved their monastery from Holborn to a site near the bridge in 1274. On 6th November 1869 Queen Victoria opened the new bridge by driving over from the Surrey bank. She then carried on to inaugurate the newly-completed Holborn Viaduct

Waterloo Bridge Originally known as the Strand Bridge, this elaborate construction was renamed in 1816 and officially opened by the Prince Regent on 18 June 1817, the second anniversary of the Duke of Wellington's famous victory. Work began on the current bridge in 1937 but its’ completion was delayed by World War II. With few men available, most of the work was carried out by female labour. During its construction the bridge was damaged by enemy action on several occasions - the only Thames crossing to suffer in this way. In 1945 the completed 'Ladies Bridge' was finally opened to pedestrians and traffic. At 80 ft wide and 1,250 ft long and 80 ft wide, Waterloo Bridge is the longest bridge in London.

Chelsea Bridge was built in 1937 (earlier bridge 1858) wsa built close to Battersea Park and the New Covent Garden Market at Nine Elms with a community of houseboats lining the river on the Chelsea side. Because the construction work used Douglas Fir from British Colombia in Canada, the Prime Minister of Canada, W.L Mackenzie King, opened the bridge in 1937.

Albert Bridge was built in 1873 and this grand Victorian suspension bridge links Chelsea to Battersea. After World War II the Victorian bridge was too weak to bear the increased weight of modern traffic. When the LCC announced that they intended to demolish Albert Bridge there was a huge outcry from the Chelsea conservationists, led by Sir John Betjeman. Fortunately the conservationists overcame the town planners and Albert Bridge was saved. As a result Albert Bridge is the only bridge in central London never to have been replaced. At each end of the bridge is a notice instructing the soldiers of nearby Chelsea Barracks to break step when marching over the bridge. It is thought that the vibrations caused by marching in step would damage the delicate structure.

Battersea Bridge: In 1766 an Act of Parliament was passed authorising Earl Spencer to construct a bridge across the Thames at Battersea. The earl, who operated a ferry here, could not raise sufficient funds to span the river with stone and as a result the bridge was built with timber. Built in 1772 it was extremely unpopular because narrow spans made navigation very difficult. River traffic often collided with the bridge and many people were drowned. .The timber bridge was the subject of a series of paintings by James Whistler. It was re- built in 1890 as a cast-iron bridge.

Wandsworth Bridge was built in 1940 (earlier bridge 1873) and links Fulham to Wandsworth.

Putney Bridge is world-famous as the starting point of the annual Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race. For hundreds of years there was no bridge between London Bridge and Kingston Bridge and the only way to cross the Thames was by ferry. Although the ferry owners and City Corporation were firmly opposed, Sir Robert Walpole and his successors successfully petitioned Parliament for a bridge, and in 1726 an Act authorised the construction of a bridge, provided the ferry owners were fully compensated. Originally a wooden bridge, the present granite bridge opened in 1886 and was the subject of one of J W M Turner's famous riverscapes.

Barnes Bridge is famous as one of the prominent landmarks at the closing stages of the University Boat Race.Opened in 1849, this loop line was to prove a useful by-pass for through passenger and freight traffic avoiding the busy route through Richmond. The increased traffic led to the ridge being strengthened in 1891 - 95 with a footbridge added on the down-stream side which survives to this day. In the past the railway organised special train services which allowed spectators a great view of the boat race from the comfort of a railway. The footbridge was made especially strong to support the crowds on Boat Race day. Today, the footbridge is closed to pedestrians during the race.

Kew Bridge Three bridges have spanned the Thames at this point, but before the first bridge was built a horse-ferry carried traffic across the river. From 1659, the ferry was owned by the Tunstall family of Brentford. Robert Tunstall petitioned Parliament to replace the ferry with a bridge and in 1757 was authorised to begin construction. In 1789 the new stone bridge was opened with a long procession led by George III. Constructed with concrete foundations and piers of granite from Aberdeen and Cornwall, the bridge has three arches and is decorated with the coats of arms of the two counties. A new structure was opened by King Edward VII in 1903 and named in his honour. However, the new name was unpopular and after a few years it reverted to Kew Bridge.


Kingston Bridge
For many hundreds of years the only bridges across the lower reaches of the Thames were London Bridge and Kingston Bridge. There has been a crossing at Kingston since Roman times and it is believed that the first bridge of timber construction was built in AD43 following the Roman invasion of England.
In 1906 tram lines were laid across the bridge making it the first Thames Bridge to have trams crossing it. By this time the traffic and the trams had increased a great deal making it even more dangerous for pedestrians. The death of a young cyclist made the authorities take action.

Hampton Court Bridge was designed to blend in with Hampton Court Palace begun in 1514 by Cardinal Wolsey and the favourite home of Henry VIII. He lived there with five of his wives two of whom, Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard, are said to haunt the palace. In the Clock Court an astronomical clock designed by Nicholas Oursian in 1540 gives the time of high water at London Bridge.

3. Andrew Allum created the bike ride to raise funds to support the work of The Stroke Association following his father’s stroke in 1991. The event is now run by The Stroke Association and has steadily grown in size over the last decade from only seven cyclists in its first year to over two thousand in 2005.

4. Each year an estimated 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.

5. The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services. These include dysphasia support, family support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. We also campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society and we act as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.

6. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, parts of the brain become damaged or destroyed. Some strokes are fatal whist others can cause permanent or temporary paralysis to one side of the body and loss of the ability to speak, read or write. Recovery may be slow and can vary from person to person.

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