LOCAL HERO PHIL WRIGHT

Editor Simon Richardson meets the man at the centre of the community that saved one of Britain’s most historic sporting venuesIn association with Lezyne

- Simon Richardson

Walking through the gates of Herne Hill velodrome on Burbage Road hasn’t changed much in the last 129 years. The unassuming seven-foot high curved brick walls still stand between the Victorian three-storey houses. The tarmac driveway has been relaid and the trees are taller, but little else hints at any modernisation.

But walk up the driveway for a hundred metres or so and you’re met with a complete transformation of what is now one of Britain’s most used cycling facilities. All of this has taken place since 2010 when Herne Hill velodrome was facing closure.

Despite a good level of usage, and competent management from Peter Cattermole of resident club VC Londres, massive investment was needed for the track, seating and pavilion. But landlords Dulwich Estates weren’t willing to give British Cycling a long-term lease, and without that BC couldn’t justify a six-figure investment to relay the track. It’s future hung in the balance.

A public meeting took place that led to the launch of the Save the Velodrome campaign, and unbeknownst to anyone at the time, one of the UK’s oldest and most historied sporting facilities was saved. “There was a big meeting at Dulwich College; the amount of people that were there, and the love for this place, it was a real power to the people moment,” explains our 2020 Local Hero Phil Wright, as we talk about his time volunteering at Herne Hillvelodrome.

“People were saying, ‘Hang on, this can’t happen, this is too good to lose.’ It was really powerful. And the thought of losing the track was a tragedy in our house because me and my son had both started to really get into track cycling, and I’d just bought my first track bike!”