Who are RWK Bicycles?RWK Bicycles is the sole trader name used by Alaric Smith, who works with other small companies and other self-employed individuals, such as wheel-builders, high quality vintage parts collectors and frame painters, to produce unique bicycles.
We are always on the look out for rare and unusual cycling components. We look especially for British manufacturers, such as Chater Lea, Brampton and BSA, and quality Italian manufacturers such as Ofmega, Campagnolo, Cinelli and 3TTT. We help edit the Ofmega pages on Velobase. |
Why "Royal West Kent"?
The company is named after the local region, which includes Royal Tunbridge Wells (our local borough).
Other "Royal West Kents":
The "Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment" was a British army regiment, active in the First World War. It was amalgamated into the "Queen's Own Buffs, the Royal Kent Regiment" and, subsequently into "The Princesses of Wales's Royal Regiment". Many of the soldiers in these battalions were from small villages and towns in the region.
In the First World War, the "Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment" contained a battalion of cyclists, called 6th Cyclist Battalion (later, the Kent Cyclist Battalion). These troups were widely used as couriers and rapid response infantry men. The first British casualty of the First World War was a cyclist, John Parr (from the 6th MIddlesex Regiment, Cyclist Battalion).
It is the Royal West Kent hat badge that was used in the BBC sitcom "Dad's Army". The town in "Dad's Army" is a bit of a mystery, though; there are two Wilmingtons, one of which is in north Kent, near Dartford and the other is near Eastbourne in Sussex. However, neither of them are Wilmington-on-sea.
Other "Royal West Kents":
The "Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment" was a British army regiment, active in the First World War. It was amalgamated into the "Queen's Own Buffs, the Royal Kent Regiment" and, subsequently into "The Princesses of Wales's Royal Regiment". Many of the soldiers in these battalions were from small villages and towns in the region.
In the First World War, the "Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment" contained a battalion of cyclists, called 6th Cyclist Battalion (later, the Kent Cyclist Battalion). These troups were widely used as couriers and rapid response infantry men. The first British casualty of the First World War was a cyclist, John Parr (from the 6th MIddlesex Regiment, Cyclist Battalion).
It is the Royal West Kent hat badge that was used in the BBC sitcom "Dad's Army". The town in "Dad's Army" is a bit of a mystery, though; there are two Wilmingtons, one of which is in north Kent, near Dartford and the other is near Eastbourne in Sussex. However, neither of them are Wilmington-on-sea.