Congratulations to Chris Froome on winning this year's Tour de France. 

Chris also won the 2013 and 2015 races and is the first to successfully defend his title in more than 20 years. He finished this years epic race, arm-in-arm with his team-mates behind the peloton after Andre Greipel won the final sprint finish.

Cycling has also featured in the campaign for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. Three very different and very dedicated individuals, share their passion for cycling with a deep desire to see this peerless work of art reunited in the Acropolis Museum, in Athens, Greece.

Currently the surviving Parthenon marbles are mainly (and almost equally) divided between two great museums - the British Museum in London, where their collection has been displayed for 200 years and the Acropolis Museum in Athens, which recently celebrated it's seventh year. It is in Athens, that the sculptures can be seen in the context of the Parthenon itself.  

Decades of campaigning and centuries of requests to do the 'right' thing and return these fragmented sculptures has resulted in the main reason stopping the British Museum  from doing the right thing. In the BM, these sculptures form part of world history. Over six millions visitors  to the British Museum are  shown how they should 'see' history in the context of other objects and their stories.

Back to cycling. Healthy past time for many (of all ages) and a leading sport for many more. But how did three individuals bring cycling into the campaign for the reunification?

We have to start with the outstanding Dr Christopher Stockdale, a long serving BCRPM member, inspired by Anne Mustoe. He bravely cycled from the courtyard of the British Museum on 15 April 2005 to the foot of the Acropolis in Athens and made his way with his bike all the way to the Parthenon. It took Chris 3 weeks, 3 days, 5 hours and 26.6 minutes to complete this cycle. More on this story here.

On Tuesday 01 July 2014, Dr Luca Lo Siccoembarked on his first bicycle trip from the British Museum, across Europe to Greece and the Acropolis Museum, where he donated his bicycle to the museum. Professor Pandermalis, President of the Acropolis Museum sent him this letter. 

Luca continued his cycling the following year to Copenhagen, Denmark. It is here, in the National Museum of Denmark, there are two heads missing from a metope, which is in  the British Museum in London.

On 02 July 2014, the edition of the Yorkshire Post Life & Style Magazine, carried an article on formidable octagenerian, Michelle Patrax Evans. Also a keen cyclist, Michelle lives in Leeds and was looking forward to the tour de France of 2014 but she has been passionate about the sculptures from the Parthenon for decades.

Before her interview with journalist Sarah Freeman, Michelle frantically made contact to ask, was cycling a part of the campaign for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles! And was delighted to find out that its is.

Cannot describe Michelle's response when we did exlain that Dr Chris Stockdale had made an amazing trip in 2005 before the Acropolis Museum had opened and that Luca, a University lecturer living in Britain was embarking on the same journey on the 1st of July 2014.

The Yorkshire Post Life & Stylemagazine can be viewed on line and a small selected part of the article can be viewed here

And with cycling playing a significant role for campaigners of the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, we would like to add our heartfelt congratulations to Chris Froomeon winning the Tour de France yesterday and for the third time. A great achievement.

John Polyzoides was an eminent and gifted orthopaedic surgeon whose career in the West Midlands, England began in 1973. Amongst his very fine surgical achievements he pioneered the development of an original knee joint replacement, the Rotaglide Total Knee System.

With his English wife, Jean, he founded the ‘Friends of the British Committee’ and their total commitment to the return of the Parthenon Marbles would be sustained for decades.

He was also an author and rightly proud when his historical memoir of Alexandria, ’Alexandria City of Gifts and Sorrows’ was published in 2014.

In 2000 John very successfully organised a marathon swim for Christopher Stockdale between the sacred Isle of Delos and the Isle of Paros. The success of the swim raised the international profile of the Marbles and necessary funds to further help the cause.

Sadly, John passed away on the 23rd December and we are able to reflect on John’s contribution as a lifetime friend to the campaign to reunite the Parthenon Marbles  and his unique friendship with Christopher Stockdale.

‘How to sum up fifty years of friendship and express adequate condolences as we try to relate to the awful sense of loss that prevails and will endure since we heard the news of John’s passing.

I have come to the conclusion that the loss of a colleague, acquaintance or friend, though a cause for great sadness bears little comparison to the loss of someone you love.Their death diminishes us in every way and, in short, life both physical and mental takes on differing hues that will permanently alter the many colours in our lives.

My love for him and details of our wonderful friendship are permanently etched at length within the text of my homage to the Marbles ‘Swimming With Hero'.

John touched the lives of an immeasurable number of folk. He was a great and exemplary surgeon and wise physician always able to give patients hope when all seemed lost. People loved him. His knowledge of all things meant he could hold a dinner table in his grasp recounting with authority,wit and wisdom endless stories. He didn’t treat fools lightly but was never quick to judge and enjoyed the company of a huge cohort of loyal and true friends.

Sadly they all will be feeling as I do now.

Over these last few days I have wrestled with the adequacy of any words or memories that can best pay tribute to an unparalleled life. John’s full life has left a lasting sense of difference and just as rivers continually flow so does my gratitude and infinite joy for knowing him.

Our hearts and minds will remain full of love for the dearest of men’.

Christopher Stockdale

Professor Paul Cartledge, also fondly remembers John and Jean hosting an amazing Marbles reunification get-together, starring Nana Mouskouri on Paros.  "John also published an engaging and enlightening memoir of his Alexandria days, which I read for him in draft. RIP John."

 Alexandria, City of Gifts and Sorrows, From Hellenistic Civilization to Multiethnic Metropolis A.J Polyzoides, published in 2014

"I had the pleasure of meeting Dr Polyzoides in 2014. I’d been on an interrail trip after finishing my nursing degree, travelling by trains and tired busses from Munich to Athens. It was the kind of trip where you spend most of your time lost, but stumbling upon perfect experiences. My Grandad Eddie had been passionate about my trip and had recommended that I take a boat from Piraeus to visit his friend on the island of Paros.

August was sun-burnt when I was welcomed to Paros by Apostolos and his wife Jean. We ate at a restaurant on the beach and I can still remember the taste of the grilled squid I had after weeks of dinners eating out of tight pockets. Apostolos reminded me of my Grandad and it was immediately clear why they had been friends. A passionate Paros-phile, he had me travelling by bus to archaeological mines of Parian marble. I bought a small marble heart for my Mum which still sits on the mantelpiece of my Mum & Dad’s house in Liverpool.

Jean, Apostolos and I visited the archeological museum in Paros, where we set eyes on the gorgon medusa. Surviving that experience, Apostolos talked passionately about the ‘Parian Marble’, a revelatory text discovered on the island, a segment of which, Apostolos informed me, is hidden away in a museum in Oxford!

I was captivated by Apostolos’ stories. We walked among the limewashed buildings, passing the church where he and Jean were married and it was clear to me, how happy and full of love their lives were.

I didn’t know Apostolos beyond my brief visit, but it hurt me to hear of his passing. A wonderful man whose memory will live on in the people that he touched.  I’ll never forget my trip to Paros and the love of myself and the O’Haras travels by boat, train and bus this week to Jean and Apostolos’ family.

Apostolos Polyzoides, a great friend to my Grandad: Eddie O’Hara."

With love forever,

Luke

Apostolos (John) Polyzoides, Luke O'Hara and Jean Polyzoides in Paros in 2014

The ultra-endurance cycling challenge "London-Athens on 2 wheels - Bring them back" in its second year, began at 5 am on Saturday 05 August, outside the British Museum gates. 

Cycling heroes: Vasilki Voutzali (Greece), Steffen Streich (Germany & Greece), Christopher Ross Bennett (New Zealand), Paul Alderson (UK), and Dionisis Kartsambas (Greece), set off to cycle 3,500 kms to reach the Acropolis Museum in Athens.

Catch up on their daily challenges, the highs and lows by visiting their facebook page .

Before leaving, the BCRPM's Christopher Stockdale, Marlen and Tony Godwin, met with the cyclists in Room 18. Christopher presented a copy of his book 'Simming with Hero' to Vasiliki. 

In Room 18 meeting Christopher Stockdale, the first person to cycle from the British Museum to the Acropolis Museum in 2005. 

Fans in each corner of Room 18, trying to circulate the warm air. 

A flag that has been used in Room 18 sine the opening of the Acropolis Museum in 2005, shows the tip floor Parthenon Gallery of the Acropolis Museum , where the surviving halves of the sculptures not removed by Lord Elgin are displayed the right way round and with views to the Parthenon.

Vasiliki with a little help adds a few stickers outside the BM.

August, 05 at 5 am outside the British Museum gates, five cyclists begin a journey , an endurance journey in the hope that their efforts will add more pressure to the British Museum to reunite the Parthenon Marbles. The cyclists: Vasilki Voutzali (Greece), Steffen Streich (Germany & Greece), Christopher Ross Bennett (New Zealand), Paul Alderson (UK), and Dionisis Kartsambas (Greece) are making history too.

Christopher Stockdale, a retired GP from Solihull, and member of BCRPM swam for the marbles (2000 from Delos to Paros) and cycled in 2005. He admits cyclist was out of his comfort zone but the campaign for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles is very much in Christopher's heart, although he was devastated not to be able to join the cyclists on this day.

This year the cyclists selected a number of segments along the route, stopping in Lille, France on their first night as the UK weather was a heady mixture of strong winds and heavy rains. Their first stop on day 2 was their intended first segment stop, Mons in Belgium.

Steffen and Vasiliki in Mons and.... at the Melina Mercouri St.

As Paul heads back to UK, Christopher carries on with Vasiliki, Steffen and Dionisis to Germany

Fom Belgium to Munich in Germany, and to Budapest in Hungary, segments 2 & 3

Bici Bavarese | Vintage & Moderne Rennräder in München

A warm welcome in Budapest!

From Hungary to Serbia and North Macedonia, arriving in Kastoria and Trikala.

Athens, today 17 August,  just 12 days from that cold, wet and windy 5th of August outside the British Museum. Christopher's time was 12 days, 3 hours and 18  minutes. We await the arrival of Dionisis tomorrow with a welcome from the Melina Mercouri Foundation, and a visit to the Acropolis Museum. 

What really interests me is the apparent permanent intransigence of the Directors and Trustees [of the British Musem].These are not a collective body of 'idiotes', those aloof from public affairs, but intelligent, knowledgeable and articulate human beings.WHY do they not move? WHY is the decades old response always 'NO'.

Pericles would have been aghast at our lack of progress as a civilisation capable of change and altered thought. I am reminded that he said 'For we alone regard the man who takes no part in public affairs, not as one who minds his own business but as 'good for nothing'. Perhaps an inability to discuss and open fresh lines of dialogue with respect to the ongoing plight of the Parthenon Sculptures is just the same as not taking part.

The New Acropolis Museum approaches it's tenth birthday. We had hoped for success in 2004, then 2009 but still nothing, and again I ask WHY? What factor X beguiles and frustrates our efforts, the will of the British people and our Greek friends. What will stop the Trustees and successive Directors from ALWAYS saying 'NO' and encourage them to engage in productive dialogue.

Christopher Stockdale

Christopher has been actively involved in raising money for charities as well as campaigning for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. As a GP from Solihull, he swam from Delos to Parosfor the Parthenon marbles in 2000, he also cycled from the British Museum to the Acropolis Museum in 2005. He has also written a book, Swimming with Hero.

From 14 to 28 August, five determined cyclists rode from the gates of the British Museum to Athens' Acropolis. Once on Greek soil they were joined by a 6th cyclist and en route they did get additional support from more enthusiastic cyclists. The aim: to raise awareness for the campaign to reunite the Parthenon Marbles in Athens' superlative Acropolis Museum.

Vasiliki, Steffen, Giannis, Stavros and Vasilis, once they had completed the tough 15 days, cycling over 3000 kms, jointly said: "We would do it again and again! We love riding and although as we started our bodies felt the pain, our muscles the strain and we do/did get tired but our goal spurred stronger thinking - thinking of our country Greece and our culture! We, with millions not just in Greece of course, support the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. We were delighted that you exist and that the strong support for the reunification of these marbles is also alive and well in England. We look forward to the day when we can cycle from England to Greece to celebrate the reunification. Here’s to that very special day. Here’s to respecting cultural heritage!"

Vasiliki Voutzali added:"when we ride our bicycles, an old protest intensifies and the movement grows stronger in a sustainable way."

Giannis Efthymiou also said:”cycling for me personally was the best and most peaceful way of reaching our goal."

Stavros Soumas commented: "am 62 years old and my dream came true. I wanted to teach my grandson that anything is possible, if you believe in something that is right and you can fight for it, never stop trying."

Vasilis Kordas added:“If you believe it, it will happen."

Steffen Streichsaid: "from the fist moment I came to Greece, it felt like I was home. The “bring them back” project, cycling from the British Museum in London to the Acropolis, and the Acropolis Museum, was my way of showing my gratitude to Greece and her cultural heritage, and doing so with something that I love a lot, cycling!”

Christos Koromilas, joined the cyclists once they had reached Greek soil and he said:“when I was on the saddle of my bike, I thought and felt that nothing is impossible and everything is written in history.So we keep pedalling , smiling and thinking the Greek flag, Melina Mercouri and the Acropolis Museum."

 A total of 3005 km were covered, the cyclists rode their bicycles around 10-12 hours every day, covering about 240 km each day. Vasiliki explains that they had a plan of the places that they could reach each day and where they could spend the night.

They met up with cycling enthusiast Giorgos Galanopoulos at Amiens, he rode with them from there to Provins, and Walter Reiterer joined them in Basel. Walter cycled with them until they reached Verona in Italy.

The cyclists were sponsored by:
1.Venocare Athens 2. H&B 3. Soumas mpataries 4. Woodcam 5. Coloriposto 6. ANEK LINES 7. SUPERFAST FERRIES 8. Toys store 9. DalavikasBike 10. Alfa cycling team 11. Gountas_physio 12. Nikolaidis driving school 13. Grill Spot 14. Zitrosock 15. pas pineios

Paulina Tzeirani, Communications Director of the Melina Mercouri Foundation met with the cyclists in the afternoon of the 28 of August at the marble sculpture of Melina Mercouri and subsequently sent this heartfelt message:

"I was very moved to meet Vasiliki Voutzali, Steffen Streich, Giannis Efthymiou, Vasilis Kordas, Stavros Soumas and Christos Koromilias, the athletes, who with fierce determination and admirable perseverance, completed their astounding endeavor by laying flowers and small caryatid statues in front of the bust of Melina Mercouri before ascending the sacred rock of the Acropolis. The thrill they experienced was contagious to the crowd that had gathered to show its appreciation for these young people who proved that the cause of the Return of the Parthenon Marbles concerns everyone, irrespective of age. The Melina Mercouri Foundation welcomes this admirable undertaking with great enthusiasm. The instigators are included among those who carry on Melina’s vision for the Return of the Parthenon Sculptures."

Dr Christopher Stockdalewho first cycled from the British Museum to the Acropolis in 2005, set this congratulatory message to the cyclists also: 

I was just so very delighted to hear that all the cyclists had successfully made it from London to Athens……and in such an incredible time too !!!!!…..the gods Hermes,Nike and Kratos were obviously in favour of their splendid endeavour and with them physically and spiritually, all the way. He wrote to Vasiliki the following message: "You have given of your time and extreme effort to illuminate the hopes of every member of BCRPM. All of us who long to see those separated Sculptures incarcerated in ‘prison’ Duveen reunited with their counterparts on the Parthenon THANK YOU and I applaud you for your strength of will and resolve to help our most noble cause. You rightly seem to have had the most wonderful welcome in Athens and I do so hope that fond memories of your worthy adventure will persist ad infinitum.I still remember much of my own journey vividly and treasure every memory. Thank you again on behalf of our British community who will continue to strive for the Sculptures reunification. Cherish your monumental success. With my very kindest regards", Chris Stockdale.

Many more BCRPM members added their congratulations too: