Fred Dean

Fred Dean was a racing cyclist who competed in the UK and on the continent before and after WW2. During the 1950s he worked for Claud Butler as manager of the Clapham, London branch. When Butler’s went bust in 1958 Fred opened his own shop in Wandsworth. His high quality lightweight frames were built by Bill Gray and other ex Claud builders. During the 1960s he run his own racing team with much success and his shop became a mecca for aspiring young racers. At the end on 1960s Fred seems to have got into bother with the Inland Revenue and decamped to Germany (his wife was German), allegedly leaving a sign in the shop window stating “Out to lunch, back in an hour”

Very little is known of Fred’s later life.

Info: Bryan Clarke