The football club used to play a comedy / fancy dress football match on Boxing Day on the Field of Remembrance. In the summer of 1967 at a club committee meeting it was discussed  at great length whether to carry on with this tradition or have a change. Several ideas were put forward, one of which suggested by the late Sid Cook BEM to have a pram race. The committee agreed and the first race took place on Boxing Day 1967. A photo of one of the earlier races is shown above.

It was agreed to start the Race at Highams Corner as it does now and call in at all the local pubs for a drink. The format almost nearly the same as it is today:

1. The Brickmakers Arms
2. The Surrey Cricketers
3. The Sun
4. The Half Moon
5. The Bee
6. The Windlesham Club & Theatre

…before finishing back at The Sun.

The first Pram Race on Boxing Day 1967 consisted of five prams of football players. The Race enlarged over the following years with increasing numbers of spectators and participants in the Race. Eventually with funds being collected for charity (the first charity The Pram Race collected for was Guide Dogs for the Blind but also NSPCC, St John’s Ambulance and others) and various prizes awarded.

In 1973 it was decided to collect money for the Football Club and the princely sum of £12.20 was collected!

By 1987 as many as 60—70 prams took part in the Pram Race and even more spectators were in attendance. BOC kindly agreed to let The Pram Race use their car park (as we do now) in that year.

In 1996 the roads around Windlesham began to close for the event at the request of the police but the cost of doing so was beyond the means of the club (approx. £400).  After a committee meeting it was decided to cancel the race indefinitely...

Gerry and The Brickmakers

After a few days of this decision, Gerry Price – then landlord of The Brickmakers Arms who had heard this sad news decided to call Derek. Gerry wanted the race to carry on as the village loved it and that it raised money for charity. Gerry offered to take on organising of the race if the committee did not object and the football club agreed to it.

Gerry and Derek continued to organise the race with the help of Brian Wooldridge and customers of The Brickmakers Arms for another few years until Gerry left the village.

The Surrey Border Lions

Geoff Mitchell took over the organisation of The Pram Race but struggled with not enough help for another 2 years – he then persuaded The Surrey Border Lions to take it on in 1980 with Tony Boxhall as chairman. He was joined by David Pollen as treasurer in 1993.

From 2009 the Windlesham Branch of the Royal British Legion also became involved in the race organization and shortly afterwards Mike Lewendon became chairman. The Windlesham Pram Race charity was formally registered by David Pollen in 2012.

After Surrey Police made several changes to the requirements for the road closures for the race in 2013 a more detailed event plan was required and Mike Sheard became chairman or the charity, organising the race with a team from Surrey Border Lions and the Royal British Legion.

That organising team has evolved over the years and from 2023 includes Jerry Lawson as the race director.

Sid Cook BEM carried on entering the race until 2003; he became frail but still took part in a golf buggy! Sadly, Sid died in 2005.

Derek Davis continues to attend the Race to this day and we hope to see him on Boxing Day 2024!

Please help this year's race by either:

ENTERING THIS YEAR'S PRAM RACE

or

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST TO HELP MARSHAL