In 1979 the ‘Black Aces MC’ was formed from bikers who met at the Thursday Rock Night at the Queens Head, Hurstpierpoint. Membership was almost exclusively drawn from the Mid-Sussex area. The average age of members was probably about 18-19 years and bike size around 250cc. They didn’t realise the significance of the ‘MC’ part of the name, although this was soon pointed out to them, when they had a ‘visit’ from another MC club.
One of the members ‘Weary’ had been sporting the word Annwn on the shoulder of his leather for a while, for the sole reason that “nobody will know what it means!” He had actually picked the word up from an Alistair Crowley book. So in 1980 the ‘Black Aces’ had transformed into Annwn BC Sussex. The Celtic Dog was added to the patch after research found that Annwn, a mythological underworld of King Arthur’s medieval time, was guarded by Celtic fighting dogs also known as ‘hounds of Hell’.
After a disagreement in the Queens Head, the club moved to the other end of the village, to the White Horse, this was around 1981. But this pub was unsuitable, so only after a short stay, they moved to the Plough at Pyecombe (1981/1982). This suited the club well, and its location meant they started to attract membership from the Brighton area. Next stop was back to Hurstpierpoint to ‘The Peirpoint’, where there was a function room. So the club put on a couple of band nights, which led to their first encounter with another MC club. Around this time (1985) the club held their first ‘Wallbanger Rally’ at the Hare and Hounds, Flimwell. The gate had a 150 limit but more than 350 turned up!
In the late eighties the club began attending foreign rallies and became well known on the Belgium/Dutch rally scene. Also around this time the club grew more into Custom bikes and there was a time when every member rode a chop. The club then made a move, to ‘The Plough’ at Plumpton. The Landlord ‘Reg’ proved an excellent host and was never fazed by anything that happened in his pub, including a visit in the late eighties from an MC club, complete with sawn off shot-guns!
The Plough, after being our home for 15 years or so has now been refurbished and Reg has finnaly retired.
We currently meet and drink at the The Ram in Firle Nr. Lewes. every Tuirsday.
The Wallbanger Rally became a regular yearly event, held one year in Barcombe, where the club took Lewes District Council to court over their decision to turn down their application for an Entertainments Licence… the council lost! The rally has since been held at different places in Sussex, but is currently on Firle Estate, near Lewes.
The club also puts on a small winter rally in February each year called ‘The Snowplough’, which was first held at ‘The Plough’ in 1994 and is still going strong. Over the years the club has seen changes in members, however, the passion has never died and Annwn BC is still a tight active club, who celebrated 25 years in 2006.
To become an Annwn member, you first have to ‘Prospect’ with the club for a minimum of 12 months. If then excepted by the club, with a 100% vote, the member will then receive the full patch.