The Meaning of
Beano
The word beano was in
use long before Bicycle Beano started, and before D. C. Thomson first
published The BEANO, a popular children's comic, in 1934.
The Oxford English Dictionary definition
of a beano is "a merry time or spree". The word beano
being derived from beanfeast, an annual celebration or party
which originally included a meal of beans and bacon.
In the 18th century landowners
provided an annual feast for the farm labourers and their families.
The celebrations, with much cider drinking and dancing, lasted all day
and the centrepiece was the beanfeast.
Later,
the mill and factory owners of northern England adopted the same benevolent
streak! The bosses rented trains or convoys of charabancs (like the
one in the photo) to take the whole workforce on a day trip to seaside
resorts such as Blackpool, Skegness or Scarborough.
Enormous quantities of beer and sandwiches were
provided, and there was much frolicking, singing and drunkenness. It
was a big event in the workers' lives. This was probably the only holiday
they were likely to get, so they looked forward to the works' outing,
or beano as it became known. Works' outings continued well
into the 1960's.
Bicycle Beano somehow seemed a fitting
name for our cycling holidays – a mixture of good veggie food,
sociability, and a brilliant holiday.
An
Aside...
In 1988 Yorkshire Art Circus published The
Bumper Book of Beanos, in which South Yorkshire
people reminisce about going on works' outings.

The extract below is of a thankyou letter written
in 1947 by Ede Varah to the managing director of Stanley Tools:-
"Tom Cruise had brought
Cricket Bats and Stumps and we voted for a game on the beach.
Full marks given to Aubrey for being tireless on such a hot
day, Mr Baldwin for being able to catch and run, Sylvia's
husband and Betty's bloke for bowling and WAM for pouring
out at least 2 pints of perspiration.
Nellie and Joan went on
the Skylark for an hour, Colin was stumping on the beach without
shoes or stockings to paddle out for the ball, and finally
Warwick donned his bathing suit and gave us a demonstration
of how man can swim. I took a snap of Warwick standing in
his little short shirt combing his hair (Yes, married women
only were privileged to stand around). Anyway, if I caught
him at the right angle you shall certainly have a copy."
And later in the same letter...
"Believe it or not,
by 6.10 not a soul was missing. I liked the way our lads went
around the other coaches handing in bottled Beer and Stout
through the windows. Most of the girls were wearing the new
sun hats made of celluloid and coloured paper bought for 2/6d
in Skegness."
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A typical
seaside photographer's booth photo
(Stanley Tools beano to Blackpool, 1938)
Click on picture to enlarge
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Bicycle Beano Cycling Holidays
– green holidays since 1982
© Bicycle Beano Cycling Holidays™ updated
11 January 2012 | www.bicycle-beano.co.uk
Bicycle Beano Cycling Holidays, Erwood, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3PQ,
Wales, UK | Phone 01982 560471
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