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.

Image of a charabanc trip 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."