With my privileged knowledge of Charlie’s activities in the future to come, I can say with confidence that gathering blackberries as opposed to collecting them, was an essential Autumnal activity for Charlie and his pals.  Perhaps blackberries supplied a need for fresh fruit in those post World War One years.

Punctures were a different kettle of fish altogether.  To this day I am staggered at the number of punctures these cyclists of yesteryear experienced.  I can only conclude that tyre technology lagged behind the development of bikes and our cycling ancestors paid the price with many many puncture repair kits.