"Sixty Years On" - 1930

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In mid-January 1930 a terrific gale engulfed the evening run home from tea at Fernhurst.  Members were split in two groups as they walked up the sharp hill from Brook when a huge elm tree crashed between them, smashing itself with great force across the road.  Luckily, everyone escaped injury but later, when crossing the Peasmarsh, a sudden gust of wind threw one rider from his machine.

At the Red House Hotel, Woking, Capt. Gunnell, Nevill Whall and E. Chapman were again present at the second Annual Dinner though the early February date prevented A. W. Trevarthen's attendance.  He was sales manager of the Spratts dog biscuit concern and always had to be at Cruft's Show and this clash of dates was one of the main reasons why the D.A. dinner date was switched to November.

Easter saw seven on a tour including Beaulieu Abbey, Bucklers Hard, Lulworth Cove and Cerne Abbas, with 316 miles on the clock and, from Addlestone, Sid James and his wife Toby had become regular riders.

Later on, with Les Gray and Gladys Wicks also from Addlestone, plus Bill Inder and Gladys Gray, they formed an unofficial forerunner of the present Wayfarers Section, starting their rides later than the main group, choosing their own destinations, and joining in the official tea after which all the riders would come home together as a Club, not in two's and three's, and often singing and whistling in unison, even harmonising, such things as "Who killed Cock Robin" and popular songs of the day - much to the astonished amusement of any passers-by!

In March, Nevill Whall ("Hodites") came to Woking to give his slide show "A tale of Glaciers & Grapes".  A C.T.C. party of thirteen, including Clary Loughnane, rode into the French Alps and were soon standing in deep snow while the sun beat down fiercely and, later on, they explored the Riviera and the Roman remains of Provence.  Jack Thompson appeared on the scene for an Easter tour in Wessex of 316 miles and C. Loughnane organised a 120 mile ride to Lambourne Downs when 13 rode to Newbury for breakfast, reached Wayland Smith's cave on the Icknield Way for lunch and tried the Blowing Stone at Kingston Lisle then, by way of Wantage, the party took tea with the usual Sunday riders at Theale.  Two tours were carried out at Whitsun, one embracing the Cotswolds and Shakespeare country with 284 miles and 9 counties, the other to the New Forest and Studland Bay.  In May, 19 took part in a joint run with the Reading D.A. and the first Wednesday evening ride attracted 11.

A night ride to Cheddar Gorge only brought out three members and, in describing it, Les Gray writes:-

"On Saturday 5th July 1930 I went to Gammon's Corner (the Woking meeting place) at 2.30 pm and Vic Barnard and Doug Loughnane were the only other mugs who fancied the run although we were joined later on by two more riders who did not cover the full distance.  We went via Pirbright and Ash to Odiham for tea at The Tuns then rode on through Basingstoke and Andover to Amesbury where we were joined by Jack Thompson who had come down by train as he had to work on Saturday afternoon (not uncommon in 1930).  We rode on to Stonehenge where we stopped for supper then lit our head lamps (only reflectors were needed at the rear in those days) and pushed on through the sleeping villages of Hindon, Mere, Bruton, Shepton Mallet and Wells to Cheddar.  Riding up slowly through the Gorge, Vic suddenly said 'Gee, I'm tired' and as one man the other three said 'So am I'.  I have a feeling we sat down in our capes for half an hour before pushing on to the top of the Gorge just after 5.30 am and on past Priddy, Trowbridge, Norton St. Philip to Devizes where we had booked breakfast at the Pelican.  We misread the map between Cheddar and Devizes and it was 9.30 am when we arrived for breakfast.  Here we were joined by Gordon Lass who had left Guildford at 2 am having had to work on Saturday afternoon.  We spent two hours at The Pelican and went on at 11.30 am through Rushall, and Weyhill to Andover for lunch and then via Micheldever to Alton for tea at The Crown where we were joined by another 14 riders.  Thirty miles home after tea to Addlestone and my cyclometer recorded 245 miles (235 for the two Woking members).  The weather was fine for the whole of the journey and it was a memorable ride - probably our longest ever Club run."

(See also the 'official' account of the Cheddar Run.  -  CRJ)

The year continued with a camping week-end at Selborne while, in September, Selborne was again the venue for a church parade in collaboration with members from Portsmouth, Southampton and Basingstoke - over 200 attending.  A harvest moon ride later that month started from Woking at 11 pm after heavy rain and thunder.  A stop was made near Fittleworth for refreshments and flashlight photographs of the party sitting in a circle in the middle of the main road - completely traffic free at 2 am!  Brilliant moonlight assisted the ride through Storrington, and Brighton was deserted at 5 am.  After a short respite the ride went on past Newhaven to Eastbourne and, soon after 8.30 am, a hearty breakfast was demolished at Pevensey.  Most of the morning was spent in Pevensey Bay and by noon the homeward trek began via Lewes.  Tea with other Sunday riders at Horsham preceded the final stretch - 152 miles in all.  In October there was a 12-hour Standard Ride of 127 miles to Marlborough and back, the 15 riders encountering plenty of rain but all were successful.  Later that month "Kuklos" again came to Woking to give his slide show "A trip to Andorra" when Capt. Gunnell welcomed an audience of 130.  After a December dance at Horsell, the "Better 'Ole" at Godalming was the centre of attraction for 25 members on Christmas morning when the Loughnane brothers, wearing bowler hats decked with holly, brought stares from other road users as they trundled along on their tandem.  A treasure hunt around Thursley was the theme for Boxing Day and 1930 ended with the now annual New Year's Eve ride to Staines, and back in time to hear the fine carillon of bells at Westcroft Park.  During that year, Saturday's attendances averaged 8 and Sunday's 16.


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Web page by Chris Jeggo.  Last revised:  11 September 2007.