"Sixty Years On" - 1953 |
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Woking's Hardriders group blossomed, John Fletcher and George Porter in particular averaging 100 miles or more every Sunday throughout the summer and Jack Howard joined following the demise of Reading's Farnborough Section. Also at that time, Miles de Field was prominent as a 'rough-stuff' enthusiast. The Vets ride through Surrey that year was marshalled through our area; there were 123 starters and the D.A. was praised for its excellent help.
D.A. representatives were elected to serve on both Kingston and Surbiton Road Safety Committees and Woking started Wednesday evening rides. The D.A. combined with East Surrey D.A. to run a BCTC heat and provided 20 helpers and 8 entrants. The Club council formally adopted the decision to discontinue runs lists in the 'Gazette'. In June, Kingston had runs to Lullingstone Castle and London Zoo as well as a Bath and back ride while Woking visited the West End to see the coronation decorations and went on to witness the 'News of the World' being printed. They also visited the 'Surrey Advertiser' premises in Guildford and 'Cab' Stanley won the speed-judging event, his son Peter carrying off the Benstead Cup.
Woking Section joined with the Charlotteville C.C. in establishing a club room at Jacobs Well. Gerald Edwards became Secretary of the Section and it was agreed that his 3rd class return rail fare to attend D.A. meetings be paid from D.A. funds.
1953 also marked the 50th anniversary of both the Charlotteville and the Kentish Wheelers and a 'get-together' party of the two clubs took place in Guildford. Several West Surrey C.T.C.'ites who were also members of the 'Ville' were there and, out of that meeting was born the idea of joint runs which, in Spring and Autumn, continued unbroken until 1980. By that time the 'Ville' had dropped out of the scheme officially, most of the rides being planned by West Surrey in their own area. But in 1980 the K.W.'s had difficulty in finding enough members to support the rides and they were abandoned.
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Web page by Chris Jeggo. Last revised: 6 January 2005.