Hoping to form a cycling group from Woking Grammar School, John Purser of Ripley took boys on a 40 mile ride in dismal weather.  Ten boys supported the following week's ride - again in rain - to Windsor and Burnham Beeches where the party was flagged down and asked to wait a few moments as the road was being used for the filming of a T.V. sequence.  A car, lights ablaze, raced along the wrong side of the road then the cyclists were allowed to proceed.

At the next corner, where cameras, technicians and players were assembled, a man carrying a signpost reading "Paris 60 km", gave a key to the 'wrong side' driving.
 

Easter, 1966 - Somerset and Devon.  Back row:  B. Charman, A. Lonslow, Hamish Smith, Russ Mantle, Alan Robinson. Front row:  Dave Pitt, R. Rolleston, A. Binsted, N. Shea (Paddy), Bob Naris, B. Stephenson.

One of the D.A.'s most successful invitation rides attracted over 50 in May.  Eleven enjoyed a Whitsun tour in the Cotswolds with nights at Broom and Charlbury hostels and they arrived home sunburnt though a spate of punctures was suffered and rough cider proved a little too potent for one.

In June, Jennifer Noad of Camberley came into the picture and led a run to Inkpen.  Nine members spent a week-end at Arundel hostel and help was given in the finals of the BCTC held on West Surrey roads.  July was very wet and it was "capes on" nearly all day for three consecutive Sundays but in August, Hever Castle was visited and Bank Holiday saw six in the Brecon Beacons, others at the York Rally and at a massed start cycle race in the grounds of Sandhurst Military College.  Owen Brown again won the Free-Wheeling event on Chobham Ridges, with Kevin Mahon 2nd.  In September, Reg Pollard was on a 150 mile ride to Eastbourne and back in a day to celebrate his 65th birthday and Turgis Green was again chosen for hot lunch on the Autumn run with Kentish Wheelers with 29 riders.

The "100" in October was exceptional;  two girls and several schoolboys were among the ten starters, the oldest being in their early twenties.  From the start, Jennifer Noad, with some short distance racing experience, headed the field and set a hot pace.  Only two riders reached the 81 mile check and, although Jennifer finished 15 minutes inside the seven hour limit, only one other entrant finished - a quarter of an hour outside the stipulated time!

In November there was a football match at Dunsfold between the D.A. and the 'Ville, the latter winning hands down.  The Club's H.Q. were transferred from Craven Hill, London, to Godalming and eight members spent Christmas climbing in Snowdonia.

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Web page by Chris Jeggo.  Last revised:  9 January 2005.