"Sixty Years On" - 1973

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Early in the year there was a hostelling week-end at Ivinghoe and a new tea place at Virginia Water was tried, soon to be followed by others at Cove and Hindhead.  150 were at the Border C.A.s "bun-fight" at Darby Green and, in late March, blustering winds and hail made riding unpleasant.  John Way, the editor of 'Cycletouring' gave a fine slide show at Horsell, his theme being the interesting types of people encountered on a number of tours rather than the more usual countryside scenes.  A new course for the "50", via Kirdford and Ewhurst with a Holmbury St. Mary finish was tried;  it attracted eleven of whom eight were successful.  The C.T.C.'s A.G.M. was held at Guildford University in late April when members were welcombed by the Mayor, Bill Bellerby - himself a club member and ardent cyclist.  The D.A. organised Sunday rides for those attending the A.G.M.

The Thursday nighters had a very wet and windy week-end on the Isle of Wight, based on Bonchurch, where they indulged in a two-hour meal at a hotel renowned for its cuisine and good wine.

The 31 May was a black day for the D.A.  Returning from a Thursday evening ride to Laleham, Bernard Howell was run down by a drunken driver near St. Peters Hospital and died immediately, his two companions escaping with minor injuries.  The culprit later returned to the spot, was arrested and, some months later, was sentenced.

There were 20 on the June joint run with the K.W.'s and nine spent a long week-end (235 miles) in the Bath area.  For an invitation ride there was a poor response except from 10 pupils from Sheephatch (Tilford) School.  A party spent several days touring the Yorkshire and Derbyshire dales and the first night ride for some years took a group to Bexhill.  Stewart Jackson and Eddie Hargraves came into the limelight;  the Edwards Ladies Cup was re-allocated for the "Best Attendance" and the C.T.C. was re-organised into regional sections in order to avoid payments under V.A.T. regulations.

In memory of Bernard Howell a silver tankard was bought but it was agreed not to award it for any specific purpose but to decide on its allocation each year.  In place of the 100 mile event there was a 100 km tourists' trial with eleven riders.

Bill Inder represented the D.A. during an A.I.T. Rally in the Belgian Ardennes attended by several hundred cyclists from all over Europe, with some from Japan and the United States.  The Alfriston hostel was used for August Bank Holiday and the Autumn joint run with the K.W.'s was staged in October with lunch at Ewhurst Green and tea at the Rio Cafe, Ripley with the rest of the D.A., the day's total being over forty.

On the day that the usual support was given to the 'Ville hill-climb near Cranleigh, a new tea place was tried on Witley Common.  For the D.A.'s own hill-climb and free-wheeling, the 1972 sites were used, a party of boys from Sheephatch School joining in.

After 13 had taken part in a hostelling week-end at Doddington in November, the Sunday tea was at Grims Kitchen, Abinger Hammer which, officially, had closed its doors at the end of October but, having accepted the D.A.'s booking, opened specially for the occasion.

About 30 attended the A.G.M. that followed and, in appreciation of Mrs. Wood's kind co-operation over a number of years, she was presented with a handsome framed reproduction on stainless steel of a sketch by cycling artist, the late Frank Patterson.

That month also saw ten on a breakfast ride to Mottisfont and the Cotteridge at Woking was again the venue for the Annual Dinner when Mike Saywood was guest speaker.  There was arctic weather in December; a final hostelling week-end for 12 in the New Forest and 30 for the Christmas tea at Tongham.

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Web page by Chris Jeggo.  Last revised:  25 December 2004.