A mid January ride from Box Hill station through Norbury Park after recent gales presented a scene of destruction and a way had to be hacked through undergrowth to avoid fallen trees, huge beeches having been torn up by the root and split like matchwood from top to bottom.  The month produced some severe cold but better conditions in March enticed 34 out on the three runs, including two tricycles and one tandem trike.  There were 13 on a week-end to the New Forest hostel at Burley, using British Rail to and from Brockenhurst.

An air of nostalgia prevailed in Horsell scout hut when - on episcope and modern slide projector - pictures spanning the 57 years of the C.T.C. in West Surrey were screened and several of those who were in at the 1921 beginnings were present, including Jack Eldridge, Bill Houghton and Bill Inder.

In April, practice rides were carried out in preparation for the Home Counties Rally and the month also marked the 50th Anniversary of the D.A.  After 13 starters had left Mayford on the Annual "50" - with 11 "over 55's" on a separate ride - nearly 70 members, including Club Secretary, Les Warner with his wife and daughters, gathered at an Elstead Church Hall for a special birthday tea.  Following the meal, Harold Coleman, on behalf of D.A. members, presented - together with several other gifts - a gold replica of the famous wings and wheels filigree C.T.C. badge to Bill Inder to mark his many years as Secretary, Treasurer and President of the D.A.  A big birthday cake and wine helped to make the occasion a memorable one.

As part of the Club's Centenary celebrations the Home Counties Rally at the end of the month brought over 350 to the three-day series of rides, largely organised and led by D.A. members.  The rides were based on the Rugby Club premises at Farncombe where many wined and dined and slept in 80 tents and 12 caravans as well as in nearby local guest houses.  In indifferent weather the rides ranged from the South Downs, to Odiham and to Windsor Park and the week-end programme also included a barn dance, a travel show and a buffet supper.

A week-end at Blackboys hostel attracted 13 and the Thursday Nighters had a successful time on the Isle of Wight, based on Bonchurch, Charlie Pilbeam suffering a broken crank but winning through on one pedal.

May 27 was a big day when West Surrey members started the Round Britain Relay Ride from the Club's Godalming headquarters, preceded for the first mile by a varied group of vintage cycles, their riders in period costumes.  The 'baton' - a book to contain the signatures of all the riders taking part in the 1,500 mile circuit - was duly handed over to the Portsmouth D.A. at South Harting on time and the D.A. was well represented at the Windsor finish on Thursday the 1 June.

But gloom was cast over the excitement of the day with the sad news of the death of Don Field, one of the D.A.'s most ardent supporters for over 40 years during which time he held the offices of Woking Section Secretary and D.A. Chairman, later becoming Vice-President.

He also very effectively chaired the D.A. A.G.M.s for many years and, being also a member of the Charlotteville C.C. from 1937, he held nearly every office in that club, including those of Secretary, Chairman and President and he had wider interests, being an observer on record attempts, a member of the Roads Record Association and delegate to two other cycling bodies.  So it was not surprising that a shadow hung over both the Stonehenge and back ride and another joint run with the K.W.'s that both took place on the following Sunday.

After Les Sutton had put his name in the records for winning the speed-judging at Fairoaks, the "100" in July was voted one of the most gruelling of the series.  The course was unusual in that, as far as possible, it followed the boundaries of the D.A. - from Pirbright to Farnham and Grayshott and from Dunsfold through Ockley, Cobham, Egham and Frimley - only 7 of the 12 starters being successful.  On the same day (9 July) Stewart Jackson and Eddie Hargraves broke the London/Brighton and back tandem trike record in 4 hours 33 minutes.

In August a member was put into the stocks at Beenham and subjected to various humiliations - to the delight of all but the unfortunate victim.  Several members managed to get up to Harrogate for the Club's Centenary celebrations but most had to content themselves with a special local ride to mark the occasion.  At Thames-side Hurley there was a picnic lunch followed by bathing and an impromptu football match with the ball frequently landing in the water.  Nearly 50 took part in that day's outing which finished with a bumper birthday tea at Addlestone.  In September, from an uncivilised part of the country - somewhere north of Watford - came a big asset to the D.A. in the shape of John Whatmore, his first efforts to contact members being little short of hilarious.  Having obtained a runs list, he mis-read the start of a Chobham run and proceeded to Cobham.  There he enquired as to the whereabouts of the War Memorial and was informed that it was in the church.  Whereupon he was somewhat doubtful about joining a cycling group that met inside a church.

Fortunately he took the plunge and became one of the D.A.'s most valued and helpful supporters, taking on the Secretaryship after only a few weeks in the area.

The Guildford Town Show was supported as before and the September Tourist Trial started after lunch from Lower Assendon with Chris Jeggo as the run-away winner, the Winterton Arms at Chiddingfold being used for tea.  October saw a scramble up to the summit of Leith Hill for cups of tea, only to find that the refreshment kiosk there had been burnt out.  A week later, Mark Langman triumphed on the hill-climb with Graham Richardson taking the afternoon free-wheeling.  The Thursday Nighters had another week-end at Mottisfont and Chris Jeggo chaired the Addlestone A.G.M. which brought several changes.  The vacancy of Vice-President left by Don Field was filled by George Alesbury and Kathy Parfitt joined the committee.  Harold Coleman vacated the office of D.A. Secretary on being elected to represent the Home Counties on the C.T.C.'s National Council and Chris Jeggo took over the Secretaryship, Harold Coleman being elected as additional Vice-President.
 

50th Annual Dinner, Cotteridge Hotel, Woking, 25 November 1978 Woking's Mayor - Gordon Brown - speaking.

To mark the 50th Anniversary of the D.A. and the 100th of the C.T.C., a special dinner was held at the Cotteridge Hotel for nearly 100 diners, with the Mayor and Mayoress of Woking and Club Secretary, Les Warner as principal guests.  Bill Inder was presented with the Club's handsome Merit Medallion for long service together with a mock mayoral chain of office made up of various bicycle parts.

In December, members joined the Charlotteville C.C. for tea at their Guildford club room;  there was a fine Christmas tea laid on at Addlestone for 60 and the appetiser run brought 30 to Horsell on a bright, sunny morning.  The final run of the year, on New Year's Eve was a disaster; overnight snow made roads practically unusable and none of the three rides materialised.  The year's programme included train-assisted rides and nine hostelling week-ends.

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Web page by Chris Jeggo.  Last revised:  24 December 2004.