Sadly, a week later, Dave left the area to take up an appointment in Scotland though his sister Mary continued with the D.A. and led a January run.  In February, Stewart Jackson was in charge of a party of 9 on a run to Charlbury hostel and, by March, quite an international aspect was emerging, cyclists from the U.S., Norway and Greece appearing, as well as a young girl from West Germany.

Hartley Wintney came in as a new tea venue as did Doreen Lindsay's home at Grayswood.  At Easter, led by John Whatmore, eight spent a week touring in Normandy and Brittany.

Saturday afternoon rides began again after the holiday and 32 started on the "50" from Mayford, an unusual feature being that C.T.C. Councillor Harold Coleman rode the course - plus another 30 miles during the rest of the day - on an ancient Dursley Pedersen machine.  On the same day, 11 senior members - all over 55 - had their own 50 mile course and 65 were on the day's rides, with tea at Elstead.  Russ Mantle found a new course for the speed-judging near Churt and the "rough-stuff" was also at a new location - on Bramshott Common.  Selmeston was the centre for the Home Counties Rally and West Surrey was well represented.  The youth hostels at Doddington and Guestling were used, and the 125 mile round trip to Stonehenge and back was carried out in early June.

Dave Whittle and Clement Collins started on an indefinite tour that embraced France, West Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

Meanwhile, in order to familiarise group leaders with the route, there were several rides along parts of the 100 mile Veterans' Triennial Ride which the D.A. had been asked to organise for the 22 June.  That day started brilliantly when men over 50 and women over 40 - 65 in all - were started on their journey from the Club's Godalming headquarters by Les Warner.  Groups were sent off at five minute intervals from 8.30 am, the oldest leaving first, and each group was led by an experienced West Surrey member, with a 'tail-end Charlie' to shepherd any stragglers and help with minor troubles.  Harold Coleman acted as Major Domo for the event with Keith Parfitt manning the H.Q. telephone.  There was a downpour after coffee at Selborne but it was fine by lunch time, the village hall at Tilford being used for the meal.  Mrs. P. Harper provided roadside drinks in morning and afternoon breaks and an excellent tea at The Rudgwick Hall at Bucks Green preceded the final 18 miles - with more rain - back to H.Q. and, despite having to put capes on and off all day, the venture was voted a great success.

There was a new tea place at Fifield, and the "100" followed the 1979 route, all eleven qualifying.

Sausage suppers had become well established, with the famous sandpits on Horsell Common as the favourite venue, and members had become involved in planning routes and checking entrants in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme - mainly consisting of three day 100 mile cycle camping expeditions.

On an August ride an unusual feature attracted members' attention near Newnham - a scarecrow embracing a nude woman - but upon closer inspection (naturally) the latter was discovered to be a window display model.  The Bank Holiday saw 8 members - in cars to Tewkesbury - using the hostels at Ludlow and Bridges.

In September a Club stand was again manned at the Guildford Town Show and the Wayfarers, after witnessing the annual race for home-made rafts from Boulters Lock, discovered a delightful tea place in a church hall at Bray.  There was a further hostel week-end on the Isle of Wight with East Sussex members and the Thursday Nighters went on another trip to Mottisfont.

Also that month, Stewart Jackson and Eddie Hargraves broke the Cardiff to London record for tandem tricycles by over 21 minutes covering 149 miles in 6 hours 9 minutes 22 seconds.

During the Summer, eleven Saturday afternoon rides for new-comers were carried out but few enrolments resulted, most of those attending already being members.  A new venture was a Barn Dance at Ottershaw, largely organised by Les Sutton.  Twelve Intermediates took train to Petersfield in November and, on the same day, the other two groups faced a "Closed" notice at the Crookham tea place owing to a death in the family.

The year saw the introduction of a new D.A. badge, embodying the Surrey oak leaf - mainly from a design by Simon Doughty.  Sales of these were good as were those of ball-point pens bearing the words "Cycle with the West Surrey C.T.C.", a project instigated by Mrs. Gill Smith.  Gordon Appleby judged and projected entries in the year's photographic competition in November and, at the A.G.M., Les Warner was added to the list of Vice-Presidents and, because of changed working hours, John Whatmore was forced to give up the Secretaryship.  The post was taken by Mrs. Kathy Parfitt, Les Moss came on to the committee while Garry Lockwood undertook to look after the map library in place of Robert Pidgeon, and Russ Mantle continued in office - the most dedicated runs secretary since the days of Vic Barnard.

Stewart Jackson led nine on a punishing hostelling week-end at Duntisbourne Abbots and the Cotteridge dinner drew nearly 70, guest speaker being Chris Davies of Havant and there were 62 at Addlestone for the excellent Christmas tea provided by Mrs. B. Vowler.

At Horsell scout hut on the appetiser ride, plans were being laid for a 1981 visit to the Cider Meet at St. Lo in Normandy and for a mid-summer boat trip along the river Wey.

And so this record of sixty years awheel for C.T.C. members based in West Surrey comes to a close and, although conditions have changed vastly during that time, there is every prospect that the grand old game of cycling will continue to bring pleasure and satisfaction to many.

Here endeth the lesson.  Amen.

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