Motor traffic was only a fraction of what it is to-day and speeds were much slower, enabling those who chose to keep up with the forerunner of to-day's motor coach - the open-topped char-a-banc.

But although there were fewer private cars, before the construction of the Guildford by-pass there was often a succession of crawling cars trying to get through Godalming and Guildford, often with a tail-back to Milford.  Even so, main roads were used by cyclists far more than they are to-day, enabling tea places to be further out.  And there was no rush to get home after tea, most rides finishing between 9 and 10 pm and it was quite usual to stay at tea-time pubs playing darts etc. until opening time at 7 pm.

To-day, by comparison, there is a great variation in ages, consequently a greater difference in aims and objectives, as well as a greater diversity in spending power.

Quite a number of members have now retired from work while some are still at school and Father Time seems to have claimed more than his share in the natural order of things while far too many gave their young lives in the service of their country between 1939 and 1945 but, it is gratifying to record that our early benefactors, Archie Benstead and George Spiller are still with us (at the end of 1981), Archie aged 94 and George 93.

Before the 1939 war it was possible to get tea at almost any public house, even without booking, for small parties but, because of the scarcity of suitable tea places to-day, there has grown up a tendancy to use church and village halls and, latterly, several members have extended facilities for such meals in their own homes, a move that is very welcome.  This, therefore, seems an appropriate moment to thank them, also the ladies at Addlestone, Elstead, Abinger Common and Rudgwick as well as members' wives who have helped by providing refreshments at various social functions over the years.

From such modest beginnings, it is sobering to realise that if we include war services in Africa, Ceylon, India and Burma with the wide travels of Clary Loughnane, David Wells, Martin Purser and John Whatmore, plus the many who have covered most of Europe from Norway to Majorca, West Surrey members have left few regions of the world unexplored and, in that connection, Clary Loughnane - writing to Bill Inder recently from Antigua, - said, inter alia; -
"I still retain my interest through the C.T.C. and I am a Vice-President of the Bath Road Club.  As you know, I worked for British companies overseas and, on retirement, continued to see the rest of the world, my total number of countries being 127.  The only remaining spots of any interest are Timbuktu and Red China, which I hope to 'do' in the near future.  You say you ride to pubs.  How can you afford to drink at to-day's prices?  Remember when beer was 4d (1½p) a pint?"

And another daunting thought is that anyone who has been officially connected with the growth of the movement since 1921 will probably have attended well over 700 committee and other meetings!

Other things have changed almost beyond recognition and older members in particular find great confusion.

For instance - decimalisation of the currency together with new coinage;  changes to the thermometer, metrication of various measures (solid and liquid) and the 24-hour clock - and now new coins for £1 and 20p are promised.  By the time the £5 coin arrives, it may not buy a gallon of petrol - it won't, because gallons will have disappeared to be replaced by the litre and nobody will know how many miles (kilometres?) it will take them, or what the temperature is, what the right time is or the true value of anything.

Lackaday me!

. 1980 . . Index to years . . Addendum . . W. Surrey DA History & Archives home page .

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