© Wessex District Association of the Cyclists’ Touring Club
CTC Office: Parklands, Railton Rd, Guildford, Surrey GU2 9JX
Company Limited by Guarantee - Registered in England No. 25185
WESSEX CTC
History and Administration
History and Administration
COMING OF AGE CELEBRATIONS 1932
A brief historical survey by Bernard Miller
In writing up this historical survey, it is found that in 1907, Mr.A.F.Angell wrote a letter to the Gazette drawing attention to the strength of District Associations in the North of England, and expressing surprise that nothing of the sort existed in the south. This undoubtedly gave rise to a desire on the part of members to start an association here.
However, the Association originated in 1911, its tile then being "The Southampton District Association", its scope at that time limited to an area within a fifteen miles radius of the Bargate, Southampton.
The first step in the direction of its formation was a notice published in the "Gazette" for June 1911, inserted at the instigation of Mr.H.R.G.Aldridge, calling a meeting to be held at the Central Hotel, Southampton, on the 13th July of that year. The meeting was duly held, and attended by Messrs.R.D.Maddock (Councillor), A.E.Fletcher, J.Guyer and others. Little appears to have been settled but two runs were arranged. Arising out of that meeting a further meeting was held on 9th October 1911, at Lowman's Cafe, Southampton, under the chairmanship of Mr.H.R.G.Aldridge. Those present included: Mesdames Guyer and Hubbard, Miss Cartwright, Messrs.A.F.Angell, Barnaby, Bevis, Cronwell, A.E.Fletcher, J.Guyer, E.R.Marle and Richards.
At that meeting the Southampton District Association was formally brought into existence, and Mr.Fletcher was elected Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, which office he held until June, 1913. A committee was elected and a programme arranged.
It is evident, however, that little progress was made in the first two years of the Association's life, for in June 1913, a Special General Meeting was called, and mention was made by the Chairman (Rev.C.B.Lloyd) that the primary business was in connection with the resuscitation of the D.A. Mr.Fletcher resigned his office of Hon. Secretary, and Treasurer, and Mr.J.Guyer was elected in his place. Under his guidance, the Association certainly made definite progress.
These early days in the history of the D.A. were times of difficulty, and at a critical stage in its life the Great War intervened, so that for a period 1914-1918 the Association suffered - like all similar bodies devoted to sport - and did not make the progress it otherwise undoubtedly should have done. However, the Association was kept alive by the efforts of such members as the Rev.C.B.Lloyd (Chairman), Mesdames Hubbard and King, the Misses Cartright and Galtsmith, Messrs.A.F.Angell, G.Guyer, G.Leake, E.R.Marle, and C.B.Scott.
It was due to their keen interest and unflagging energy that there remained an organisation to concentrate upon immediately conditions permitted such activities to be recommenced. The addition of new members and the unbounded enthusiasm of the older members enabled good progress to be made and at the end of 1919 there was a reasonably live organisation.
In May, 1915, the Association lost the splendid services of Mr.Guyer who died after a short illness, and his place was taken in June by Mr.E.R.Marle, but unfortunately in the following month he had to resign on account of Government work and Mr.C.B.Scott was elected to the office. Although Mr.Scott only accepted the duty as a temporary measure, he did wonderful work and continued to carry out the duties until February 1920, when he resigned, and the present Hon. Secretary was appointed.
The development of the Association since its inception has resulted in a number of changes, both in name and area. The first of these alterations occurred in February 1916, when the title became the South Hants District Association. In January 1917, the area was extended to include an area within a radius of thirty miles from Bargate, Southampton. Early in 1920 an effort was made to form a section at Portsmouth, and a meeting was called under the chairmanship of the writer, but unfortunately there was little response. Later, however, thanks to the enthusiasm of several members, amongst whom Messrs.A.E.Hewlett and H.S.Milmer were most prominent, a Section was ultimately formed in August 1921. This Section rapidly increased in strength, and in January 1926, it seceded from this Association with a corresponding reduction in the area of this D.A.
