© 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
The Western boundary of this new Section, then became the Eastern boundary of this Association. It was this Section which formed the nucleus of the existing Portsmouth District Association.
About the time of the formation of the Portsmouth Section various new features were introduced into the programme of events. The first organised tour was arranged and carried out in the Isle of Wight at Easter 1921. In February 1922, a Country Quarters was established at Brockenhurst, where members met one evening per week for social intercourse. The scheme was supported entirely by voluntary contributions but it did not attract much support and was abandoned in March 1923. The idea was again revived in November of the same year with Headquarters at first the Fleming Arms, and then at Brown's Restaurant, Romsey, but once again, lack of support led to the scheme being finally abandoned in February of the following year.
In 1923 a monthly magazine entitled "Notes of the Road" was produced, being a record of the activities of the Association and it continues popular amongst the membership. In February 1924, the Association adopted its present title of "Wessex", and extended its area to include that part of the counties of Dorset,
Hants, Wilts and Sussex, bounded by lines drawn through the towns of Littlehampton, Petworth, Alton, Andover, Amesbury, Shaftesbury and West Lulworth, and the coast on the south and including all places on those lines. This was undoubtedly a very wise move and it would be difficult to find a more appropriate title. Owing to the rapid growth in a Westerly direction, in June 1926, the area was again extended to embrace the whole of the County of Dorset, and it seems doubtful if any further extension will be found necessary.
The first President of the Association was the Rev.C.B.Lloyd elected in 1915, and he remained in office until 1921, when Mr.A.F.Angell was elected. In 1923 Mr.T.C.L.Holroyd was made President, which office he held for two years, Mr.R.D.Maddock being appointed in 1925, and he occupied the position until 1929, when Mr.A.B.Snell was elected to the office, which he still retains.
This report would not be complete without reference to the splendid work carried out by the Chairmen of Committee. The first to occupy this position was the Rev.C.B.Lloyd, appointed in October 1911, and he remained in office through many difficult years until February 1920, when Mr.W.R.Wells was elected. In 1923 Mr.A.F.Angell took over the duties until the present Chairman Mr.W.Howe was elected to the post in February 1925. Mr.Howe has done some wonderful work, and has attended every Committee Meeting with few exceptions.
The Association has been responsible for several important ideas which have been adopted by the Club. The first of these was the adoption of a Password by the Club, but this appears to have been allowed to lapse. Later the publication of a Club Diary was the result of a suggestion from this Association and the publication of Christmas Cards last year was the outcome of a further resolution from this Association. It is thought that the introduction of these developments and their introduction by the Club reflects some credit to the D.A.
On this occasion, the 21st anniversary of the formation of the District Association, it is very gratifying to be able to record such substantial progress. From these small beginnings on the District Association's birthday in 1911, has grown an organisation now represented by four main divisions covering Wessex, and centering on Salisbury in the North, Bournemouth in the South, Southampton in the East, and Weymouth in the West, with a present total membership of 474.
The Wessex District Association today undoubtedly occupies a proud position in the Club, and this position is a just reward to those who have laboured so diligently and painstakingly to accomplish this result. Under such circumstances, the outlook for the future appears certainly bright, and one can look forward with confidence that the growth and progress will be all that can be desired by the officers and members who have assisted in placing the Association in the strong position it now occupies.
Bernard Miller D.A. Secretary 1932
