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1878
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Bicycle Touring Club founded at Harrogate on Aug. 5th by
Stanley Cotterell and 80 members elected. Oct.
15. First Monthly Circular issued.
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1879
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Hotel recommendations system introduced, Handbook and Guide
first issued. Club uniform (green) adopted.
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1880
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First lady member (Mrs W. D. Welford) is admitted. Magazine
re-styled as Monthly Circular and Official Gazette.
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1881
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Road routes first issued.
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1882
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Magazine title changed to Monthly Gazette and Official
Record.
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1883
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Organization re-titled 'Cyclists' Touring Club'. Entrance fee
instituted. Membership reached 10,627. Headquarters established at 139-140
Fleet Street, London EC4.
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1884
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'Danger' road signs produced (at first jointly with National
Cyclists' Union) mainly to warn of steep hills and down not up, due to the
poor brakes of early bicycles.
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1885
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Richmond Park and Regents Park are the first of several royal
parks opened to cyclists as a result of CTC action. Membership reached
20,385.
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1886
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Life Membership scheme inaugurated. New badge (CTC wheel and
wings) adopted.
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1887
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The CTC incorporated (company limited by guarantee). Hotel
signs adopted: those massive cast-iron winged wheels that may still be seen on the walls of old pubs etc.
throughout the British Isles.
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1888
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Local Government Act declared cycles to be 'carriages' with
right to use the roads as a result of CTC action.
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1889
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Foreign customs facilities first negotiated (waiving import
tax for ridden bicycles when crossing borders). Continental Handbook
started. Proposed amalgamation with National Cyclists' Union defeated at
general meeting.
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1894
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First District Association (Northumberland & Durham)
formed.
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1896
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CTC Headquarters moved to 47 Victoria Street, London SW.
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1897
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Membership reached 44,491.
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1898
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Touring Bureau established at CTC Headquarters. Reciprocal
arrangements made with twelve Continental clubs.
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1899
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Lady Harberton, wearing 'rational'
cycling dress, refused service at Hautboy Hotel, Ockham, Surrey.
Case taken up by CTC, but lost. 'Cycles as rail passengers' luggage' test
case lost. CTC coming-of-age dinner and organized tour. Membership reached
highest ever: 60,449. CTC host to delegates in London for first annual
congress of Ligue Internationale
des Associations Touristes (forerunner of the
AIT).
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1900
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CTC initiates joint venture with Messrs Bartholomew of
Edinburgh to produce maps for cyclists of the whole of Great Britain,
information on the condition of roads to be collated by CTC's network of
Consuls.
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1901
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First Bartholomew/CTC half-inch to the
mile map (sheet 3, the Lake
District) is printed.
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1902
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Family and commuted membership schemes started.
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1906
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Application to re-name CTC 'The Touring Club' and amend
constitution to admit all tourists, refused by the High Court.
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1907
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Club uniform abandoned.
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1909
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Affiliation scheme started.
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1910
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HM King George V became first Royal Patron of CTC.
Headquarters moved to 280 Euston Road, London NW. Accident insurance scheme
started.
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1913
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HRH the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII and
subsequently the Duke of Windsor) became a Life Member of the CTC.
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1919
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Junior membership scheme adopted.
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1923
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888 mile Relay Ride organized by CTC to convey message from
Lord Mayor of London round England during National Bicycle Week. CTC
representatives cycled to Buckingham Palace to give birthday greetings to
their Patron, HM the King.
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1925
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Free Third Party Insurance scheme inaugurated. Cyclist's
Diary first published in conjunction with Charles Letts & Co. Sir
Alfred Bird Memorial Prize, endowed by his son (Sir Robert Bird, Bt), to be
awarded for 'signal service' to the CTC during any year. Plaque offered by
the CTC to the inventor or producer of the greatest improvement in cycle
design, construction, or equipment during any year.
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1927
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Permanent headquarters purchased at 3 Craven Hill. London W2,
and opened by the Duke of Argyll. Club colours (royal blue and old gold)
adopted. Affiliated membership extended to schools and youth groups.
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1928
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Golden Jubilee dinner attended by the Earl of Birkenhead, the
Rt. Hon. J Ramsay MacDonald, Sir John Foster Fraser, etc. 'Romance of the
CTC' (history of the Club) by JT Lightwood published. 2052-mile Relay Ride
organized by the CTC to convey birthday message to HRH the Prince of Wales
round England and Southern Scotland. First Triennial Veterans' Ride (for
male CTC members aged 50 and over).
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1931
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District Association runs lists issued as supplements to the Gazette.
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1934
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Defence Fund instituted. First 'Steep Hill' signs provided by
CTC.
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1935
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2215-mile Relay Ride to convey Silver Jubilee greetings to HM
the King. Code of conduct ('Cyclists Take Care') published.
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1936
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King George VI became Patron following the death of George V
and abdication of Edward VIII. Certificate of Merit award established.
Distribution of 'Cyclists Take Care' leaflets reached five million.
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1938
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Diamond Jubilee rally at Harrogate.
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1944
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Sixth Triennial Veterans' Ride. CTC members received in
Windsor Home Park by the Royal Family.
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1945
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First York Rally held as a get-together of Yorkshire CTC
District Associations.
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1946
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Benefits of Junior membership extended to include the Gazette.
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1948
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Fourth York Rally and international event, celebrating CTC
70th anniversary and AIT Golden Jubilee. 'Candidates for membership' lists
ceased to be published in the Gazette.
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1949
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'Affiliation' scheme restricted to schools and youth groups
only.
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1950
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CTC obtained removal of clause in Wolverhampton Corporation
Bill which sought power to control cyclists' use of local roads. Membership
reached post-war peak: 53,574.
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1951
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Competition to design 'ideal touring bicycle' organized by the
Gazette and BSA Cycles Ltd. First CTC Organized Tour using air
travel (to Switzerland).
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1952
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Death of King George VI. HM Queen Elizabeth II became Patron.
British Cycle Tourist Competition inaugurated. CTC sued by J Cecil Paget
Ltd. for breach of contract in refusing to insert their advertisements in
the Gazette after complaints by members.
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1953
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75th anniversary celebrations include re-enactment of
Edinburgh to Harrogate foundation ride by Stanley Cotterell,
on a High Ordinary bicycle, and unveiling of commemorative plaque in
Harrogate. This Great Club of Ours (history of the CTC) published. 9th
Triennial Veterans' Rides is first to be held in the north. DAs' runs lists
ceased to be published nationally.
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1954
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AGM in Newcastle, in recognition of Diamond Jubilee year of
the first CTC District Association (Northumberland & Durham). York
Rally officially adopted as CTC annual National Rally. British Cycle
Tourist Competition (3rd) is televised for first time.
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1955
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First CTC Youth Adventure Week. First 'Cyclists' Special' rail
excursion organized by CTC.
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1956
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Free Third Party Insurance made worldwide and extended to
£10,000.
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1957
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'Associate membership' class inaugurated for children under 15
passing an approved cycling proficiency test.
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1958
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Eightieth anniversary celebrations. Floral designs in many
towns. Extensive press, Radio and TV coverage. 14th York Rally an
international event again.
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1959
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11th Triennial Veterans' Ride; women accepted for first time.
Recruitment competition inaugurated. Scheme re-instated for revision of Bartholomews half-inch maps by CTC.
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1960
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16th York Rally is focal point of British Cycle Industries
Association Golden Jubilee.
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1962
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Triennial Veterans' Rides (12th) are held for first time in
three different areas. Membership Survey begun.
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1963
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The Gazette re named Cycletouring,
published alternate months from December and made available by subscription
to non-members.
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1964
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Entrance fees abolished. New under-18 Associate membership
replaced the previous associate and youth group affiliation schemes.
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1965
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Rest All-Rounder competition for CTC time-trialists
begun. Field Officer scheme began. 13th Triennial Veterans' Rides held in
four areas. 21st York Rally, again an international event. Metal-plate road
markings abolished by government after long campaign by CTC.
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1966
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Ist National Prize Presentation Dinner. National Headquarters
moved to 69 Meadrow, Godalming,
Surrey (named 'Cotterell House'
after the Founder). Travel and enquiry office opened, 13 Spring
Street London W2. Revised Memorandum of Association approved.
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1967
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Consular system discontinued. Local Information Officers
appointed. 'CTC Travel Ltd' registered as a trading company.
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1968
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Right to cycle on bridleways and long-distance cross-country
routes incorporated in new Countryside Act, largely through CTC action.
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1969
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Poll of whole Club confirmed AGM decision to raise
subscription rates. 'Honorary' Vice-Presidents (i.e. without ex-officio
seats on Council) first appointed. Silver Jubilee of the York Rally.
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1970
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CTC Handbook first offered free to new members. New
group affiliation scheme introduced. Explanatory sub-title 'the cyclists
association' adopted for publicizing CTC's protection work. Birthday Rides
inaugurated from Cotterell House.
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1971
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15th Triennial Veterans Rides held in five areas now including
Scotland.
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1972
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Free Third Party Insurance cover increased to £50,000.
CTC-organized international rally based on Loughborough.
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1973
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First award of new Merit Medallion for distinguished service
to CTC. First lady Chairman of CTC Council elected (Mrs Ivy Thorp).
Cyclists Diary re-styled and published direct from CTC Headquarters.
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1974
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Free Third Party Insurance cover increased to £250,000.
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1975
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First CTC 'transatlantic' Organised Tour (to Western Canada). CTC
Handbook offered at half-price to new members (free issue
discontinued).
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1977
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The Cycle Touring and Countryside Trust formed by the CTC and
registered as a Charity. Free Third Party Insurance cover increased to
£300,000. Cycles carried free (with certain exceptions) on trains after 99
years of sustained CTC effort.
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1978
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Centenary year: many press, radio and TV features. Dinner in
London; Relay Ride through England, Wales Ireland, Scotland; AIT
International Cycling Rally and 100th Birthday Rides based on Harrogate the
Club's birthplace. Books: 'Winged Wheel' (history of the Club) and 'A
Centenary Route' published.
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1979
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First Tour Leaders' course held.
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1980
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CTC Route Guide to Cycling in Britain & Ireland'
published. Cycletouring magazine adopted
regular full-colour front covers. Sale of CTC Travel Ltd severed that company's
direct links with the Cyclists' Touring Club. Free Third Party Insurance
cover increased to £500,000.
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