So let's get on to 1981 and the birth of the Southdown Velo (it doesn't seem like 20 years ago). In those days we met at The Barleycorn at Nutborne for our Monday night meetings, and a VCN photo was displayed at the pub for many years.

The change brought a resurgence of interest and our membership gradually increased to a peak of 70 in 1990. Our first President was Ian Hallam who in 1981 was nearing the end of his Professional Cycling career before moving into water sports and later to return to Cycling as the top Veteran in recent years. Pete Dollery was Club Chairman for most of the period and organised the annual club do for over 25 years. (We still discuss these times and the VCN years at The Bat and Ball, Hambledon on Monday nights if you wished bored with our tales of the past.)