but after several letters the die was not forthcoming (it is now assumed to be lost). It was decided not to have any further dealings with this company and that the badge sub-committee should seek estimates from other companies. The 28 new qualifiers were elected to the Centurions, and like those from the Ewhurst race would have to wait for their badges until a new supplier was found. The secretary, Frank Jarvis C258 commented on the high cost of awarding badges to new Centurions and suggested that a qualifying event should be held every 4 years and that applicants for the Centurion badge should be confined to residents of the U.K. The cost of supplying Centurion badges for continental walkers (at average cost) over the past six years was approximately £1,090.00. This whole matter which would have been a major change to years of tradition was held over to the next meeting. At the election of officers, the President, Tom Richardson C100 decided to stand down after 9 years in office. Bill Harris M.B.E. C97 was elected to replace him. Billy Baker C66 was deleted from the list of Vice-Presidents and, Gordon Doubleday C142 was elected as an addition to the list, all of whom were re-elected, along with the other officers. While the AGM was in progress, Ann Sayer C599 was walking from Lands End to John O’Groats, a feat she accomplished in 13 days 17 hours 42 minutes, beating the previous running record by 3 days 4 hours! The badge sub-committee got down to business almost immediately after the meeting and within a fortnight, arrangements had been made with Messrs A.D. Brooks of London, for the supply of a new die and 200 silver plated badges at a total cost of just over £300.00. The badges were supplied at the end of November, less than 10 weeks after the initial enquiry, a far cry from the performance of the previous suppliers. Things were now looking up in a year that had started so badly; especially when the confirmation of a track race, to be held at Brighton in May, was received. The proposed 4th edition of the Bristol 100 had fallen through and it looked as though there would not be a race in 1981. Good luck can however easily turn bad as it did when the captain Hew Neilson went to Holland for the Dutch reunion. He had taken the badges for the overseas Centurions with him, unfortunately they were stolen from his motor car. In May 1981, 10 replacement badges were ordered with an additional 118 to take the numbers up to 999. There should now be no reason for the Centurions to encounter such problems as had beset them over the past few years. The track race at Brighton, sponsored by the Endeavour Motor Co. and known as the “Endeavour 24 hours” was held on 23rd-24th May. Only 20 of the 26 entrants toed the line, notable absentees being, Emile Alomaine C470 and the very good French walker, Alain Moulionet. The event was somewhat spoilt by persistent rain, therefore no records were set, but nevertheless the first 3 all got above 120 miles, with local man Dave Boxall in 4th place just short. The winner with an excellent 129 miles was Geoff Tranter C507, from the other 13 who lasted the distance. 11 completed 100 miles, the only new man being George Beecham of Belgrave Harriers, who became the fourth Centurion to have the distinction of a race title to himself in this handbook. The first Saturday in September saw the annual single journey from London to Brighton.


What had always been feared, finally happened, when Dave King of Belgrave Harriers was struck and killed by an out of control motor car. This freak accident, which would lead to the demise of this classic race, had first been warned about as long ago as 1921. The notification


occurrence, far too many to mention in these pages, but some are worthy of note. During the summer, A.H. Bevis C57, a regular chairman at Centurion meetings, died at the age of 97. In mid-September Eddie McNeir C375 died at the age of 81, not a remarkable age when one considers some of the past Centurions, but a remarkable man who did his first 100 at the age of 65 and did 9 more in successive years to become only the fourth Centurion to reach double figures (Editor’s note: after the 2010 race 21 Centurions had reached double figures). His


39 of deaths of Centurions was becoming a more and more regular


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