The Centre 1970-1979

1970 The Centre held 60 events and this year saw the very first Christmas Rally at Esso Sports Ground Pavilion, Purfleet.

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1972   Appears to have been a very constructive year. The first ever rally book was printed, amazingly, except for a short period when it was produced in a “handbag/pocket size”, the format still remains very much the same.

· Different coloured rally plaques appeared. Previously all plaques were white and interestingly they had small pinholes in the corners so as they could be tacked to a board. Thank goodness for Blu-tac.

· The introduction of the rally programme in book form brought about problems for the rally marshalls of the day. When some members first received their books, they booked into all the rallies then cancelled or just did not turn-up. This action instigated the rule that no rally slips be accepted prior to 28 days before the rally, and the introduction of a £1 cancellation fee. In this year there had been 456 cancellations and 211 non-arrivals.

· An interesting article appeared in the AGM minutes, it read “It was asked if the question of Caravanettes could be clarified. The Chairman commented that discussion is still under negotiation with Head Office. At the present time the Centre will not put anything in writing on this issue until the final word is received from the Director General. However, the feeling of the Centre is that we do not accept these caravanettes.”

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1973   The Centre celebrated 500 rallies. The rally was held at Hylands Park Chelmsford over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The rally book states “Attractions at this Rally will include: A huge Marquee, with Licenced Bar, and Refreshment Bar; An Old Tyme Music Hall, complete with Master of Ceremonies and Band; Discotheques for Juniors and Adults; Bingo Sessions; Field events etc. etc.” 280 units attended

· This year saw the introduction of the dreadful VAT, still bugging us today.

1974   A Motion put before The AGM requested a 50p non-returnable fee on all rallies, this was defeated

1976 South Essex first established itself as a strong contender in the Decorated Car Competition at the National, bringing home a trophy for 2^nd place.

· A motion was passed to establish a Sports Section for the Centre, obviously that was a good idea, it has gone from strength to strength.

1977   The Centre took its first holiday rally abroad, on a 3 site rally to Brittany.

· The first Centre table cloth was started.

1978   Admin fee increased to 20p

· For the purpose of fellowship plaques, the first rally to be counted would be the AGM.

1979 The Centre held 115 separate events starting with Stratford-St-Mary at the beginning of February. However, apart from the 3 Christmas Rallies there were no others in December and January, but not a school playground in sight.

· The 1000^th rally was celebrated at Langford with 280 units attending.

· On the 2^nd Brittany holiday rally, the centre won an “It’s a knock-out” competition and were presented with a trophy by the people of Maxent. This trophy was subsequently awarded to Miss South Essex.

· Miss South Essex was Linda Krafft daughter of Karl & Jean Krafft of West Horndon.

· The first Centre Newsletter was produced in November.

Chairmen Officers and Committees 1970-1979

	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
CHAIRMAN	R Hooker	R Hooker	A Crow	A Crow	A Crow	E Jennings	E Jennings	E Jennings	E Simmons	E Simmons
VICE CHAIRMAN:	R Miller, S Carr	R Miller, S Carr	S Carr, A Card	S Carr, A Card	A Card, Mrs J Sidey	Mrs J Sidey  A Mattock	Mrs J Sidey  Mrs M Wright	Mrs M Wright, L Gibbons	Mrs M Wright,  L Gibbons	Mrs M Wright, L Gibbons
TREASURER:	E Jennings	E Jennings	E Jennings	E Jennings	E Jennings	E Simmons	E Simmons	E Simmons	F May	F May
SECRETARY:	W Leitch	W Leitch	W Leitch	W Leitch	M Tucker	M Tucker	M Tucker	M Tucker	M Tucker	M Tucker
RALLY SEC:	A Card	A Card	E Simmons	L Gibbons	W Hart	Mrs M Wright	R Laws	R Laws	P Derham	P Derham
SOCIAL SEC:	A Symmonds	A Symmonds	A Symmonds	A Symmonds	A Mattock	L Gibbons	L Gibbons	Mrs R Dowie	Mrs R Dowie	Mrs R Dowie
COMMITTEE:	Mrs B Whiffin, Mrs J Ward,  A Crow, G Skipper, E Jarvis, E Simmons	Mrs J Ward, A Crow, G Skipper, L Gibbons, E Jarvis, E Simmons	L Gibbons, R Martin, S Pickard, Mrs J Sidey, G Skipper, Mrs J Ward	Mrs M Wright, W Hart,  S Pickard, Mrs J Sidey, A Mattock, E Simmons,	W Leitch, Mrs M Wright, S Pickard, Mrs R Dowie, L Steele	S Pickard, L Steele, Mrs R Dowie, W Cattell, R Laws, W Stone	A Marshall, F May, W Stone, S Pickard, L Steele, Mrs R Dowie	P Derham, F May, W Stone, L Steele, R Pyne, S Pickard, R Bacon	S Pickard, W Stone, R Shockley, J Patmore, R Stubbs, P Moore,	S Pickard, W Stone, R Shockley, J Patmore, R Stubbs, P Moore,
SPORTS
COMMITTEE								K Hartley, P Moore, F Wright, Mrs P Wakeling	Mrs P Wakeling, K Hartley, D Clark, F Wright, G Crowe, J Dowie	Mrs E Mildren,  K Hartley, D Clark, F Wright, G Crowe, D Patmore, P Houlder
JUNIORS
CHAIRMAN	P Wheele	G Miller	C O’Malley,	R Simpole	J Crow	Glen Hodges	Glen Hodges	Glen Hodges	Chris Hodges	john Dowie
VICE CHAIRMAN:								Chris Hodges	Keith Smith	Jacky Harrow
TREASURER	Miss S Jennings	Miss S Jennings	Miss E Tucker	J Crow	Miss H Hale	Chris Hodges	Chris Hodges	Russel Crowe	Russell Crowe	Russell Crowe
SECRETARY	Miss S Symmonds	Miss A Soffietti	Miss J Gibbons	Miss J Gibbons	Miss S Mouncey	Steve Harrow	Carol Hooker	Carol Hooker	Jackie Harrow	Elaine Smith
COMMITTEE	A Leitch, G Symmonds, P Hooker, Miss D Skipper, K Marsden, G Miller	R Goddard, C O’Malley, J Crow, Miss J Gibbons, Miss L Jones, Miss E Tucker,	J Crow, R Goddard, Miss A Soffietti, R Simpole, G Hodges, Miss L Jones	R Brushwood, Miss H H Hale, G Hodges, R Goddard, C Platt, S Mouncey	W Grigg, Miss P Jarvis, R G Hodges, Miss C Platt, C Hodges, R Sidey.	Carol Hooker, Jennifer Sumner, Russel May, Hunter Todd, Allan Meager, David Gray	Jackie Harrow, Sue Elliott, Russel May, Russel Crow, David Gray	Steve Haroow, Jackie Harrow, Sue Elliott, Sharon Key, Kay Smith, D Mouncey	Steve Harrow, John Dowie, Elaine Smith, Ian Dowie, Dave Mouncey	Lorraine Temperton, Ian Dowie, Doug Patmore, Martin Croot, Gary Patten,