It was the end of of September 1970 at
the BDAs Feast of Lanterns I was approached by Mr Alf Dempster with the
offer to join five others to form a new DA. (BDA at that time was getting
very large.) it required six members to form a new section, the six being
Mr Alf Dempster, Mr Fred Sharpe, Mrs Sheila Sharpe, Mrs Doreen Taylor, Mr
Colin Ball, and myself Jim Oliver. We held our first meeting on October 13th
1970 the name we chose was North Warwickshire Section of BDA shortly after
Mr Peter Taylor was asked to join the committee. To give you a laugh the
fees were Adults 15np one night 20np for two nights. CCY 7np one night,
10np two nights.
Children 2np one night 5np two nights. In
January 1971 we applied to Central Counties Requesting DA status the
letter was signed by all the committee. After the first weekend meet we
revised the fees as it was very complicated they became 50np for two
nights, 30np for one night, CCY 10np two nights. 7np one night.
We were camping at Much Wenlock ,
Shropshire on May 30th 1971 when Mr Alf Dempster (Chairman)
announced we were now "North Warwickshire DA" also at this time Mr Ron
Smith was asked to join the committee.
It was arranged to hold the inaugural
meet at Combrook in August 1971. The Das first Holiday Meet was held at
Criccieth in Wales in 1971 followed by many others including of course the
Isle of Wight, which has been running for 30 years now. We then went on to
run many big meets such as The Medieval Meet, including a twelve course
banquet, The Turkey Trot, Christmas Dinner, Central Counties were
entertained a large group of Canadian’s, we were all dressed in
Elizabethan costumes (The Canadian Consul came also and decided to camp
with us for some years after). Then came the big one "DODGE CITY". The DA
is very well known throughout the club for running many wonderful meets
and after 35 years we hope the DA run many more.
We look back on the past 35 years with
fond memories of the wonderful friends and happy times we have had and
wish the DA all the best for the next 35 years.
Shirley and Jim Oliver
