Decline
But by about 1960 things were changing. Increasingly prosperity meant that people were able to afford cars such as the Ford 'Popular' which was coming onto the market and petrol was plentiful and cheap. These were the years of Harold McMillan's "We've never had it so good" and cycling began to feel the effects. Membership dwindled in the CTC and D.A. where support for runs and events began to decline. Sadly, in 1962 the Romford Section, the D.A.s oldest section was wound up to be followed the next year by the Hard-riders. By 1965 the Epping Forest and the Dagenham had gone and in 1967 Southend disappeared whilst the Thurrock was virtually dormant. But there were some optimists who were determined to keep going. In 1963 a South East Family Section was started by Hugh and Veronica Brown to cater for those in the Rayleigh area and in 1966 John Davis founded the Western Section, helped by former members of the Ilford & Barking which was closed down. Runs were held every fortnight and the two sections sometimes joined on bus-assisted runs to places such as Cambridge which helped to retain members' interest.

But the decline continued to have its effect on the D.A. programme which shrank to little more than a '50' and an occasional '100' with the map-reading and Gymkhana disappearing in 1966. That year an effort was made to keep former members in touch and an Old Timers Meet was held at Mill Green later developing into the Essex D.A. Reunion Fellowship (EDARF) much of the spadework being done by Wilf Hewitt. A sub-committee reorganised the D.A. Structure, abolishing the post of vice-president (there were 8) and substituting the Certificate of Merit for good service but President Eddie Engel resigned in 1967, leaving the D.A. headless. By 1970 the Browns had moved away and the South East Family Section collapsed. Things were looking bleak again but a few loyal members shuffled jobs around to keep the D.A. in being. Then in 1973 we suffered a blow when Spotlight ceased publication. It had long held the D.A. together under such editors as Terry Tegg, Connie and Syd Measor and Don Journet. Luckily a volunteer was found in the shape of David Hibberd who produced a runs list and newsletter and this was continued by Malcolm Stapley.

It is said that the darkest hour is before the dawn and this was certainly true in the D.A's case. With D.A. Secretary David Hibberd mentally preparing to wind up the D.A. up came salvation came in the form of a petrol crisis and a change in the public attitude to a concern for the health and environment factors, so that cycling began to regain some of its lost popularity. David Hibberd, together with the Thorndikes and Malcolm Stapley started another section in the Rayleigh area which developed into the South East Group in 1975 and the following year the Western Section changed its name to the Brentwood and District. At the 1975 AGM Len Duffin was elected as our fourth President. Things were beginning to flourish again.