MIDHURST DETOURS SCOOTER CLUB

By the late 70s, Midhurst saw the beginnings of a slight ripple of a Mod Movement begin to emerge from a handful of local kids. Then Quadrophenia happened and by 1980 the Midhurst Mod scene was beginning to get huge. Kids from Midhurst Grammar School were gaining a reputation, the "Upper School Mods" were the kids to be seen with and it wasn't long before there were scooters buzzing about the town centre.

The Midhurst Detours Scooter Club was born in 1980, fronted by a 17 year old David "Dizzy" Holmes, the club at this stage centred around local Midhurst kids and was mainly made up of Mods.

Named after the pre-Who band the Detours, the original members were:

David "Dizzy" Holmes; Silvio Bukbardis; David Spandley; Keith Puttock; Paul Etherington; Mark Etherington; Karl "Woody" Woodman; Richard "Riddle" Cook; Phil "Cookie" Cook; Chris Strudwick; John Strudwick; Steve Carver; David "Baxter" Baker and later Mark Turner and Duaine Jackson

 

Some had scooters, some were still at school but this group of lads attracted attention and it wasn't long before a few girls began to tag along:

Tania Harper; Nicola Funnell; Alison Diamond; Paula Woodman; Caroline Standing; Debbie Shimbart; Claire Merloss; Tracy Woodman; Sharon Groves; to name but a few

 

It wasn't unusual to find everyone at the Grange Centre on a Friday night, 60s disco's were regular events, along with bands such as the Gents and Station 360.

 

As the mod revival scene grew, the Midhurst Detours began to take in the surrounding areas, the Chichester Mods joined forces:

Dave Bliss; Colin Fox; Chris Pullyblank; Dave Wheeler; Anthony Green; Emma; Gail Greenhaulgh; Heather Vawdrey; Jane Richold; Tony Neal; Mark Holmes; Robin Godden; Kevin Dodd; Keith Weller; Mark Sheppherd, Lee Boniface; Seb Ritchie;

Chichester Fernleigh centre became the "in" place

and in time Bognor Regis with the original main core including:

Gary Brice; Barry Hutton; Michael "Stabber" Haimes; Robert Champion; Jamie Mace; Angus Young; Jane Woodward; David "Affey" Atherton; Ana Fernandez; Steve Horncastle; Lil; Richard Stewart; John Scarrow; Stacey Gardner; Tony Sivia; Tina; Peter Bryant; John Eastaugh; Gary Hornsey; Doz Hornsey; John Keen; Ben;

With everyone now meeting up outside the "ISB" Amusements on Bognor sea front.

By now the club had morphed into "Scooter Boys", taking in more and more rallies the smart clothes were being replaced with Camouflaged trousers, Army Greens, Dr Marten Boots and for some Kilts! Clothes that were easier to sleep in and easier to travel in.

By 1983 the Midhurst Detours boasted over 30 members, many with scooters and almost all of them doing every rally

Then in 1984, on the way to Skegness, Dizzy came off his scooter on the M11 just outside of Cambridge. Breaking his back he was confined to Odstock Spinal Unit for the next 18 months.

October 1984, the scooter Dizzy was riding AFTER the accident.

New members joining all the time with Derek Ferris, Bill Hawkes, Steve Essler and Lee Thwaites

Ali Hickman, Linda Blissett, Jo Jackson, Lofty and Terry Hendrick, making up the final team

October 2005

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