Oxted Runners was originally formed in the early 1980's as an informal running group by local resident Keith Nelson, and from small beginnings the club as we now know it grew. Keith went on to become editor of Today's Runner, and the September 1986 edition of the magazine features a young lady, identity unknown, sporting an early Oxted Runners vest. A copy of this magazine is kept in the club's archives — it makes interesting reading.
At this time the club was run informally and was not affiliated at all. However nearly everyone was also a member of Holland & Oxted Athletic Club, which was based in Hurst Green and which had evolved from a combination of Holland Athletic Club and the Oxted Runners.
In 1989, at the request of Holland Sports & Social Association, whose clubhouse and track it used, Holland & Oxted Athletic Club changed its name to Holland Sports A.C. A number of the Oxted contingent were unhappy with the loss of the Oxted identity from the club name. Led by Chris Brewer they turned the Oxted Runners into a formal club, with 20 members, initially keeping the Holland & Oxted name, subsequently reverting to Oxted Runners, and affiliating to the South of England and Surrey County Athletic Associations. From 1989 to 1994 the club's colours were blue and white, but in 1994 the current club colours of green and white quarters were introduced and made their first appearance that year at the Holland 10K race organised by Holland Sports AC.
For many years the club had met at The George pub in Old Oxted and training runs were organised on Tuesday nights by Ron Webb. There were no changing or showering facilities at the pub, and members prepared for their run by changing in the car park. In those days almost all the runners ended up in the pub afterwards and Val Bowes kept the club kitty in a small purse which is still in the club's possession. Contributions of £1 towards the drinks fund were collected from each runner and any surplus was used for the benefit of members. It wasn't until 1998 that a formal club subscription was introduced.
For a time the new club continued to be based at The George, but when the pub went upmarket and converted to a restaurant in the early 1990s, it no longer wanted sweaty runners frequenting the bar, and a new base had to be found. Enquiries were made of the local Leisure Pool, which had only recently opened, and which, more importantly at that time, sported a bar. Agreement was reached with the Centre management for the club to use the Pool and its facilities, provided that we supported the bar, which we were more than happy to do. Initially this worked well, with the Centre's barman providing free nibbles to accompany our drinks. However it soon became apparent that other users of the Centre were not supporting the bar, and the lack of trade resulted in the bar's closure in 1994. The club continued using the bar area for a time, obtaining non-alcoholic drinks from the pool-side café, but when this started closing at 8pm, the use of the former bar area declined and the Club began meeting outside, with post-run refreshments being taken in the nearby Oxted Inn.
In recent years the club has continued to grow, with our membership growing towards 100. For some time club members have thought that it would be nice if the club could find its very own premises to meet in the dry and warm and, with effect from 1 January 2010, this will be the case, as the club has decided to base itself at Limpsfield Lawn Tennis Club in Detillens Lane. The membership fee has risen to cover the cost of social membership of the tennis club, but in return runners now have access to the facilities of the tennis club including the bar, which provides refreshments and hot and cold food, very good changing and showering facilities, and a meeting room. These facilities will be available every day of the week, and it is hoped that this will encourage the development of the club's activities beyond the usual Tuesday evening run.
The club is now over 20 years old. Very few of the original members remain. The only founder member left is Paula Bongers, with Andy Thornley, Val Bowes, Tony Pearson, Dave Booker and Barbara Towers not being far behind. There is now a strong nucleus of newer, and younger, members to take the Club forward in the 21st century.