Croydon Outdoor Pursuits & Social Events Club

Fun at The Manor
2026-02-10 20:15 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Hear about the highlights of our trip to Okehampton, and a chance to tell your own tale of the goings-on.
It’s also a bit of a taster for our return trip in September!

Following several folk asking me what “Fun at the Manor” means, it will be an illustrated explanation from some of us who enjoyed over five very full days at a Devon activity centre, last September. Do try to come along to learn what happened, what the participating COPSErs thought about it – and what the options will be for our 2026 visit there. Perhaps check your diaries now to pencil in 13th to 18th September. This Tuesday evening might tempt you to be among our next group of “Lords and Ladies” of The Manor!
Regards,
Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Builders Arms Quiz
2026-02-03 20:30 - 22:00 | Builder’s Arms Pub, 65 Leslie Park Road, Croydon, CR0 6TP
Well, we shall try to grab it! Yet again, non-skiing COPSErs will be attempting to wrestle the prize (sometimes a fairly substantial pot of ££s) away from the regular teams competing at the “Builders Arms” Quiz Night.*
I have reserved three tables of six for our Members. The quiz will cost £1pp (cash) and now begins a half hour earlier, i.e. at 8.30pm. We can arrive from 6.30pm to order food and socialize before the brain strain begins.

65 Leslie Park Road, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 6TP
https://buildersarmscroydon.co.uk/eat-drink-1b
* N.B. On previous visits, one of our teams did achieve second place!
If you would like to be among those of us exercising our grey matter this time, please let me know.

Regards,

Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Burns Night
2026-01-27 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
The Programme:

Please note we’ll be taking £3 at the door to cover costs for this evening – a bargain any Scot would be proud to claim!
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face
We didn’t argue with that sentiment in previous years, and everyone had such a good time that we’re doing it again.
If you have yet to be convinced of haggis’s virtues (or even if you have been), roll up on Tuesday evening for a treat of said puddin’, with its traditional embellishments of bashed neeps, mashed spuds, and whatever trimmings we can muster. There will even be a dram in it for those keen on the true Caledonian experience, along with the joyful skirl provided by our in-house piper and traditional poetry read in excruciatingly inaccurate Scottish accents.
Note that we’ll be providing, as well as full-fat leaded haggis, vegetarian, gluten free and gluten free vegetarian variations. Please let Ken know if your tastes run to any of these so we can get the numbers right.
Please note that, due to government restrictions, we will be using only left-handed specimens, humanely caught by burly, kilted highlanders using extra strong butterfly nets.
But
(I hear you ask)
what’s my part in all this magnificence?
Well, there are a few things you should be aware of . . . .
1. In the interests of simplicity and getting home before dawn, we’re not washing up! Bring your own plate, glass and cutlery, and take them home at the end of the evening.
2. Drink provided is limited to Scotch and Highland Water for the toasts – in addition, of course, to the regular tea & coffee service graciously provided by Olga William Colette. If your tastes veer in other directions, please feel free to bring your own choice of tipple.
3. For the furtherance of jollity and the spirit of the evening, any vaguely Scottish apparel is encouraged. If you can’t stretch to a kilt, how about tartan socks or a Hamilton Accies away strip?
Looking forward to that haggis already. No, don’t ask me what’s in it!
(I know, all shamelessly pasted in from previous web pages pasted in from the previous year’s email. Life’s still too short . . . )

COPSE Birthday
2026-01-20 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
This Tuesday is the nearest to COPSE’s 92nd birthday so we’re having a bit of a celebration. There’ll be some fun, games and . . . CAKE!,

We’ll also enjoy some party food – provided by yourselves! Please bring along no more than a plate or so of finger-food you can share. We’ll dig out some squash and such from upstairs, though if you have particular beverage preferences feel free to provide your own.
Also, we’ll avoid washing up so please bring your own plates / drinking vessels etc and take them away again.
Come along and enjoy.

A Right Old "Knees-Up"
2026-01-13 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
A change from the announced visit to Cryer Arts – it turns out that they don’t have their first-Tuesday-of-the-month folk session in January.

Following a quirky and interesting recent Club visit to a different kingdom (please read your latest “Viewpoint”!), Valerie and I hope you can now please join us for an informative and varied evening at our hall that stems from that. There will be a little bit of history, some music, a bit of a quiz – and a special guest! There will even be a “reference sheet” to take away!

8.15pm for teas and coffees (with the kitchen closing at 8.30pm).

ShelterBox "Mystery Auction"
2026-01-06 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Happy New Year! You are invited to warm up at our now toasty Hall.
The occasion is, of course, our annual Mystery Auction, where we have some fun raising cash for our pet charity, Shelterbox.

If you’re not familiar with Shelterbox have a look at their website, https://shelterbox.org/.

What you can do is to

wrap up your goods (unwanted and/or valuable)

and/or

turn up, enjoy the banter, and above all place your bids for the mystery parcels.

Don’t worry if you can’t contribute items, just come along and enjoy the evening.
For the uninitiated, here are Ireen’s words of explanation from her email:
Dear All,
I hope 2026 is off to a good start for everyone – and you are each feeling “resolute”! No, I’m not referring to all the personal resolutions (which might already have been broken?!) but to our Club one that we make this annual effort to gather enough funds for a whole “ShelterBox box”.
For our “Mystery Auction”, please spend a few mins in advance, wrapping your duplicated or unloved objects (rapping, as you do so, is optional!) and pass them to me from 8.15pm on Tuesday. Household / kitchen appliances in good condition – (perhaps never used, even if intentions were good!) could also be rehomed. IF there is a content of particularly high value, you can add a label with a reserve or start price on – likewise, if the item is only suitable for a male or female recipient. However, part of the fun is sometimes when bids disregard the latter, e.g., when Chris T. became the new owner of a lovely, silky camisole! (He happily gifted this to a female friend!!)
Wrapping paper need not be new – any kept from opening your own received presents, be they Xmas, birthday etc. will be good. If you have some items to donate but cannot manage to come along in person, please let me know and I hope I can help by collecting beforehand.
Re my title, “Lightening Your Load”: bulging wallets and purses can be brought through the door and you can benefit by carrying them away with far less weight in them! Also, please remember that our 2025 techy advance gave us a card machine, although chequebooks could still be brought! Once again, Treasurer Bob will kindly be managing the finance for the evening.
N.B. If the attached table is of interest, I am taking emailed or telephoned bids, as well as on the night, and can collect from its donor and deliver to you in the near future. The table is good and sturdy and a size that will very comfortably seat four people. Please contact me with your offers!
Width: 46¼” (117.5cm) X Depth: 31½” (80cm) X Height: 29” (74cm)

I close with another good wish for everyone to have as good a 2026 as they possibly can – and with a quote from the ShelterBox website:
EMERGENCY DISASTER RELIEF Families are facing a bitter winter in make shift shelters, struggling to survive:
Supporting communities in crisis

Right now, over 120 million people around the world have been made homeless by disaster and conflict. ShelterBox is working to change this.
By providing emergency shelter and tools for families robbed of their homes by disaster, we’re transforming despair into hope.
We want to see a world where no family is left without shelter after disaster. Join us.
Regards,
Ireen Best (079868 035522)

Christmas Party at the Spread Eagle
2025-12-16 19:30 - 22:00 | Spreadeagle Pub, 39-41 Katharine St, Croydon, CR0 1NX, United Kingdom
This year we’re having a change, moving out of the Hall to the upstairs room we’ve hired at the Spread Eagle pub.
A buffet will be laid on and there’ll be jollity. More details to follow.

Art Evening - 8.15 start!
2025-12-09 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Please note that we’ll start earlier than usual, at 8.15, to give enough time to complete our masterpieces.
With the expert guidance of Teresa, we’ll be flexing our artistic muscles again to make collaged Xmas cards and origami.
Materials will be provided, but you can also incorporate existing stuff. Bring scissors if you have them. As Teresa appealed:
Do any of you have CHRISTMAS CARDS, OLD MAGAZINES in COLOUR, WRAPPING PAPER any kind? That you are happy to donate towards the Art Evening on December 9th? If so please bring along to the Club or drop off at my place. Address on request.
Thanks Teresa

Tony Rowland's Life in Funerals
2025-12-02 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Here’s Tony, still engaged in the family funeral business that bears his name – and in his many other interests – despite officially retiring a while ago.

Tony is back this week, by popular demand, after being thwarted by technical issues on his last visit a couple of years ago, though he did valiantly carry on without benefit of visuals – the culpa is entirely mea. This time nothing can possibly go wrong 🤞, so we’ll have the whole package of his surprising and entertaining take on seeing us out of this world.

Festival Fun
2025-11-25 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom

OBJECTivity, No. ?
2025-11-18 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
What are these things?

Objects, that’s what. Exhibited, with their fascinating histories, at our last OBJECTivity evening.
Tomorrow night is another opportunity to show off your fine china, family heirlooms or just, well, bits of rock!
Here are Ireen’s words of enticement again:
Dear Interesting People,
That covers all COPSErs, one way or another! We’re such a mixed bunch and with so many different experiences. Resulting from these, we must have a wide range of items that would tell a tale of family, travels, mysteries, or hobbies. This week at our hall objects will be the activity we shall share.
Please bring along anything that you could explain a little about. This may be something of its history or its sentimental or monetary value. It might be something amusing or perhaps be an object so unusual that others may not even know what it is – or maybe you don’t know yourself but another Member might be able to identify it for you!
Please bring one to three objects to entertain us and pass them to me at the start of our evening. If you have extras, these could also be brought and kept aside, in case time allows us to explore a few more things. (Of course, audience required to enjoy the collection so please come along, even if you have no objects this time.) However, this weekend might afford time for many to find something!
Teas and coffees between 8.15pm and 8.30pm.
Regards,
Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Ireland Retrospective
2025-11-11 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
In April Linda and Tim led a brilliant COPSE trip to the Wild West of Ireland. Tonight we share the experience in picture and story.

RAF Kenley History
2025-11-04 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Join Kenley Revival volunteer, Linda Duffield, for a whistlestop journey through the ups and downs of more than a century of aviation at RAF Kenley.

AGM
2025-10-28 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
It’s our Annual General Meeting
Your opportunity to look back at the past year and forward to the next. Reports will be made, officials elected, motions tabled, awards handed out and good deeds applauded.
All are welcome – looking forward to our usual large AGM turnout.

Trafalgar Night!
2025-10-21 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Yes, it’s Trafalgar Day and Andy is going to help us celebrate with an evening of entertainment in his own inimitable style. Expect the unusual!

A History of Croydon High Street with Carole Roberts
2025-10-14 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Here’s local historian Carole on a previous visit. You’ll remember how enthusiastically we responded to her wonderfully researched and presented talks on the Davis Theatre and the Grand Theatre. Now she’s back to regale us with tales of Croydon High Street.
A must see event for our Club!

Gatliff Planning
2025-10-07 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Autumn is upon us and so is the Gatliff Marathon: Gatliff – Croydon Outdoor Pursuits & Social Events Club. Together with the Weald Walkers Wander and the Southern Cycle Saunter, the Gatliff Marathon is one of COPSE’s three public facing events. This gives us the opportunity to raise the profile of the club. The Gatliff Marathon was started in 1984 to celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary. It is named after Herbert Gatliff, one of the founder members. This “one-off” event have been going for 41 years. This is the 41st Gatliff Marathon which has run every year, except 2020. There are two routes, 50k and 25k, mostly on footpaths and bridleways across Kent, Surrey and East Sussex. The routes go south this year towards Ashdown Forest and Winnie the Pooh country near Hartfield, with the opportunity to visit Pooh Sticks Bridge. The objective is to complete the route within 10 hours. Participants get a certificate on completion.
Entries are just over 140 participants. We would love to get over 200 people on the day. Please do like and repost our Facebook: COPSE Croydon Outdoor Pursuits and Social Events Club | Facebook post. We will have more Gatliff Marathon posters and flyers for you to take away to give to friends, neighbours, the local Park Run, Running Club etc. Surplus funds from the event goes back into club funds to pay for the rent on the South Croydon hall etc.
The Gatliff is a major logistical exercise in both people, around 45 marshals, and in terms of equipment. Like going on holiday, we have got to the packing phase for the Gatliff Marathon. This will come apparent if you come along on Tuesday evening. The evening will be hands on, including packing supplies for the event and writing out check-cards.
Do come along to find out more about the event; to finalise plans and we will attempt to answer any questions you may have. You can get an advance copy of the route instructions as well if you are taking part. Do join Ken’s 25k team.
You can see Bob C and renew your subs as well.
Refreshments from 20:15, with a 20:30 start. We need volunteers to bring equipment down from the storeroom and in from cars. Any spare cardboard boxes are useful as well, though I have some.
We look forward to seeing you.
Margaret

Architecture II
2025-09-30 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Barry’s walkabouts pointing out some of London’s fascinating architecture are always popular. Here he comes along for the second time* to present the fruits of both COPSE and other excursions.
The content will be whatever has caught Barry’s eye, so no spoilers here. But, to whet your appetite, here are some themes he covered last time:

City churches
tube stations with oxblood tiling
interesting squares and crescents
modern City monstrosities
sadly disappeared treasures
innovation in housing over the centuries

* the first was in March 2022. Doesn’t time fly?

Bowls Taster at Croydon Bowling Club
2025-09-23 20:00 - 22:00 | Croydon Bowling Club, 10 Nottingham Road, Croydon, CR2 6LN
After many visits to Tenpin, a chance to try your hand at proper bowls. We last did this in 2021, and a very enjoyable evening it was.
Croydon Bowling Club will generously provide coaching and facilities, free of charge.
Details:

Arrive from 8pm for 8.30 kickoff
We’ll be on the indoor green
Please consider the greens and wear sensible flat footwear
The bar will be open, card only
Drivers need to enter their registration numbers into the reader inside the entrance to avoid a fine

If you haven’t been to the Bowling Club before you’ll find it a pleaaant relaxing place to have a fun evening. Check out their website here.
Location:
10 Nottingham Road
Croydon
CR2 6LN
W3W: https://w3w.co/spits.starts.sleep

Visit to Ludoquist
2025-09-16 19:00 - 22:00 | Ludoquist, 63-67 High Street,, Croydon,, CR0 1QE, United Kingdom
Step into The Ludoquist! Croydon’s award-winning little haven for board games, good food, and great company.
What games? Anything from Ludo to 3-D chess!

Keith has booked tables from 7pm to 10pm. Just turn up and challenge your fellow COPSErs to the games of your choice.
A good range of food and drink is available. It costs £8 per person to play as many games as you like.
There’s more about The Ludoquist on their website here.

Captions & Kit
2025-09-09 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Pit-your-wit with photos, plus a tabletop sale.
Advance Notice – land of opportunity for your photos!
All
This Club Night one element of the evening is the Caption Competition, where you apply your considerable wits to some problematic pictures.

Back in the days when this traditional diversion started, we took the occasional snap with a box brownie, only weeks later paying through the nose to get the pathetic results from the Chemist – usually stickered with “Out of Focus” or “Under Exposed” – and we relied on outtakes from Viewpoint for the source material.
In contrast, in the high-tech Utopia we now inhabit we have the opportunity to upgrade our experience using the plethora of photos from COPSE activities of all flavours lurking undiscovered on people’s phones and other digitisers, just begging to be dragged into the light of day for our amusement.
So my request to you is: please email me any such pictures beforehand so we can include them in the entertainment.
Thanks in advance

Ken ken@brogan.co.uk
(I know, shameslessly pasted in from the last time, which was shamelessly pasted in from the time before. Life's still too short . . . .)

Peter Bagatti - Restaurateur Raconteur
2025-09-02 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Peter Bagatti, famed for Italian cuisine in South Croydon, will be our Guest Speaker – and he has tales to tell! Apart from his own restaurant business, he is a major “mover and shaker” of the Croydon Food & Music Festival. Please come along to hear some of the inside stories of his “culinary” life.

Builders Arms Quiz
2025-08-26 20:00 - 22:00 | Builder’s Arms Pub, 65 Leslie Park Road, Croydon, CR0 6TP
We’ll enter as many teams as we can – someone’s got to win!
Our Club has competed at this pub several times previously – but never been the winners! We shall try yet again!!
The quiz begins at 9pm but, usually, most of us gather by about 8pm to order food and share a social chat. The cost, per person, to engage in this brain strain will be £1, collected on the night.
The pub is on Leslie Park Road, off Cherry Orchard Road. Map link:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Builders+Arms,+65+Leslie+Park+Rd,+Croydon+CR0+6TP/@51.3795193,-0.0883854,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x487600d1c1496087:0x2875af15ab41667a!8m2!3d51.3794959!4d-0.0858239!16s%2Fg%2F1tgf2pmv?entry=ttu
What3Words: https://w3w.co/locker.hotels.owner
Ireen has reserved a number of tables, please let her know if you’re coming so we can get the reservation right.

Croydon Night of Dance
2025-08-19 19:00 - 22:00 | Builder’s Arms Pub, 65 Leslie Park Road, Croydon, CR0 6TP
The Ireland Retrospective has been rescheduled to 11th November
“Join us on Tuesday 19th August for a night of music, mirth and magic as a multitude of Morris maids and men do mingle and make merry at our Night Of Dance.”
Oranised by the North Wood Morris Men, this event will showcase other traditional dance teams, taking in the Oval and Builders Arms pubs and points in between.
More details at https://northwoodmorris.co.uk/croydon-night-of-dance-2025/
Where to meet?
You can arrive at any time, and we expect to move around a bit during the evening, but we’ll start by assembling in the vicinity of the Oval Tavern from about 7.30 to 8.00.

Evening Walk
2025-08-12 19:30 - 22:00
Nothing at the Hall tonight!
Meet at Wandle Park tram stop at 7.30.
Walk once around Wandle park then walk to Waddon Ponds.
Walk back to Croydon for drinks at our local watering hole – alternatively by tram from Wandle Park.

"Parlour Games" at the Hall
2025-08-05 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
For those not going on the walk, the hall will be open at the usual time. Andrew will be orchestrating “parlour games”. Whatever are those? Come and join in the light hearted fun.
Walkers will return to the hall in time for Announcements at 9.30pm.

Book Evening
2025-07-29 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Sharing of favourite recent reads, fiction or non-fiction. Interesting for both contributors and “listeners”!

Summer Evening Stroll
2025-07-22 19:30 - 22:00
Nothing at the Hall tonight!
Please meet at Blackhorse Lane tram stop at 19.30 – a 10 minute ride from East Croydon on a Beckenham Junction or Elmers End tram.
We will walk through some green spaces ending up in South Norwood Country Park. Then return by tram from Arena to E. Croydon or Addiscombe for a drink at the Claret & Ale. (1 minute from Addiscombe tram stop)

The Points of View Quiz!
2025-07-15 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
A COPSE special!
The Points of View Quiz!
Brand new for COPSE, your host tonight will be the best most fabulous magazine editor in town! Form a team and test your knowledge on what you’ve read (or more likely, what you haven’t read) in the past year in Viewpoint magazine, and probably ‘other sources of information’ because not every COPSE event has had a roving reporter.
Expect the unexpected, because the Editor does have a certain quirky way of presenting things. Remember, all the fun may be in the detail. Whether you have or haven’t read the magazine, the quiz will include multiple choice questions so there is always a chance anyone can win! Your host may even award extra points for the funniest answer. Think of it like a ‘Have I Got News For You’ COPSE edition!
Prize, you ask? Don’t expect to win a speedboat, or a case of champagne, but I’ll have a root around in my dusty bin if it’s not bin day.

p.s. Viewpoint writers needed urgently. Apply within!

Visitors' Open Evening
2025-07-08 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
We welcome all visitors to come along to a sociable evening and the chance to find out what we do.
Our members will meet and greet you from 8.15pm. Coffees and teas available. There’ll be a free raffle ticket just for coming through the door – with the possibility of winning a prize!
Find us at:
South Croydon United Church Hall
Aberdeen Road
CR0 1EQ

The entrance to the hall is on Heathfield Road, next to the Church. Very close to the main road, which is served by many buses. For drivers, street parking is free in the evenings, providing you stay south of Coombe Road.
