An evening with HAL 9000?
2024-09-24 20:15 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Linda and Tim’s Scottish recollections will now be on 12th November.
Instead . . .
Back in 1968 it was

“I’m sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that”

But these things can (probably) do things HAL never dreamed of:

Tonight we explore their possibilities!

Merton Abbey Mills: talk by John Hawks
2024-10-01 20:15 - 22:00
Our cyclists’ recent trip down the Wandle took them into Merton Abbey Mills. While there they were so impressed by John Hawks and his knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the history and importance of the Abbey Mills that they recommended him for a COPSE evening.
So here he is, ready to educate and entertain us with a short film and talk. In his words, “Merton Priory is the plum feature of Merton Abbey Mills, and while I could certainly go on for hours about the Mills (which was the historic Liberty silk printing works before we turned it into a craft market) I think the Priory is even more interesting, and we can start by showing the 15 minute film about it!”
You can get a flavour of this history at their website https://www.mertonpriory.org/, but come along on Tuesday and John will bring it to life.

John has been involved with Merton Priory for many years and even wrote the Historical Guide, pictured here. Not to be missed!

Gatliff Planning
2024-10-08 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Dear COPSE
On Tuesday evening we continue planning for our annual Challenge Walk, the 40th Gatliff Marathon: Gatliff Marathon – Croydon Outdoor Pursuits & Social Events Club (copsecroydon.co.uk)

Gatliff Marathon – Croydon Outdoor Pursuits & Social Events Club
The 40th Gatliff Marathon SATURDAY 19th OCTOBER 2024 The Gatliff Marathon is an annual challenge walk, jog or run of 25 or 50km mostly on footpaths and tracks in the Kent and Surrey countryside.
www.copsecroydon.co.uk

This a hands on practical evening for all.
After a brief introduction we will split into groups.
We need up to 10 people to bring boxes down from the store room, put together kit for each of the five checkpoints (including Edenbridge), and put the boxes back into the storeroom. Nigel will supply the packing lists for each checkpoint.
We need 3 people with good handwriting to write up the checkcards for the 25k and 50k route participants. Sandra will supply the lists of names and pens.
Ken would like to talk to those planning to walk the 25k route to discuss logistics etc.
The Gatliff committee will be on hand to discuss any questions you may have about the day and give out leaflets to COPSE members to help promote the event.
Even if you have not heard about the event, please come along to lend a hand and find out about the event that was meant to be a one off for COPSE’s 50th anniversary, but celebrates 40 years this year.
We look forward to seeing you there. Please arrive promptly at 20:15 and start the evening with a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit.
Bob will be on hand to collect subs.

Best wishes
Margaret Philipson,
Chair of the Gatliff Marathon Committee

Email: maphilipson@hotmail.com
Mobile: 07985 198 947
Home: 01737 762 471

SingalongaSteve
2024-10-15 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Return of the COPSE Choir!

Can’t sing? You’ll surprise yourself, as Steve Barbe unearths unsuspected vocal talents in even our most unpromising members.
This is an entertaining evening where Steve brings humour and freshness to get everyone up and joining in. Come along and raise the Hall rafters even higher!

Add to calendar

Pantomimes: talk by Chris Abbott
2024-10-22 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
An A-Z of Pantomime
A light-hearted ramble through panto old and new, including some of the history of this genre and some of the strange traditions and superstitions associated with it, fully illustrated with many images.
Chris is a theatre reviewer and journalist, professor, author and panto musical director. He writes books about theatre (Putting on Panto to Pay for the Pinter, among others) and reviews for West End Best Friend.

AGM
2024-10-29 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.

Have you voted for the Best Events and Best Viewpoint Articles?
Awards will be made at the AGM. Voting deadline is midnight on Sunday 27th October. Send your votes to Ken (Viewpoint) or Sandra (Events).

Guy Fawkes Tribute Night
2024-11-05 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom

Linda and Tim's Trip to Scotland
2024-11-12 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Linda says:
Good Evening Everyone,
I do hope you can join us tomorrow evening for a little trip to Scotland and enjoy some of our photos, to follow our route and let us entertain you with a Tim & Linda style narrative. We will honestly try very hard not to bore anyone.
There maybe something Scottish on offer – no, not Scotland’s best malt whiskey, just in case you build your hopes up.

Oxted RNLI
2024-11-19 20:00 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Lifeboats in Oxted?
Linda clarifies:
Lois Atterton from the Oxted branch of the RNLI is coming to give a talk on how the RNLI began; how it has changed and developed over the years to become the amazing institution it is today – and it is still just a charity.
Lois is a good speaker as I heard her speak this year and I can thoroughly recommend coming to listen to her talk. Please come along early to get your refreshments, so we can start on time.

OBJECTivity, + a "September Presentation"!
2024-11-26 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
This will be a relaxed evening in South Croydon. We shall welcome any of you that can make it – with or without objects!
🤔 ? 😆 ? 🧐 ? 😳
However, if you can, please lift off your shelves, extract from your treasure chests of mementoes or seek from storage boxes beneath your beds etc. any object(s) that can be brought to our hall with an explanation offered. We have entertained ourselves in this manner previously and an interesting array of items was displayed.
Have you something that is a little puzzling and perhaps not readily identifiable? Have you a family heirloom – from this country or from another? Please bring that. It might be an extraordinary “something” or just a very ordinary “something”, but with a tale to tell about it. In other words, anything goes – or comes, please! So, be it of sentimental value, of educational interest, or something humorous, we do hope you can bring it along.
If you pass me up to three of your objects, when you arrive at the hall, these will form our initial display. If you have further items, please keep them bagged but with you and they could be added, if time allows.
The “September Presentation” bit will happen at announcements, giving advance details of a Club-wide trip that some of you might like to join.

Christmas Art
2024-12-03 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Tuesday night at the Hall we’ll once again dig deep into our reserves of artistic talent to create some Christmas cheer in anticipation of our party on the 17th.

Talents on show last time

.
Come along, with or without your own materials, to make some decorations and generally make the place festive.
Ken

"My Travels" with Nicholas
2024-12-10 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Dear All,
Is your passport handy? Are you ready to take your traveller’s seat? The invitation is from Nicholas Fox, who will be our “pilot”. We shall journey with him along the route he negotiated in 1974!

Do come early to the hall, grab your coffee or tea and be prepared for lift off by 8.30pm.
Nicholas’s itinerary:

Nepal to Malaysia Singapore,
Perth Australia, New Zealand,
Tahiti, Peru and Mexico . . .
across the Atlantic back to England.
Questions about the trip.

Many others of us will have been to these places before or since Nicholas’s trip so comparisons might prove interesting to note.

Regards,

Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Christmas Party!
2024-12-17 20:00 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom

No Club Night - it's Christmas Eve!
2024-12-24 08:00 - 17:00

No Club Night, have a night off for Hogmanay!
2024-12-31 08:00 - 17:00

ShelterBox "Mystery Auction"
2025-01-07 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
7th January will be the night you can generously pass on some goodies to our “Mystery Auction”. Many of you know the basic format for this. There will be further details between now and next week.
This is just a reminder to please put aside, then wrap ready to donate, any duplicated, unloved, Christmas pressies you might have received.
Also, any “household clearance” items that you’ll appreciate getting rid of could well be welcomed by other COPSErs.
The procedure involves us bringing along to Club Night any duplicated Xmas items that we may have received – or others that we feel might be more welcomed in someone else’s home! Also, unwanted but reasonable donations of other things, e.g. an appliance you might have bought and planned to use but found you never have. Basically, not just rubbish but something you donate that another might happily gain!
Please wrap items “anonymously” without disclosing the packages’ contents and slip them to me, when you arrive. The fun of the evening is that people bid for something but don’t know what they will get! Of course, the success of the auction relies on the generous spirit, pockets, wallets and purses of everyone attending. I.O.U.s can be noted and cheques passed. Treasurer Bob will once more be collecting your funds.
If you have an item of particular value, we can set a “reserve” start price. Likewise, please speak to me before the auction begins, should you be donating something specifically suited for only one gender -although we have had a good laugh when, for example, a lacy camisole top was successfully bid for by one of our strapping gents!
* The recipient of all our early 2025 goodwill is ShelterBox, the charity very suited to COPSE in that we camp and enjoy outdoor living “for leisure and pleasure” and ShelterBox provides emergency supplies for people having to camp merely to survive. In brief:
“YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DISASTER AROUND THE WORLD”

Fuller details via: https://shelterbox.org/
Every year that we have raised our £££s for the charity, we have achieved the purchase of a complete box, currently costing £590. Since our Jan ’24 auction, we have a kitty put aside from people’s kind contributions later in the year from purchasing other COPSErs unwanted kit etc. This stands at £117.50. With a big push from our good- hearted folk next week, we may again achieve buying one more full box! Advance thanks to all who can come along.
Regards,
Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Navigation Taster
2025-01-14 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom

Happy Birthday COPSE
2025-01-21 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom

Pre-Ski Event
2025-01-28 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
An evening of Fun & Games to send the Skiers off on their annual trip to the slopes.

Builders Arms Quiz
2025-02-04 20:15 - 22:00 | Builder’s Arms Pub, 65 Leslie Park Road, Croydon, CR0 6TP
Dear Non-Skiers,
As many of us will not be away to the mountains for physical exercise in the snow, we plan to join up for some mental exercise at the pub quiz put on by “The Builders Arms”. I have been able to reserve tables for three Club teams of six people in each. Some COPSErs have already contacted me to go on our list but there remain vacancies so please let me know if you can join us.
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
The new management since our last visit there tell me they now have a new and varied menu available:
https://buildersarmscroydon.co.uk/admin/upload_file/menus/7hbmj70v4q.pdf
Please note, there will be not be a COPSE meeting at our South Croydon hall. Do let me know, a.s.a.p., if you plan to come to the quiz so that you can secure your place on the list.
Regards,

Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Wine Tasting
2025-02-11 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Alan’s Tour de France!

Alan says:
Hello campers,
The pressganger general has paid me a visit and as a result I have now been convinced of my desire to do a wine tasting for COPSE. Although what a scouse knows about wine (apart from that it contains alcohol) I don’t know.
As per the previous wine tastings I’ve done there are a couple of basic constraints placed on the operation.
Constraints
Firstly, all wines come from Europe, none of this new world stuff. So if trash like Yellowtail Chardonnay floats your boat, this boat is not for you.
Secondly, cultivar is not at all important, in fact it is undesirable. Growing up in South Africa the rules meant blended wines were frowned on. Like the French, I believe blending delivers a better result. So blended wine you will get.
Thirdly this is not for wine snobs. If you want to determine the presence of blackcurrants, pepper, raspberries, mango, God knows what else this isn’t for you. This is about simple enjoyment, preferably with company that does float your boat.
Theme
The theme is France, and what kind of wine makes you happy. To this end we will try 2 whites, 2 rose wines and 2 reds. For each type one will be budget and one will be more upmarket. You decide what you like & if the upmarket wine price is worth it. The idea is to determine whether it is worth paying more for a wine with better provenance. There are no right answers, only what you think is best.
So come along, get (very slightly) squiffy, tell teacher (aka me) what you think of him & go home merry.
Prompt start at 8:30 please. NB. Don’t forget your £3 cash for the wine!! (No charge if you’re not partaking and just want to say hello)!

Outing - Tenpin Bowling at Valley Park
2025-02-18 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
The Kentones Barbershop Choir, originally planned for this date, is postponed. We have provisionally rescheduled for April, to be confirmed.
Please note change of game time, below.
We’re Going Bowling Again
Back by popular demand! A party of COPSE’s finest athletes have enjoyed this outing several times now, so we’re doing it again.I’ll book (and pay for) as many lanes as we have players for, maximum six to a lane.
But how do I sign up for this event?
… you may ask. Well, here’s the answer:
Tell me by the end of Saturday 15th February if you’re coming. I’ll take emails, text messages, Whatsapps, even old fashioned phone calls.
. . . . and how do I pay?
By signing up you commit to paying me the outrageously reasonable sum of £8.15. Averse as I am to handling change, I prefer direct payments to my bank, the sooner the better. Ask me for how.
The Details
You can, of course, just turn up to enjoy the social setting and company of your fellow COPSErs for no charge.
If you don’t know the place, the Tenpin Bowl offers a variety of activities besides bowling – table tennis, pool, arcade games plus café and bar – so you can diversify once there. Also, for eating, there are various fooderies around including Creams Café, Frankie & Bennie’s, Chiquito, McDonalds and Burger King.
In summary:

Where?

TenpinValley Park Leisure ComplexHesterman WayCroydon CR0 4YA

When?

Lanes will be booked for 8.30. Arrive between 8.00 and 8.15 to be ready to play.
Update after booking: Lanes are booked for 9.30. Arrive by 9.15 to be ready to play.

Getting there?

Tram: Ampere Way (9 minute walk, says Google)

Buses:
S4 to Franklin Way / Valley Park (8 minute walk)
189 to Purley Way / Newman Road (12 minute walk) Alternatively, plenty of car parking.

How much?

£8.15 up front for two games, more on the night if you want to play more

Shoe Policy
I’ve confirmed that, as last time, you can play in your own shoes, but please make sure they’re trainers or otherwise flat-soled. Shoes are now also available on site.

Safer Neighbourhood Team
2025-02-25 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Safe Neighbourhood?

Tonight we have the visiting Police Community Support Officer for South Croydon’s “Safer Neighbourhoods Team” for the area in which our hall is located. This P.C.S.O. has knowledge and experience to share with us about the district in which we socialise, shop and travel through.
A police officer will be accompanying and, through the presentation by our two guests, we should gain useful advice about issues that might be of concern to some COPSErs. There will be opportunity to ask questions and receive answers.
In order to benefit from this session, we need to start promptly at 8.30pm because, owing to the shift times of our guests, they must finish about 9.15pm to return to their office and write up their day’s reports.
We hope as many of you as possible can arrive for teas / coffees at 8.15pm and have bottoms on seats for the 8.30pm start. Thank you!

Regards,

Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Pancake Tuesday!
2025-03-04 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Yes, the date changes from year to year but the importance is in the name: Shrove Tuesday – otherwise know to many as Pancake Day!
The time for tossing and turning has come around again – no, not a reference to restless sleep but a reminder that the COPSE Pancake Night will be this week! A flipping good time can be had. 😁
For those COPSErs who wish to keep things simple with an approach that would also involve a degree of less mess to clear and clean at the end of our evening, there are easy “just add water” mixes available. These are can be bought in many shops for about £1, now even M & S, I have been informed.
Of course those of you wishing to prepare a batter from scratch to bring with you, or one on site, should not feel deterred. Whichever you prefer, please provide your own batter and accompanying filling ingredients.
Also, we do need to have some extra cooking appliances, if possible, so please bring any camping stoves or portable electric hobs you may own, along with frypans, spatulas, plates and cutlery. (As with our recent Burns Night feast, clearing away is so aided if COPSErs can pop their own used items into a bag to take back home for cleaning.)
During the evening, indulge yourselves with self-made food – and become creative by experimenting. Try the challenge of concocting unusual toppings / fillings and perhaps tempt other brave people to try your results! Below are some of both savoury and sweet efforts from past years. (The idea is to not have tried out your ideas in advance!) Here are some ingredients of past experiments:
Savoury

Mushrooms with garlic, onions, mixed herbs and cream
Grated mature Cheddar cheese with optional pickle
Blue cheese (“upmanship”!) with sun-dried tomatoes
Sardines
Mexican chilli beef
Cheese & tomato
Humus
Tahini
Habanero chilli

Sweet

Maltesers
Nutella chocolate spread
Christmas pudding with crème fraîche (over ten months to replace the pud!)
Lemon curd sprinkled with ground ginger
A drizzle of honey with flaked alomonds
A line of cubes of chocolate
Greengage jam
Cream cheese with Greek yogurt, sultanas & sour cherry jam
A slight spread of butter, drizzled over by variously flavoured coffee syrups
… and, of course, the traditional fresh lemon juice and sugar, which, understandably, some folk resolutely still prefer!

If you didn’t already, certainly try some of these yourselves or create new concoctions to add to our list.

As well as devouring our pancakes, we may once more have a tossing contest for anyone who wishes to take part.
Come to beat and eat, chew and chat. Shrove Tuesday can prove to be a battering but pleasantly sociable Club Night.

Folk Night at Cryer Arts, Carshalton
2025-03-11 19:30 - 22:00 | CryerArts Centre, 39 High St, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3BB
Another chance to go back to Cryer Arts Centre for their monthly Folk Night 🎸 🪕 🎶, which starts at 7.30pm (doors open upstairs earlier).
You can buy a £6 ticket via this page on their website or pay at the door, where I’ll be in their restaurant/bar from about 5.30pm.
Buses SL7, 157 + 407 from Croydon stop opposite, as does the 127 bus from Purley, and there’s plenty of free nearby parking after 6.30pm.
if you have any queries, please let me know.

Keith S

Bring Your Work Home #10
2025-03-18 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Because we don’t know how all our COPSErs earn their daily bread, a good many of our Members have shared some of their working-life experiences with us. Since 2010, through “Bring Your Work Home With You”, we have been entertained and educated and this week we shall gain an insight into the past or present paid employments of a few more of us.

Please be supportive to those gamely taking to front of house and turn up promptly to hear their tales! Coffees and teas served from 8.15pm but the kitchen will be closed when our first presenter “takes to the stage”, which we hope will be 8.30pm, if no techie problems! Thank you.

Regards,

Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Chip Shop Crawl
2025-03-25 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
A Tasty Time With a Fishy Result!

Firstly, we need some tasters! If you are able to arrive at the hall ready to depart from there by 8pm this Tuesday, happily becoming a “crew member” for cruising some local-ish chippies, please let me know. We have a few volunteer drivers to transport these important tasters to the necessary fish and chip shops. At each, one portion of chips will be purchased and all COPSErs who are there will taste a chip or two and award points out of ten. This Club crew will then proceed to the next chippy and repeat the process. These tasters will be important people! The results of their voting will dictate to which chippy we return to buy fish and chips for all to eat back at the hall.

The purchasing of fish and chips for all will depend on the pre-ordering. If you are not one of the “chip shop crawlers”, you will still need to let me know in advance, if you wish to enjoy a fish and chip supper together with your fellow Members. We envisage being back at the hall with the hot take-aways by about 9pm. Andy, plus some probable helpers, will be kindly setting up the “COPSE Café” while the tasters are on the road. It is a good number of years since we last undertook this “crawl” but now, as then, the evening will overall be a chance to socialize a little at the hall and also with car-sharing passengers.

N.B. All partakers will need to bring along some cash to pay for the nosh! As we don’t know which shop will win our order, I can’t yet state the price but between £10 – £15 would be expected to cover a full portion of F & C. If you wish to share a portion and can arrange this with a fellow diner, please let me know. (I might be able to assist with this, if you send me such a request.) Re cash, it will be most useful if you can have available a selection of coins as well as notes!

As per our system in recent times, we ask all diners to please bring their own plates and eating irons– and a bag to take said items home again to wash up. We are not expecting any kitchen fairies to do this in the hall!

I repeat that I need to know numbers before 7.45pm Tuesday night for both “mobile tasters” and for diners. Also, in case we have an abundance of tasters signing up, please let me know if you would be prepared to be an extra driver, if required, even though I have not already asked you.

I hope all the above is understandable! Of course, please do contact me, if you have a query.

Regards,

Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Captions & Kit
2025-04-01 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Bollywood Dance has again been postponed – watch for announcements for a possible reschedule

Photo Competition
2025-04-08 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Stop Press – 📷Can You Print?
You do realise that the Photo Competition is less than two weeks away? And the judging is on prints only?? And you haven’t thought about printing yet???
If you don’t have a printer at home there are plenty of options, but you need to think ahead. Snappy Snaps, Boots and other shops will do the job, and there are plenty of online options – I’ve used Snapfish with good results

Arnhem Evening
2025-04-15 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Arnhem Evening: a focus on our twin town and it’s history from WWII to the present, covering both its war and its peace.
This should be of interest to all “history buffs”, whether or not they are joining our April / May visit to the Netherlands, which will include a day visit to Arnhem.
We shall have a Guest Speaker for part of the evening. Colonel John Power will talk on the Battle of Arnhem that raged at the final stage of Operation Market Garden in September, 1944.
