Brutalist Architecture Walk
2024-03-02 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
An afternoon walk finishing with an option for an early evening pizza near Norwood Junction station.
Meet at East Croydon station at 2pm.
The title of the walk, as put forward to the Copse November planning meeting, is “The brutalist architecture of Croydon and South Norwood”. I got the idea from an event at Bookseller Crow entitled “Concretopia: a brutal decade” a talk by Croydon author John Grinrod which was attended by Val, Alan and myself. This was supplemented by the “Little Manhattan” audio tour supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and more recently by Elain Harwood’s “Brutalist Britain” which includes buildings in Croydon and South Norwood.
Most of the buildings we will visit will be in central Croydon so we will leave from outside East Croydon station at 2pm. If anyone is running late (hopefully not!) my number is 07931 533785. Due to weekend engineering works we will later take one of the several buses that run between Croydon and South Norwood to see the last few buildings on my tour there. I plan to end the tour at the Shelverdine Goathouse pub (7-8 High Street, South Norwood SE25 6EP) for drinks and then to order in takeaways to the pub (they don’t charge for this) from local eateries of your choice eg pizza, Chinese, Thai should wish to stay for something to eat.
FOR THOSE WISHING TO STAY FOR OR JUST COME TO THE GOATHOUSE PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP SO I CAN ENSURE WE HAVE SUFFICIENT SEATING
Thank you and I look forward to seeing you on Saturday
Julie

Day trip to Cambridge
2024-03-09
We’ll be aiming to take the 9.01am direct train from East Croydon which is due to arrive 10.41am at Cambridge. Meet at East Croydon station from 8.30am.
We have a guide for the day, so we’ll all have a much closer look at some of the famous colleges, “the backs” and the river cam but feel free to go off on your own if you want to. There is a lunch stop at ‘The Granta pub’ on the river Cam. If time allows we will also go to a famous ‘back street’ pub for drinks before heading back to Cambridge station at about 7pm for a direct train back to East Croydon.

Countryside Walk - 7ish miles
2024-03-10 09:15 - 16:00
Here are details of my countryside walk on Sunday 10 March 2024. Approx 7 miles (ok maybe 8). An early (for some) start:

Meet at East Croydon train station ticket hall at 9.15am. (This will delight Barry.)

We catch the 9.31am train to Chipstead. We return later in the day from somewhere further down that line, sorry not sure which station yet, so if you don’t want to use Oyster / contactless, suggest buy a return to Tattenham Corner. Or if you prefer, buy a return to Chipstead and a single for the rest at the relevant station later. (The whole line is in Oyster zone 6.)

We will walk via the outstanding landscape around Chipstead, Mugswell, Colley Hill, Walton Heath etc. Do bring some packed refreshments and drink with you as there is no planned indoor lunch stop. However I will try to include a café and or the Sportsman pub at Mogador – but doubtful there will be room or time to sit and have a proper meal. We will likely reach our destination and return station around 3.30pm where there may be an opportunity for a more leisurely pub stop. But don’t bank on it.

Sorry if details are a bit sketchy, left it a bit late to check and my first choice has been thwarted by a rail replacement bus between Purley and Redhill. That does not impact Tattenham Corner line.

Wear boots or wellies in expectation of mud.

Regards
Andrew
07985 936953

Isle of Dogs Walk
2024-03-17 09:40 - 17:00
Here is the Itinerary for the Sunday 17th March Isle of Dogs Walk.
Meet at East Croydon Station at 9.40am to catch the 9.51 platform 2 to London Bridge.
London Bridge train to Greenwich leaves at 10.16 from platform 4. Arrives Greenwich 10.27.
From Greenwich Station we do a short walk to The Gate Clock (Wetherspoons) pub (Creek Rd next to Cutty Sark DLR stn) for a coffee and toilet break.
(The reason is that unfortunately there is no cafe on the walk, but there are toilets)
The walk begins at 11.00am at the Greenwich foot Tunnel south (Greenwich) entrance.
We expect the walk to conclude at the Ledger House (Wetherspoons) pub on West India Dock Quay around 3.30pm.
Their usual reasonably priced menu is available, but there are plenty of other eating places in the vicinity if you want to pay more.
The timings will enable those who want to, to get back to Croydon and attend the St Patrick’s Day event at Ruskin House in the evening.
There are several options for returning back to East Croydon:
1. Elizabeth Line Canary Wharf to Farringdon station and then direct rail to East Croydon. (my choice)
2. DLR West India Quay to Shadwell and Overground to West Croydon Station.
3. Jubilee Line Canary Wharf to Canada Water and Overground to West Croydon Station.
4. Jubilee Line Canary Wharf to London Bridge and train to East Croydon.
5. DLR West India Quay to Lewisham and no75 bus to Croydon.

St. Patrick's Night - Ruskin House
2024-03-17 19:30 - 23:00 | Ruskin House, 23 Coombe Road, Croydon, CR0 1BD, United Kingdom
Our local 2024 Saint Patrick’s Night celebrations will be this Sunday, 17th March. A good number of us are already booked to share this good evening at Ruskin House. If you have not already given me your name but would like to come, please let me know so that I can increase the number of seats being reserved for our COPSE group.

We need to purchase our own entry tickets, £5 cash but should be able to sit with each other, once inside. There will be a licenced bar and a free buffet.
I have agreed to let the organisers know our number a couple of days beforehand so please reply to me by Thursday evening (14th).
N.B. Andy has scheduled his London walk so that people can enjoy going on that and still be back in time for this musical entertainment!
Ireen
07968 035522
umpfamily@hotmail.com

Walk: City of London Livery Companies
2024-03-23 09:15 - 17:00
On saturday (23rd) we’ll be having a closer look at some of the city’s livery company halls + courtyards where the plan is as follows:
Meet at EastCroydon Station from 9.15am to take the 9.30am (approx) Thameslink train to Blackfriars Station (North side).
A “clockwise” walk around the city from Blackfriars Station to London Bridge Station which will also include a quiz + pub stop somewhere.
As some of us are going to Ruskin House’s “charity” concert that night, we’ll be aiming to get back to East Croydon by 5pm which will give us plenty of time to have a meal + drinks in “The Spread Eagle” pub before heading off to Ruskin House anytime from 7pm.

The Legendary Sticklebacks at Ruskin House
2024-03-23 20:00 - 23:00 | Ruskin House, 23 Coombe Road, Croydon, CR0 1BD, United Kingdom
A Fund Raiser for Ruskin House, and an enjoyable evening in prospect. As before, Ireen will organise tables for a COPSE presence if you let her know you’re coming.

We need to purchase our own entry tickets, £5 cash but should be able to sit with each other, once inside. There will be a licenced bar and a free buffet.
I have agreed to let the organisers know our number a couple of days beforehand so please reply to me by Thursday evening (21st).
Ireen
07968 035522
umpfamily@hotmail.com
