Croydon Outdoor Pursuits & Social Events Club

Captions & Chatter
2023-05-30 20:30 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom

Day Cycle Ride
2023-05-29 09:30 - 17:00
Meet at 9.30am outside Fairfield Halls.

Parkland Walk Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace (5.5 miles)
2023-05-27 10:45 - 17:00
Meet at East Croydon station at 10.45 to get the 11.01 to Finsbury Park.
The walk ends at Ally Pally where we can join the FREE 150 year celebration party!
We can get the train back from Ally Pally station to Finsbury Park then onwards to East Croydon

Our Trip to Chile
2023-05-23 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Olga and Marco
NOTE that this event has moved from its original date of 16th May

Bluebell Railway: Summer Steam Gala
2023-05-21 09:00 - 17:00
There will be lots of traction engines, crane engines, a vintage fair and so on.
See https://www.bluebell-railway.com/road-meets-rail/
Catch the 09.39 train from East Croydon to East Grinstead where you can transfer to the Bluebell Railway.

Day trip to Littlehampton
2023-05-20 09:00 - 17:00
Meet at East Croydon station at 08:45 to catch the 09:04 from Platform 3 to Littlehampton, arriving at 10.33. If you want the loo go before you exit the ticket barrier at Platform 1 at Littlehampton station.
We will walk over the river via the footbridge, to Arun Yacht Club for around 11:00. Then you can sample activities on offer at the Open Day: https://arunyc.co.uk/club-open-day/.
At around 11:30 another option is to walk to Climping along the shingle beach, to have lunch, cafe and toilets. We can walk back through the grounds of Bailiffs’ Court and return to Littlehampton.
In the evening you can continue along the promenade for tea and biscuits at Anne’s in Rustington, before enjoying a sundowner at the Beach Cafe roof terrace.
Retrace your steps for the train at Littlehampton. All options are weather dependent.
Any queries to Margaret and Anne.

Spring into Summer - Walk with Olga
2023-05-16 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Olga will take us on a walk. From her email:
We are going to have a very local walk as it starts getting dark about 8.30 – SO…
Meet by the main entrance of Park Hill in Barclay Road (near the Magistrate Court) at 19.30
We will walk through Park Hill and then towards Lloyd Park. It is going to be an easy and relaxed three miles walk.
On the way back we can go for a drink to The Porter and Sorter near East Croydon station.

Walk/Visit to Isabella Plantation
2023-05-13 09:30 - 18:00
Meet East Croydon Station 9.30 change Clapham Junction, for 9.52 train to Richmond (platform 5), arrive Richmond 10.01.
We will then walk along the river and up through Petersham to enter Richmond Park through the Petersham gate (where there are toilets) We will then walk through the park to the Isabella plantation, where there are also toilets.
The Plantation is a 40 acre woodland garden (entry is free) set within a Victorian woodland plantation planted in the 1830’s. First opened to the public in 1953, it is best known for its evergreen azaleas, which line the ponds and streams and at their peak of flower in late April and early May. There is no guarantee that they will be at their peak for our visit but there should still be plenty to see.
After spending an hour or so at the gardens we will return via Pembroke Lodge, where there are refreshments, and will leave the park via the Richmond Gate and return down Richmond Hill taking in the fine views over the river and diverting as you wish to any of the pubs and cafes on the way back. The whole walk will be approximately 6 miles.
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In the Footsteps of Ewan MacColl
2023-05-09 19:00 - 23:00 | Stanley Arts, 12 South Norwood Hill, London, SE25 6AB, United Kingdom

Week in Mull
2023-05-03 08:00 - 2023-05-10 17:00

Builders Arms Quiz
2023-05-02 20:30 - 23:00 | Builder’s Arms Pub, 65 Leslie Park Road, Croydon, CR0 6TP

Visit to Kew Gardens
2023-04-29 09:45 - 18:00
9.45am meet EC stn—10am train to CJ stn—–10.40am train to richmond stn—-tube or overground to kew gardens stn for about11.30am — then a short ten minute walk to the main “victoria gate”

ticket prices (without donation)booked in advance.:– Adults £19.00. Concessions (65+) £18.00
on the day (without donation):-. Adults £24.00. Concessions (65+) £21.50.
For tickets. See URL Link below

It’s normally very busy on saturdays, it would advisable that everybody books their ticket well “in advance” for either a noon or a 12.15pm “entry time slot” (although there might be tickets left for later in the day).
Once inside kew gardens, you can spend the rest of the day as you please until 5pm/5.30pm when
we’ll meet up at the shop by the main “victoria gate”
Depending on time/weather, there might be awalk back to richmond + find local pub for a drink.

The Search for the Yeti – talk by Clare Walker
2023-04-25 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
After Clare’s talk on Women Spitfire Pilots back in November. demand was high for another visit from her.
So here she is to tell the story of her husband’s trip to the Himalayas with Chris Bonington in search of the Abominable Snowman. Did they find him, or did he find them? Take your seat and find out!
Visit Clare’s website for details of her and her talks.

Weald Walkers Wander
2023-04-23
A Walking Rally with a Difference
A 10 mile Treasure Hunt
Solve the Clues
Find the Checkpoints
Test your Map Reading Skills
Challenges at Checkpoints
The Date and Time: 23rd April 2023 (start 8.45am to 9.30am)
THE EVENT: The walk is usually about 10 miles. You will need to solve clues to find each checkpoint and your map and compass skills will also be put to the test. Points are awarded for completing quizzes and games, at the checkpoints. A trophy is awarded to the winning team.
THE TEAMS: You will need to enter in teams of between 2 and 5 people. Everyone is welcome – young or not not so young, families or other groups, however at least one person in each team must be 16+.
TIME: Start times are between 8.45am and 9.30am.
START/FINISH: Chiddingstone Causeway Village Hall, Tonbridge Road, Chiddingstone Causeway, TN11 8JS – Kent – Grid Ref TQ 518 466.
WHAT TO BRING: The latest Explorer map 147, 1:25,000 scale, pen and paper, compass, suitable footwear and clothing. Also bring your packed lunch..
CHECKPOINTS: Cold drinks and biscuits will be provided at all checkpoints. Hot drinks and fruit will be served at the lunch stop, and cream tea and cakes at the finish.
ENTRY/REGISTRATION: In advance: Adults £8.00, U16 £4.50 or On the day: Adults £10.00, U16 £5.50.
Please apply for entry form to Olga. E-mail: olgameme@hotmail.com
Cheques should be made payable to COPSE.

London Clarion Cycle Club
2023-04-18 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
From their website:
“The London Clarion Cycle Club is an inclusive, friendly community of cyclists from all around London. Founded in May 1895, we are one of the capital’s oldest cycling clubs and take our motto “Fellowship is Life” from William Morris. In an effort to promote socialism, members would cycle out to meetings and distribute literature while enjoying a glass of ale! We promote socialist, anti-fascist and feminist values while remaining collective and politically minded.”
Join us for a presentation on their history, purpose and activities.

Walk: Seagull Trail Part 4 Nutfield to Crawley Down (11 miles)
2023-04-15 09:00 - 17:00
This approximately 11 mile walk will be from N U T F I E L D RAIL STATION to Crawley Down (NOT near Crawley!), Sussex and will bring us halfway to Brighton.
Fairly undulating country along paths and tracks, and some lanes. We go via Outwood with its windmill and head further south under the flight path into or out of Gatwick. We may have an early drink at a pub at Outwood (The Bell, I believe) and/or find a bench for sandwiches, as there are no more such facilities or good places to picnic before the end, unless we just sit in a field, as we do sometimes.
We return by a bus (272, 282, or 291) from either the War Memorial or Burleigh Way at Crawley Down (depending on timing). Buses go to Three Bridges from where we catch a train to East Croydon. Buses also go the other way to East Grinstead, and that will mean getting a single train ticket from East Grinstead to East Croydon.
Logistics: Meet at East Croydon from 9.15am to catch the 9.37am Three Bridges train GETTING OFF at Redhill, changing there onto the Tonbridge train at 10.09 (under subway), getting off at the first stop at Nutfield at 10.14am.
Best to buy a day return to Three Bridges (to return from that station) and buy a single ticket from Redhill to Nutfield (buy this single ticket when you buy your ticket at East Croydon please so there’s no need to buy it at Redhill, otherwise you can probably pay on the train if need be). The change period at Redhill is possibly/likely not long enough to buy a ticket there.

Carshalton Folk + Walk
2023-04-11 14:00 - 23:00 | CryerArts Centre, 39 High St, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3BB
Outing: Folk Night at the Cryer Arts Theatre, + preceded by Wandle Walk
This is a near repeat of our previous outings to Cryer Arts for an evening of excellent folk music, but, to keep it interesting, the walk will take a different route.

Feel free to join us for the walk, the Folk Night or both.
Due to planned engineering works on the trams from East Croydon to Reeves Corner until Monday (17th), the revised plan is as follows
part 1 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️🎒 🥾
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1.45pm at WANDLE PARK TRAM STOP
=> 2pm tram (approx) to Phipps Bridge for a five mile “flat” walk (which could be muddy !!) via Morden Hall Park (NT), the river Wandle, “wilderness island”, Carshalton Ponds to Carshalton High Street (where you can either “drop out” + get various buses back to Croydon or stay for the Cryer Arts Centre’s monthly Folk Club).
part 2 🥗🍜☕🍺
_________________
Cryer Arts Centre’s bar (from say 5pm) for reasonably priced meals + drinks

part 3 🎸🥁 🗣🎙
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Folk Club from 7pm (£5 entry) which can be booked at
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/select/RdiEJKhzXNnT, or pay at the door.
If you have any queries, please contact Keith.

Easter Monday South Downs Walk
2023-04-10 09:30 - 17:00
This will be a circular walk from Amberley and take in Arundel roughly in the middle of the walk where there are shops and cafes. So you may like to plan to grab some refreshment there but I would carry some snacks and a drink with you.

It is an early start – catching a train from East Croydon to Amberley, from where we return. The train departs at 8.53am. Please arrange to have a day return ticket ready be present in the ticket hall by 8.45am. To link up with others who may be able to share a group ticket or railcard, arrive much earlier, say 8.35am.

The walk will be on public footpaths, sometimes on riverside, sometimes up and over a low hill and fields and such like. All very beautiful scenery. Likely muddy in places.

Don’t forget to bring extra layers, waterproofs, good walking shoes or boots. It would be helpful to have something to sit on such as a mat or plastic bag, if we make a prolonged stop enroute in the countryside.

In case you wondered, the Bridge Inn by Amberley station closes at 5pm (and stops serving food earlier), I believe. As does the Riveside Tea rooms – although we may reach the tea rooms for last orders at 4.30pm.

Walk: Harpenden Circular (11 miles)
2023-04-08 09:00 - 17:00
This walk will lead us to Ayot St Lawrence, a pretty village and home of George Bernard Shaw (Shaws Corner is a NT property)
So meet at E. Croydon by 9.15 for the 9.33 Thameslink Bedford train to Harpenden. 3 stops beyond zone 6. £14.50 or less with freedom passes, Network cards or other railcards. (We return from Harpenden)
It will be about 11 miles with a possibility of a slightly shorter route back, but not too hilly. Best bring a packed lunch, but there is a lovely old pub, The Brocket Arms in the village. Don’t forget NT passes if you want to visit the house.
Return trains from Harpenden at 08; 22; 38 & 52 past the hour, journey of 56 minutes.

Photo Competition
2023-04-04 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
COPSE Photo Competition
Win a prize!
The competition will be judged by you, COPSE Members, on Tuesday, 4th April.
Categories:

· Born to be Wild
· Weather
· Home
· Street Furniture

· A Lovely View
· Generations
· Tranquillity
· Chaos

To enter:
1. The photo must be taken by you.
2. Provide up to 8 entries to the competition.
3. Preferred and maximum print size is A4.
4. Photo(s) must fall into one of the 8 categories above
5. Enter any number of photos into any category, total entries not to exceed 8.
6. Photos must be presented to Sandra or Ireen by 8.00pm on the Tuesday competition evening or in advance at an earlier Club Night, if possible. Photo prints must be in an unnamed envelope or opaque folder. On the back of each photo, write your name, competition category, plus type and make of camera, if known.
7. The photo(s) must not previously have appeared in our Club competitions.
8. Captions must not be added to the photo(s) .
9. The entrant must be an amateur photographer.
10. The photo(s) may be retrieved after the competition.
To win:
1. You must comply with the above.
2. Club Members present on the competition evening will vote via secret ballot for their favourite in each category in the first round and as instructed in further rounds.
3. The top 8 scoring photos together with the highest scoring of each category (if they are not among the top 8) from the first round will go through to the next round of voting (so a maximum of 15 photos going through). Further rounds will be held, as necessary, to determine an overall winner.
4. Photos may be entered on your behalf, if you cannot attend the evening.
5. In any matter pertaining to the running of the competition, or the alteration of these rules outlined above on the evening of the competition, the Members’ majority decision will be final.
Good Luck!

The Grand Theatre and its place in Croydon, by Carole Roberts
2023-03-28 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
I’m sure you all know where this part of your Croydon heritage is, and all the details and history behind it.
You don’t??? 🙄
OK, an excellent reason to hear Carole Roberts give her talk on The Grand Theatre and its place in Croydon this coming Tuesday. This talk comes highly recommended, so please take your seats in timely fashion for a prompt 8.30 start.

Fairfield Halls: Swedish Philharmonia
2023-03-27 19:00 - 22:30

Merstham Aid Project (MAP) Annual Quiz Night
2023-03-25 19:00 - 22:30

Merstham Amateur Dramatics Society: Let Us Entertain You
2023-03-24 19:00 - 22:30

Sing along with Steve Barbe
2023-03-21 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
COPSE Choir in Action

In the dark days of lockdown Steve Barbe entertained us with the curious concept of Zoom singing, followed by a visit to the Hall when we could finally return. Now he’s back, by popular demand, to exercise our vocal chords again.
This is an entertaining evening where Steve brings humour and freshness to get the most unpromising vocalisers (that’ll be me) up and joining in. Come along and raise the Hall rafters even higher!

Sunday lunch at "The Boulevard"
2023-03-19 00:45 - 16:00

Walk: West Wickham to Hamsey Green (9 miles)
2023-03-18 09:45 - 17:00
This walk is our next stage of the London Loop:
We pick-up where we last left it at West Wickham Common and continue probably to Hamsey Green (which is about 9 miles), although if wished could go a little further to Kenley or even The Fox pub, south of Old Coulsdon. On this stage we shall leave Kent behind us, and enter Surrey, and get to about 5.30 o’clock on an imaginary clock face that is the LOOP!
The LOOP guide book says [apart from…]:
“…You can leave [or join?] the route at Coombe Lane tram stop after 4.2 miles, or at several bus stops [along the way].
“Cafes at Hayes, Coney Hall Village, and Hamsey Green. Pubs at Shirley Hills, also Farleigh (half a mile OFF the route). Toilets at Hayes rail stn [which may be closed]. Best picnic opportunities at Addington Hills viewpoint, and Farleigh Common.
“Through woodland in the foothills of the North Downs, [and across] commons. The going is fairly level, mostly on rough footpaths and on grass, with two stiles, however there are some rather steep ascents, reaching 500 feet or more, and several long flights of steps [so make sure you’ve had your weetabix!]. You cross the Greenwich Meridian, enjoy a great view from Addington Hills, and enjoy the lovely gardens of Heathfield.”
Meet at East Croydon rail stn FOYER area (as per usual) at 9.45am. At 10 o’clock we will saunter across to the bus stn to catch a 119 bus to Hayes, getting off near near the rail stn (several each hour). If you join this bus en route come upstairs to make yourselves known, or if you are coming to Hayes (Station Approach stop) by any other means, also tell me…you may see why this is important). (And remember NOT Hayes, Middlesex!!!!)
At Hamsey Green we come back to Croydon on a 403 bus (several each hour).(If we go any further then it’ll be either the 407 or 466 buses).
Bring usual food and drink supplies, etc.

ISKCON - following up on our visit to the Hare Krishna temple
2023-03-14 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
ISKCON South London
Following our visit to the Hare Krishna temple in Watford, we learned of our very own South London chapter of ISKCON in South Norwood, who will be coming to tell us about their work in the area, distributing food to the hungry, following the ancient Vedic traditions, the origins of the Hare Krishna movement and more.
https://www.iskconsouthlondon.co.uk

Walthamstow Walk (4 miles)
2023-03-11 09:40 - 17:00
The details of the walk on Saturday are as follows:
Meet at 9.40am at East Croydon Train Station to take the train to London Victoria.
We will then take the Victoria Line to Walthamstow Ccentral.
It will be a four mile circular, easy walk via:
1) Walthamstow “village” which includes the Vestry House Museum (free), the old town hall, the “ancient” house, the old school, some “historic” alms houses + a couple of local pubs
2) “god’s own junkyard” (free) which is a very qwerky museum of used, new + reclaimed neon signs, salvaged signs, old movie props, retro displays + “all things light” with a nice cafe
3) Walthamstow’s famous “art deco” new town hall completed in 1943
4) William Morris gallery (he lived there as a child + was a founder member of “the “arts + craft” movement along with John Ruskin)
5) Lloyd park (there’s yet another one in London – but this one has a moat !!
6) A pub option near the end at Walthamstow Central tube station.

Chi Kung
2023-03-07 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
