Croydon Outdoor Pursuits & Social Events Club

Travels in New Zealand
2022-07-12 20:30 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom

Visitor's Walk/Bike ride Warlingham
2022-07-10 12:00 - 17:00
Walk – About 5/6 miles. Meet at 12.40 by 403 bus stop, in front of Fairfield Halls to catch the 12.53 bus to Warlingham Green. (People can also jump on the same bus from other stops along the way.) Bring water and wear “sensible” shoes.
Cycle Ride – Meet at 1pm at Park Hill café, Barclay Rd. Gentle bike ride – quiet roads and bridleways, occasional busy road to cross. Heading to Farleigh, returning to South Croydon. Some unpaved paths on the way.
N.B. Walkers & Cyclists will meet up around 3pm, at St. Mary’s Church, Farleigh, for drinks and cakes!

Indoor Picnic with Theme
2022-07-05 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
This week we are having an indoor picnic – with a little bit of a theme. Although we ask people to bring their own food and drinks, it will be interesting to see if each COPSE Member can select “picnic basket” contents that will reflect an area they have come from, visited or from where they particularly enjoy the cuisine. Hence, the theme of our picnic is “International” or “Home & Away”.
The idea is not for people to supply sufficient to feed everyone else in the room but, if inclined, perhaps have some spare little “tasters” for anyone showing particular interest. Perhaps some of you might like to decorate your own eating space with the colours of a different area of the British Isles – or of a more far-flung cultural region/ background/nation.
From Cornish pasties to Welsh cakes or Scotch eggs; from Yorkshire pudding (cold?!) to a pot of Scouse; from a worldwide range of cheeses to tortillas or tacos, the choice and contributions will come from you.
Also, I believe there is still some Nigerian Guinness to wash it all down – although you can add your own choice of drinks, of course.
Time to eat and time to socialise – a pleasant Club Night in prospect.

Walk along the Thames - Battersea Park to Putney, 5-6 miles
2022-07-02 14:00 - 18:00
Meet East Croydon station 2PM

Visitors' Open Evening
2022-06-28 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom

COPSE at the Croydon Food and Music Festival
2022-06-26 11:00 - 19:00 | South End, Croydon, Croydon, London, CR0 1DP, United Kingdom
We have a stand in South End to publicise the Club and invite visitors to find out more.

Midsummer walk in Kelsey Park - Beckenham
2022-06-21 19:00 - 22:00
Meet at East Croydon Tram Stop in time to get the 19.09 tram to Beckenham Junction which arrives there at 19.34.
We will walk to Kelsey Park and around it.

Midsummer Picnic - Lloyd Park
2022-06-18 18:00 - 23:00
Meet at Lloyd Park at 6PM.
Bring your own picnic and games, blanket, drinks

Bring your Work Home with you, part 8
2022-06-14 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Six COPSErs will be sharing some of their workplace details with us this week. We don’t always know how each of us has been gainfully employed to earn the ££s so this will be a chance to dip into someone else’s working life and to discover how the “daily bread” has been achieved. There will be a considerable variety of occupations presented and, apart from the treat of learning something different and interesting, an actual treat awaits all of us who can make it through our hall door!

Please arrive for coffees / teas at 8.15pm. We hope to have folk in their seats and “the show on the road” by 8.30pm. Thank you.

London Square Open Gardens Weekend
2022-06-12 10:00 - 17:00

Walk Edenbridge to Limpsfield Chart - 11 miles
2022-06-11 09:00 - 17:00
Meet at East Croydon Station at 09:00 to catch the 09:22 train to Oxted. We will be walking around 11 miles from Edenbridge to Limpsfield Chart, via Crockham Hill.

Get a return ticket to Edenbridge Town station from East Croydon. From Limpsfield Chart we can get the 17:40 594 bus service back to Oxted. We may have time to have a drink at the Carpenters Arms.
Bring a packed lunch. The walk is mainly through fields and woods, and includes an ascent of the Greensand ridge.

Quiz Night - Expect the Inquizition!
2022-06-07 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Roll up tomorrow for our first in-house Quiz Night in a while, this time compiled and led by Nicky. Expect interesting questions, surprises and possibly even a working onscreen scoresheet.
Please arrive for 8.30 sharp(ish) so we can all get under way together.
And don’t forget, even if you can’t answer a question, you can at least impress the rest of us with your original and witty team name.

Jubilee Weekend Suffolk
2022-06-01 08:00 - 2022-06-05 17:00
FULL

Platinum Jubilee Night
2022-05-31 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Dear All,

This will be the night to bring along your or your family’s memorabilia from the reign of QE II. Anything that is connected with her past seventy years, her 1953 coronation or anything further back that has any “royal” connection. We’ll have a display table set up in the room for your mugs, books, tea towels, teaspoons, etc. Surprise us with what has remained stowed in your home!

Please try to bring a contribution of food. Probably, most of us try to be healthy with outdoor exercise and our regular dietary choices. However, for one night, we’ll indulge ourselves in the “cuisine” that would have been common party food during 1952/3 or that has any royal connection. (Think sausage rolls, sardine, jam, spam, or hard-boiled egg sandwiches; coronation chicken, Victoria sponge, jammy dodgers . . . and so on.) Whatever comes through our hall door will be shared so please do try to bring something, if you can. Also, please pop into a bag and bring along your own plate or bowl, plus cutlery, so no-one is faced with an extra washing-up task in our hall kitchen.

To add to the sense of occasion, don any early ’50s attire that you can think of. If you really can’t dress in period style, try at least, to go for something red, white and blue.

It’s planned to have some little appropriate challenges / party games. There will be points! There will be a prize!!

Mostly, whatever happens will depend on your involvement so come along with the thought of having a good COPSE “D.I.Y.” time.

Regards,
Ireen Best

Walk in Riddlesdown
2022-05-29 10:00 - 17:00
Two opportunities to meet:

Riddlesdown Station, 10.09 from East Croydon arriving 10.17.
Bus stops on Mitchley Avenue at about 10.30, at the junction with Lower Barn Road.

Bus 412:

from Purley High Street at 10.08 – 5 minutes
from Croydon, Park Street at 9.50 – 25 minutes

The walk will range over parts of Riddlesdown, Kenley and Coulsdon commons, circling back to the start points.
Nine miles, mostly off road. Hilly in parts with occasional steep bits – but if I can do it . . . .
Expect mud here and there if there’s been any rain.
Optional pub stop for lunch/beer after about 5 miles.
Many opportunities to leave the walk early if preferred, by bus and train.

Walk London Bridge to Hackney
2022-05-28 10:00 - 17:00
Meet @ East Croydon station from 9.45am to catch the 10am train to London Bridge or meet at meet on the upper concourse at the end of platform 12.
The walk is about six miles via London bridge, city “skyscrapers”, Spitalfields market, Shoreditch High street, a visit (free) to “the Museum of the Home” (formerly” the Geffrey Museum”), Hackney City farm, Broadway market (lunch stop), Regents Canal, Old Street, Moorgate, and more city “skyscrapers” before heading back to London Bridge station at about 4.30pm.
For any query contact Keith on 07749 515486 (any calls after 7pm please)

Planning Meeting
2022-05-26 19:30 - 22:00 | Crown & Pepper, 242 High Street, CR0 1NF
Planning Meeting for both Outdoor and Club Night activities.
This is where we put together the next quarter’s schedule – your chance to get your ideas onto the Club plan. Bring along your proposals for activities we can all share.

Musical Instruments
2022-05-24 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
As you’ve seen from Ireen’s email, it’s dedicated to the fun and frolics of exploring the world of musical instruments.
This is your chance to show off your hitherto unsuspected virtuosity on the kazoo, or just to try an instrument you have always hankered after – or possibly have never even heard of.
We’ll have a variety of examples of instruments strange and familiar in the Hall. The idea is to give any of them a try, satisfy curiosity and have fun.

Musical skill and training definitely not a prerequisite!

Ireen’s words:
Dear All,
We do hope both those of you with musical ability, plus those who think they have none will come through the door this Tuesday! If you believe you belong in the latter category, don’t worry – there will be a chance to try spare instruments and to enjoy this “have a go” opportunity. Members with musical ability will be assisting others to try things out.
Please remember to bring with you any of your own instruments – or, perhaps, from the loft, the ancient family one you found that once belonged to a grandparent! We’ll share any talent around and everyone can try to produce some harmonious sounds – or otherwise! Should be fun. Remember: percussion, brass, wind, string – all instruments welcome.
The attached photos show the Ashcroft stage at the Fairfield Halls last night. It was filled with guitars and four talented musicians. Unfortunately, we shan’t have those young men with us at our hall but their playing might have inspired any other COPSERs who attended the evening. If you have a double-necked guitar, do bring it to show us.

Walk Denbies, West Humble and Mickleham 8 miles
2022-05-22 09:30 - 17:00
Circular 8 miles walk from Dorking around Denbies, West Humble and Mickleham.
Meet at East Croydon Station @ 9.40 to catch the 9.59 train to Dorking Deepdene via Redhill. Buy return ticket.
Expect some hills and bring your own packed lunch.

Croydon Heritage walk in South Norwood
2022-05-21 14:00 - 17:00
We will explore the social and religious history, architecture, religions, famous people associated with the area eg Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, Pissarro and Shirley Bassey, and it’s industrial past.

The tour will start and end at Norwood Junction station. We will aim to depart at 2.30 pm. There is a train from East Croydon at 2.15 and one from West Croydon at 2.16.

We will have a park stop if you want to bring your own refreshments but we pass some cafes also and my house for toilet breaks! My thinking is we will finish c 5pm then for those who want to stay around afterwards to stay for drinks and food there are a few nice choices. It would be useful to have some idea as to numbers. The whole walk will be dog friendly and there is some street parking for drivers. If you need to contact me on the day my number is 07931533785

Walk to Coombe Gardens to see the flowers.
2022-05-17 19:00 - 22:00
Meet at Lloyd Park tram stop at 7.30
OR
By Park Hill Park entrance (Barclay Road) at 7.10
Drinks at the Coombe Lodge Pub

Visit to Faversham and Doddington Place Gardens
2022-05-15 10:00 - 17:00

Drawing
2022-05-10 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Hope to see lots of folk willing to have a go at still life drawing. Materials provided include A4 & A3 paper, charcoal and soft lead pencils. We’ll try to avoid using rubbers though bring one if you prefer. If you wish to use colour please bring your own. Please also bring a board to lean on, like a piece of hardboard or thick cardboard so that you’re not working flat and some clips to secure if you have. Attached is a photo of the kind of set up for drawing. If you have objects that you’d like to include please bring to the session, though nothing too complex, simple shapes are needed. I’ll do a demo and bring some examples.
Look forward to see your creations.
Teresa 😊
—

Bluebell walk -
2022-05-08 10:00 - 17:00
The plan is to walk from Tadworth to Merstham, around 7 miles.Starting at altitude 233m/764ft and ending up at 96m/315ft this canhonestly qualify as a gravity assisted downhill walk. {ignoring anyminor bumps on the way}Train to Tadworth from East Croydon. 10:13 from East Croydon, 10:15 fromSouth Croydon, 10:18 from Purley Oaks. Change at Purley for the 10:28,arriving Tadworth 10:48. All inside TFL zones.Trains home from Merstham are two an hour but only 13 minutes apart.Direct trains take 14(!) minutes at 30 minutes past. Trains with achange take 21 minutes at 43 minutes past the hour. Out of TFL ticketneeded. £3.80 or less with a railcard to Coulsdon South, back in TFLterritory. Also useful info from Dionne, the 405 bus is another optionfrom Merstham to Croydon, hourly at 26 past, so lots of workable routesback home. Currently no stoppages announced for these services.The walk covers Banstead Heath, pub stop option in Mogador, which mightbe a little early, over the M25 to Colley Hill, along the North DownsWay East to Reigate Hill, Gatton Park and Pilgrims Way to Merstham. Mapattached.There is a cafe in the Reigate Hill car park. Apart from this, limitedover the counter refreshments. Bring a picnic and drinks, always a goodplan. There is a pub in Merstham that we could promise ourselves a drinkin at the end of the walk, time permitting.

Outing: Quiz Nite at the Builders Arms
2022-05-03 20:30 - 22:00 | Builder’s Arms Pub, 65 Leslie Park Road, Croydon, CR0 6TP
Yet another attempt to claim the Builders Arms Quiz prize. This time for sure!
We’ll enter as many teams as we can. The quiz usually starts at 9pm.

Weekend Away
2022-04-29 08:00 - 2022-05-02 17:00
Smithy’s Bunkhouse, Pantygelli, near Abergavenny

Outing: Tenpin Bowling at Valley Park
2022-04-26 20:00 - 22:00 | Tenpin, Valley Park, Hesterman Way, Croydon, CR0 4YA
As I’m sure you’re all aware from intense perusal of previous announcements, our Club Night on Tuesday, 26th April, is focused on Tenpin Bowling.
You can, of course, just turn up to enjoy the social setting and company of your fellow COPSErs for no charge.
But, for the players, I have to book lanes – and pay! – in advance, so I need commitment from you quickly.
Please email Ken by end of Friday, 22nd April to book your games.
The price is a Tuesday Special, 50% off, £7.45 each for two games, and if so minded you can play more games by stumping up more cash on site. We will have a lane for each set of 6 people, so we’ll divide ourselves into teams of about 3 and, depending on numbers, swap around so we have some competition.
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?
Tenpin Valley Park Leisure Complex
Hesterman Way
Croydon CR0 4YA
When?
Lanes will be booked for 8.30. Arrive between 8.00 and 8.15 to be ready to play.
Getting there?
Tram: Ampere Way (9 minute walk, says Google)
Buses:
455 to Franklin Way / Valley Park (8 minute walk)
189 to Purley Way / Newman Road (12 minute walk)
Alternatively, plenty of car parking.
How much?
£7.45 up front for two games, more on the night if you want to play more

Weald Walkers Wander
2022-04-24 09:00 - 17:00
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 allocated between 9.00 – 10.00am, with teams leaving at 3 minute intervals.
START/FINISH: Woldingham Village Hall, Station Road, Woldingham, Surrey, CR3 7EU. OS MAP Explorer 146 – TQ 371 557.
WHAT TO BRING: The latest Explorer map 146, 1:25,000 scale, pen and paper, compass, suitable footwear and clothing and some snacks for the way.
CHECKPOINTS: Cold drinks and biscuits will be provided at all checkpoints. Hot drinks and snacks 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.

Bird Talk by the RSPB
2022-04-19 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
“A Grand Day Out in Croydon”

Walk on the South Downs - 9 miles
2022-04-18 09:00 - 17:00
From Hassocks to Lewes. A stiff (steep) ascent of Downs near start then undulating. Mostly even underfoot maybe ruts so boots better than shoes.

Train to Hassocks: MEET AT EAST CROYDON AT 9.15 (or earlier if you want to buy from the ticket office window rather than ticket machine; train departs 9:33am). Buy a DAY RETURN TO HASSOCKS.

Return from Lewes (at Lewes station we buy a single to Wivelsfield to re-join the route covered by the return ticket). The combined return and single fares should be £25.40 full fare. Network cards etc could be shared for third off.

Bring PACKED LUNCH and something to sit on (plastic bag / mat) and of course suitable clothing including extra layers (hat, scarf and gloves in case cold wind). Refreshments at Lewes (pub / café) at end of walk before catching train back.

Andrew
07985 936953
