North East London, along canals & quiet way bike routes
2019-10-27 09:15 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
Meet at East Croydon Station by 9.20 for the 09:34 arriving London Bridge 9:48
By train with bikes to London Bridge. Ride and walk along the South Bank – City of London – East End Markets – Regents Canal – Victoria Park – Stratford Olympic Park – Lea Valley -Tunnel or Cable Car over the Thames – Thames Paths and Quiet Way Cycle Routes.
Flexible return by train with many options, depending on how far you and your legs want go. Riding along quiet routes in a group makes for a very gentle pace, it’s not a race. Plenty of stops.
Bring drinks and snacks, expect stops en route for more food and drink as we find it.

AGM
2019-10-29 20:15 - 22:00

Sheffield Park Visit has been cancelled
2019-11-02 10:00 - 17:00
And the suggestion of a walk has been cancelled too.

Sorry for the inconvenience

Walk Along the Wandle Trail
2019-11-03 11:00 - 17:00
Meet outside East Croydon station at 11am (ish) to get the tram to WANDLE PARK.

Walk along the river Wandle to Merton Abbey mills (six miles) followed by a stop at The Wiilliam Morris pub.

We will also be going through Morden Hall Park for a loo stop (+ maybe a coffee stop) depending on time.

Afterwards, we’ll walk back to Phipps Bridge tram stop and then back to central Croydon.

Bonfire Night
2019-11-05 20:15 - 22:00
We were hoping to attend a local fireworks display but unfortunately an exhaustive research has not come up trumps.

So we will take an evening walk to Duppas Hill recreation ground where the elevated vantage will help us take in the bonfire night atmosphere and glimpse picturesque explosions as we celebrate the demise of a revolutionary.

Assemble at the hall for a hot drink at 8.15pm. Set off for the walk at 8.40pm when the hall will be shut and locked. After the short walk (about 45 mins to an hour) we can go to our usual pub ( The Skylark) to meet up with any later comers.

Stanley Halls Barn Dance
2019-11-08 20:00 - 23:00
With the ‘Conquering Heroes’

“A band of local folk musicians who can be found playing tunes from the British Isles and beyond! An accomplished ceilidh band, we’ve brought music, dancing and joy to festivals, community events, weddings and parties across London and the South East.”

Van Gogh Walk – London
2019-11-10 10:15 - 17:00
This is a walk which traces Van Gogh’s commute home from his Covent Garden office to his home in Stockwell.

Meet at East Croydon station in time to catch the 10.34 train to London Bridge then the 10.56 to Charing Cross.

First stop will be room 43 at the National Gallery to see seven of Van Gogh’s paintings including the iconic Sunflowers. We will then stroll to the site of his office then begin our walk through Embankment Gardens, cross the Thames, and walk down the A23 passing by the Imperial War Museum.

Lunch stop at The Tommyfield pub around 1pm. Or if you prefer you can bring a packed lunch and have it at Kennington Park. The diners will catch you up there.

https://www.thetommyfield.com/

We will complete our walk down to Hackford Road. The house is open till 5pm.
Return home starting with a tube from Stockwell then a train to Croydon. The total distance will be about 4 miles.

Talk - Expedition cruising in the Russian Far East
2019-11-12 20:15 - 22:00
Nicky will be giving a talk about the cruise she did in August down the coast of north east Siberia.

A fascinating trip in a remote and pristine area which is larger than the UK but with a fraction of the population. She will be concentrating mainly on the wildlife that she saw, including whales, bears, eagles, seabirds etc and also talking a little about the history of exploration in this area.

City Break - YHA Stratford-on-Avon
2019-11-15 12:00 - 2019-11-17 17:00

Gatliff Marathon Preparation
2019-11-19 20:15 - 22:00
An evening of sharing, learning and relaxed fun preparing for the Gatliff Marathon on Sunday. Marshals will be able to meet each other and their checkpoint leader, learn where the route and checkpoints go and refresh their knowledge of what is expected of them.

Non-marshals will be able to enjoy seeing some of the ground-breaking technology that will be used this year as key marshals are trained. View the super-dooper updated spread sheet projected on the screen, see where the route goes and enjoy some hot and refreshing snacks and treats. You can also role-play being an entrant to give the trainee check-in marshals some live tests.

Plus you can just catch up with your COPSE buddies, it will be an enjoyable evening.

Gatliff Marathon
2019-11-24 08:00 - 18:00
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.

The challenge is to complete the event in under 10 hours, following the route directions and checking in at each of the checkpoints.

See our website for full details.

Singing Workshop
2019-11-26 20:15 - 22:00
This week we are treated to the delights of local musician, Steve Barbe, who will guide us through some popular songs to make everyone feel uplifted & engaged in the moment.
It has been proven that singing in a group improves wellbeing, providing a sense of togetherness, & its roots go back to ancient times.
We will be commencing at 8.30 so please be sitting comfortably by 8.20 ready to experience the power of song.

Walk from Coulsdon South station - Approx 6.5 miles
2019-12-01 10:15 - 17:00
Meet at East Croydon station about 10:15 to get the 10:24 train to Coulsdon South which is in fare zone 6.

The walk will go via Farthing Downs to the Fox pub on Coulsdon Common then via Chaldon church back to Coulsdon South.

Bring a packed lunch.

If anyone wants to drop out by the time we get to the Fox pub, there is the possibility to get bus 466 back into Croydon. The bus stop is only a few minutes away from the pub.

Comedy Clips
2019-12-03 20:15 - 22:00
This week we indulge our humourous side with comedy clips. From TV shows, radio, film, www, play, book, etc.

Pre-Xmas Weekend away to the 1912 Centre in Harwich
2019-12-06 12:00 - 2019-12-08 17:00

Captions & Cornflakes
2019-12-10 20:15 - 22:00
Continuing the theme of “Captions + something beginning with the letter C”, we shall be allowing ourselves that little evening treat that many people serve themselves, when fancying an end-of-day snack. However, “Captions & Cornflakes (Etc!)” means that for the “etc.” you will be offered a range of different cereals – chocolatey, cinnamony, hazelnutty … and so on. In other words, you can have a little try of flavours which might have tempted you, when you saw them on shop shelves, but you have usually resisted because they have not the sensible food value to which you would give your own shelf space!

Obviously, large servings will not be supplied but everyone wishing to try the variety provided should gain a good taste with a few spoonfuls. If you have a cereal that you would like to share, please do bring any of your own packets along.

N.B. It would be really helpful if you could bring a bowl and spoon from home and a bag in which to take the used ones back. This would save a good deal of work for whoever will form the clearing-up brigade!

Warlingham to Oxted Walk - Approx 5 miles
2019-12-15 10:00 - 17:00
Walk from Warlingham Sainsbury’s to Oxted, over the North Downs,
through Woldingham and up to The Ridge, then Titsey Woods, passing
stately Titsey Place and on under the M25 into Oxted.
Meet at East Croydon Station at 10am, then leave promptly to catch
the 10:13 bus 403 from Fairfield Halls bus stop KA, due in to Warlingham
Sainsbury’s at 10:39 – or you could join en route.
For the trip back there are trains from Oxted at 29 and 59 past the hour.

COPSE Christmas Party at the Spread Eagle Pub
2019-12-17 20:15 - 22:00

Visit to Severndroog Castle in Eltham
2019-12-22 10:00 - 16:00
Severndroog Castle ( actually a folly) is located in South-East London. This is an 18thC. preserved Gothic tower situated on Shooters Hill. From the viewing platform there is a 360 degree panoramic view of London.
Meet 11.30 at the castle. Bring sandwiches, or enjoy the tearoom said to be filled with ‘homemade treats’. If there is time and weather permitting, we could take a walk through Castle Wood and Oxleas Wood, both of which have nature trails.
If you are going by train, meet at East Croydon 10.00 am for the 10.14 am train to Blackheath. You need to change at Peckham Rye. At Blackheath catch the 89 bus to stop SE Memorial Hospital. Then walk to the castle.

NO HALL
2019-12-24 08:00 - 17:00, 2019-12-31 08:00 - 17:00

Yuletide Festive Walk
2019-12-28 09:30 - 17:00
Meet at 9.40am East Croydon Rail Stn to catch 10.03 to Plumpton, Sussex.

The walk is around 8 miles, the bulk of which will be before the lunch stop, and will include quite a climb up to about 600 feet above sea level*, then along a short stretch of the South Downs Way before diving back down again to the Half Moon Inn at the foot of the Downs, south of Plumpton, for a pub stop.

A bracing walk to help blow out the cobwebs of the old year – and those Brexit Blues (whichever side of the great divide you stood on).

Will try and make the 4.29pm train at the latest train back from Plumpton to East Croydon (but there is a pub fairly nearby the station if needed).

Surrey Inns Kanter, Epsom Downs with LDWA
2020-01-01 09:15 - 17:00
(20 or 12 miles)

Start 0915-1030 – Finish by 1630 (see website for more details)

New Year Walk from Oxted
2020-01-04 09:30 - 16:30
A circular walk of about 6-7- miles from Oxted.
Meet at East Croydon station at 9.25 for the 9.39 train to Oxted, arr 10.00.
You can bring some lunch, but there will be a pub stop at the Carpenters Arms, Limpsfield Chart.
As it is quite muddy, boots and gaiters would be advisable.
Trains back to Croydon depart every half hour.

Mystery Auction
2020-01-07 20:15 - 22:00
Over our Club’s Christmas break, please set aside any unwanted Xmas presents in good condition (it need not be new), wrap “anonymously” and bring it along on the evening.

Our Club’s annual “Mystery Auction” is in aid of our adopted charity, “ShelterBox”, which provides emergency supplies to those in great need, wherever they may be.

COPSE has previously donated two complete green boxes stuffed with appropriate survival equipment.

London Canals and Green Ways Part 3 - Bike Ride
2020-01-12 10:00 - 17:00
By popular demand, we now have the third London Canal Ride in the series, crossing Central London, just to the North, cycling the Canal towpaths, parks and other quiet routes.
This time we are joining up the West and the East, riding from Little Venice along Regent’s Canal, and down through the East End to the Thames.

Meet at East Croydon station from 10:00 for the 10:21 to Victoria.
We might need to commandeer more than one train to cram on the bikes so please assemble at Victoria from 10:30

Illustrated talk: “The meaning of China – the impact of its rise on the rest of the world”
2020-01-14 20:15 - 22:15 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
A visiting speaker gives a unique insight into modern China. Barnaby Powell is a Croydon resident who is fascinated by China and comes to give the benefit of his research and insight with an illustrated talk into what the modern growth of this huge civilisation means for the rest of the world.
Non members welcome.

Illustrated talk: “How to have the time of your life in West Africa”
2020-01-21 20:15 - 22:00
The charismatic young man behind “Black Star Caravan” visits us to amaze and uplift us with an insight into the adventures that “Black Star Caravan” offer. They’ve an upcoming trip by land from London to Guinea Bissau.

Not only is the disparate group of travellers, friends, artists and performers leading a tree planting sideline on the way but they will entertain and amaze the locals they encounter on the way with circus workshops, cinema, building playgrounds, making art and generally uplifting all they encounter. Come and share this amazing energy.

An ‘Evening of Rod Stewart’ at The Boom Boom Club, Sutton
2020-01-24 19:30 - 23:00
Book tickets at feenstra.co.uk/boomboom

Burns Night Ceilidh at Stanley Halls
2020-01-25 20:00 - 23:00
Tickets include a special performance by SLiDE dancers

Doors open at 7PM
