Ireland Retrospective
2025-11-11 20:15 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
In April Linda and Tim led a brilliant COPSE trip to the Wild West of Ireland. Tonight we share the experience in picture and story.

CODA Agatha Christie’s play Spider’s Web production
2025-11-13 16:00 - 2025-11-16 20:00
Hi All,
I’ve purchased a ticket to see Agatha Christie’s Spider’s Webb on Sunday 16th November 4pm.

The play is staged by CODA at Selsdon Hall between 13th – 16th November.
Details in email, below. Selsdon Hall is situated in basement of Sainsbury’s Supermarket in Selsdon. Near corner of Addington Road and Old Farleigh Road. Buses from Croydon: 64, 412 and 433 stop outside.

If anyone would like to join me, please purchase your ticket via link, below:
https://codashows.co.uk/

Contact me if you would like to meet beforehand or in Selsdon Hall.
Thanks,

Pravina
0208 655 0077

Loop Walk - Barnett to Gordon Hill Rail Station
2025-11-16 09:30 - 17:00
oh dear, the anticipation is unbearable! Time for more LOOPing and the last bit this side of the Solstice!

We shall be striking onwards from High Barnet, across Monken Hadley Common towards Cockfosters – we may meet ‘Livingstone, I presume’ along the way!

At Cockfosters there is an opportunity to finish after about 3 miles and go home by tube, and should anyone wish to do this they will be issued with the instructions and map to get there. It’s reasonably straightforward to get to the station.

We’ll then venture into Trent Country Park and across Enfield Chase where we may see through the mist Henry VIII (or should that be Henry Tudor!?) out hunting.

Depending upon weather and light levels we have three different places where we can stop, all north of Enfield. 1. A bus (313) half hourly into Enfield. 2 & 3 are walking links to Gordon Hill rail stn, which is effectively a suburb of Enfield. Home by train changing onto Victoria Line at Finsbury Park. Next time we shall pick-up the route from exactly wherever we finish this time.

Around about 8 miles or so. Bring food and drink, but there is a pub near Cockfosters and a cafe at Trent Park soon after.

More lovely undulating Hertfordshire into Middlesex countryside, with no main roads to follow, and islands at all road crossings – a steady climb to start.

Where to meet
Meet at East Croydon at 9.15am for the first train after 9.30 to Victoria to change onto tube to High Barnet, via Euston (there’s a Victoria train spot on 9.30 and one after at 9.44).

NOTE: I would like to be walking by 11am please, or jolly soon after. I hope to be at East Croydon all being well, but I may have to go straight onto Victoria (if I have problems with my train) and then onwards and meet you along the way or at High Barnet tube ‘booking hall’.

It might be useful to have contact details of someone who knows they are coming, so as to be in contact, if necessary.

Paul 07968 223589.
No Emails on the day of the walk please – voice or text only

*The London Outer Orbital Path (LOOP) is a 150 mile foot trail around the outskirts of London, using rivers, woods and meadowland, parks and even some suburban streets. It is the further out version of the Capital Ring.

OBJECTivity, No. ?
2025-11-18 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
What are these things?

Objects, that’s what. Exhibited, with their fascinating histories, at our last OBJECTivity evening.
Tomorrow night is another opportunity to show off your fine china, family heirlooms or just, well, bits of rock!
Here are Ireen’s words of enticement again:
Dear Interesting People,
That covers all COPSErs, one way or another! We’re such a mixed bunch and with so many different experiences. Resulting from these, we must have a wide range of items that would tell a tale of family, travels, mysteries, or hobbies. This week at our hall objects will be the activity we shall share.
Please bring along anything that you could explain a little about. This may be something of its history or its sentimental or monetary value. It might be something amusing or perhaps be an object so unusual that others may not even know what it is – or maybe you don’t know yourself but another Member might be able to identify it for you!
Please bring one to three objects to entertain us and pass them to me at the start of our evening. If you have extras, these could also be brought and kept aside, in case time allows us to explore a few more things. (Of course, audience required to enjoy the collection so please come along, even if you have no objects this time.) However, this weekend might afford time for many to find something!
Teas and coffees between 8.15pm and 8.30pm.
Regards,
Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Capital Ring Walk 4 - Crystal Palace to Streatham Common
2025-11-23 12:00 - 17:00
Continuing to be inspired by Paul’s assault on the Loop, and encouraged by the enthusiastic turnout for Parts 1 to 3, I’m continuing the Capital Ring circuit.
Click on the map for full details of what the Capital Ring is. This leg is only just over 4 miles, so we’re starting a bit later to accommodate Sunday lie-ins and make sure it’s light when we start. The walk covers territory that may be familiar to many of us – Norwood Grove, Streatham Common and The Rookery – but we’ll point out a few places along the way that you may not be aware of.
There are plenty of feeding and toilet opportunities along the way, and those inclined might round off the day with a beer and/or food at The Railway pub.
We finish at Streatham Common Station, with direct trains to East Croydon and, no doubt, buses nearby.
Joining Opportunities

East Croydon station from 12 noon to catch the 12.13 to Crystal Palace- usually Platform 1.
https://w3w.co/dock.jars.folds
Crystal Palace Station, where this leg of the Ring starts, from our scheduled arrival at 12.22
https://w3w.co/eaten.handle.lists

Contact
Ken on 07921 258876

Festival Fun
2025-11-25 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom

Hunterian Museum
2025-11-29 09:00 - 17:00
Update

Hi everyone

To let you know that I was amazed at the enthusiastic response to the Huntarian Museum trip next Saturday and all the 20 spaces for the group booking have now been taken!

If you would really like to come along next Saturday and join the group I will inquire about changing the booking.
BUT please contact me asap.

I will be at club night on Tuesday at the hall and will talk to those who do not have email to see if they are interested in coming along.

But you do not need to be a part of the group and can independently queue to enter the museum, which is free, and join everyone after for lunch and the visit to the Novelty Automation collection during the afternoon.

All the best,
Andy
07751182930

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Hi everyone
Our visit to the Hunterian Museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields in central London is happening next Saturday 29th November.
What is it?
The Hunterian Museum is named after 18th century surgeon and anatomist John Hunter and located at the Royal College of Surgeons in Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
The collection contains over 2000 anatomical items together with instruments, equipment, models and paintings which trace the history of surgery from ancient times to the latest robot assisted operations.
https://hunterianmuseum.org/It is free to enter.
If you would like to join me on this visit please let me know.
I have made a group booking for 20 people at 10.30 am on Saturday morning and I need to know who is going to be a part of this group. I can adjust the numbers if there are more people who want to come but I do need to know.

Where to meet
We will meet at East Croydon at 9.15 am to catch the 9.31 train to Blackfriars from Platform 2.
This arrives at Blackfriars at 9.51 allowing plenty of time to walk to the museum for our 10.30 visit.After our visit, I plan that we lunch at the Penderel’s Oak, a large Wetherspoons pub nearby Holborn.In the afternoon I plan that we visit the Novelty Automation collection in nearby Princeton Street.
This is a collection of satirical home-made arcade machines.
https://novelty-automation.com
It is free to enter and contains a large number of machines for which you can purchase tokens to use. I found it quite amusing!
After this we will go to Farringdon rail station to return to East Croydon.
Please would those interested in joining the group to the Hunterian Museum, please let me know asap and I will add you to the list.
I will be announcing this trip at next Tuesday’s club night meeting to let those who are not on this email list an opportunity to join the visit.
Normal walking footwear will be fine.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Andy T
07751182930

Tony Rowland's Life in Funerals
2025-12-02 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Here’s Tony, still engaged in the family funeral business that bears his name – and in his many other interests – despite officially retiring a while ago.

Tony is back this week, by popular demand, after being thwarted by technical issues on his last visit a couple of years ago, though he did valiantly carry on without benefit of visuals – the culpa is entirely mea. This time nothing can possibly go wrong 🤞, so we’ll have the whole package of his surprising and entertaining take on seeing us out of this world.

Croham Hurst and Coombe Wood Walk
2025-12-06 00:30 - 17:00
Hi all

Join me for a walk to Croham Hurst and Coombe Wood on 6th December.

Meet 12.30 at East Croydon station https://w3w.co/dock.jars.folds
or 1pm near Lloyd Park cafe. https://w3w.co/birds.evenly.author

About 6 miles.
Ending back at Lloyd Park.
Steve
07914 224653

Art Evening - 8.15 start!
2025-12-09 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Please note that we’ll start earlier than usual, at 8.15, to give enough time to complete our masterpieces.
With the expert guidance of Teresa, we’ll be flexing our artistic muscles again to make collaged Xmas cards and origami.
Materials will be provided, but you can also incorporate existing stuff. Bring scissors if you have them. As Teresa appealed:
Do any of you have CHRISTMAS CARDS, OLD MAGAZINES in COLOUR, WRAPPING PAPER any kind? That you are happy to donate towards the Art Evening on December 9th? If so please bring along to the Club or drop off at my place. Address on request.
Thanks Teresa

Edenbridge pre- Xmas walk, mince pies and mulled wine.
2025-12-14 09:00 - 17:00
Hello copsers

I have a cunning plan for this Sunday. From Croydon, catch the 09.23 train to Uckfield, alighting at Hever at 9.50.

We will then walk to Chiddingstone for coffee and cake, then on to Markbeech for beer (should be Harveys Old Ale). After that we will walk to Cowden and get the train back to Edenbridge Town. A 10 minute walk takes us back to Hever Towers for Mulled Wine and Mince Pies.

The route is about 6.5 miles and is likely to be muddy. Best to bring some food to keep you going. You will need to get a return ticket to Cowden.

Remember, you have to earn your pies and wine by doing the walk. Please let Grumpy Knickers know if you intend to come so that we know how many supplies to get in.

Cheers

Tim

Christmas Party at the Spread Eagle
2025-12-16 19:30 - 22:00 | Spreadeagle Pub, 39-41 Katharine St, Croydon, CR0 1NX, United Kingdom
This year we’re having a change, moving out of the Hall to the upstairs room we’ve hired at the Spread Eagle pub.
A buffet will be laid on and there’ll be jollity. More details to follow.

Yule Solstice Day
2025-12-21 10:00 - 17:00
UPDATE

The Walk ( 3 miles)

It’s looking a lot like a walk over Box Hill. Day return to Box Hill and Westhumble rail station,

Getting there
Please take the train departing WEST CROYDON rail station at 10.35am, and change at Sutton (train arrives at 10:48).
The train from Sutton departs at 11.11am and arrives at Boxhill and Westhumble train station at 11.35am

Note; I will board the train at Sutton or Epsom.

You may come on the walk, even if not eating and maybe have a drink at the end.

The Meal (from about 2.30pm at the Stepping Stones Pub)
On the day we all pay our separate bills, and ensure the pub has included its service charge/included tip. Pay for any drinks at the bar.

IF YOU WANT TO TRY AND JOIN THIS MEAL STILL, I AM NOT PERSONALLY TAKING ON ANY MORE BOOKINGS, SO PLEASE CONTACT THE PUB YOURSELF AND MAKE YOUR MENU CHOICE WITH THEM AND PAY YOUR DEPOSIT TO THEM, should they require one. Mention my name as the booking you are trying to join. Find their contact details and the everyday Festive Menu on their website.

See you, PAUL.
07968 223589 (no emails on the day!)

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

The Meal (from about 2.30pm at the Stepping Stones Pub)
IMPORTANT: Please select your food choice by Friday 12 December along with any dietary needs/allergies.

This will be at the Stepping Stones pub, about 8 minutes walk along a road from the Box Hill & Westhumble rail stn – also a car park at the pub. It will be at 2.30 in the afternoon, with a walk beforehand of around 3 miles in the local area. You can attend just the walk, just the meal, or both, or neither! Maybe a good idea to have a change of footwear, and ways of hiding any mud on trousers (there are tricks you can use)…like last year.

How to select your food choice
Please go to their website and look at the Festive/Christmas everyday meal menu (not the ones for just Dec 25th, 26th or New Year). Note that the vegan gravy and vegan custard can be normal gravy or custard. I shall assume everyone is having normal gravy/custard UNLESS you say you want either in a vegan form.

The pub would like our menu choices by December 12th (Friday) please, and wish to be informed of any dietary needs/allergies.

If the booking goes over TEN, they will start to need a £10 deposit from each person. You can do all this through me, but if you do anything direct with the pub, please mention my name for the booking and tell me if you have booked direct, or paid a deposit to them.

I know it’s still over 3 weeks away (as I write) but they suggest booking as soon as possible, especially as Sundays is their busiest day.

More details of the walk to follow nearer the time.

(So far the deposit is not necessary.)

Paul.

ShelterBox "Mystery Auction"
2026-01-06 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Happy New Year! You are invited to warm up at our now toasty Hall.
The occasion is, of course, our annual Mystery Auction, where we have some fun raising cash for our pet charity, Shelterbox.

If you’re not familiar with Shelterbox have a look at their website, https://shelterbox.org/.

What you can do is to

wrap up your goods (unwanted and/or valuable)

and/or

turn up, enjoy the banter, and above all place your bids for the mystery parcels.

Don’t worry if you can’t contribute items, just come along and enjoy the evening.
For the uninitiated, here are Ireen’s words of explanation from her email:
Dear All,
I hope 2026 is off to a good start for everyone – and you are each feeling “resolute”! No, I’m not referring to all the personal resolutions (which might already have been broken?!) but to our Club one that we make this annual effort to gather enough funds for a whole “ShelterBox box”.
For our “Mystery Auction”, please spend a few mins in advance, wrapping your duplicated or unloved objects (rapping, as you do so, is optional!) and pass them to me from 8.15pm on Tuesday. Household / kitchen appliances in good condition – (perhaps never used, even if intentions were good!) could also be rehomed. IF there is a content of particularly high value, you can add a label with a reserve or start price on – likewise, if the item is only suitable for a male or female recipient. However, part of the fun is sometimes when bids disregard the latter, e.g., when Chris T. became the new owner of a lovely, silky camisole! (He happily gifted this to a female friend!!)
Wrapping paper need not be new – any kept from opening your own received presents, be they Xmas, birthday etc. will be good. If you have some items to donate but cannot manage to come along in person, please let me know and I hope I can help by collecting beforehand.
Re my title, “Lightening Your Load”: bulging wallets and purses can be brought through the door and you can benefit by carrying them away with far less weight in them! Also, please remember that our 2025 techy advance gave us a card machine, although chequebooks could still be brought! Once again, Treasurer Bob will kindly be managing the finance for the evening.
N.B. If the attached table is of interest, I am taking emailed or telephoned bids, as well as on the night, and can collect from its donor and deliver to you in the near future. The table is good and sturdy and a size that will very comfortably seat four people. Please contact me with your offers!
Width: 46¼” (117.5cm) X Depth: 31½” (80cm) X Height: 29” (74cm)

I close with another good wish for everyone to have as good a 2026 as they possibly can – and with a quote from the ShelterBox website:
EMERGENCY DISASTER RELIEF Families are facing a bitter winter in make shift shelters, struggling to survive:
Supporting communities in crisis

Right now, over 120 million people around the world have been made homeless by disaster and conflict. ShelterBox is working to change this.
By providing emergency shelter and tools for families robbed of their homes by disaster, we’re transforming despair into hope.
We want to see a world where no family is left without shelter after disaster. Join us.
Regards,
Ireen Best (079868 035522)

Bethlem Art Gallery and Museum - POSTPONED
2026-01-10 10:00 - 17:00

A Right Old "Knees-Up"
2026-01-13 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
A change from the announced visit to Cryer Arts – it turns out that they don’t have their first-Tuesday-of-the-month folk session in January.

Following a quirky and interesting recent Club visit to a different kingdom (please read your latest “Viewpoint”!), Valerie and I hope you can now please join us for an informative and varied evening at our hall that stems from that. There will be a little bit of history, some music, a bit of a quiz – and a special guest! There will even be a “reference sheet” to take away!

8.15pm for teas and coffees (with the kitchen closing at 8.30pm).

Visit to the Toy Museum - postponed
2026-01-17 10:00 - 17:00
Watch for new dates on the Programme

Capital Ring Walk 5 - Streatham Common to Wimbledon Park
2026-01-18 12:00 - 17:00
Continuing to be inspired by Paul’s assault on the Loop, and encouraged by the enthusiastic turnout for Parts 1 to 4, I’m continuing the Capital Ring circuit.
Newbies can click on the map above to see what the Capital Ring is all about. This leg will ease us gently into the New Year with a level stroll of just under 6 miles on tarmac paths and pavements, and we’re starting at a time to accommodate Sunday lie-ins. Highlights include Tooting Bec and Wandsworth Commons and Wandsworth Prison, as well as the largest (it says here) single block of flats in Europe.
There are plenty of feeding and toilet opportunities along the way, and those inclined might round off the day with a beer and/or food at The Woodman pub.
We finish at Wimbledon Park Station, from where the best route back to Croydon seems to be a short ride on the District Line to connect with Tramlink at Wimbledon.
Joining Opportunities

East Croydon station from 12 noon to catch the 12.14 to Streatham Common – usually from Platform 4.
https://w3w.co/dock.jars.folds
Streatham Common Station, Estrehan Road exit, where this leg of the Ring starts, from our scheduled arrival at 12.25
https://w3w.co/lime.grit.froth

Contact
Ken on 07921 258876

COPSE Birthday
2026-01-20 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
This Tuesday is the nearest to COPSE’s 92nd birthday so we’re having a bit of a celebration. There’ll be some fun, games and . . . CAKE!,

We’ll also enjoy some party food – provided by yourselves! Please bring along no more than a plate or so of finger-food you can share. We’ll dig out some squash and such from upstairs, though if you have particular beverage preferences feel free to provide your own.
Also, we’ll avoid washing up so please bring your own plates / drinking vessels etc and take them away again.
Come along and enjoy.

By request, the Coulsdon to Cheam section of the loop is back
2026-01-25 10:00 - 17:00
Hello
I have been requested to do the section between Coulsdon and Nonsuch Park, near Ewell and Cheam via Woodmansterne, Clockhouse, Oaks Park and past another prison!

If you missed it in 2024, here’s your chance to catch up.

Distance around 8 to 9 miles, fairly straightforward with the odd ascent, refreshment possibilities at Clockhouse, Oaks Park Cafe and at Nonsuch Park Mansion at the end. But bring beverage and nibbles along.

Where to meet
Coulsdon in the area outside the supermarket Aldi, opposite where the Chipstead Valley Road branches off.

How to get here
Buses from Croydon, of course, including the 60 and 166, but don’t be tempted onto a 466 as this turns off and heads up to Coulsdon village before it gets to the part of Coulsdon we want.

What time
The proposed time is 10.15am

Returning from Cheam
Buses from nearby Cheam village back to Croydon (including the SuperLoop bus from Heathrow) and trains back to West Croydon from Cheam rail stn. You can leave (or join) at Oaks Park using a bus 166. You could also leave a little early before Nonsuch Park and get a train from Ewell EAST

Bring a sense of humour and some rain gear!

Paul N.
07968 223589

Burns Night
2026-01-27 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
The Programme:

Please note we’ll be taking £3 at the door to cover costs for this evening – a bargain any Scot would be proud to claim!
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face
We didn’t argue with that sentiment in previous years, and everyone had such a good time that we’re doing it again.
If you have yet to be convinced of haggis’s virtues (or even if you have been), roll up on Tuesday evening for a treat of said puddin’, with its traditional embellishments of bashed neeps, mashed spuds, and whatever trimmings we can muster. There will even be a dram in it for those keen on the true Caledonian experience, along with the joyful skirl provided by our in-house piper and traditional poetry read in excruciatingly inaccurate Scottish accents.
Note that we’ll be providing, as well as full-fat leaded haggis, vegetarian, gluten free and gluten free vegetarian variations. Please let Ken know if your tastes run to any of these so we can get the numbers right.
Please note that, due to government restrictions, we will be using only left-handed specimens, humanely caught by burly, kilted highlanders using extra strong butterfly nets.
But
(I hear you ask)
what’s my part in all this magnificence?
Well, there are a few things you should be aware of . . . .
1. In the interests of simplicity and getting home before dawn, we’re not washing up! Bring your own plate, glass and cutlery, and take them home at the end of the evening.
2. Drink provided is limited to Scotch and Highland Water for the toasts – in addition, of course, to the regular tea & coffee service graciously provided by Olga William Colette. If your tastes veer in other directions, please feel free to bring your own choice of tipple.
3. For the furtherance of jollity and the spirit of the evening, any vaguely Scottish apparel is encouraged. If you can’t stretch to a kilt, how about tartan socks or a Hamilton Accies away strip?
Looking forward to that haggis already. No, don’t ask me what’s in it!
(I know, all shamelessly pasted in from previous web pages pasted in from the previous year’s email. Life’s still too short . . . )

Ski trip adventure Arc 2000 Paradiski, France
2026-01-31 08:00 - 2026-02-07 17:00
Update
Our ski destination has changed to Arc 2000 Paradiski, France
————————————————————————–
COPSE powder hounds hit the slopes for a winter adventure in the Skiarea Campiglio Brenta Dolomites. Sat. 31st Jan. to Sat. 7th Feb 2026.”
If there’s further info you need please let me know.
Thanks
Paul D.

Hi COPSErs
Regular “COPSE-skimos” have been researching a winter holiday for the week starting Saturday 31/1/2026. We have found an attractive option and wish to encourage other COPSErs to participate. Here is some information about it. If you are interested please let me know by Sunday 16 March.

Based largely on preferences from previous holidays, the proposed destination is Folgarida in Italy for the following reasons:

it’s in the Dolomites.

it’s part of the extensive and scenic Madonna di Campiglio lift system

the resort has a good snow record
it offers other activities including snowy walking trails, please check out Esperienze
the Park Hotel is accessible from one of the easier ski runs, so no need to walk or catch a bus

the Park Hotel has a spa and pool

it’s a package holiday, so you are well looked after. Crystal are part of the massive TUI group, and we’ve been skiing with them for a number of years. The holiday is twin-share half-board and it’s about £900 at the moment (excludes equipment hire and lift pass). Gatwick flights are early – it’s a 6am check-in.

if there are any special requirements e.g. diet it’s best to chat on-line with Crystal. Previously the buffet-style catering has had plenty of choice so hopefully this wouldn’t present a problem
if you’re interested please let me know by Sunday 16th March. It’s a £100 deposit to go on the booking, subject to rooming (same gender twin-share) and availability, and the balance becomes payable in November. Single occupancy supplements are usually expensive, about £400. Again, Crystal will advise about this cost if you use their on-line chat
if you fancy skiing/boarding before the holiday there is an indoor slope at Hemel Hempstead, or a dry slope near Chatham.
we’ve just enjoyed a ski holiday with great snow and fantastic scenery. We have a range of competencies in the group and we ski together as much as we can. We’d love to bring the fun to other COPSErs. Some of our group took up skiing relatively recently. It may seem a lot of money but it’s a great experience and, as mentioned, there are non-ski options too.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need further information.

Thanks.
Paul D.
0794 129 6019

Builders Arms Quiz
2026-02-03 20:30 - 22:00 | Builder’s Arms Pub, 65 Leslie Park Road, Croydon, CR0 6TP
Well, we shall try to grab it! Yet again, non-skiing COPSErs will be attempting to wrestle the prize (sometimes a fairly substantial pot of ££s) away from the regular teams competing at the “Builders Arms” Quiz Night.*
I have reserved three tables of six for our Members. The quiz will cost £1pp (cash) and now begins a half hour earlier, i.e. at 8.30pm. We can arrive from 6.30pm to order food and socialize before the brain strain begins.

65 Leslie Park Road, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 6TP
https://buildersarmscroydon.co.uk/eat-drink-1b
* N.B. On previous visits, one of our teams did achieve second place!
If you would like to be among those of us exercising our grey matter this time, please let me know.

Regards,

Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Pollock's Toy Museum, pie and mash lunch and Buddy Holly tribute night
2026-02-07 11:00 - 23:00
1) POLLOCK’S TOY MUSEUM
We have been invited to make a group visit to this little museum that is proud to be in Croydon. It houses many interesting traditional and “heritage” items. Our visit will begin at 11am with an introductory talk from the curator and the chance to tour and chat about the displays. Following this, at noon, there will be a theatre show. It would be useful for the museum to have an idea of the number in our group so please let me know if you will be coming.
Where to meet
Whitgift Centre
Level 1, No.49
(Wellesley Road end, facing (Trinity Court”)

What time
11.00am
———————————————————————————————-
2) COCKNEYS OF CROYDON (pie and mash)

We can continue our afternoon together by moving to the “Cockneys of Croydon” café that was mentioned at our recent “Knees-Up” Club Night. A number of COPSErs said they would like to go there to try the pie and mash etc. We must arrive in time to order before 2.30pm but allow eating time before it closes at 3pm. I suggest we arrive there about 1.30pm, after finishing at the Toy Museum. I have been told that pre-booking tables could not be arranged but, again, let me know if you plan to come and we shall try to bag enough seats!

Where to meet
51 Frith Road, Croydon CR0 1TB (Frith Street is down Church Street and opposite Surrey Street market)

What time
Approx 1.30pm
———————————————————————————————–
3) Buddy Holly tribute night

As has been listed for a while on our COPSE programme, we can spend our evening at what is normally our late Tuesday Night “Watering Hole”. However, on Saturday 7th February, there will be music and the chance to dance for those inclined! You will buy your own tickets on the door (cash only) but I am able to reserve seats in advance so that our Members can sit at tables together. Obviously, for this, I need numbers so please let me know, if you would like to be included.

Where to meet
Ruskin House, 23 Coombe Road, Croydon CR0 1BD

What time
The tribute night starts at 7.00pm and finishes at 11pm

How much are the tickets
£4.00 on the door

If you would like to attend any of these events, please let Ireen know as soon as possible
Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Sir John Soane's museum
2026-02-08 09:30 - 17:00
There is a mish mash of things packed into two storeys of his house- an Egyptian sarcophagus being the highlight. There are several Hogarth paintings with him being the ‘father of British satire’ according to Ian Hislop editor of Private Eye.
Homepage | Sir John Soane’s Museum

How much does the museum cost ?
Entry is free

Are there any tours ?
There is a free tour of the private apartments at 2pm for those especially keen.
There is also a highlights tour at midday (chargeable)

What time will we meet and where?
It’s recommended to be there early to avoid queuing in the cold so Dionne proposes to catch the 9.30am from East Croydon– any late comers can join the group at the Musuem. That means being at East Croydon station at 9.15 to have enough time to get tickets and make it to the platform to get to London Bridge where the group will catch the 133 bus from stop M to Holborn Station where there is a short walk to the museum

What about lunch and after the visit
Maybe grab a light snack nearby or on your own in Lincoln Inn Fields – which is London’s largest public square- although sitting outside in February eating might not be a good idea!

‘We can spend some time looking at the sculptures as I guess not much to see in terms of vegetation. From there we can explore Lincoln’s Inn.

From Lincoln’s Inn Fields, you can wander through Lincoln’s Inn (the legal inn) which has some quiet courtyard squares.
Walk into the nearby Inner Temple / Middle Temple area: historic alleyways, cobbled paths, and the Temple Church are near.Option to walk to Somerset House on the Thames to see the courtyard but I reckon I would be tired by then.

I am interested

Let Dionne know as soon as possible so that if necessary she can make the Musuem aware of potential numbers.

Fun at The Manor
2026-02-10 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Hear about the highlights of our trip to Okehampton, and a chance to tell your own tale of the goings-on.
It’s also a bit of a taster for our return trip in September!

Following several folk asking me what “Fun at the Manor” means, it will be an illustrated explanation from some of us who enjoyed over five very full days at a Devon activity centre, last September. Do try to come along to learn what happened, what the participating COPSErs thought about it – and what the options will be for our 2026 visit there. Perhaps check your diaries now to pencil in 13th to 18th September. This Tuesday evening might tempt you to be among our next group of “Lords and Ladies” of The Manor!
Regards,
Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Loop walk - Enfield to Chingford
2026-02-15 08:45 - 17:00
It’s time, once again, to pick up the LOOP* and continue on from last time when we finished at Enfield (Gordon Hill stn). We shall continue along the Turkey Brook and come off the LOOP to visit Forty Hall, a Jacobean mansion on the outskirts of Enfield, which you can go inside, stroll the gardens, and maybe visit the cafe (please Goooogle for more info). Also here is the site of a Tudor palace (no longer in existence) – a kind of Nonsuch Palace of North London (my words).
After this we track eastwards past two rail stns, where people (or all of us) can depart home. or people can join us (Turkey Street stn and Enfield Lock stn). Next we encounter our first canal since the Uxbridge area – Enfield Lock on the Lea Navigation. We then cross the Lea Valley, via Sewardstone Marsh and Hill, take in breath-taking views of London and arrive in the western fringes of Epping Forest (yes, it’s back to Essex!).
Food and drink possibilities along the way, particularly at Forty Hall, and then at the end maybe a pub near Chingford Stn from where we return. One of the places here is The Royal Forest, next to Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, where we had a super meal the last time we were here in early 2020. It costs more now (doesn’t everywhere!?) and is waitress/waiter service now (rather than buffet style), or we could simply have a drink here, or just come home.
Distance is around 8 miles or so with one or two heart-thumping ascents and likely some mud! Bring some stuff to eat and drink along the way.
Meet East Croydon stn from 8.45am to catch the 9.08am Thameslink service, getting off at Finsbury Park to change for a train to Gordon Hill.
OH DEAR 🤨this is early, but Dionne managed to get people up for a train a little earlier than this the other day (and I can make it this time, as there is no engineering work from Tattenham Corner this week). Just make sure you are tucked up in bed with your cocoa by 9pm the night before. (❤️)
Because of engineering work somewhere between E Croy and Victoria, it’s going to be easier to go a little early and avoid walking between two London stations, and will involve just one change.
I am aiming to be at E Croy at 8.45am to meet people there, but if my train messes up I’ll catch you up along the way (I have a cunning plan B).
Have I forgotten anything (apart from the question mark), if so just call for more details…

Paul Newbold
07968 223589

* = the LOOP is the London Outer Orbital Path, a 150-mile long trail around the outskirts of Greater London going along rivers, across meadows and parkland, through woodland and, best of all, along some pavements and roads! It is 3 years now since we started at Erith along the scrap yards along the Thames, a memorable walk indeed!!

🌨️?
Oh No! we’ll have to x that bridge if/when we come to it. And just when we’re anticipating spring!

Pancakes and . . .
2026-02-17 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
The time for tossing and turning has again come around. This is 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.
Please provide your own batter – prepared at home or at the hall, if you wish – plus the accompanying ingredients . 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 with a variety of fillings. Think of it, concoct it and perhaps tempt other brave people to try your results! Below are some of both savoury and sweet efforts from past years.
Savoury
Mushrooms with garlic, onions, mixed herbs and cream
Grated mature Cheddar cheese with optional pickle
Blue cheese (“upmanship”!) with sun-dried tomatoes
Sardines
Sweet
Maltesers
Nutella chocolate spread
Christmas pudding with crème fraîche (over ten months to replace the pud!)
Lemon curd sprinkled with ground ginger
A slight spread of butter, drizzled over by various flavoured coffee syrups
… and, of course, the traditional fresh lemon juice and sugar!

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 usually proves to be a pleasantly sociable Club Night.

Eridge to Ashurst country walk
2026-02-21 09:00 - 16:00
Tim is leading a Kent walk from Eridge Station to Ashurst Station which are both on the same line. As it’s still winter he made a concession and reduced the mileage to 6/7 miles.

There will be a pub stop at Groombridge, but please bring refreshments and a packed lunch with you.

How to get there
You will need to get the 9.22 am Uckfield train from East Croydon (usually Platform 6) which will arrive in Eridge at 10.03. We will join you on the train at Edenbridge Town Station.

Getting back
Returning we will try and get the 15.56 from Ashurst which gets into EC at 16.37. You will need to buy a return ticket to Eridge.

Freedom pass holders
Remember that you need to pay from Warlingham.

Obviously it’s too early to know what the conditions will be like underfoot, but I’m sure there will be some mud! Come prepared with walking boots and waterproofs.

If the forecast is horrendous we will probably cancel, but no excuses for keeping away if it’s only showers.

Come and enjoy a good old fashioned country walk.

Linda

Motorbikes and Me, with Andy
2026-02-24 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
. . . with Andy

Andy has entertained us before with his vast knowledge, experience and sense of fun. This time he’ll chart his long love affair with motor bikes, and may even give us a look at one of his prime specimens. Don’t miss it!
