Croydon Outdoor Pursuits & Social Events Club

No Club Night
2023-12-26 08:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
It’s Boxing Day!

New Year Trip Away (Cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances)
2023-12-27 - 2024-01-01
Details to be announced.

Easy post-Christmas local walk and museum visit
2023-12-27 10:00 - 17:00
Local walk and museum visit.
Meet at Coombe Lane tram stop Wednesday 27th December to start the walk at 10:30am. We’ll walk about three miles through green spaces and suburban streets to the Museum of the Mind in West Wickham. The Museum is part of Bethlem Hospital https://museumofthemind.org.uk/. There is a hospital canteen that serves until 2:30pm. We intend to spend a couple of hours at Bethlem and, if they let us out, you can either take public transport back to Croydon or continue on our walk for a further few miles, returning to Coombe Lane tram stop via the Harvester pub in Addington. In total the walk will be about 6 miles/ 10km. Please wear suitable footwear as it may be wet or muddy underfoot, although the route has been chosen to avoid known boggy areas. Loo stops Bethlem and Addington.

Paul D 07941296019

No Club Night
2024-01-02 08:00 - 17:00
It’s New Year – see you next week!

Walk from Thornton Heath to Streatham via parks, followed by Ice Hockey match
2024-01-07 11:00 - 21:00
The usual route from Crystal Palace Station been changed to include Croydon’s “lesser known” parks, some of which were mentioned by Nicola Hunt in her very interesting “100 spaces in 100 days” COPSE talk in October.
These are the afternoon’s details, which you can join at any time
Part 1
12 noon: meet at Thornton Heath station (either by train, 468 bus or 50 bus from Croydon)
A four mile “easy” walk to Streatham High Road via Norbury Hall (or squirrel 🐿) Park, Norbury Park, Norwood Grove, Streatham Common + the Rookery gardens which has toilets + a cafe
Part 2
About 3.30pm to 6pm: “The Bull” pub (Young’s) on Streatham High Road for either a meal or drinks, where I might need to book a table inside but there is a large covered garden outside with wall heaters.
STOP PRESS 5th Jan:
I’ve now booked a long table on Sunday afternoon for ten people in the main bar from 3pm onwards on a “first come, first served basis”.
Part 3
6.45pm start: Streatham Redhawks v Oxford City Stars ice hockey match 🏒 🥅 ⛸ where you might need to book advance tickets to avoid queuing = £13.50 (adults) or £8.50 (over 60s + concessions)
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Keith Southam
keithsoutham@yahoo co.uk
mobile/text = 07749 515486

Shelterbox Auction
2024-01-09 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Again, New Year greetings to all COPSErs – and we look forward to having you crowd through our hall door next Tuesday, 9th January, in order to make it better for other people!
Our start to 2024 will be our annual “Mystery Auction” in support of the charity we collectively support each year.* Hopefully, this is recalled and understood by our more established Members but, lovely newer ones, please read on!
The procedure involves us bringing along to Club Night any duplicated Xmas items that we may have received – or others that we feel might be more welcomed in someone else’s home! Also, unwanted but reasonable donations of other things, e.g. an appliance you might have bought and planned to use but found you never have. Basically, not just rubbish but something you donate that another might happily gain!
Please wrap items “anonymously” without disclosing the packages’ contents and slip them to me, when you arrive. The fun of the evening is that people bid for something but don’t know what they will get! Of course, the success of the auction relies on the generous spirit, pockets, wallets and purses of everyone attending. I.O.U.s can be noted and cheques passed. Treasurer Bob will once more be collecting your funds.
If you have an item of particular value, we can set a “reserve” start price. Likewise, please speak to me before the auction begins, should you be donating something specifically suited for only one gender -although we have had a good laugh when, for example, a lacy camisole top was successfully bid for by one of our strapping gents!
* The recipient of all our early 2024 goodwill is ShelterBox, the charity very suited to COPSE in that we camp and enjoy outdoor living “for leisure and pleasure” and ShelterBox provides emergency supplies for people having to camp merely to survive. In brief:
“YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DISASTER AROUND THE WORLD”

Fuller details via: https://shelterbox.org/
Every year that we have raised our £££s for the charity, we have achieved the purchase of a complete box, currently costing £590. Since our Jan ’23 auction, we have a kitty put aside from people’s kind contributions later in the year from purchasing other COPSErs unwanted kit etc. This stands at £138. With a big push from our good- hearted folk next week, we may again achieve buying one more full box! Advance thanks to all who can come along.
Regards,
Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Green Chain Walk
2024-01-14 09:30 - 17:00
Meet at West Croydon station by 9.40 for the 9.48 Overground train to Penge West arr 9.58, calling at Norwood Junction 9.53. You can also get there by 197 bus (alight Penge W. station.)
Follow the Green Chain Walk via Beckenham Place Park to Mottingham. About 8 miles, but could be shortened.
The Green Chain Walk is a network of walks in S.E. London linking up green spaces.
We are going to walk the stage from the edge of Crystal Palace Park to Grove Park.
It is an easy fairly level walk through parks and streets. It could be a bit muddy in places. So don’t wear your best shoes!
Also it is quite cold for easy urban walking, so wear warm clothes!. About 7.5 miles with possibilities of leaving the walk early.
You can bring a packed lunch but there will be a cafe stop at Beckenham Place Park.
Return from Grove Park by train via London (for those with free travel!) or Bromley North. By bus 261 to Bromley then 119 to Croydon.
Barry

Our Glorious Decades
2024-01-16 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
There will be a particular birthday to mark this Tuesday. Whose is it? If you don’t know, come along and find out! If you do know, of course come along to enjoy a bit of a celebration, a bit of a special birthday cake, plus share a toast 🍾🍾🍾.
There will be some focus on a few aspects of past decades. If you can contribute to these with any Club-related photos or any type of memorabilia, please let me know. Hopefully, you will be able to join us and bring items along but, possibly, I could collect anything that might be loaned.
Do come to our “Group” gathering if you can. We look forward to seeing you.
Regards,
Ireen Best (07968 035522)
—

Croydon Urban Mystery Walk
2024-01-21 12:00 - 17:00
A Little, Local Journey of Discovery
Start time:
12pm (Noon)
Meeting Place:
Outside 109A Church Street, “The Kenkey House” (near “Reeves Corner”)
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/109A+Church+St,+Croydon+CR0+1RN/@51.3736037,-0.1043933,18z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x4876073a0777ce25:0x8d26f66448d2a4ae!8m2!3d51.3736707!4d-0.1051872
(What3Words location:https://w3w.co/gently.cotton.rope )
To Bring:
Any food or drink you can consume as we wend our way along our route. No refreshment stops are included in the afternoon.
To Wear:
Fingers are crossed for dry weather but please do come clad to keep warm and prepared for any rain forecast nearer the day.
Comfy town footwear should be fine – but not your Sunday best because there will be a couple of leaf-strewn paths that might be a little mucky.
The route:
Will take about three hours at an easy speed, allowing for observations and comments.
Distance is about six miles.
It will end just into South Croydon.
We should be finishing before dusk so there will be no walking on any unlit roads.
Some specific streets and landmarks will be included. Hopefully, some interesting information can be gleaned about places we too often just hurry and scurry past.
If you are able to enlighten us with your additional knowledge as we go around, that will be to the benefit of all!
Looking forward to you all joining me.
Please contact me with any queries or if there is any delay in you reaching us on the day.
Many thanks,
Ireen (07968 035522)

Burns Night
2024-01-23 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 Scotsman would be proud to claim!
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face
We didn’t argue with that sentiment last year (or the year before), 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.
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. 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?
And a special request: if you’re coming along and you’re of a vegetarian persuasion, please let Ken know quickly so that your needs can be accommodated.
Looking forward to that haggis already. No, don’t ask me what’s in it!
(I know, all shamelessly pasted in from last year’s web page pasted in from the previous year’s email. Life’s still too short . . . )

London Loop walk: Hamsey Green to Oaks Park
2024-01-28
We will be continuing the London LOOP, picking up from where we left off (last March!!) at Hamsey Green, and probably get as far as Oaks Park (8 and a half miles). But wherever we stop there are buses back into Croydon.
Just to remind, the LOOP is the London Outer Orbital Path which goes around London through the greener parts, parks, commons, etc. and occasional delights of suburbia, and is around 150 miles in all!
The terrain is gently undulating, with some mud – some places of refreshment en route, you can leave at Kenley, Coulsdon, Clockhouse, Oaks Park.
Time and place. Meet up at the bus stop outside Fairfield Halls by 10am, and we’ll take the first 403 bus to Hamsey Green.

Ski trip to Sestriere, Italy
2024-01-28 - 2024-02-04

Builders Arms Quiz
2024-01-30 20:00 - 22:30 | Builder’s Arms Pub, 65 Leslie Park Road, Croydon, CR0 6TP
Dear Non-Skiers,
As many of us will not be away to the mountains for physical exercise in the snow, we plan to join up for some mental exercise at the pub quiz put on by “The Builders Arms”. I have been able to reserve tables for three Club teams of six people in each. Some COPSErs have already contacted me to go on our list but there remain vacancies so please let me know if you can join us.
Our Club has competed at this pub several times previously – but never been the winners! We shall try yet again!!
The quiz begins at 9pm but, usually, most of us gather by about 8pm to order food and share a social chat. The cost, per person, to engage in this brain strain will be £1, collected on the night.
The pub is on Leslie Park Road, off Cherry Orchard Road. Map link:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Builders+Arms,+65+Leslie+Park+Rd,+Croydon+CR0+6TP/@51.3795193,-0.0883854,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x487600d1c1496087:0x2875af15ab41667a!8m2!3d51.3794959!4d-0.0858239!16s%2Fg%2F1tgf2pmv?entry=ttu
What3Words: https://w3w.co/locker.hotels.owner
The new management since our last visit there tell me they now have a new and varied menu available:
https://buildersarmscroydon.co.uk/admin/upload_file/menus/7hbmj70v4q.pdf
Please note, there will be not be a COPSE meeting at our South Croydon hall. Do let me know, a.s.a.p., if you plan to come to the quiz so that you can secure your place on the list.
Regards,

Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Destinations Show at Olympia
2024-02-01 - 2024-02-04
The Destinations show at Olympia has been suggested as an event for COPSE members to attend.
It runs from the 1st – 4th February and is well worth a visit – we have been several times before.
(Members can make their own arrangements and free tickets are available from outdoor shops etc.)

continuing with the London LOOP . . .
2024-02-04 10:00 - 17:00
Continue from Coulsdon around to Oaks Park, onward to cross the ‘mad mile’ at Banstead Downs, and then towards Nonsuch Park & site of Nonsuch Palace, and possibly as far as Ewell. Potentially as much as 8 miles or so, with some mud and some suburban pavements. Refreshment possibilities in Coulsdon, Clockhouse, Oaks Park, Nonsuch Park, and perhaps other unexpected places. A chance to leave at Clockhouse (bus), Oaks Park (166 bus), Banstead (train), Ewell East & Cheam (train and bus) and in the possibly unlikely event we get as far as Ewell village it’s the train from Ewell West back to East Croydon, via Clapham Junction.
Meet in Coulsdon (get there by many buses from Croydon) outside the Pembroke pub (which opens at 10am so one could have something there first) by 10.35am to set off at 10.45am. (The Pembroke pub (a Wetherspoon-like place) is in central Coulsdon, just near the start of where the Chipstead Valley Road branches off from Brighton Road and is near a Tesco-Express – we finished by going in there last Sunday.)
Adventures in store no doubt…as we found last Sunday and other times, one can never be sure what’s gonna happen while walking the LOOP, it’s almost enough to send you loopy!

Paul Newbold, 07968 223589

Bravo Britain - Part 2
2024-02-06 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
G. B.’s “Home Turf”
Airline tickets and passports required? No! This week please join us for a further trip around a range of places and sights within our own land of Great Britain. Join us as we travel in areas “south of the border”, having considerably explored north of it in “Bravo Britain”, Part 1. We also wander westwards in this Part 2.
All passengers aboard for 8.30pm, please. (Teas and coffees 8.15 – 8.30pm.)
Regards,
Ireen Best (07978 035522)

Buddy Holly Tribute Concert @ Ruskin House
2024-02-10 19:30 - 23:00
Saturday evening, 10th February, some of us will be enjoying a local social and musical gathering at Ruskin House for their 2024 “Buddy Holly Night” – and this year I have arranged with the organiser for some seats / tables to be reserved for a COPSE group. Full details in attached poster. (You’ll have to pay your own entrance fee.)
There is no obligation to get up and dance – but several of us usually seem to!
If you would like to come along and sit together with others from our club, please let me know so that I can advise numbers by Saturday.
Regards,
Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Sunday Walk with Pepys - Stroll 2*
2024-02-11 09:30 - 17:00
We all enjoyed the Pepys Walk on 10th December, so here’s the second instalment.
Where?
This Sunday, join me for a stroll through some familiar parts of London with a historical context. We’re going to follow the 17th Century footsteps of Samuel Pepys, this time around the streets of the City of London. Again I’ll be your amateur guide, book in hand, pointing out the connections to Pepys on the way. No doubt other COPSErs will chip in with their own observations!
This will be an easy 2-3 hour walk along pavements (boots not required) for about 4 miles, ending with an optional beer or two at a historic tavern that also serves food.
Who was Pepys?

A man who lived through the upheavals of the Civil War, the execution of Charles I, the reign of Cromwell and the subsequent restoration of the Monarchy with Charles II. Most significantly for us, from 1660 to 1669 he wrote a daily diary describing events high and low. He was a man on the rise with connections to politics and royalty, but determined to enjoy life with visits to taverns and theatres, domestic life with his French wife, and furtive dalliances with a variety of disreputable ladies.
Getting there
I’ll be catching the 12.03 East Croydon Platform 2 to Blackfriars, exiting on the North side, where the walk starts
Joining opportunities:

East Croydon station from 11.50

https://w3w.co/dock.jars.folds

Outside Blackfrairs Underground station from our scheduled arrival time about 12.30

https://w3w.co/crazy.ripe.good

Call me (number below) if any difficulty joining up.
The return trip will be at your leisure – there are good services to East Croydon from Blackfriars, or you could catch a bus or tube back to Victoria.
Links
Pepys’s diary for this day 363 years ago: https://www.pepysdiary.com/
General info on Pepys: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Pepys
Contact
Ken on 07921 258876
*I know, this was originally advertised as a Country Walk. Humble apologies.

What3Words
Explanation is here. You can use the links to find any 3-metre square on earth. For best results, download the App.

Pancakes (Shrove Tuesday)
2024-02-13 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
The time for tossing and turning has come around again – no, 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. 😁
Packets of batter mix with “just add milk” (or even just water?) are available in many supermarkets for those COPSErs who wish to keep things simple, although others might like to make their own from scratch, of course. Whichever you prefer, please provide your own batter and accompanying filling ingredients.
Also, 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. Try the challenge of concocting unusual toppings / fillings and perhaps tempt other brave people to try your results! Below are some of both savoury and sweet efforts from past years. (The idea is to not have tried out your thoughts in advance!)
Savoury
Mushrooms with garlic, onions, mixed herbs and cream
Grated mature Cheddar cheese with optional pickle
Blue cheese (“upmanship”!) with sun-dried tomatoes
Sardines
Mexican chilli beef
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. (Appropriate photo of Tim wheeled out again.)

Come to beat and eat, chew and chat. Shrove Tuesday usually proves to be a pleasantly sociable Club Night.

Regards,
Ireen Best (07968 035522)

Evening meal out
2024-02-15 20:00 - 22:00
Details to follow

Walk in Epping Forest
2024-02-17 09:30 - 17:00
Epping Forest is a large wooded area in NE London, with plenty of fairly easy walking.
So meet at E. Croydon station at 9.20 for the 9.33 train to London Bridge. Then by 149 bus to Liverpool Street station for the Overground to Chingford. (Zone 5)
From there it is a short walk to the ancient Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge, visitor centre and cafe. Then it will be about a 7 mile circular walk via High Beech (another visitor centre, cafe, pub) back to Chingford.
It could be quite muddy in places, so boots may be best. Also bring your own lunch if you don’t want to rely on the cafes etc.
Hope to see you there,
Barry
–

Advance Decisions and Lasting Powers of Attorney
2024-02-20 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Talk: Advance Decisions and Lasting Powers of Attorney for health and welfare, by Delia Barton
Having set up a Power of Attorney for my ageing sister, I was shocked to hear that my younger sister was setting up one for herself.
“What?”, I thought, “that’s only for old people, not us youngsters!”
Let me tell you, some of us are past teenage and it’s time to think about what happens if you suddenly aren’t in a position to make decisions for yourself.
Fortunately, this coming Tuesday we’ll be joined by Delia Barton, who will educate us all on the whys and wherefores of Living Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and no doubt much more.
Come along and hear something that just might have a big impact on your life!
Ken

Planning Meeting
2024-02-22 20:00 - 22:00 | Spreadeagle Pub, 39-41 Katharine St, Croydon, CR0 1NX, United Kingdom
Planning Meeting

Thursday 22nd February 2024 @ 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm

This is your chance to set the agenda for the next quarter for both Club Nights and Outdoor activities. Bring along your proposals and bright ideas – very few are ever rejected!
And if you can’t make the meeting send them in to me.

Where?

An upstairs room in the Spread Eagle pub,
Katharine Street

When?

Thursday 22nd February
6.30pm for food & drink
8pm for Business

Geeks' Transport Tour
2024-02-24 10:00 - 17:00
Here is some information about next Saturday’s Geeks’ Transport Tour (of part of London) 2024. This is a day for riding and observing London’s very new and established transport infrastructure with a bit of sight seeing on the way. This year I have some new features on the London’s transport network for you to experience and a glimpse at the bright new future of high speed rail. We will be going West and North West.
Meet in East Croydon station main ticket hall at 10.15am on Sat 24 February.
If you are already “rail side” go to platform 1. I plan to catch the 10.28 train to Victoria (but alighting at Clapham Junction).
We will venture as far as zone 5 on the other side of London using National Rail, London Overground, London Underground, TfL buses including Superloop plus shanks’s pony – in other words WALKING. Say, up to a mile in one go and lesser distances here and there, almost entirely on “made” footpaths but there’s an optional short stretch of unmade / leaf mouldy / bit of mud path. So decent walking footwear is good.
An oyster card or contactless payment card will be the ideal “ticket to ride”. Just as a London freedom pass or such like is ideal for those that have them. A reminder that TfL caps your daily fare so you don’t pay than you should.
Out tour will take in the biggest single construction site in London (for HS2 “terminus” at Old Oak Common); a land mark church on a hill (optional); coffee break; lunch break; some television heritage; a reservoir; more than one new / up and coming “quarters”; a new Superloop bus service; passing unusual religious buildings and numerous trains and stations. Oh and a brand new mainline railway station. Blimey that sounds vaguely interesting. But it is “geeky”. Nevertheless participants of tours in recent years have spoken highly of them!
Bring a curious outlook and a bit of patience.

Andrew Thynne
07985 936953

Cycling the Great Divide with Sally & Tim
2024-02-27 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
It’s hard to believe it was as long ago as September 2021 that COPSE Honorary Members Sally and Tim astonished us with their story and photos of cycling the peaks of Patagonia. In a long overdue return they’re going to regale us with their adventures cycling the Great Divide.

“What’s that?”, you ask.
The Divide in question is the Continental Divide – this red line from the Rockies to Mexico. Apparently, rivers to the left of it flow into the Pacific, while those to the right flow into the Atlantic / Gulf of Mexico.
It’s an established cycling route of over 3000 miles, “the longest off-pavement route in the world” – did they really travel that far? Turn up and find out. From what we learned last time, this will be a display of amazing photos to illustrate some hair-raising tales of life on the road.

Brutalist Architecture Walk
2024-03-02 10:00 - 17:00
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

Linda's Pot Luck Quiz
2024-03-05 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Linda’s quizzes usually provide something different, entertaining and not too serious. Enjoy!

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

Local History - Davis Theatre Memories / Carole Roberts
2024-03-12 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Last March local history enthusiast Carole Roberts gave us a wonderful presentation on the Grand Theatre, Croydon. It was clearly a labour of love – rich in detail and anecdote, with a wealth of supporting pictures and memorabilia, and was highly praised by all who were there.
Now she returns to tell us about another vanished Croydon landmark, the Davis Theatre. Don’t miss it!
