Croydon Outdoor Pursuits & Social Events Club

"Parlour Games" at the Hall
2025-08-05 20:15 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
For those not going on the walk, the hall will be open at the usual time. Andrew will be orchestrating “parlour games”. Whatever are those? Come and join in the light hearted fun.
Walkers will return to the hall in time for Announcements at 9.30pm.

Taplow Court, Buckinghamshire - day trip
2025-08-10 09:20 - 17:00 | Taplow Court, Cliveden Rd, Taplow, Maidenhead, SL6 0ER
Join Jana to visit the historic house and grounds on a rare open day. Meet 9.20am East Croydon for 9.31 Thameslink train to Farringdon (where change for Elizabeth Line for Taplow.) Bring packed lunch.
With short walk along River Thames. Scenery and gardens. Information about buddhism from “SGI-UK”, the movement that own Taplow Court. By train and walking.

Evening Walk
2025-08-12 19:30 - 22:00
Nothing at the Hall tonight!
Meet at Wandle Park tram stop at 7.30.
Walk once around Wandle park then walk to Waddon Ponds.
Walk back to Croydon for drinks at our local watering hole – alternatively by tram from Wandle Park.

Hever 8.5 circular Walk
2025-08-16 09:00 - 17:00
I am leading an 8.5 mile walk from Hever Railway Station on Saturday 16th of August.

From Croydon, catch the 09.22 train to Uckfield (Usually platform 6), alighting at Hever Station (09.49). I will board the train at Edenbridge Town with Grumpy Knickers and Benny.

We will set off at 10 am (no toilets on the station – go on the train!), heading to the Fountain Pub at Cowden. You can get food here or bring your own (not to be eaten in the pub!). After our early lunch we will head to Markbeech, where there just happens to be another pub, with a large beer garden and lovely views. After that it’s just over 1.5 miles back to the station.

The route is gently undulating, no big hills. The train fare is £10, with a third off for Group travel and other discounts for Freedom Card holders. At the moment it is forecast to be sunny and about 25 degrees c, so be prepared.

cheers

Tim

Morden Hall Park
2025-08-17 11:00 - 17:00
From Wikipedia:
Morden Hall Park is a National Trust park on the banks of the Wandle in Morden, south London. Its several buildings and associated parking included, it is 125 acres (51 ha) of predominantly parkland. Hinting at the former mill leats the river here splits into channels, generally, through it spanned by numerous footbridges. The estate contains Morden Hall itself, Morden Cottage, two well-preserved snuff watermills, a restored stableyard, a dog-friendly café, exhibition space and second-hand bookshop. A western part, separately accessed, hosts the National Trust’s only Garden Centre.
More information on the National Trust website at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/london/morden-hall-park.
Meet just inside East Croydon Station at 11am (https://w3w.co/dock.jars.folds) to catch Wimbledon-bound tram within quarter of an hour, arriving at the park in time for toilets, and perhaps a quick cafe visit, before a free, 45 mins history walking tour of the park.
Other options for the afternoon: exploring all the grounds, which have a rose garden, secondhand bookshop, garden centre – and two cafes, one serving until 4.45pm.
Any queries, please contact Ireen on 07968 035522.

Croydon Night of Dance
2025-08-19 19:00 - 22:00 | Builder’s Arms Pub, 65 Leslie Park Road, Croydon, CR0 6TP
The Ireland Retrospective has been rescheduled to 11th November
“Join us on Tuesday 19th August for a night of music, mirth and magic as a multitude of Morris maids and men do mingle and make merry at our Night Of Dance.”
Oranised by the North Wood Morris Men, this event will showcase other traditional dance teams, taking in the Oval and Builders Arms pubs and points in between.
More details at https://northwoodmorris.co.uk/croydon-night-of-dance-2025/
Where to meet?
You can arrive at any time, and we expect to move around a bit during the evening, but we’ll start by assembling in the vicinity of the Oval Tavern from about 7.30 to 8.00.

BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall
2025-08-20 18:00 - 23:00 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP, United Kingdom
The Club’s traditional visit to the Proms. Philharmonia Orchestra; Tchaikovsky’s rarely performed 2nd piano concerto; Mussorgsky’s orchestration of ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ and Ortiz. See Andrew for a ticket (balcony area).

Planning Meeting
2025-08-21 20:00 - 22:00 | Spreadeagle Pub, 39-41 Katharine St, Croydon, CR0 1NX, United Kingdom
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 21st August
6.30pm for food & drink
8pm for Business

Add to calendar

Erection Day (tents)
2025-08-23 13:30 - 17:00 | Ruskin House, 23 Coombe Road, Croydon, CR0 1BD, United Kingdom
Help put up COPSE tents + advice for yours! Ruskin House lawn (rear of building). Afternoon – exact timing to be advised nearer the day.

Builders Arms Quiz
2025-08-26 20:00 - 22:00 | Builder’s Arms Pub, 65 Leslie Park Road, Croydon, CR0 6TP
We’ll enter as many teams as we can – someone’s got to win!
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
Ireen has reserved a number of tables, please let her know if you’re coming so we can get the reservation right.

Croydon Food & Music Festival
2025-08-31 12:00 - 17:00 | South End, Croydon, Croydon, London, CR0 1DP, United Kingdom
COPSE will have a stand at this community event so come and find us, as everyone enjoys the tastes of different foods, music and street entertainment!
Location: South End, Croydon, from noon to 7pm. (This main road will be blocked to all traffic between Coombe Road and Aberdeen Road.)

Peter Bagatti - Restaurateur Raconteur
2025-09-02 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Peter Bagatti, famed for Italian cuisine in South Croydon, will be our Guest Speaker – and he has tales to tell! Apart from his own restaurant business, he is a major “mover and shaker” of the Croydon Food & Music Festival. Please come along to hear some of the inside stories of his “culinary” life.

Croydon Mystery Urban Walk
2025-09-06 13:00 - 17:00
A Little, Local Journey of Discovery
Start time:
1.00 pm
Meeting Place:
Outside 109A Church Street, 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 – but we end up just inside South Croydon with free tea, coffee and cakes!
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:
We’ll take three to four hours at an easy speed, allowing for observations and comments.
Distance is about six miles, with plenty of opt-out opportunities.
It will end just into South Croydon (with cake!).
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 joining us.
Please contact me with any queries or if there is any delay in you reaching us on the day.
Many thanks,
Ireen (07968 035522)
There will be a “glossy souvenir brochure” for all who attend!

Southern Cycle Saunter - The Return!
2025-09-07 08:00 - 17:00
We’re delighted to announce that this public event is returning after a gap of a couple of years.
“The Southern Cycle Saunter. 25ish miles of cycling country lanes with route quizzes, check-point challenges, tea and cakes! Teams of 2-4, the highest scoring team holds the SCS trophy. Sun. 7th Sept. 9:40am to 5pm. Starts at Lingfield.”
Full details, including how to enter online, are here.
If there’s further info you need please let me know
Paul D

.

Captions & Kit
2025-09-09 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Pit-your-wit with photos, plus a tabletop sale.
Advance Notice – land of opportunity for your photos!
All
This Club Night one element of the evening is the Caption Competition, where you apply your considerable wits to some problematic pictures.

Back in the days when this traditional diversion started, we took the occasional snap with a box brownie, only weeks later paying through the nose to get the pathetic results from the Chemist – usually stickered with “Out of Focus” or “Under Exposed” – and we relied on outtakes from Viewpoint for the source material.
In contrast, in the high-tech Utopia we now inhabit we have the opportunity to upgrade our experience using the plethora of photos from COPSE activities of all flavours lurking undiscovered on people’s phones and other digitisers, just begging to be dragged into the light of day for our amusement.
So my request to you is: please email me any such pictures beforehand so we can include them in the entertainment.
Thanks in advance

Ken ken@brogan.co.uk
(I know, shameslessly pasted in from the last time, which was shamelessly pasted in from the time before. Life's still too short . . . .)

Sussex Pilgrims Path (Eastern side) - Cuckmere
2025-09-13 09:00 - 17:30
The adventure continues.
This time we will walk the eastern side of the path. Covering 8.5 miles and 4 churches meeting at Berwick station at 10.25 . Lovely scenery, fairly flat with gentle undulations, apart from one short hill towards the end of walk (near Alfriston) up to The Good Shepherd, Lullington, which you can choose to bye-pass if feeling tired. There will be stiles.
GETTING HERE
The train departs East Croydon at 09.10 and arrives at Lewes at 10.02
Change at Lewes
The train departs Lewes at 10.13 and arrives at Berwick Station at 10.25
LEAVING BERWICK
There is a scheduled 17.25 bus from Alfriston back to Berwick Station which we aim to catch. Failing this I will have parked my car at Alfriston to offer lifts back.
(Trains depart at 9 minutes past and 25 minutes past the hour)
Look forward to seeing you all at Berwick, Pauline
The official source for trains in Great Britain | National Rail
Cuckmere Pilgrim Path

The Manor Resort, Okehampton
2025-09-14 08:00 - 2025-09-19 17:00 | Manor Resort Okehampton, EX20 4NA
A visit to this “Kids’ Camp for Grownups” in Devon.
Update June 2025: we have a Club booking for 14 people already, and booking is still available if you’d like to join us!
Ireen and Ken enjoyed an excellent weekend at this amazing resort in November. It turns out that one or two other COPSErs have also been there and recommend it, so we have extended an invitation to the rest of COPSE to join us there in September. We have booked for the dates shown, others can be as flexible as they like.
Please contact Ireen in the first instance as she will arrange pricing for all once we know the level of interest. She has copies of the printed brochure – ask and she will provide!
Full details of the resort are at https://www.manorandashburyresorts.co.uk/
Features included in the price

Good standard hotel accommodation
Three all-you-can-eat buffet meals per day
Huge range of activities, both sporty and craft based. Nearly all activities are included, though there is a cost for, eg, craft materials.
Dartmoor on the doorstep

What’s there to do?
Stuck for Choice!
Not much, only

Tennis
Table Tennis
Bowls
Tenpin Bowling
Padel
Pickleball
Swimming (two pools)
Badminton
Archery
Pistol Shooting
Snooker / Pool / Bar Billiards
Crazy Golf / Adventure Golf / Proper Golf
Skating / Curling
Walking / Cycling on Dartmoor
etc

and craft tuition and activities like

Resin Painting
Pottery (wheels, kilns and all that)
Glass Engraving
Sewing
Candle Making
etc

Getting There
There are trains from Waterloo and Paddington to Okehampton, changing at Exeter. The resort runs a FREE Mini-bus service to and from the station.
Alternatively, car sharing may be an option.

Visit to Ludoquist
2025-09-16 19:00 - 22:00 | Ludoquist, 63-67 High Street,, Croydon,, CR0 1QE, United Kingdom
Step into The Ludoquist! Croydon’s award-winning little haven for board games, good food, and great company.
What games? Anything from Ludo to 3-D chess!

Keith has booked tables from 7pm to 10pm. Just turn up and challenge your fellow COPSErs to the games of your choice.
A good range of food and drink is available. It costs £8 per person to play as many games as you like.
There’s more about The Ludoquist on their website here.

Bowls Taster at Croydon Bowling Club
2025-09-23 20:00 - 22:00 | Croydon Bowling Club, 10 Nottingham Road, Croydon, CR2 6LN
After many visits to Tenpin, a chance to try your hand at proper bowls. We last did this in 2021, and a very enjoyable evening it was.
Croydon Bowling Club will generously provide coaching and facilities, free of charge.
Details:

Arrive from 8pm for 8.30 kickoff
We’ll be on the indoor green
Please consider the greens and wear sensible flat footwear
The bar will be open, card only
Drivers need to enter their registration numbers into the reader inside the entrance to avoid a fine

If you haven’t been to the Bowling Club before you’ll find it a pleaaant relaxing place to have a fun evening. Check out their website here.
Location:
10 Nottingham Road
Croydon
CR2 6LN
W3W: https://w3w.co/spits.starts.sleep

National Army Museum - Chelsea Walk
2025-09-27 10:00 - 16:00
A five mile flat walk from Victoria station to Imperial Wharf station visiting the National Army Museum (free entry)

Meet at East Croydon Station for 10.00am to catch a train to Victoria Station (loo and coffee stop at Victoria station)
The walk will start at Victoria Station at about 11.00am

There will be an optional pub stop at the end of the walk from about 4.00pm near Imperial Wharf station before getting frequent trains back to either Clapham Junction or East Croydon stations.

(Note: the Chelsea Physic Garden is closed on Saturdays)

Keith
mobile/text = 07749 515486
(after 7pm)

Architecture II
2025-09-30 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Barry’s walkabouts pointing out some of London’s fascinating architecture are always popular. Here he comes along for the second time* to present the fruits of both COPSE and other excursions.
The content will be whatever has caught Barry’s eye, so no spoilers here. But, to whet your appetite, here are some themes he covered last time:

City churches
tube stations with oxblood tiling
interesting squares and crescents
modern City monstrosities
sadly disappeared treasures
innovation in housing over the centuries

* the first was in March 2022. Doesn’t time fly?

Barn Dance - Merstham
2025-10-04 18:30 - 22:00
Here are the details for the Barn Dance on Saturday 4 October, including the booking link:

Barn Dance | Merstham Women’s Gro.

Time & Location

Saturday 04 Oct 2025, 18:45 – 22:00
Merstham Village Hall, Station Rd N, Merstham, Redhill RH1 3ED, close to Merstham train station and 405 bus stop.

About the Event
Join Merstham Women’s Group for an evening of folk music and barn dancing with a caller.
Tea, coffee and soft drinks will be served along with cake. We hope to have some other food too but we are still in the process of sorting exactly what it will be.

The timeline for the evening will roughly be:
Arrival from 18:45
19:00 – music starts
19:15 to 20:15 – barn dancing
20:15 – 21:00 – break for food, drinks and raffle
21:00 – 22:00 barn dancing
22:00 – finish
Cost
Adults 16+ £15.00.

Regards

Margaret

Loop Walk - Elstree to Barnet
2025-10-05 09:30 - 17:00
Yes, it’s time to pick up the LOOP* again, continuing on from Elstree (and Borehamwood) Rail Stn, getting as far as Barnet, returning from High Barnet Tube station, a distance of around 7-8 miles.

There is a Yellow Tabard** crossing (so do bring one if you can) and about half a mile following alongside a busy A road (the A1, no less!), but also going through some ancient ice age woodland and pleasant rolling meadows of Hertfordshire, so you takes the rough with the smooth!

There are NO pubs, cafes, or shops along the route, but we can explore the wonders of High Barnet at the end, of course. So bring along your hot beverage and sandwiches and cakes, etc.

WHERE TO MEET
Meet at East Croydon from 9.45am BST, to catch the 10.03 to Farringdon
Change at Farringdon for the 10.33 train (Thameslink, towards Luton) alighting (getting off) at Elstree & BW at 11.01.

I aim to be at East Croydon, but should anything go wrong my end I will already be on your train at East Croydon, or be already on it from Farringdon, and will come and search for you.

Contact me for further details, 07968 223589 – NO EMAILS ON THE DAY, I WON’T SEE THEM TILL I GET HOME!

Paul.

Gatliff Planning
2025-10-07 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Autumn is upon us and so is the Gatliff Marathon: Gatliff – Croydon Outdoor Pursuits & Social Events Club. Together with the Weald Walkers Wander and the Southern Cycle Saunter, the Gatliff Marathon is one of COPSE’s three public facing events. This gives us the opportunity to raise the profile of the club. The Gatliff Marathon was started in 1984 to celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary. It is named after Herbert Gatliff, one of the founder members. This “one-off” event have been going for 41 years. This is the 41st Gatliff Marathon which has run every year, except 2020. There are two routes, 50k and 25k, mostly on footpaths and bridleways across Kent, Surrey and East Sussex. The routes go south this year towards Ashdown Forest and Winnie the Pooh country near Hartfield, with the opportunity to visit Pooh Sticks Bridge. The objective is to complete the route within 10 hours. Participants get a certificate on completion.
Entries are just over 140 participants. We would love to get over 200 people on the day. Please do like and repost our Facebook: COPSE Croydon Outdoor Pursuits and Social Events Club | Facebook post. We will have more Gatliff Marathon posters and flyers for you to take away to give to friends, neighbours, the local Park Run, Running Club etc. Surplus funds from the event goes back into club funds to pay for the rent on the South Croydon hall etc.
The Gatliff is a major logistical exercise in both people, around 45 marshals, and in terms of equipment. Like going on holiday, we have got to the packing phase for the Gatliff Marathon. This will come apparent if you come along on Tuesday evening. The evening will be hands on, including packing supplies for the event and writing out check-cards.
Do come along to find out more about the event; to finalise plans and we will attempt to answer any questions you may have. You can get an advance copy of the route instructions as well if you are taking part. Do join Ken’s 25k team.
You can see Bob C and renew your subs as well.
Refreshments from 20:15, with a 20:30 start. We need volunteers to bring equipment down from the storeroom and in from cars. Any spare cardboard boxes are useful as well, though I have some.
We look forward to seeing you.
Margaret

Capital Ring Walk, Section 3: Grove Park to Crystal Palace
2025-10-12 09:00 - 17:00
Continuing to be inspired by Paul’s assault on the Loop, and encouraged by the enthusiastic turnout for Parts 1 and 2, I’m continuing the Capital Ring circuit. Click on the map for full details of what the Capital Ring is.

This leg is about 8 miles and includes parts of Beckenham Place Park and a meetup with some fellow dinosaurs at Crystal Palace Park.
There are plenty of feeding and toilet opportunities along the way, and a good lunch option at the Homestead Cafe in Beckenham Place.
We finish at Crystal Palace Station, which has rail links to West Croydon (direct) and East Croydon (via Norwood Junction) as well as lots of buses.
Joining Opportunities
Due to track works etc the usual rail route to Grove Park via London Bridge would take over 1½ hours and involve a Rail Replacement Bus 😱. So we’ll catch the SuperLoop 5 to Bromley and the 261 to Grove Park.

Dingwall Road Bus Stop (outside East Croydon station) from 10.15 to catch the 10.26 SuperLoop 5 to Bromley North.
https://w3w.co/urgent.orders.fight
Marvels Lane, Grove Park, where this leg of the Ring starts, from our scheduled arrival at 11.18
https://w3w.co/wheels.groom.spits

Contact
Ken on 07921 258876

A History of Croydon High Street with Carole Roberts
2025-10-14 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Here’s local historian Carole on a previous visit. You’ll remember how enthusiastically we responded to her wonderfully researched and presented talks on the Davis Theatre and the Grand Theatre. Now she’s back to regale us with tales of Croydon High Street.
A must see event for our Club!

Gatliff Marathon 2025
2025-10-18 07:00 - 19:30
Link to Gatliff Marathon Page 2025

Trafalgar Night!
2025-10-21 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Yes, it’s Trafalgar Day and Andy is going to help us celebrate with an evening of entertainment in his own inimitable style. Expect the unusual!

Surrey Town Walk
2025-10-25 09:00 - 17:00
To those interested in coming on my “surrey town walk” this Saturday (25th) this is the plan =>

– From 10am meet opposite East Croydon station (bus stop E7)
– 10.15am (approx) 466 bus to Westway Common in Caterham on the Hill (Surrey) which is the LAST STOP of the 466 bus route.

From 11.15am (approx) an “ups + downs” six mile walk (which could be muddy) via the Caterham barracks redevelopment, “the fox” pub (lunch stop), happy valley, farthing downs to Coulsdon Town centre for about 4pm with an option at the end to go to “the Pembroke” pub where there are plenty of buses going to Banstead, Purley + Croydon.

Keith Southam
keithsoutham@yahoo.co.uk
mobile/text = 07749 515486

AGM
2025-10-28 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
It’s our Annual General Meeting
Your opportunity to look back at the past year and forward to the next. Reports will be made, officials elected, motions tabled, awards handed out and good deeds applauded.
All are welcome – looking forward to our usual large AGM turnout.
