Croydon Outdoor Pursuits & Social Events Club

Theatre Visit: 5 New Short Plays at the Brockley Jack Theatre
2024-04-20 19:30 - 22:00 (Europe/London)
The upcoming theatre plays, ‘5 New Short Plays’, British Theatre Challenge 2024, held in a pub called The Brockley Jack, (The Jack Studio Theatre), on Sat 20th April, 7.30 pm. You will also get to vote at the end of the evening, the best play of the five, in terms of script.

There are still seats available for the Saturday, if anyone else is interested in going. Can I gently mention that on their website they said, no latecomers will be allowed. Doors open 7.15pm, but of course you can get there early and spend sometime in the pub if you want.

You can book via this link :

https://brockleyjack.co.uk/jackstudio-entry/british-theatre-challenge/

Caterham Walk
2024-04-21 09:30 - 17:00
Just some advance details of above event on 21 April.
Plan is to meet at Caterham station at 10.15 for a 10.30 departure. The walk will be to viewing point on the North Downs, along the North Downs way and then drop down along some footpaths to Godstone Green. Should be about 2 hours.
I have booked ten places at the Hare and Hounds on the Green for 12.30. Pub does full lunches and snacks and is dog friendly. After lunch we can walk along to old Godstone.

Talk: Children of the Empire, with Joyce Trotman
2024-04-23 20:15 - 22:30 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
On the 23rd April, Joyce Trotman will be speaking at our weekly Tuesday evening meeting. Her topic will be Children of the Empire and she will be talking about her experience of growing up in a colony on the periphery of the British Empire, with a particular emphasis on the education she received.
A nonagenarian, Ms Trotman was born in Georgetown, Guyana (then British Guiana) in 1927. All of her early schooling was in the British colony of Guiana. In 1955, after working as a primary school teacher, she travelled to England where she obtained a degree in Arts from London University and a Certificate in Education at the University of Durham. Returning to Guyana in 1958, she was appointed a Senior Lecturer in English at the Government Training College and went on to become a Research Fellow for the University of Guyana. She settled in England in 1972 and taught at the Scott Lidgett Boys’ Comprehensive School. She obtained a M. Litt (Linguistics) from the University of Lancaster and was called to the Bar in 1984 on completion of part-time studies in law. She is the author of ‘Proverbs of Guyana Explained’.
You can find some background on Joyce’s life on line, particularly here.

Visit to the Royal Institution
2024-04-25 09:30 - 17:00
A London walk to the Royal Institution (free entry), and other mystery places of interest, including a free visit to the Collection Gallery at the Royal Academy of Arts. Julie and myself will be co-leading the walk.
The Royal Institution of Great Britain (often the Royal Institution, abbreviated Ri or RI) is an organisation for scientific education and research. Throughout its history, the Institution has supported public engagement with science through a programme of lectures, many of which continue today. The most famous of these are the annual Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, founded by Michael Faraday in 1825, which are televised every year on the BBC. You will also be able to see the actual laboratory where Michael Faraday made some of his fundamental discoveries and you will also get to visit a museum in the RI, showing various discoveries made there.
We will be meeting at East Croydon station 9.30 am, hoping to catch the 9.45 am train Plat 4, to Victoria station. We will be walking from Victoria to the Royal Institution near Green Park. There are toilets at Victoria station and at our destinations. I suggest you bring refreshments, in which you can have the opportunity to have them in the seating area of the courtyard at the Royal Academy of Arts. There are also cafes inside the Royal Institution and the Royal Academy of Arts. After, we are planning to walk around St James’ Park and then walk back to Victoria, and find a pub there in Victoria.
Any questions, please do not hesitate to email me.
Kind regards,
Maria

Weald Walkers Wander
2024-04-28
Click here for event details
A 10 mile Treasure Hunt
Solve the Clues
Find the Checkpoints
Test your Map Reading Skills
Challenges at Checkpoints

The COPSE Photo Competition
2024-04-30 20:15 - 22:30 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
COPSE Photo Competition
Win a prize!
The competition will be judged by you, COPSE Members, on Tuesday, 30th April.
Categories:

To enter:
1. The photo must be taken by you.
2. Provide up to 8 entries to the competition.
3. Preferred and maximum print size is A4.
4. Photo(s) must fall into one of the 8 categories above
5. Enter any number of photos into any category, total entries not to exceed 8.
6. Photos must be presented to Sandra or Ireen by 8.00pm on the Tuesday competition evening or in advance at an earlier Club Night, if possible. Photo prints must be in an unnamed envelope or opaque folder. On the back of each photo, write your name, competition category, plus type and make of camera, if known.
7. The photo(s) must not previously have appeared in our Club competitions.
8. Captions must not be added to the photo(s) .
9. The entrant must be an amateur photographer.
10. The photo(s) may be retrieved after the competition.
To win:
1. You must comply with the above.
2. Club Members present on the competition evening will vote via secret ballot for their favourite in each category in the first round and as instructed in further rounds.
3. The top 8 scoring photos together with the highest scoring of each category (if they are not among the top 8) from the first round will go through to the next round of voting (so a maximum of 15 photos going through). Further rounds will be held, as necessary, to determine an overall winner.
4. Photos may be entered on your behalf, if you cannot attend the evening.
5. In any matter pertaining to the running of the competition, or the alteration of these rules outlined above on the evening of the competition, the Members’ majority decision will be final.
Good Luck!

Early May Bank Holiday Trip to Totland, Isle of Wight
2024-05-04 - 2024-05-07
This is a 3 night trip to the Isle of Wight from Saturday, the 4th May to Tuesday, the 7th May over the early May Bank Holiday weekend.

We will be staying in the annexe of the YHA hostel in Totland which is located in the southwest of the Isle of Wight and is within walking distance of The Needles. The places on this trip were limited and it’s full.

Builders Arms Quiz
2024-05-07 20:00 - 23:00 | Builder’s Arms Pub, 65 Leslie Park Road, Croydon, CR0 6TP
While some are away on the Isle of Wight trip we’ll take a break from the Hall and have yet another crack at the pot of gold lurking behind the bar at the Builders.
The quiz begins at 9pm but most of us have gathered by about 8pm to order food and share a social chat.
£1 each entry. Ireen has reserved a number of tables, please let her know if you’re coming so we can get the reservation right.

Westerham Circular (was Chilterns Walk)
2024-05-11 09:00 - 17:00
The Chilterns Walk is postponed to a later date due to likely industrial action affecting our rail journey
This walk will be a circular from Westerham of about 8 miles, fairly hilly.
Meet at E.Croydon bus station at 9am for the 119 to Hayes station. From there we will get the 246 bus to Westerham, leaving at 9.42 or the next one at 10.13 arriving in Westerham at 10.09 (or 10.40) (within the Oyster/Freedom pass zone)
There is a large car park to the east of Westerham accessed from the A25.
You can bring a packed lunch, but there will be a break at the NT Chartwell cafe and a lunch break at the Royal Oak, Crockham Hill. You could even take afternoon tea back at Westerham!
Let me know if you are driving or joining the bus further on from Croydon and we will meet on the Green at Westerham by 10.30.
Barry

Streatham Common Kite Day
2024-05-12 11:00 - 17:00
Sunday (12th) is Streatham Common’s 23rd annual kite day, where you’ll see various “stunt kiting displays” + also given the opportunity to “buy one + fly one” !!
It’s from 11am to 5pm with free entry but would suggest those interested meet on the hour 🕑 outside “the Friends of Streatham Common” gazebo which is very prominent.
If you have any queries, please let me know.
streathamkiteday.org.uk
keith southam

Objectivity
2024-05-14 20:15 - 22:30 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
It’s time for COPSErs to rummage among their bits and pieces, their mementoes and their treasures.
Be they exotic items from far-flung places or homely items with a little tale to tell, please find and bring along some objects to display this Tuesday. Even ordinary-looking something-or-others can hold the attention of an audience, when their significance is explained.
The humorous, the sentimental, the puzzling, the educational – all can find their tabletop place. If you have several objects that could be displayed, please choose up to three to put out initially, with some you keep aside for if time allows further contributions. If you can please pass Ireen your first items in a bag, they can make their appearance anonymously and people can begin the evening by perusing the display. (Let Ireen know if something is too delicate for others to handle.)
We’ve previously viewed a special musicbox (with a slightly “spooky” tale attached), tools, carvings, a cabbage press, bells, a skull(😱) . . . and a great variety of other things. Some of the stories behind each object have taken us on virtual travels, far and wide.
I wonder where we shall go this week!

South Kensington and Hyde Park
2024-05-16 10:30 - 18:30
On the 16th May we will meet at E. Croydon station at 10.15 for 10.30am to Victoria station then to Gloucester Road station to see sculptures by a lady artist then walk to South Kensington station tunnel to see her posters with anagrams. After that we will visit the Natural History Museum and have a tea break for about an hour.

In the afternoon we will visit Hyde park where the old Crystal Palace museum used to be (subsequently then moved to Upper Norwood). We will carry on walking to the Royal Society Musical academy museum where you can even play some musical instruments.

By 4-4.30pm walk back to Victoria station have a meal at Wetherspoons then back to E Croydon station.

Day Trip to Brighton
2024-05-18
During May Brighton is bursting with life thanks to the Brighton Festival https://brightonfestival.org/ and Brighton Fringe https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/?

If you are up for a loosely organised amble around the town and some of its FREE performing arts events and laines and beachfront bars, please come along. Timings below.

There is also a ticketed event in the fringe that I think would appeal and is at a sensible time: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/the-flying-bubble-show/ The Flying Bubble Show. And for which tickets are available. “Dive into The Flying Bubble Show, where dreams and reality blur in a breathtaking fusion of bubble magic and aerial flying.” 1pm; standard ticket £14 concession £12. Please buy your own ticket. Or if you’d like me to book for you, let me know. I have booked myself a ticket.

Rough plan for the day:

Meet East Croydon 9.45am / buy rail tickets (Thameslink day return £15.50 before concessions)
09.59 Train to Brighton
10.48 Train arrives Brighton
11am to 12.30pm amble through North Laine area with its quirky shops and cafes
12.45 arrive at Fool’s Paradise, venue for, at 1.00pm, The Flying Bubble Show, see above
2.00pm exit show and find lunch
3.00pm to 6.00pm amble beachfront and multiple FREE performance events (e.g. World Kiosk, Anchored in Air *, The Journey, Neolithic Cannibals: Deep Listening to the Unheard, Days of Wonder, Ooze Machines )

* For “Anchored in Air” the one show is at 2.30pm so we would have to work out where that venue is and hot foot it.

Then around 6.00pm we should have easy / takeaway food (e.g. fish and chips) and find somewhere to collapse for a drink – beachfront bar maybe. Possibly a restaurant but that would be a major challenge to accommodate a group during a festival Saturday?

Then around 8.00pm, unless we have found another event to attend I think we will be happy to set off back home.

By all means explore the festival and fringe programme and suggest events we could go to.
Regards
Andrew
07985 936953

Green North Croydon Walk
2024-05-21 19:00 - 22:30 | Thornton Heath Station
Keith says:
This is almost a repeat of my walk on Sunday January 7th, where, after a meal at “The Bull” pub, a few of us went to the nearby leisure centre + watched the Streatham Redhawks ice hockey match ⛸ 🏒 🥅.
As I don’t want to finish too late, we’ll be meeting much earlier at 7PM outside Thornton Heath Station (which you can get to by train from either East or West Croydon + various buses from Croydon) where the four mile “easy” walk will be as follows =>
Thornton Heath Station
Thornton heath recreation ground,
Norbury Hall (or Squirrel 🐿) Park
Norbury Park
Norwood Grove
“The Rookery” gardens 🌹🌻 🌳🌲
Streatham Common to Streatham High Road, where the walk will finish about 9pm.
There will be an option of either going to “The Rabbit Hole” or “The Bull” pub for drinks 🍺🍷🍵, where opposite you can easily get the 109 bus back to central Croydon or go by train from either Streatham Station or Streatham Common Station.

One Night in Dublin @ Fairfield Halls
2024-05-23 19:30 - 22:00
On 23 May Fairfield are staging “One night in Dublin”. The band is the “Wild Murphys” a full eight piece band with guitars, flutes, violins, harmonica, ukuleles etc. I saw them last year and they are very very good and will be playing all the best Irish classic songs.
Tickets are £28.75. Availability is still fairly good but if you do wish to come suggest booking sooner rather than later. Please book your own tickets but we will meet up before or after for a meal/drink.

Beachy Head Walk
2024-05-26 09:00 - 18:00
Please note that the date of this walk has been changed from Saturday the 25th to Sunday the 26th May.
The walk will be from Seaford along the coast to Cuckmere Haven, then over the Seven Sisters cliffs to Eastdean. A hilly 9 miles with lovely views.
Bring a packed lunch, but there will be a cafe at Cuckmere Haven park centre and a cafe and pub at Eastdean.
So meet at E Croydon by 8.50 to get the 9.04 train to Lewes, changing there for Seaford arrive 10.25. We will get the bus back from Eastdean to Seaford, so you need a return ticket to Seaford.
Barry

Walk: Dickens in London
2024-05-27 12:00 - 17:00
On Monday 27th May I’ll be leading a Dickens themed walk around some of parts of London he frequented
We will meet at East Croydon station on the main concourse at 12 noon to catch 12.15 train to St Pancras where our walk will start 30 minutes later. An early stop will be at the Charles Dickens Museum in Doughty Street where he and his family lived from 1837-1839. Those who want to look around it’s £12.50/£10.00 and for those who don’t we can grab a cuppa in the cafe/garden. The walk will continue through Farrington, Holborn and the City of London ending at London Bridge. We expect to see 40+ Dickens related sights.
At the end of the walk we can take refreshments at the George Inn loved by Dickens. If you want more information before the walk feel free to ask. If you need to contact me on the day my number is 07931 533785
Look forward to seeing lots of you on Monday
Julie

A Games Evening
2024-05-28 20:15 - 22:30 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
🎶
Oh the games people play now
Every night and every day now
Never meaning what they say now
Never saying what they mean

Nah, not those games.
Our Tuesday evening will be a social one – a fun Games event. Andrew and Paul D will turn the Hall into a COPSE palace of diversions for your amusement.
What games? I have no idea, but can’t wait to find out. Come along and all will be revealed!

Planning Meeting
2024-05-31 18:30 - 22:00 | Spreadeagle Pub, 39-41 Katharine St, Croydon, CR0 1NX, United Kingdom
The last Planning Meeting was gratifyingly well attended and productive. A repeat would be great.
It’s when we fill out the Programme for the next quarter, both for Outdoor events and Club Nights. You may have marvelled at the range of activities this Club provides, but what’s even more marvellous is that they all originate in the fertile imaginations of our members. Bring along your bright ideas – very few are ever rejected – or if you can’t make it in person convey them to me, Sandra, Greg or any other Committee member.
Where? Upstairs at the Spread Eagle pub
When? 8pm on Friday 31st May. Arrive from 6.30 if you’re eating there.
Ken

"Go Green ! Go Exploring!"
2024-06-01 11:00 - 16:00 | Croydon Central Library, Katharine Street, Croydon
Croydon Green Spaces Open Day

Come along to Croydon’s Central Library in Katharine Street to chat to some of our Club Members about COPSE.
We are an invited stallholder at “Go Green! Go Exploring! Green Spaces Open Day”, taking place at the library this Saturday between 11am and 4pm. We often spend time in various of Croydon’s lovely parklands so find out how you could share these visits with us.

Ceilidh / Barn dance at Beddington village hall
2024-06-01 18:30 - 21:30
An invite for fellow Copsers to put their best (two left) feet forward….

I will be going to the Ceilidh / Barn dance at Beddington village hall this Saturday 1st June if any members are interested in joining me.

Details:

Date: Saturday 1st June 2024.

Venue Beddington village hall CR04TA

Doors open at 7pm.

Dance from 7.30pm – 9.30pm.

Cost: £7.00 (cash) on the door.

Live music from the Wandle Ceilidh band.

People can bring their own drinks and glasses.

No experience required. In fact this will be my first barn dance.

Travel plans:

Meet at West Croydon Bus station at 6.30pm latest. This will allow time to catch the 18.36 410 bus to Croydon Rd/Plough lane followed by a short 0.3 mile walk to the hall. Return travel via the same route.

For anyone wishing to drive there is very limited parking at the halls, possibly some limited parking in nearby side roads.

I notice that there is a pub nearby (The Harvest Home), perhaps we can go there afterwards.

My mobile: 07403 808 007

Special Event: Charles Dickens, Conjuror
2024-06-04 20:15 - 22:30 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
A Special Event!
As a timely follow on to Julie’s Dickens Walk, we’ve managed to secure the services of author, magician, and Dickens expert Ian Keable to present his show:
Charles Dickens, Conjuror: Playbill of his Most Famous Show

Charles Dickens was an amateur conjurer for around seven years of his life, from the time he wrote A Christmas Carol to David Copperfield. His best known performance was on the Isle of Wight in 1849; he wrote a highly amusing, and informative playbill to promote this show. This playbill, where Dickens called himself the ‘Unparalleled Necromancer’, provides the focus to talk about how Dickens was inspired to take up magic, which other conjurers influenced him, whether he was any good as a conjurer and how he depicted, and wrote about, magic in his own books, articles and letters. The talk includes a description of some of Dickens’ tricks from his own repertoire, plus some performances by Ian. Any questions are allowed – apart from ‘how do you do it!?’

Check Ian’s website for more details, including video of his TV appearances.
This show comes highly recommended so it is bound to be popular. Please arrive in good time for an 8.30 start.

Trip to Berlin
2024-06-06 08:00 - 2024-06-13 23:30 | Berlin, Germany
Update 29th May
Nearly time to go! We currently have 14 intrepid travellers who have booked travel and accommodation. Some are going by train, some flying from either Gatwick or London City, and several different places to stay have been booked.
You can join us right up to the last minute if you can get the bookings – let me know if you have a sudden craving for currywurst in its native habitat and I can let you know everybody’s plans.
Ken

Here’s a date for your diary:
We’re going to Berlin!
Ireen and I are going for a week, travelling out on Thursday 6th June and back on Thursday 13th. Please join us for all or part of that time.
Why Berlin?
Berlin is a fascinating city and well worth your time. There’s plenty to see and do – historic sites, museums, art galleries, boat trips, and, of course, tremendous nightlife for us youngsters. Not to mention the currywurst. Public transport is excellent and cheap, though it’s also very walkable and even cyclable, being mostly flat.
There will be a mixture of group, small group and individual activities, to be driven by the interests of those going.
Travel
At this point the only arrangement made is our travel. We’re going by train, which turns out to be one of the more expensive options – Eurostar St Pancras-Brussels, then Brussels-Cologne-Berlin. Other travel options include bus and plane – a good reference for travel options is Rome2Rio. As far as my research goes, weekend travel is the most expensive, while Thursday less so.
Accommodation
To be arranged.
Ireen and I have made our own arrangements, with my sister who lives there – very centrally, near the Cathedral. For the rest of you, there are many hostels to choose from, and of course hotels, AirBnB etc to consider.
What Now?
Please let me know if you’re interested in this trip so we can gauge the demand for accommodation etc. More plans will be made!

Ken

Walk: Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common.
2024-06-08 09:00 - 17:00
This walk will take us across Richmond Park to Wimbledon Common, the windmill and Cannizaro Park. A quite easy walk of about 10km.
So meet at East Croydon by 9.05 for the 9.19 train to Clapham Junction, changing there for the 9.43 to Richmond (all within the Oyster pass zone).
You can bring a packed lunch, but there will be many refreshment cafes etc en route.
From Wimbledon village there is a bus down to the station for the tram back to Croydon (or train via Clapham Junction).

Barry's Evening Stroll
2024-06-11 19:30 - 22:00
Large numbers will be away sampling the nightlife of Berlin. For those remaining, Barry will lead a gentle local stroll in the waning sunshine.

Meet at Blackhorse Lane Tram Stop 19.30.
W3W: ///shared.hails.apples.
This is about 9 minutes from E.Croydon on an Elmers End or Beckenham Junction tram (not New Addington) Also bus 197 stops nearby.
We will walk through the Brickfields Park to Tennison Road, then via Enmore Road to South Norwood Country Park. After a circuit of that we will return from Arena Tram Stop about 21.00.
Trams back to E.Croydon from there, or alight at Addiscombe for a drink at the Claret & Ale, just 30 seconds from that tram stop. A very pleasant little pub!

Dorking - Day of Dance; Reigate Summer Festival - Evening
2024-06-15
Any COPSErs who come down to Dorking can gather to watch some colourful and energetic dancing, wander around the quite pleasant town together, locating a few of the local pubs, share a lunch break in one of those – or choose between the many coffee shops and other eateries.

I leave individuals to work out their own transport arrangements (at present, I am still in Berlin!) but I shall be travelling to Dorking by car.

I suggest those wanting to enjoy the mass dance display at the start, head for arrival at the Dorking Halls by 10.30am. I aim to be there by then and shall be looking for some of you!

To conclude the day out, please continue to the bottom of this message to see input from Margaret, with her invitation to transfer eastwards to Reigate for the evening.

Hopefully, phone signals will be good in Dorking town and any of you can reach me on my mobile, as the daytime progresses.

Regards,

Ireen Best 07968 035522

Ireen and I are joining forces to offer an evening of music in Reigate to complement your Day of Dance in Dorking. It is very easy to get to Reigate from Dorking by train or bus.

Reigate Summer Festival: Home – Reigate Summer Festival is a new event for this year celebrating various local arts groups.

I will be there to promote Renewed Hope, one of the three charities being supported by the festival:Reigate Summer Festival 2024 – GiveWheel.

I suggest meeting at the Market Stores pub from 18:00 to discover what is on:
Schedule – Reigate Summer Festival. The pub is very close to the main music venue, the Tunnel Stage. We could also find somewhere to eat, but it would be good to book this in advance.

Regards

Margaret

Woolwich Dockyards Walk
2024-06-16 09:30 - 17:00
I will be leading a walk on Sunday 16th June to Woolwich Dockyard.
We will meet at East Croydon station at 9.50 to catch the 10:03 East Croydon (platform 4) Thameslink towards Bedford which arrives 10:20 London Bridge. Then we catch the 10:31 from London Bridge (platform 1) to Woolwich Dockyard arriving at 10.50.
If you wish to meet at London Bridge or Woolwich Dockyard please let me know.
I aim that we visit both Woolwich Dockyard and the Woolwich Arsenal during the walk which will take around 4 hours and about 8 km (5 miles).
It will be along paved areas and through parks so light walking shoes are fine.
For added excitement I am planning that we sail on the Woolwich Ferry to North Woolwich and return via the foot tunnel.
We will end up at the Great Harry, the Wetherspoons pub in Woolwich, for a late lunch at about 3 pm -so you might like to bring a sandwich to keep you going.
We will return from Woolwich Arsenal station to London Bridge, and then to East Croydon station.
Let me know if you are going to come along and look forward to seeing you on Sunday 16th!
Cheers
Andy Thompson
07751182930

Down the Canal, with Barry and Gill Goodman
2024-06-18 20:15 - 22:30 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Astonishingly, it’s nearly three years since Barry and Gill entertained us with their Traditional Treasures, an evening of revelations and songs about the oddities of English life.
Now they’re back with their new presentation, Down the Canal, the story of Britain’s canals in words, pictures and song. As they describe it:
A look into the history of Britain’s canals – the builders, the life of the working community, the decline of the working boats and the revival of the waterways in recent times, illustrated with photographs, archive pictures and songs (with which you are very welcome to join in!).
If I’m not mistaken, this picture on Barry’s website was taken at our Hall!

Barry describes himself as a singer, musician, songwriter, caller and folk arts educator. Lots more information is available at his website: http://www.barrygoodmanfolk.co.uk/

Day Trip to Lewes
2024-06-22
For those interested in my walk on saturday (22nd) around Lewes. this
is the plan =>

from 9.15am meet at EC stn to buy tickets => 9.40am direct train to Lewes
(trains are half hourly,so if anyone’s late they can give me a call to find
out where we are)

return ticket price from zone 6 with a senior railcard are £17.10

first of all, we’ll go to the information centre when you can decide whether
to stay with me for a leisurely walk around this historic Sussex market town or “do your own thing”.

places of interest include
—————————————-
1) lewes castle + museum(£10/£9 entry)
2) anne of cleves house museum (£6.60/£6 entry)
3) “the john harvey tavern” (alongside the river ouse) + their brewery shop
4) lewes railway land nature local nature reserve
5) lots of “quaint” shops, cafes, pubs (but sadly no wetherspoons !!)
+ restaurants mostly along the high street which crosses the river ouse

if you have any queries, please let me know.

keith southam
keithsoutham@yahoo.co.uk
mobile/text = 07749 515486

Midsummer Soirée? Tertulia? Picnic? Be there!
2024-06-25 20:00 - 22:30 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Full Details Now Available Here
The belated appearance of the sun has brought out Andrew’s Mediterranean streak! This week he will host a ‘bring and share’ event, aiming for the relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere of an Ibiza beach bar at sunset.
The Hall on Tuesday Evening (artist’s impression!)

This will follow, of course, the COPSE diy tradition, and contributions are invited from all.
First, what will be laid on?

There’ll be sangría, made to an ancient Brogan family recipe
Other drinks, as may be found in the darkest recesses of our store room
Music and video to capture the imagination (I know, it takes a lot of it to convert South Croydon to Ibiza, but still . . .)
Beach games are a possibility we’re exploring

And what can we all do? (I hear you ask)

Bring picnic food to share, especially with a Med tendency. (Feed a few, mass catering not expected!)
Bring drinks, hard or soft, if sangría or store room pot luck isn’t your thing
Raise the tone of the occasion by summer themed readings of your choice – prose, poetry, song or incoherent howl, all are welcome
If possible, dress for the occasion. The choice is yours, though we may draw the line at mankinis.
For music, we’ll make an Ibiza Beach Bar playlist. You may not want to leave this in my hands – send your suggestions to Ken, any time up to Tuesday evening
Any spare flowers from your gardens or other legal sources would be welcome to display in the hall – and take them home or otherwise donate them after

And, averse as we all are to washing up, bring your own eating and drinking equipment and take it away afterwards.
Any questions? Ask Andrew or Ken.

Come along, and enjoy – ¡buen provecho todos!

(Early Warning, superseded by full details above)
An evening of sophistication – elegant canapés, daring cocktails and dazzling conversation among your fashionably-coiffed and designer-clad COPSE colleagues.

Or possibly not.
Details soon.
