Ken's Kroydon Kwiz
2023-06-20 20:30 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Remember the Croydon Roundabouts theme during lockdown? Oh, the fun we had!
This is your chance to relive those halcyon days – and impress your fellow COPSErs – by demonstrating your encyclopaedic knowledge of your town’s most (or possibly least) interesting features.
Not to be missed!

Event (COPSE members only)
2023-06-24 19:00 - 23:00

Trees4Croydon Walk
2023-06-25 11:00 - 17:00
The Trees4Croydon initiative runs from 10th June to 15th July. There will be a presentation and full explanation by organiser Sam Baker at the Club Night on Tuesday 13th June.

This will be a 2.5 – 3 hours depending on general pace of the group.
Trees4Croydon initiative is organised by Croydon Climate Action (previously called Croydon Friends of the Earth). The purpose is to improve local physical and mental well-being by encouraging residents to walk and explore natural surroundings. And, to help plant new trees in deprived areas around the borough: Thornton Heath; West Croydon e.g. Thornton Heath Recreation Ground and neglected wildlife and wetland area, near Viridor’s Beddington Lane Incinerator. The trees will be paid for via local business sponsors. Suitable trees will be sourced, planted and nurtured (for 3 years) by environmental organisations like National Trust. The more walks we complete, between 10th June and 16th July, will mean more trees will be planted. For further information: https://www.trees4croydon.com/
Date/ time: Sunday 25th June at 11am
Start Point: Belmont railway station (accessed via West Croydon station (one stop after Sutton)
Start and finish points are within Zone 6 of the Oyster Travel Card so participants can use Freedom passes, if necessary.
We will cross Banstead Downs then follow a track to Oakes Park. Approx. the halfway point that has a cafe with toilets for those who might need the facilities. We’ll continue through a lavender field, and some meadows, then choose another path out to more residential area above Coulsdon, called The Mount. Despite being close to London, it is surprisingly rural.
The terrain: for the walk will be grassy footpaths and rough stony tracks with three stiles to climb over. However, it’s not very hilly but has some gentle inclines. Please dress suitably for weather & terrain!
End point: Woodmansterne station.
This is on Tattenham Corner line to London Bridge via Purley and East Croydon. Woodmansterne station has a pub nearby, for refreshments, or we can continue to Coulsdon, with more choice.

COPSE members who want to join Trees4Croydon walk on 25th June can enter their own daily or weekly walking/ cycling miles between 10th June and 16th July on atlasGo app, under Sustainable Voices Team:

Download the Atlas GO well-being app onto mobile phone – instructions at https://www.trees4croydon.com/participants
Select team name (COPSE)
Register yourself and details regarding miles completed

This will add to the miles for the Trees4Croydon initiative so more suitable trees are planted in Thornton Heath and West Croydon.

Evening Walk: South Norwood Country Park
2023-06-27 19:00 - 22:00
NOTE This walk has been rescheduled from its original date of 13th June to accommodate the Trees4Croydon event.
Barry will lead this walk
Meet at Blackhorse Lane tramstop 19.30 for a walk through Brickfields Meadow and South Norwood Country Park. Returning from Arena tramstop to Addiscombe for a drink at the Claret & Ale. (1 minute from the tramstop) or continue home towards E. Croydon.

Evening Cycle to Country Pub in Woodmansterne
2023-06-30 18:45 - 23:00
Meet at 6.45pm for 7pm departure outside Fairfield Halls.
Bring cycle lights but the return to Croydon is on lit roads and a direct route.
This will be an approximately 12 mile round trip.
The intention is to arrive in time for a meal (before 9pm) but this cannot be guaranteed.

Mudlarking tour (Greenwich)
2023-07-01 11:00 - 20:00
A mudlarking tour hsas been booked for Saturday 1 July from 5.15pm to 7.15pm in Greenwich.
Bookings must be made in advance so please let Valerie know if you are interested by Sunday 11th June.
0203 332 0093

Croydon Food & Music Festival
2023-07-02 12:00 - 19:00 | South End, Croydon, Croydon, London, CR0 1DP, United Kingdom
COPSE will be there!

Come along to South End to enjoy the food and the music, and visit our stall to find out what COPSE is about!

Visitors' Open Evening
2023-07-04 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
A chance to be greeted, meet some Club members and find out what we do.
Come along to our Hall from 8.15pm

Evening Cycle to country pub in Fickleshole
2023-07-07 18:45 - 23:00
Meet at 6.45pm for 7pm departure outside Fairfield Halls.
Bring cycle lights for return which will be on some unlit roads but a direct route.
It is approximately a 10 mile round trip.
The intention is to arrive in time for a meal (before 9pm) but this cannot be guaranteed.

Kent LDWA Challenge Walk Stonegate (15, 20 or 26 miles)
2023-07-08 09:00 - 17:00
Would you like the opportunity to challenge yourself in an event similar to the Gatliff Marathon?
Kent Long Distance Walkers Association are holding such an event on Saturday 8th July. The course options are 26 miles, 20 miles or 15 miles. Everything operates in a very similar way to the Gatliff Marathon including the use of written route instructions.
Entry fees are:

LDWA Member
Non Member

15 Miles
£12.00
£17.00

20 Miles
£9.00
£14.00

26 Miles
£9.00
£14.00

Start: Stonegate Village Hall, Forge Field, Stonegate, TN5 7ED (GR TQ668285) Direct trains from London Bridge to Stonegate Station (1 hour).
Start: all 26ml at 08:30; all 20ml & 15ml at 10:00.
Entries close on Sunday 2nd July. 145 people have entered so far (28 June). Although the website doesn’t state a maximum number of entrants it is a good idea to book ASAP in case they close the list before 2nd July. I have booked the 15 mile course (I would like to test how the GPX file works as I have volunteered to create one for the Gatliff!).
The following link provides further details and online entry: SiEntries – High Weald Walk (26m/20m/15m)

Sandra

Extract from SI Entries website:
“Brand new routes, open to walkers and runners, primarily on undulating footpaths and lanes, offering extensive views over the surrounding countryside and a glimpse of the sea!
The three routes start at Stonegate Village Hall to head towards Burwash and Punnets town. The 15 miles route then returns to Stonegate. The two other routes continue to the pretty village of Mayfield, where they diverge. The 20 miles route goes back to Stonegate, while the 26 miles route visits Wadhurst before returning to the finish.
From Stonegate Village Hall, Forge Field, Stonegate, TN5 7ED (GR TQ668285) – please park in field adjacent to the hall as directed by marshals. Direct trains from London Bridge to Stonegate Station (1 hour).
Start: all 26ml at 08:30; all 20ml & 15ml at 10:00.
All to finish by 19:00.
Entry fee incl tea/coffee at start, simple food & drinks at all CPs and at finish, certificate for in-time finishers.
Badge available at finish.
Well behaved dogs are welcome. Owners will be required to fill in a Dog Registration form, and keep their dog on a leash at all times.
All entrants to carry own mug as none provided.
You must wear suitable footwear and clothing and carry a printed route description, maps (electronic versions accepted), compass;
OS Explorer 136/135/124 or OL199 cover the routes.
Route descriptions and gpx files will be available from the Kent Group website a week prior to the event.”

Cycle ride to Denbies Wine Estate near Dorking.
2023-07-09 09:30 - 18:00
Meet at Swan and Sugar Loaf (now Tesco) at 0930. Approx 30-40 miles. Hilly

Ice Cream Walk
2023-07-11 20:00 - 22:00
Meet at 8pm outside Fairfield Halls Croydon for a 60 to 90 minute stroll through lesser visited parts of Croydon culminating at an exciting new ice cream parlour.
A bus ride back to the town centre and visit to a recently re-vamped pub so bring travel passes.

Camping Trip to Cornwall (1 week)
2023-07-13 08:00 - 2023-07-19 17:00

The Wind in The Willows. (Play by Alan Bennett)
2023-07-15 17:30 - 20:30 | Gatton Park OPen Air Theatre

Builders Arms Quiz
2023-07-18 20:30 - 22:00 | Builder’s Arms Pub, 65 Leslie Park Road, Croydon, CR0 6TP

Epping & Ongar Railway Beer & cider festival
2023-07-23 08:00 - 17:00
A leisurely Sunday including enjoying Andrew’s transport choir.
Andrew says:
I will be aiming to catch the 8.54 train to London Bridge from East Croydon. Do join me if you like. I’ll try to be in ticket hall from 8.45am. Trains are running albeit with possible knock on disruption from the previous day’s amended timetable. You can travel later, just read the information below to complete your journey.
I will then aim to travel to Epping underground station in time to catch the (heritage) bus connection (included in event ticket booked at: https://www.eorailway.co.uk/events/real-ale-festival/ ) to North Weald station where the EOR heritage railway main hub is. Bus scheduled to depart Epping station at 10:25. (If Central Line is messed up by strike action, an alternative is Elizabeth Line to Shenfield.)
The heritage bus connections (between Epping underground station or Shenfield NR station and North Weald on the EOR (plus some intermediate stops)) timetable is shown below. (The yellow is recommended buses for choir.) But note there are two earlier buses from Epping, shown in the full bus timetable here: https://www.eorailway.co.uk/_img/pics/pdf_1689026521-682.pdf, that’s 9.40 and 10.25.
Once at North Weald, you can join the Epping Ongar Railway and visit the main beer and cider festival marquee. Suggest you buy your event ticket first here: https://www.eorailway.co.uk/events/real-ale-festival/ .
The choir sing at North Weald station 11.30 to 11.55; then Ongar station 12.55 to 13.30. (And we travel on the 12:00 train from North Weald to Ongar and the 13:35 train from Ongar to North Weald when we stop singing and can drink beer. We may even be singing on those trains.)
Beer is also served on the trains, see details on the train timetable below.
Myth busting – my understanding is the Epping Ongar Railway is a heritage line and runs between its Epping Forest and Ongar stations. With North Weald in between and which is the main hub of the railway. It does not run into Epping underground station. A connecting bus is included in the EOR ticket. I believe it’s not far to walk from Epping underground station to Epping Forest station on the EOR line. William or Barry will be able to provide exhaustive details. The line was once part of the Underground network until the 80’s I believe. The is a long term aspiration to run EOR trains into Epping Underground station.

Have fun.
Andrew

Mull Retrospective
2023-07-25 20:15 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
In May this year twenty of COPSE’s finest spent a week in a lodge on the beautiful island of Mull, in the Inner Hebrides.
A great time was had by all, enjoying the island in numerous ways – touring, wildlife spotting, walking, boating, eating & drinking and playing silly games.
This evening we’ll present a multimedia experience to relive the trip and show the rest of you what you missed. Should be a fun and informative night.

Evening Meal out at a Local Croydon Restaurant
2023-07-27 18:30 - 22:30

Ruskin House Garden Party
2023-07-29
As well as attending this excellent event in COPSE’s usual large numbers, we’ll have a stall to publicise the Club.

Summer Stroll
2023-08-01 20:30 - 22:00
Meet outside our Tuesday meeting hall from 8pm for an 8.15pm departure. We will walk for 60 to 90 mins / approx. 2 miles, through South Croydon taking in the lesser visited Haling Grove and the spaciousness of Purley Way Playing fields. Majestic architecture, flora and dusk skies will amaze us.
You can curtail the walk with a ride on the 119 bus but eager copsers will wish to conclude the walk via the enigmatic Violet Lane and The Waldrons, dip down via an old Club haunt and up to our usual watering hole of Ruskin House (approx. 9.45 / 10pm).
Andrew

BBC Proms Royal Albert Hall
2023-08-02 19:00 - 22:30
Celebrate and enjoy the world’s greatest classical music festival together. This concert features the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra with works by Mozart and Rachmaninov and Ukrainian composer Ivan Karabits whose son Kirill will conduct the orchestra. 7.30pm RAH. See Andrew for a ticket. First come first served. Preceded by picnic by Albert Memorial.

Walk Maidenhead to Marlow (10 miles)
2023-08-06
Please meet at E.Croydon station by 9am for the 9.09 Thameslink train to Farringdon. Then we take the Elizabeth Line to Maidenhead, but we have to change at Paddington, arriving at Maidenhead 10.56.
The journey will be free for those with Freedom Passes , otherwise you need to buy a return ticket to Maidenhead.
Then it is about 25mins walk through the town to where we join the Thames path. We follow it through Cookham to Bourne End, (6 miles) or on to Marlow (10 miles) if conditions permit.
It is an easy level path, but it might be a bit muddy after the recent rain. You can bring a packed lunch, but there are pubs and cafes en route.
We return from Marlow or Bourne End by train to Maidenhead . Departing at 15.29 from Marlow, or 16.06 from Bourne End to Maidenhead 16.52. (hourly service) You will all need a ticket for this journey (£5.30 from Marlow)
Then it will be about a 90 minute journey back to Croydon.

Lesley's Trip to Uzbekistan
2023-08-08 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Unbeknownst to most of us, earlier this year Lesley went on a tour of Uzbekistan.
Why?
Where?
How?
Turn up to find out! She’s come back with an outstanding set of photos and tales of her trip, and now she’s going to share them with the rest of us.

Walk Coulsdon Town to Kenley
2023-08-13 12:00 - 17:00
Local walk from Coulsdon Town up through Farthing Downs and Happy Valley to the Fox Inn for light refreshments. From there you can get the bus back to Croydon or continue through Kenley Aerodrome to Kenley Station or bus stop.
Meet at Aldi in Coulsdon at 11am.

Quiz Nite
2023-08-15 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Andrew will entertain us with his ingenious Quiz!

North London Walk (Moved to Sat 16th Sept)
2023-08-19
Please note that this event has been rearranged to Saturday 16th September.

Beachy Head Walk
2023-08-20

Captions & Kit
2023-08-22 20:30 - 22:00 | South Croydon United Church Hall, Aberdeen Road, South Croydon, CR0 1EQ, United Kingdom
Yes, this time it’s Captions and Kit!
This Tuesday we have a variation on our ever-popular “Captions and . . . “ themed Club Night.
Not only . . .
. . . has Linda has selected the usual challenging set of photos for you to apply your wits to, and recognition will undoubtedly fall to the wittiest.
. . . but also . . .
. . . a novel “Kit” component of the evening.
This is your opportunity to unload or acquire items of kit, while benefitting our favourite charity, Shelterbox. As Ireen explains below, the original thought was to buy / sell / haggle over outdoor kit of the kind COPSE people often have occasion to use, but there’s no reason to confine ourselves to that – anything you no longer want to give house or shed room to is eligible.
Also, as a seller you decide how to split the spoils with Shelterbox – 100/0, 50/50, 0/100 and points between, the choice is yours.
Here’s the full explanation, from Ireen’s email:
Dear All,
A suggestion from Keith S, concerning similar experience with another club, will be taken forward for COPSE at our Tuesday, 22nd August evening.
Our programme had “Captions” listed and this will now become “Captions & Kit”!
The idea is that all Members are invited to bring along items that they wish to part with and that funds raised will be put aside to add to our annual ShelterBox donation.
Occasionally, some COPSErs do advertise that this or that is available, “if anyone wants it.” Of course, outdoor activity gear such as walking poles etc. might be well received but other items you would appreciate parting with (thereby gaining more house space!) might also find new homes.
Some large tables will be available to display things and you can label your contributions with your name and set price – or perhaps bartering might happen. Anyway, we’ll give it all a try.
The “Captions” part of the evening will still provide its usual chances for the fun of creative thought but we’ll add this opportunity to sell/buy, while people are milling around thinking about the photos on the wall.
PLEASE ESPECIALLY NOTE THAT ANY ITEMS REMAINING UNSOLD MUST BE TAKEN AWAY AGAIN. We shall not be adding them to our upstairs storeroom!

Regards,

Ireen Best (07968 035522)

PLANNING MEETING (October to December)
2023-08-24 19:00 - 22:00 | Spreadeagle Pub, 39-41 Katharine St, Croydon, CR0 1NX, United Kingdom
Planning Meeting for both Outdoor and Club Night activities.
This is where we put together the next quarter’s schedule – your chance to get your ideas onto the Club plan. All are welcome. Bring along your proposals for activities we can all share.
Note the change of venue and time from recent versions.
It’s in an upstairs room at the Spread Eagle pub in Katharine Street. We’ll gather from 7pm for those eating/drinking, and start the business proper at 8pm.

Midweek trip to Lulworth Cove YHA (Dorset)
2023-08-28 08:00 - 2023-08-31 17:00
