Concorde

"A" group Concorde to Lunch

Just goes to show how little knowledge I have of Brooklands. Pity Concorde was hiding behind a tower of yellow steel but just about managed to take a picture as if she was taking off in front of me!
Not sure what the other aircraft might be but someone said VC10?
A good route Keith as Mark has already said.

Computer playing up will post pictures separately

Arthur Jessop Trophy

Tony you beat me to it but I think this is also a good photo. No doubt Shirley will have some good ones too. See also SWLDABlog.

B Group - 8th November, after the AGM

It is always a short ride to lunch after the AGM and I had chosen the Old Plough at Stoke D'Abernon, which was about 5 miles from Hersham.  A group of 14 sat down to lunch, though we did start with one or two more.  Our route was out to West End, Esher, and up to the Portsmouth Road, which we followed to Fairmile Lane.  The next turn was into Leigh Hill Road with a nice downhill run to the Tilt and so to the pub, arriving about 1.00 p.m.

It was pretty much full house at the pub but a long table had been put aside for us.  We were looked after beautifully.  Orders for drinks and then meals were taken at the table, bottles of water and glasses were provided as a matter of course and at the end we were able to settle up individually at the bar.  All very satisfactory.

With various people doing their own thing after lunch, the group had dropped down to 8 for the next part of the ride.  Going back to Fairmile Lane, we went straight ahead at the mini roundabout on to Water Lane, then turned up Knipp Hil and into Sandy Lane.  Crossing the busy Copsem Lane we took the dead end lane at Gunter's Mead.  It was at this point that the call of 'puncture' was heard from Christina.  Manfully, Tony Hopkins came to the rescue and fixed it despite one or two problems - this was your spare bike wasn't it, Christina?  Otherwise a new one might be recommended or a different spare inner!  Setting off again, along what used to be a semi off-road link with a gate across it but which is now beautifully surfaced though still with the gate, we joined Fairoak Lane and cut down on the off-road path which took us into Claygate and so to Long Ditton Squires for tea.  Here the 6 of us who had stopped were joined by Brian who had been doing his own thing, and Grant on the way back from A Group, wanting to give Pam his money for the Christmas Lunch.  Lights were definitely needed for the final lap home.

Thanks everyone for your company, to Terry & Pam for back-marking and to those who marked corners.

Gill Finlay

Sou'Westers Logo Garment printing

Printing of the Sou'Westers logo is available in 2 sizes of 3 inch and 8 inch. Printing colours are either Blue or Yellow and will print on most fabrics. Costs are £5.00 per garment, approx.

Please email me if you are interested.  tonyiahopkins@gmail.com

Please note this is totally separate from the Wayfarers top that Pam supplies.

Blue on Yellow

Tony..

Arthur Jessop Trophy

This years trophy was awarded to Colin Quemby and very well deserved.

The Arthur Jessop Trophy: For Outstanding Achievement

A Group 8th November

A natty little ride from Keith today, making best use of the time available after the AGM.  Interesting byways to Brooklands, where we were able to ride on the old track, a good lunch at the Saddlers Arms in Send Marsh and tea at Amici in Leatherhead - Annies was closed.

Lights on on the way home.

Mark

A Group ride from AGM Hersham

Sorry all, but only time for a short flat ride to The Saddlers Arms in Send Marsh, includes a little bit of off road if the conditions are OK.
Afternoon tea at Leatherhead.

B Group ride after the AGM

Gill has sent this advice: Lunch will be at Stoke D'Abernon, tea at Long Ditton Squires with a short offroad section before Claygate.

Hardest Climb in the World

Notice of Annual General Meeting

CTC South West London will hold its AGM at 11:00 am
Wednesday 8th November.

Please be on time.

The new venue is just a short walk from the Queens Road exit from the Day Centre.

All Saints Hall
All Saints Roman Catholic Church
13 Queens Road
Hersham
KT12 5LU

The hall is located at the back of the premises. There are two halls with a shared entrance. Our meeting is in the Small Hall.

There are no bike racks but there is plenty of space to park bikes against the buildings near the hall entrance. Please bring your bikes to the hall rather than leave them at the Day Centre.

There are normally plenty of spaces on the premises in front of the church for anyone arriving by motor vehicle, with access from Queens Road.

~ Tim

B Group - 1st November

Cobham - Lower Ashtead - Squires (Long Ditton)

23 riders set off on a lovely sunny morning, our route took us past Polesden Lacy down to West Humble and over Box Hill. John Scott took a tumble but managed to continue with cut fingers. We continued on to Headley and then down to the Woodman Pub in Lower Ashtead, we found the pub staff very hospitable, good service with a good menu, reasonably priced.

After lunch most riders made their own way home. 8 of us made our way to the tea stop at Squires Long Ditton where another three riders departed.

Thanks to Chris and Ray for back marking, and the corner markers.

Approx 25 miles in all

Regards, Tony

I didn't ride with B Group but thanks to Stephanie who recorded Tony's ride with Strava. I've rendered it here on OS1:50,000 (Landranger) as usual.

~ Tim

A group ride 1 November

The prospect of leading a ride and indeed doing anything creative is a scary prospect, but thanks to the support of every rider in the group, marking the turns, back marking and just being there, it becomes a shared journey which everyone can enjoy. So I would encourage everyone to have a go at leading and show us all places we haven't visited yet. Thanks to everyone for making my first go at leader a good experience.

The Jurors

In one picture is "The Jurors" artwork. Twelve bronze seats which have different experiences of  injustice, which cry out for "justice for all". Interestingly, I have to do my jury service at the end of this month and so will find out for real what occurs in court. The artwork commemorates the site where 800 years ago Magna Carta was signed, placing restrictions on King John's power. The resulting legislation has been applied and refined through the ages to the present day and given us parliament. I have driven past countless times and never stopped to consider.

There are lots of historical sites out there to visit like the RAF monument-see picture.

The pictures of Hans and the salad competition are hilarious, but it shows what fun you can have eating healthily.  I am looking forward to more fun rides in the future!

~ Steve D

The A group went bowling

My first ride with the A's for a while and a nice brisk pace to Egham and then Tite Hill and down Crimp Hill to lunch at the Bells of Ouzeley. Some opted for the works while others held a competition to see who could eat the most bowls of salad, it was a fierce competition down to the final two of Hans and Simon, both gorging themselves on 3 bowls apiece, then  a period of calm as both looked near to bursting. Hans made a final dash to the salad bar and returned to triumph with  a final few mouthfuls.

Our leader Steve on the far left

 The going was tough

Shovels would have been better

The Winning Bowl

Triumphant Hans

Tony..

A group November 1st

A nicely executed ride from Steve D today on his first time leading.   Plenty of autumn sunshine, and even more unlimited salad at lunch for some.   Lights on for the ride home for tea.

Notice about B Group ride on Wednesday 1st

Some hills, some off road, but then a cruise down to The Woodman Pub in Lower Ashtead for lunch. After lunch onto Cardinal Wolsey's house for tea.
 
Regards

Tony

Christmas lunches for A and B groups

Pam has been busy organizing your lunches:

• B Group on 6th December
• A Group on 13th December

As The Angel has a limit on the number that can be comfortably served at each Christmas lunch - a maximum of 40 - you  should get your orders in soon rather than risk missing out.

So please write the following on the front of an envelope ...

• your NAME
• Menu choice
• A or B group (most important)

... then enclose the TOTAL cost of your meal and give your envelope to Pam on a Wednesday, Sunday, or at any other time!

If you keep company with anybody who does not see the blog please pass this information on to them. Pam will have several paper copies of the menu with her on Wednesday and on future rides.

This is your menu:

~ Tim

Orders for Club kit

Further to Pam's sales promotion in September ...

Orders for new Sou'Westers garments

... please contact her to discuss and place your orders for new outfits, tops, jackets, long sleeve, winter or/and summer clothing etc, as soon as possible.

She needs orders for four more garments in order to meet the conditions for free postage.

~ Tim

A Group 25 October: Teddington - Eton - Shepperton

What a gorgeous day!  When I planned the ride, heavy rain was forecast so my ambition was rather limited, but in the event we had wall-to-wall sunshine.   Our escape route from Teddington was northwards: dodging the A316 through a couple of tunnels to enter Crane Park, and shortly on to Hounslow Heath.   More urban riding., speeded along by expert corner marking, past Hounslow West and up to Heston before we turned west along Cranford Lane, which takes you through open fields earmarked to be Heathrow's third runway.  At Sipson we went a bit further north to West Drayton where we carried on west through Thorney and Richings Park, before hitting the back streets of Langley and then diving southwards on the cycle route through Ditton Park and eventually across the Millennium river into Eton.  Neil was ticking off the motorways we passed:  M4, M25, M4 (again); others may have been doing a bit of plane spotting.

The Waterman's Arms at Eton has a good selection of beers and food, but always seems very short-staffed behind the bar, and so it was today.  It took a while for us all to be served but the food arrived promptly.  Most sat indoors in the relative gloom of 'the library', but since there were eighteen of us on the ride, some of us were forced to sit outside in the sun.

The return route was less urban, less flat, and less off-road.   A quick stop for photos on the bridge before heading up through Windsor town on the way to conquer Crimp Hill;   Englefield Green and then it was supposed to be down Callow Hill, but parts of it were very definitely up - and via Virginia Water and St Anne's Hill to Chertsey and Shepperton. 

We took the scenic route along Dockett Eddy Lane and found that the kiosk at Shepperton Lock was open, so we had tea there.

Thank you to Mike for back marking, to Geoff and Mark for a wealth of photos, and to everyone who came along.   Special welcome to Sue on her first A group ride - we hope you'll join us again!

Easy Riders - 25th October

Seven of us (Don Clarke, Lynda, Bernard P, Frank, John Bellamy, Brian Bent and I) dodged through footpaths and between the NPL buildings to enter Bushy Park at Coleshill Road.   We then did a bit of a round tour in the glorious autumn sunshine finally emerging at Hampton Wick.   Brian 'peeled off' here before the rest of us  got 'all shaken up' on the cattle grid after entering Home Park!   After riding alongside the Long Water, we shimmied across the golf course to emerge on the Barge Walk by yet another gate!  After crossing the river and nearing our lunch destination in Thames Ditton, Ye Olde Swan, John suggested a delightful detour along Church Walk. Then the Value Menu at the pub was done full justice as we looked out over the river, Ray Wren having joined us.   After lunch there was a parting of the ways.  Many thanks to all for an enjoyable, leisurely ride, but most of all to the weather!

Dave W