CMVC
History and Heritage
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Members
Choir walking group
Walkers, please note
Choir members take part in informal local walks once every 3-4 weeks. These are mostly circular walks of 5-6 miles with a mid-walk refreshment stop, following a route proposed by a navigator. During British Summer Time they usually start at 2.30pm and finish around six, with a meal at the start/finish pub to follow. When the clocks revert to GMT, the walks start progressively earlier, starting around midday or 12.30 during the winter. All choir members are welcome to take part, and they are welcome to invite guests too. Please note that members and guests take part in the walks as individuals, and so take full personal responsibility for their own safety. All that said, the walks are enjoyable occasions which add to the choir's spirit of fun and bonhomie.
Steep slopes and wild flowers
Seven walkers left the Aperfield Inn, Biggin Hill, on July 7 and progressed south-eastward over rolling meadows towards the ridge of the North Downs. The walk had been postponed from the previous Monday due to the heatwave and the weather was happily more temperate.
Emerging into sunlight after a woodland stretch
Of ices and men
A group of ten walkers left Warlingham’s White Lion at 2.30pm prompt on June 10 and soon passed the elegant semi where choir concert secretary Bren resides.
Crossing lush spring fields, with poppies
Bluebells with garlic
Eleven walkers (and one dog) left the Hare and Hounds in Godstone at 2.30pm on April 28, aiming to view the spring bluebell display at its finest. Unusually we started by bus, exiting beside the Caterham bypass beyond the M25 and heading steeply towards the woods above.
We were soon greeted with shimmering carpets of bluebells – mingling with the white blossoms of wild garlic, all the sweeter for the distinctive garlic aromas.
The eleven bluebell walkers (but no Goose) at the fabled Harrow
Historic Chipstead
The magnificent seven walkers struck west on March 24 from the Ramblers Rest up towards Banstead Woods, then descended back to Outwood Lane and School House, once a Dame School, now the home of our former chorister and proud North Welshman Ernest Williams. He was delighted to see us and joined in our rendition of Gwahoddiad in his native language.
Ernest greets the choir walkers
Wildest South London
Thirteen walkers left the Dukes Head on Wallington Green on February 24 2025 and were soon in Beddington Park. After crossing the bridge over the Wandle lakes, we headed for the northwest corner of the park and the entrance to Beddington Farmlands. Formerly a landfill site, gravel pit and part of the local sewage farm, this is now being renovated into a wonderful nature reserve and bird sanctuary.
"Like being in Scotland" - photo JP.