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An eventful August for walkers

The group undertook two eventful walks in August. 

On August 10 there was a near catastrophe when our host pub, the Bletchingley Arms, revealed it had run out of beer. Fortunately, some walkers were delayed in roadworks, enabling navigator Dave to search for alternative post-walk venues. Meanwhile our landlady checked her reserve supplies and confirmed all would be well on our return.

Crossing meadowland  following pub with no beer scare 


Much relieved, the nine walkers followed a familiar route up to the viewpoint near Bletchingley castle, then down over meadows to a tunnel under the M23. With the conductor’s beat only visible in the glimmer from his phone, two songs suited to the reverberatory acoustic were performed before the group continued westward on the southern slopes of the Greensand Ridge to South Nutfield. After a steep ascent to the crest of the ridge, the A25 was crossed and then it was directly downhill to the Inn on the Pond for rehydration. No one was in any doubt that two beers were required to rehydrate in the heat, followed by a couple of songs to entertain the other drinkers in the picturesque beer garden.

Walkers at Inn on the Pond - getting ready to help out by eating out

The return journey along the north slope of the ridge was mostly level, the highlight another mini concert in a cavernous motorway tunnel. A debut performance of Nessus Dorma proved we still needed to learn our Italian, but Anthem and American Trilogy were more secure.

Ted Mouat was waiting for us back at Bletchingley, as were the delights of the government’s Eat Out to Help Out half-price food scheme. Most of the group Helped Out by finishing their meal with large portions of half-price Eton Mess.


On August 24 the walkers gathered again at the Bletchingley Arms, where Martin "Polly" Perkins  was attending as a social member after injuring his ankle when slipping on the wet pavement near his home. It was the very same ankle that Polly broke in a tragic fall on a choir walk nearby in 2015  when he was rescued by a brigade of emergency service personnel delivered by a fleet of vehicles.    As the group approached the Greensand Ridge, it paused at the top of the mound  known as "Polly's Peak" to pay homage at the spot where our eponymous hero had fallen.

Walkers press on after paying homage to Martin "Polly" Perkins

The walk joined the Greensand Way on South Park Lane and crossed the old Roman Road under Tilburstow Hill. The path contoured around the hill with open views southwards, descending to the  hamlet of The Enterdent on the old A22. 

A narrow woodland path bisected Godstone Farm, followed by a stroll up the Roman Road to Godstone Green and the Hare and Hounds pub, where a smiling Polly was relaxing in the sun cradling a pint and a bowl of soup. He maintained his ankle had managed the one-mile walk from the previous pub, although many thought the 400 or 410 bus may have played a part instead.

Walkers take refreshment at Hare and Hounds.  NB an allegedly injured Polly fourth from left

From there the route crossed Garston Park, traversed meadows to Rabies Heath Road and back up to the Bletchingley Arms. The sun shone as we Ate Out to Help Out in the pub garden and tucked into half-price mains and desserts yet again.