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Choir walking group
IT'S DONE! WANDLE TRAIL COMPLETED
The walking group took advantage of a day of fine weather to complete its walk of the Wandle Trail. Having covered the southern half last month, it tackled the northern stretch from Wandsworth to Mitcham on Tuesday February 18.
Near journey's end: Messrs Lee, Watkins, Mouat, Evans and Jones put their feet up at Riverside pub
WALKING GROUP BEN NEVIS MEET
The choir walking group, in the shape of choir bass Peter Gillman, walked to the foot of the North Face of Ben Nevis on Tuesday February 4.
Peter sends greetings from a wintry Ben Nevis
WALKERS HIT THE WANDLE TRAIL
The choir's hard-core walkers covered a substantial section of the Wandle Trail on January 20, starting in Mitcham and finishing at the trusty Royal Standard in central Croydon.
The intrepid four beside Wandle near Mitcham. L to r: Dick Jones, Steve Lloyd, Peter Gillman, Roger Lee.
The walk followed the course of the River Wandle for six miles. It started in Poulter Park and went through Watercress Park, Dale Park, Beddington Park and Waddon Ponds park before hitting Waddon Road and the final stretch to the Standard, where our host Martin Perkins oversaw proceedings.
WALKERS KEEP ON WALKING
The choir walking group met three times in the autumn. In October a select pair (Roger Lee, Peter Gillman) did a delightful linear walk from Botley Farm to Crockham Hill, enjoying warm autumn sunshine.
Choir walkers near West Wickham in December
In November the same pair, plus Dick Jones and Jon Evans, undertook a five-mile circular walk from Downe, passing through Berry's Green and Luxted before skirting the Charles Darwin house on the return to Downe. Once again the group had delightful weather.
And in December a new grouping - Messrs Evans, Gillman and Jones plus Chris Beckley and Trevor Watkins - walked from Hayes station to Eden Park station via Coney Hall, West Wickham parish church, and Springpark Woods.
The walking group has proved a splendid addition to the choir's excellent social activities and has also been instrumental in attracting at least one new member to the choir.
The Botley two: Roger and Peter, keeping the spirit alive
SEPTEMBER SIZZLER FOR WALKERS
The choir walking group made a challenging circular walk of almost five miles in Kent on September 5, with temperatures in the 80s and substantial ascents and descents.
The walkers make the initial climb out of Westerham
The walk began at the Grasshopper pub in Westerham, heading south across hilly fields and then skirting woodland to reach French Street. Next port of call was Chartwell, former home of Winston Churchill, where the group paused for a breather.
SURREY SUMMER DELIGHT
A select group of five members enjoyed a delightful high-summer walk on August 6, starting and ending in South Godstone and savouring the fields, woodland and landscape of the Surrey weald in between. The five departed from the Fox & Hounds at 10.45 and ended there three hours later. Some parts of the route required path-clearance to remove brambles and nettles, and there was a steep uphill section to reach the Greensands Way which runs along the crest of the downs east of Bletchingley.
The walk was conducted at the customary relaxed pace, with ample stops to savour the views. Lunch at the Fox & Hounds proved to come in generous portions and the Greene King beer was particularly appreciated. The five walkers were Peter Gillman, Jon Evans and Barry O'Gorman (basses), Dick Jones and Trevor Watkins (second tenors). There were no top tenors or baritones.
The choir five pose near South Park Farm, approaching mid-point of the walk