COPSE Previous Outdoor Events

MAY 2003

MAY Thursday 15 - John Annett
Curry evening in The Sky Lark, 34 South End, Croydon. The Skylark for the uninitiated is a Wetherspoon's Pub. They do an inclusive curry and drink offer on a Thursday for £4.15
Cost: £4.15 Meet: 8pm for drinks.

MAY Sunday 18 - William Catterson
Windsurfing at Aquasport, Mercer's Park, Merstham. A good fun day on the water. There are beginners courses. All equipment is supplied.
Cost: £30 for 3hr lesson

MAY Friday 23 - Sunday 26 BANK HOLIDAY - Andrew Thynne
Pen-y-Pass YH, Snowdonia, North Wales. A very exciting weekend in rugged adventurous walking country. There are 14 Munroes to bag in the area if you are up to it. Most will be content with the Snowdon and the Glyders. However, Tryfan is also within reach for those prepared to push it. Pen-y-Pass YH is the highest youth hostel in Wales and as such makes a very practical base camp.
Fact Sheet available from: andrewthynne@hotmail.com
Cost: £50 + transport

MAY Saturday 31 - Sunday 1 June - John Annett
National Local Groups Conference at Hampstead Heath YH, London. As you may know the YHA NEC decided to abolish all the national standing committees recently the work that they did are now being reassessed and continued by Task Groups. The National Local Groups Committee was responsible for the development of all Local Groups which was a mammoth task. It will be interesting to see the new approach by the task Group that has taken over this work. Further information is still to come but the Task Group are keen to know what Local Groups really want to better there function within the YHA. The weekend is usually subsidised and open to two delegates.

MAY Saturday 31 - William Catterson
House Party at William's bachelor pad. The "des res" of Addiscombe will once again be the venue for a wild COPSE happening. "Go on! wear something wild or outrageous". Floor space is available if you are really stuck for a lift home.
Cost: BSFTS and BAB. Meet: From 8pm. Address upon application.

JUNE 2003

JUNE Sunday 1 - Ron Smith
"A Nice Spring Ramble in the broadleaf forests of Surrey". If you have managed to recover from the night before meet Ron for a short walk in the Surrey Hills and find your charma. Pub lunch or BYO sandwiches.
Meet: St Andrews Hall 10:30am (late start)

JUNE Friday 6 - William Edwards
Gliding from Kenley airfield. Meet early evening for a spectacular time in a magnificent flying machine. No previous knowledge necessary. If there is low cloud the gliding will be postponed to Friday 13th! Meal in Wottondon Arms after.
Cost: £15 less if more than 10

JUNE Saturday 7 - Sunday 8 - Andrew Thynne
Backpacking. A two day adventure walk into the outback of Sussex. Camp at a remote campsite near Cuckmere Haven which is not accessible by car.
Cost: camping £3 pnpp train fare £18

JUNE Saturday 14 - Anna Ive
A night at the pictures.
Cost: £5.50. 10% discount for < 9. Meet: Warner cinema, Grants

JUNE Friday 20 - Sunday 22 - John Annett
Barn Dance and BBQ at Holmbury St Mary YH. The hostel was one of several selected to be sold in order to make up for the £5M loss that theYHA experienced due to the FMD.
We are organising a fun weekend to which other YHA Local Groups and the public will be invited. Those with musical talents can help the weekend to start rocking on Friday night with an impromptu jam session or just come and listen. Saturday will start late, with a treasure hunt, led walks, the hostel will be open for the public to peruse in the afternoon, there will be pre-BBQ concert on the lawn by some members' children, followed by a feast fit for a King which will include a Maori "hungi". The "tucker" will be dug up at 5pm.
A scratch folk dance band is in the process of rehearsals. Pete Watts an Associate Member of the Group who was one of the main driving forces during the 1960s is "el maestro" and is putting together a scratch band that will consist of Jill Hall, William Catterson, Alison Salmon, Keith Tarrant, Jenny Huggett and Stephen Best (age 13) are his pupils. Graham Harrison is calling. The band will be playing under the name of 'Ashmead's Kernel'. It is a pretty hot line up - please give your support.
Fact Sheet available from john@nnett.freeserve.co.uk
Cost: from about £7 + hostel overnights £10.25 pn

JULY 2003

JULY Sunday 6 - John Annett
Tanners Marathon. A 30 mile in 10 hours challenge walk, in Surrey. Start is at Leatherhead Football Club near the Leisure Centre. For many years the Junior Purbright Guards held the record for the most number of finishers within the time limit. However after several planned attempts at breaking the record COPSE eventually smash it in style on their 50th anniversary in 1984. We entered a team of 43 members and incredibly all 43 finished in blistering hot conditions.
Cost: £3 Start: 9am

JULY Friday 25 - Sunday 27 - Barry Wilson
Ilfracombe YH, North Devon. A joint weekend with some of our Associate Members. A date for your forward planner for now.

OCTOBER 2003

OCTOBER Saturday 4th
A walk along the banks of Old Father Time starting at London Bridge and ending up at the first cataract, the Thames Barrier. This is just a stones throw from David’s ‘des res’ in Abbey Wood which is no doubt the real finish. Plenty of pubs en route but bring a picnic lunch for a really rural day out. Distance about 8 miles.
Meet: 12 noon Thameside Tavern on south bank of Thames. Pub behind Southwark Cathedral Contact: David Treble 

OCTOBER Sunday 5th
Venue: Kemsing Youth Hostel
This event is a bit like our Weald Walkers Wander – a treasure hunt using map and compass – about 10 miles. Teams need to be arranged in advance as does pickup points.
Contact: Barry Wilson

OCTOBER Friday 10th  – Sunday 12th
Venue: Brugge EuropaYH, 8310 Brugge 4/Assebroek, Baron Ruzettelaan 143
A fantastic opportunity to see ‘the Venice of the North’. Do some serious sight-seeing, walk the canals or hire a bike for about £1.50 a day. Every day is a beer festival here with 400 brands of Belgian beer to choose from. Travelling by minibus with Eurotunnel, booked on the 16:03 so you will need Friday afternoon off.
Cost: £80
Meet: 1pm Fairfield Halls
Contact: John Annett

OCTOBER Friday 10th
Venue: Wallington Public Hall, Stafford Road, Wallington opp Sainsbury’s
Croydon & Sutton Beer Festival. A rare opportunity, in these parts, to sample about 40 varieties of the very best real ale. There’s cider, Perry, hot and cold food and no doubt a commentary from Egdirdla Mit.
Cost: Free admission
Meet: inside 8:30pm
Contact: Tim Aldridge

OCTOBER Sunday 12th
Area: South of Westerham
Distance: 12miles

OCTOBER Saturday 18th
Venue: Crystal Palace
We are users of the countryside and it is therefore nice to try to put something back occasionally. The plan is to clear out a small pond which has been neglected and to level and resurface a short length of path from the pond to a nearby gate. The area is currently fenced off to the public but the intention is to open it up to school groups for nature study. Some tools will be provided but if you have a hoe, shears, sickle, spade, gloves etc they will no doubt come in useful. The pond is knee deep and waders will be provided. Our ranger for the day is Phil.
Meet: 10am at the Information Centre, near the Café, Penge entrance
Nearest train: Penge West 3 min walk     Nearest bus: 157 (and others) 20 min walk
Bring: Gardening tools and gloves, and a packed lunch though fish and chip shop nearby. Drinks will be provided.
Contact: John Annett

OCTOBER Friday 24th
Venue: Little Bay Restaurant, Selsdon Road, South Croydon
This restaurant was once called the ‘Chalet Swisse’. Opposite Croham Rd.. A very interesting interior but the main attraction is a three-course meal for £5! Nothing cheap about the meal though.
Meet: Croham Arms (opp) for drinks 7:30pm for dinner at 8pm
Contact: Sandra Davison



OCTOBER Saturday 25th
Area: High Weald
An inspiring ramble from Ashurst to Tonbridge via the Wealdway – 9 miles. The Wealdway is one of Britain’s finest long distance footpaths, passing through a rich and varied landscape shaped by centuries of historical activity. From pre-Roman times to present day, the influence if countless generation has contributed to a celebrated countryside of downs, woods, meadows, hedgerows, sunken lanes, cosy villages, rivers and streams. These scenes delight the eye as the route unfolds across the breadth of two counties, Kent and East Sussex. In the early ’70s, the idea of a route connecting the Thames  & the English Channel had inspired a dedicated group of the Ramblers.
Meet: East Croydon station at 9:30am to catch the 9:40am train, changing at Oxted
Contact: Margaret Philipson

November 2003