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Choir walkers spring into action

The choir walking group has notched two more outings in the past few weeks, enduring wet spring weather on the first and enjoying balmy sunshine on the second. On 4 April the walkers covered an undulating circuit of five and a half miles from the Tudor Rose in Old Coulsdon.   A descent of New Hill, where Dick Jones exhibited his voluntary clearance work, was followed by an ascent on to Farthing Down Ridge.  The group then traversed Happy Valley to the mid-walk refreshment point at the Fox.

Undulating stretch of 4 April walk

 

The next stretch lay across Coulsdon Common, this time passing two of Banners’ clearance sites, and traversed a wet and windy Kenley Aerodrome, followed by a narrow muddy woodland track to the far end of Canon’s Hill.

 

The April 4 walkers

The group paid a surprise visit to the home of Mary Barnes, serenading her with two songs in memory of her late husband and choir tenor Mansel, that brought tears to her eyes.  It also acted as a reminder of the earlier visit on the occasion of Mansel’s eightieth birthday – which persuaded him to return to the choir following a serious illness.

A record fifteen walkers started from the Tudor Rose, including two debutants in Charles Joy and Phil Willis, returning invalid Martin Perkins, and social member Ted Mouat.

May 4: Hazel contemplates the bluebells

The second walk took place in fine spring weather on 4 May, this time starting at the Aperfield Inn in Biggin Hill. The walkers passed through glorious bluebell woods to the North Downs Way which offered sumptuous views over the Kent Weald.  After a refreshment break at the Tally Ho! in Knockholt, the group returned through more bluebell woods to Biggin Hill.

Spectacular views over Kent Weald

There was a break-away by the lead group towards the finish which left the three back markers to find their own way back to the Aperfield Hill after they missed a crucial turning.   They rejoined the main party after a delay of only some 15 minutes, so all was well that ended well.

May 5 group pose at the Tally Ho!