Solstice and New Year outings

The walkers made two outings either side of Christmas and the New Year.

The first, on December 20, was the traditional winter solstice walk, which also commemorated the sad accident to befall walking veteran Martin “Polly” Perkins, who fractured his ankle during a walk on December 21, 2015.

Polly in good spirits at the White Lion

This was doubly unfortunate as Martin had just retired after his long stint as a publican and was looking forward to his first Christmas at home in 25-plus years. After a dramatic evacuation from a hill-side near Bletchingley, he spent Christmas at East Surrey hospital. 

Martin was in good spirits as he downed a pint (or two) at the White Lion in Warlingham ahead of the eight-strong group’s departure.  A brief mid-way rest was taken at the Harrow whereupon the group took the most direct possible back to the White Lion. 

Walkers pause on direct return route to White Lion.

This discomfited Pete Gillman, who was planning to meet them en route from the Harrow, but was instructed by Banners to wait at the pub instead.  The scheduled drinking and eating therefore took place earlier than usual, with a double celebration for avoiding any nasty accidents en route.

The second walk, on January 10 2022, was based at the Old Bell in Oxted.  It soon proved to be something of mudfest, following days of heavy rain, and the bridleways which much of the route followed were churned into deep goo in many places.

Polly negotiates the mud

Nonetheless there was an impressive turn-out of 13 walkers, who duly posed for the traditional group photograph when half time was taken at the Hare and Hounds at Godstone Green.  The return leg took them past St Mary’s in Tandridge, with its enormous yew tree, most likely more than one thousand years old,  that is renowned to be the second-largest yew in the UK.   The Old Bell was impressively tolerant towards the walkers’ muddy attire when they reached journey’s end, and a good drink and supper were duly had by all.

The mud group sing out at Hare and Hounds