With a spring in our steps

On 5 June, eight walkers gathered in glorious late spring sunshine in front of the Red Lion in Bletchingley before striking northwards down Little Common Lane. After paying homage to the site of the old William IV pub, we turned right and continued through the meadows down to Sandy Lane and the track towards Pendell Court, now the Hawthorns School.

Halfway R&R at Inn on the Pond

After skirting the school, the track led up to the secluded hamlet of Warwick Wold, sadly without its Warwick Arms pub which had succumbed when the M23/M25 junction was built close by. We crossed under the M23 via a road tunnel and  followed the track around the picturesque Spines Mere, viewable sporadically through gates due to the overgrown surrounding hedgerow.

Enjoying the glorious late spring sunshine

There were better views of Mercer's Lake as we took a breather on the benches outside the watersports facility, although the promised ice cream refreshments had sold out the day before.

All was well however at the Inn on the Pond where they had not sold out of beer and the group relaxed again in the sunny garden. From there it was a straightforward return journey, including a rendition of Anthem under the M23, before tucking into a substantial and excellent supper back at the Red Lion.

This walk was preceded by an outing on 15 May, when a large group met at the Ship in Mortlake in readiness for visiting the care home where Dick Jones’ partner Jilly resides. One contingent made the 30-minute walk beside the Thames, while a less mobile group used the services of Uber.

Jilly sings along with the choir

A group of 16 serenaded Jilly at her care home. The entire group now moved on to the nearby Coach and Horses for further singing.  It then divided again, the non-walkers taking a lengthy double bus-ride to the Normanton pub, pausing en route for extra refreshment at the Orange Tree in Richmond.  

The walkers also took a bus but this time to the gate of Richmond Park where they headed for the Isabella Plantation.  After inspecting the blossoms and the pond, sadly discoloured by algae, they too reached Normanton.  While some headed home from there, a hardy rump joined the non-walkers for food and drink in a convenient hostelry.