Roy's funeral

For those not familiar with the Clandon Wood Nature Reserve and Burial Site, where Roy's funeral will be held at midday on Monday.

Maggie and I recced the journey and decided to go by car rather than to ride, because of the likely dark and rain coming home.  However you do it, however, beware that our Google Maps erroneously showed the burial ground as south of the A246, and it in fact to the north of that road; this matters because at that point the road is dual carriageway and you can't see the entrance from the other, westbound carriageway.

If, like us, you are driving from the Leatherhead/Great Bookham direction towards Guildford on the A246, you will need to carry on along the short dual carriageway part of that road until it joins (and then becomes) the A25.  At those lights you must do a U turn so that you are going East and back towards Leatherhead along the A246 and the entrance is three hundred yard or so from the turning on that side of the road.  The signposting is not huge until you are actually upon the entrance itself.  It's pretty simple once you know, but it took us at least fifteen minutes of driving, Googling and map-reading to work it out.

Beddington Park ride 16 November

A cold, sad Saturday

The weather was not quite bad enough on Saturday to justify staying in and watching the television, but only Maggie and Paul, Roger and Anna and John turned up at the Pavilion Cafe to meet Colin. Ray and Chris arrived on foot, disappointed at not being well enough to cycle safely. We had thought we might go a bit further afield but Colin tempted us with his offer to lead us to same-old Morden Hall Park by a new route, and that he most certainly did!

Mathematically there is an infinite number of ways to get from one to the other, and the one Colin picked had us finding ways through the car park gates along the industrial estate east of Beddington Lane, crossing the tram tracks to the Mitcham Road, cycling across Mitcham Common almost to Mitcham village at the end, then working our way through back alleys over the Cricket Green, past Mitcham Parish Church, which looks jaundiced with its yellow stone in the winter afternoon, and into Morden Hall Park by recrossing the tramlines at Phipps Bridge.

The National Trust Cafe at Morden Hall Park has changed its modus operandi, in keeping with much of modern life the change is not necessarily an improvement.  We went back along the Wandle Trail, though John chose to do his own thing, and finally split up at Butter Hill.

In memory of Roy, whom we all missed.

Funeral details - Roy Flowers

Roy's funeral will be at 12 noon on Monday 25 November,
at Clandon Wood Natural Burial Ground, Epsom Road, West Clandon, Guildford GU4 7FN. https://www.clandonwood.com.  RSVP - see details below.


As well as being a burial ground, Clandon Wood is a nature reserve with thirty-one acres of wildflower traditional meadowland, lakes, wetland, young woodland and an abundance of fauna. You will not see any vertical headstones, vases with wilting floral tributes or much evidence of other recent burials.  In fact, if you hadn’t come to attend a funeral you would probably not even know you were in a cemetery.

Bearing in mind the naturalness of this special place and the fact that it is November, please come prepared.  Wear flat shoes or boots, bring an umbrella and prepare to take some mud home with you if the weather is inclement. A motorised buggy is available for anyone with mobility issues.

Roy specially mentioned in his will that no one is to wear black at his funeral, so please come in your brightest colours.  He was a happy person and we want to make his funeral a happy tribute to his memory.

If you wish to bring a floral tribute, we ask that you bring one single flower and nothing else – no oasis, no cellophane, no ribbons, no wires, no cards.  Flowers are put into or on top of the grave and those on top are later removed at an appropriate time in order not to interfere with the natural flora of the site.


Can you please let Roger know if you are coming so that we can cater appropriately, but if you say you are not coming and then change your mind, we will still be very pleased to see you.  Please pass these details to anyone who might be interested.  (Click to email Roger,)

We hope to see you there – 12 noon, Monday 25 November, Clandon Wood. 


RSVP

Roger and Anna

2018/2019 Annual Report - a sneak preview

Despite the committee's best efforts to keep a lid on all our secrets a copy of the Annual Report has been leaked and slid out under the radar and has popped up in our Information Hub which is accessible via a link from our front page.

Spys tell me that the report can be found hidden in 'Reports and Minutes'\'Annual Reports'.

We regret the leak but the truth is that it probably would be a good idea to read it before the AGM this Wednesday. Otherwise we will have to have a fifteen minute silence while everyone catches up. It is a great summary of our year's activities, a very good read thanks to eleven people who have written contributions for it.

As if that isn't exciting enough you can also read a draft copy of the minutes from last year's AGM: 'Information Hub'\'Reports and Minutes'\'AGM Minutes'.

~ Tim

Notice of Annual General Meeting

CTC South West London will hold its AGM at 11:00 am, after Elevenses, on Wednesday 13th November.

Please be on time.

The venue is the same as last year, just a short walk from the Queens Road exit from the Day Centre.

All Saints Hall
All Saints Roman Catholic Church
13 Queens Road
Hersham
KT12 5LU

The hall is located at the back of the premises. There are two halls with a shared entrance. Our meeting is in the Small Hall.

There are no bike racks but there is plenty of space to park bikes against the buildings near the hall entrance. Please bring your bikes to the hall rather than leave them at the Day Centre.

There are normally plenty of spaces on the premises in front of the church for anyone arriving by motor vehicle, with access from Queens Road.
 
Tim
Hon. Secretary

Roy Flowers

More than four years ago we all welcomed three super people into the Beginners: Roy Flowers and Roger and Anna Parsley. All have contributed generously to our activities. This morning we learnt that Roy had been taken to St. George's hospital yesterday with an infection.

Roger explained that Roy had a leaking aneurysm. His daughter was with him and he was lucid and chatty. Very sadly, Roger has contacted us again to tell us: “Roy passed away very peacefully in St Georges at ten to three this afternoon - all his family were with him and we are heartbroken”.

We send our deepest sympathies to Roger, Anna and Roy's family. He will be greatly missed.

~ Colin and Shirley