Saturday, 19 July 2014

Club Ride Saturday 19th July 2014


Our destination, The Angel House Tea Room, High Street, Sherston

A strong case for the renaming of our club, with ‘and District’ being added, was made this morning when three times as many members from the outlying villages rode, as did those from Malmesbury itself. However, some would argue that Cowbridge is most definitely a part of the town, in which case there was an equal number. The mathematicians will by now have worked out that there were four riders.

A thought did occur to me whilst gliding down the High Street, that back in the day, as schoolboys, we’d probably have gone to find our missing mates and seeing our excited faces bobbing at their door, they would have eagerly come out to play. Why do we stop doing that when we become adults?

The three that set off from the Cross Hayes, of which I was one, only got as far as the Silk Mills before we stopped to take shelter from the downpour.  The option of retiring was given short shrift and so we scuttled out when something close to a lull arrived.

Meanwhile, Simon who was waiting for us at Cowbridge, having arrived a few minutes late, thought that we must have already ridden past and so embarked on a mission to catch us up.

By the time we reached Little Somerford, Gary and I were already as wet as we possibly could be, and so it no longer seemed to matter. Phil on the other hand had obviously spent wisely, as the beads of rainwater merrily bounced around on the surface of his rain jacket before tumbling harmlessly away.

On Seagry Road, at the junction with Five Thorn Lane, Phil pointed out the work which has started, to erect a memorial to two Spitfire pilots who died in April 1941, when their planes crashed over Seagry Mill whilst dogfight training.

A dedication ceremony to mark the installation of the memorial is due to take place on 14th September, which it is hoped will feature a fly-past from two Spitfires.

On the theme of Spitfires, Gary added an interesting anecdote. You might be aware that to help the war effort people were encouraged to club together to fund the construction of the Spitfires. During the planning for his village’s millennium celebrations, the committee realised that they were short of money. The gloom was soon lifted when an elderly resident remembered that there was still cash left in the Spitfire Fund!


We Love Cyclists, the Sign Outside of The Angel House Tea Room

After a soggy, but otherwise pleasant ride, we arrived at The Angel Tea Rooms in the High Street at Sherston, where with the rain having briefly stopped, we found Simon sitting outside. The staff made us very welcome and I enjoyed a pot of tea (£2.50) and a guilt-free, delicious light finger of shortbread, for just £1. 


Alfresco Outside of The Angel House Tea Room

With the crackle of thunder overhead and the first few spots of rain splashing into the remains of our hot drinks, we decided to make tracks. Again, giving up wasn't on the agenda and with the rain hammering down on our backs, the four of us headed northwards up to Leighterton, before returning via Westonbirt and Shipton Moyne.

Distance: 35.68 miles

1 comment:

  1. Well done all of you and I hope the trench foot clears up soon! We had a nice dry ride to Marlborough today and thought of you brave souls often.

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