Blog Bulletin

                                              Inside the hangar

This Saturday we're visiting the enterprising young ladies at The Old Stables Coffee Shop & Deli in Hullavington. (On Wednesday 16th November 2016, they're opening another cafe in Castle Combe. Rest assured, we'll be checking this out and assessing its suitability as soon as possible).

Hullavington gained a certain amount of exposure or to be more precise, the RAF base did, when the airfield was used as a film set during the making of 1984. The film was based on George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. It was a remake of the 1956 film 1984. Recorded during April, May and June in 1984, it starred John Hurt and Richard Burton. This was Richard Burton's last film before his death in August of that year. In poor health Richard Burton had great difficulty remembering his lines. One scene took a record 41 takes before he managed to say his speech without fumbling his lines. The opening scenes of the film took place in a grass-covered hangar at RAF Hullavington. The large crowd gathered in the hangar included local people who were recruited as extras. 

The Old Stables Coffee Shop & Deli

No course checking this week, so as always, please be careful.

You can view and download the Social Group's 35 mile course here. It has 1,211 feet of elevation.

Similarly, you can find the Sporting Group's 41.4 mile course here.  It has 1,517 feet of elevation. This is a slightly different course to the one used last time in order to avoid some potentially muddy lanes.

As always, please familiarise yourself with the course you intend to ride and if you have a Garmin or a similar device, then please download it. Both will assist your ride leader.

The illuminated carved stone poppy

Wednesday evening saw 5 members take to the road. Peter C's course took us out to Purton and around to Wootton Bassett, where we stopped briefly to admire the large carved stone poppy at the Coped Hall end of the high street. By day, the stone is white, but with the projected red lighting, it makes a very poignant tribute.

We also broke our journey coming to a halt by the cenotaph. Outside of the post office, sitting on a bench, was a life-size soldier formed out of a wire frame and completely covered with knitted poppies. One side of the town hall was also decorated with knitted poppies grouped together in the shape of a single large poppy.

Riders: James, Peter, Phil, Tim H and me, Tim W.

                Not The Canteen, but they do sell secondhand crockery

I've exhausted my stock of photographs of The Canteen, and so instead I'm going to give a plug for Emmaus, one of my favourite charity shops, which is situated in Market Street, Nailsworth. If you like a good old rummage in a proper junk shop, with sensibly priced stock, being sold in aid of a great cause, then this is the place to come, but make sure you allow plenty of time to get around.

Peter C informs me that Saturday's excursion to The Canteen at Nailsworth was an enjoyable one with both groups arriving for coffee within minutes of each other.

Suitably refreshed, they merged together and returned to Malmesbury via Balls Green, Minchinhampton and Cherington. 

Social Group: James Moody, Phil, Mike Ratcliffe, Steve Cox and Tim H.

Sporting Group: Brian, Mike G and Peter C.

Howard coincidently with a field of poppies

Howard went into hospital, I believe on Sunday 13th November 2016, for an operation to rectify his faulty heart valve. 

Peter Baptiste at Toomers on 13th August 2016

You might recall that last year Peter B broke his collarbone whilst mountain biking. Unfortunately the fracture didn't set properly, which meant that he needed an operation. Peter should have undergone surgery on Monday 7th November 2016, but having got up at 5.30am, and after abstaining from food and drink, he arrived at the hospital to find that the consultant had been taken away to another hospital for a procedure he was waiting for. Peter B is now hoping to have his operation tomorrow (Wednesday 16th November).

I know that you'll all join me in wishing Howard and Peter B very speedy recoveries. In the meantime, we'll look forward to seeing them both back in action just as soon as they're able to ride again.