Celebrating Vernon - An invitation: Saturday 7 May 2016

[srw]

And?

They were made of pastry wrapped around meat. And then he went to the fair.

 

[accountantpete]

Sorry but Cambridge is in the middle of nowhere and something like a 10hr return train journey from the north west of England - perhaps something more inclusive might have been appropriate.

Put me down as a reluctant "In spirit" please.

My last post on CC in disgust.

 

[stephec]

Sorry but Cambridge is in the middle of nowhere and something like a 10hr return train journey from the north west of England - perhaps something more inclusive might have been appropriate.

Put me down as a reluctant "In spirit" please.

My last post on CC in disgust.

I can't work out if that's for real or supposed to be a joke?

 

[growingvegetables]

...... My last post on CC in disgust.

I'll take that as "All my future posts will be sweetness and light"

And have a look at this - Friday 29th or Saturday 30th July ....... all welcome!

 

[TVC]

Sorry but Cambridge is in the middle of nowhere and something like a 10hr return train journey from the north west of England - perhaps something more inclusive might have been appropriate.

Put me down as a reluctant "In spirit" please.

My last post on CC in disgust.

OK, to be clear, Vernon had planned a day in Cambridge to meet Reg, Hops, Hills, Rocky and others willing. It was decided to honour this date with those who were within reach. Ideas of a rememberance closer to his home are being discussed, just get involved.

 

[TheDoctor]

Can I upgrade myself from "maybe" to "definitely"?
Not sure if I'll bring a bike or not.

 

[hopless500]

Can I upgrade myself from "maybe" to "definitely"?
Not sure if I'll bring a bike or not.

 

[TheDoctor]

Good Lord, I had no idea I was so popular! Or are you planning on drowning me in the river?

 

[hopless500]

Good Lord, I had no idea I was so popular! Or are you planning on drowning me in the river?

Are those the only 2 options?

 

[rich p]

Sorry but Cambridge is in the middle of nowhere and something like a 10hr return train journey from the north west of England - perhaps something more inclusive might have been appropriate.

Put me down as a reluctant "In spirit" please.

My last post on CC in disgust.

I'm pretty sure Vern would have made a pithy reply to that!

 

[Hill Wimp]

OK, to be clear, Vernon had planned a day in Cambridge to meet Reg, Hops, Hills, Rocky and others willing. It was decided to honour this date with those who were within reach. Ideas of a rememberance closer to his home are being discussed, just get involved.

TVC is right, The Pie Appreciation Society was already due to meet in Cambridge that day. I am surprised with Vernon being a true Northerner that nobody has suggested a Northern get together. Then maybe we can have a Western and Southern get together too.

Vernon was nothing if not all inclusive and would have loved the idea of multiple Pie Appreciation meets.

 

[theclaud]

I'm pretty sure Vern would have made a pithy reply to that!

Pith off?

 

[Katherine]

A meet up for a picnic in one of the Manchester parks?

 

[Fnaar]

I find this particular post (from March 1st) very sad and poignant.
It's from the "What's NOT annoyed you today?" thread.
RIP.

Life.

 

[jonny jeez]

View attachment 123436​

Vernon was due to attend a p*ss-up meeting of the CycleChat Pie Appreciation Society here in Cambridge on Saturday 7 May.

It has been agreed that the meet up will be going ahead as a tribute to Vernon and we'd like to invite any CCers who are able to make it to join us in Cambridge** to raise a glass and pie (or two) to Vernon. Bicycles may also be involved (although I suspect the mileage won't be that high).

Further details in due course.

* a venerable institution he'd recently invited me to join - although I was somewhat in trepidation of the initiation ceremony, as I understand Fenton, pies and blindfolds are involved..

**or in spirit if you can't make it in person.


THE EVENT

What else could it be but a pie-cnic in the park! Spring sunshine (fingers crossed), a meadow, a river, a blanket, something bubbly...

​

... and lots of pies!


THE ITINERARY

11.00 a.m.
Feeder ride from Cambridge station for anyone coming by train. Meet to the right of the main doors.

11.30 a.m.
The meeting point will be the Snowy Statue outside the Guildhall in Cambridge's Market Square (Snowy was an eccentric cyclist that I think Vernon would have felt was a kindred spirit). There's normally a busker or two playing alongside it but to the left (if you're standing with your back to the market facing the Guildhall) is a relatively quiet area opposite Yo! Sushi. Whilst waiting, people may want to have a look in the market in the square – there are one or two rather good pie vendors…

11.45(ish) a.m.
Head to the Eat Cambridge opening event at Cambridge Corn Exchange (those with cycles will be able to lock them up at the underground parking in Lion’s Yard next to the Corn Exchange). Admission is £2 for adults and kids go free. The Gogs farmshop will be there and their stall will be worth a visit.

1.30(ish) p.m.
Leave the Corn Exchange and walk (with bikes for those who have them) through Cambridge, stopping off at one or two emporia, to the designated pie-cnic place on Jesus Green, close to the swimming pool.

2.00(ish) p.m.
Scoff time! The plan is to indulge in pies, plonk and other toothsome comestibles until sated. I will bring some picnic blankets - if anyone else has some that would be helpful.

Eulogies, anecdotes and toasts welcomed!

Finishing time:
Whenever people wish to leave - we are mindful that some people will be coming on for a couple of hours and will need to get off to get to other things. If need be, when the picnic dies its death, we can decamp to a local hostelry…


TRAVEL

Rail
Trains take about an hour from London. There are also links from the East Coast main line via Peterborough and cross country via Birmingham (from Birmingham New Street calling at Coleshill Parkway, Nuneaton, Leicester, Melton Mowbray, Oakham, Stamford, Peterborough, March and Ely).

Road
Easily accessible via the M11/A11, A14 and A10. Parking in the city centre can be in short supply at the weekend - and expensive - but there are a number of Park & Ride sites around the city, including one in Trumpington which is connected to the Guided Busway - which has a very good cyclepath alongside, as far as Cambridge station.


ACCOMMODATION

Some people will be travelling some distance and have asked about accommodation. Here's some suggestions:

Hotels
There are two Travelodge hotels in central Cambridge: Cambridge Central (which is close to the station) and Cambridge Newmarket Road. There is also one off the A14 in the north of the city (Orchard Park).

There’s also a Premier Inn towards the centre of the city as well, on Newmarket Road (next door to the Travelodge). There are two in the north of the city, one off the A14 (again next door to the Travelodge) and one in Girton.

There are also numerous other hotels and B&Bs. I’d recommend TripAdvisor. There's also a very nice youth hostel right near the station.

Campsites
There is a Camping & Caravanning Club site about 3 miles from the city centre in Great Shelford (just down the road from me) which is well used by cyclists: Cabbage Moor Campsite.

There’s a Caravan Club site in Cherry Hinton and a privately owned site, Highfield Farm Touring Park, which has reasonable rates for cyclists. The Cherry Hinton site is a couple of miles from the city centre and the Highfield Farm site is about 5 miles. Both are on main bus routes as well.


ATTENDEES

Definites

User
Glow worm
Rockymountain and Mrs Rockymountain
Hill Wimp
Dayvo
thegreenman
Dave123
robjh
Hopless500
The Velvet Curtain
Lullabelle
User13710
TheDoctor

Possibles

Stephen C
CarlIP
meta lon
Crackle
Screenman
rich p
StuAff
Elybazza61
Puddles plus Puddlelets

In Spirits
Raleigh Nut
PeteXXX
Fab Foodie
mjray
twentysix by twentyfive
User
Marmion
I hate hills
ClicheGuevara
Deptfordmarmoset
Archeress
Rickshaw Phil
GravityAided
stephec
Fnaar

Lovely idea, I shall raise a pie in spirit at 14.00.