Page 6 - PBCMarch2018

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 15 No.1 March 2018 !6

Hampton Court Ride 2017

The day dawned bright once again for the annual Hampton Court Ride. Two groups gathered
in the car park at Imber Court and awaited final instructions from Chief Commissar Pruffle.
He had warned everyone whilst caffeine was consumed in
large quantities, that he would say only once (no French
accent) “ 5 Minutes Riders”, but nobody was ready. Finally
the ancients left for Hampton Court, whilst the moderns
set off for the Surrey lanes and more coffee. Not sure
why but the actual numbers riding bikes on this very sunny
day seems to have been forgotten, suffice to say a great
day was had by all.

Hunt now takes up the tale for the ‘ancients’………

Hunt & The Hampton Court Bike Ride

At approximately 1409hrs in the afternoon of Thursday 12 October, a gathering of over
th
50 people - Pickwickians & guests sat down for our annual lunch following the Hampton Court
ride. I sat at the far table with my guest Andy, opposite sat “Tom Martin”, “Mr Luffey” and
“Count Smalltork”, along with their invited guests, plus 5 members of the Pedal Club, which all
in all made for a fun & interesting table. One member of the Pedal Club enquired “Why are
there so few of your members here?” A quick look around the tables at the lack of boaters
summed up the situation. As we started to chat about the merits of the day, we were
interrupted by Pruffle at the far end of the room, banging his spoon for attention, and
informing us about proceedings, and details of the day’s charity. After grace by Mr President
on the top table, our conversation started up again and returned to the earlier events of the
day. We reflected on the 1130hrs pit-stop at the Star pub in Hampton Hill, which had plied us
with welcome refreshments at the half way stage of our ride along the Thames footpath and
through Bushy Park.