This drawing was done by the late........

 ,,,,Steve Ebdon a member of the Forty Plus CC and the C.T.C.

I can`t remember how many times I`ve ridden over that bridge that spanned the Cripsey Brook and into the the village of Moreton. I still find it a joy cycling through this village though a number of new houses have sprung up over the years! But then that`s like many of our Essex villages these days new housing build everywhere.

One Cottage I always make a point of going past which as a Blue Plaque on the wall in memory of the late Steve Marriott the rock guitarist with the Small Faces and later Humble Pie.  

                                      

When I first started cycling with the Havering CTC Section in the late 80`s Moreton was always on their Runs List on Boxing Day. The reason being was the two pubs in the village had a friendly rivalry going back to 1969 and hundreds of people went along to enjoy it too! A team from the White Hart and the Nags Head had an obstacle race in the main street and of course there was also beer involved in this!

Then it was a race down to Cripsey Brook for the tug-of-war and if you just a spectator you didn`t get too close to the Brook as not only did both  teams end up in the water they push anyone standing to close to water too!

Sadly the Nags Head closed down in 2016 and didn`t reopen again until 2021 with a new name the Dog and Pickle, so we don`t know yet if this Boxing Day event will take place in 2021?

                                                   

                                                   

 

I`ve been a member of Cycling UK since.......

 1980 when it was called the `Cyclists Touring Club` I joined because that`s what I was interested in and eventually that what I did cycle touring for many happy years! Later I became involved in a local CTC Section and the usually committee duties for 20 years, but no longer with that though I do keep in touch with my old club mates.

Six years ago I became a Senior (over 65) member and last year subs were £35.50, this year no Senior membership instead a new Standard individual  of £48, but what a slap in the face for us older that have kept the CTC going for all these years!

Back in the day the CTC had a bimonthly magazine (they still have one but its rubbish now and goes straight into my recycle box) which was always a good read plus a middle pull-out section about the local Sections around the country. 

I think most cyclists join the CTC or Cycling UK for the Third Party Insurance, but as I said before I joined of my interested in cycle touring! But their Insurance did come in handy after my cycling accident so paying the the new memberships subs of £48 is no problem for me just I do think the CTC sorry old habits Cycling UK have lost the plot over the years!

I`m also a member of the British Cycling because of the club I curranty belong to and my subs are £44.

As for renewal my Cycling UK subs I`m still thinking about!