Author: Brian Connellan

Windmillers next the sea

Albatros, the venerable Dutch barge moored on the quayside at Wells-next-the-Sea, was ever our favoured lunch venue on outings to north Norfolk. Boasting a pancake-heavy menu, deckside dining and, as several Windmillers can attest, authentically nautical (ie primitive) B&B accommodation, who can forget the precipitous staircase between topdeck and the cosy bar down in the hold? An old boat can be a perilous place after a pint or two of Adnams.

4 July 2019: Windmillers Roger, Ken, Martin, Sandra, Keith, Maurice and Brian dining on The Albatros – with Captain Ton Brouwer standing by the mainmast.

Alas in 2019 and shortly after the above photo was taken Albatros disappeared from the quayside. We wondered where it went.

The good news is that Albatros (look, you spelling pedants, that’s the name on the bow, it’s Dutch) is back on quayside following an extensive rebuild in Maldon boatyard and, according to its website, will eventually re-open as a B&B and maybe even a lunch venue and bar. Hurrah! We will keep an eye out for further news.

*The face that launched a thousand ships*; Helen of Troy – or Rach of Whittlesford? Seen here overlooking the Albatros.

A year on from our last foray to Wells-next-the-Sea, it was high time for a return visit. So it was that Keith set about organising this year’s outing and Roger and Geraldine once again hosted us at their Norfolk idyll.

Having lingered over coffee and croissants chez Phillips, we set off at 10am and made short work of the 16 or so miles to Binham Priory where we pulled in for refreshment, explored the nave and wandered around the graveyard with it’s interesting headstones, ancient and new.

Simion pays homage to Roger Law, co-creator of the satirical TV puppet show, Spitting Image

From Binham we headed for Wells-next-the-Sea where having inspected the Albatros, we pulled in at the seafood stall and Keith purchased a crab for his dinner. How does one keep seafood fresh when you have miles to go on a hot day in July, we wondered? The stall holder kindly obliged with plentiful ice and a poly bag – and we hear Keith enjoyed his crab supper with no ill effects.

From Wells we headed west, pausing at Holkam Hall for a photograph, before turning south and completed our 32 mile loop at Sculthorpe Mill, just half a mile from Roger and Geraldine’s and a lovely spot for a good lunch.

Our outings to the coast are always memorable (some more so that others!) but this was up there with the best and our thanks go to Roger and Geraldine for their hospitality, Keith for his organisation and Ric, this week’s birthday boy, for his generous round of drinks.

And for the record the turnout was: Brian, Keith, MartinB, Rach, Ric, Rod, Roger and Simon.

Tags Wells-next-the-Sea

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A baker’s dozen at Woodditton

Post author By Brian Connellan
Post date July 2, 2026
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Many of us will remember the summer of ’76 for its prolonged heatwave when rivers ran dry, reservoirs cracked and the government appointed a Minister for Drought. Might 2026 be going the same way? We shall see.

Yet another sunny Thursday saw thirteen Windmillers turn out for Simon’s ride along the lanes bordering Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. We were particularly pleased to see Roger again who, since moving to Norfolk, hadn’t ridden with us for nigh on a year.

Setting off from The Three Blackbirds, Woodditton, we followed Simon to Moulton where we posed for the obligatory photograph on the medieval bridge.

Crossing the busy A14, we rode into the little village of Risby, and pulled up for coffee and cake at The Nook Café. Hidden away behind some barns, its gazebo provided a welcome respite from the high sun – and the cake selection was pretty good too.

Back on the bikes the return leg took us through Little Saxham, a delightful Suffolk village where we pulled over to admire the fine round tower of St Nicolas Church.

The Church of St Nicholas, Little Saxham

With water bottles now empty, it was good to get back to the pub and enjoy a pint under yet another shady gazebo. All agreed Simon’s route had been a good one, scenic and on particularly quiet roads. And to cap it all, he was celebrating a very belated birthday and bought us all a drink. Top chap!

For the record our baker’s dozen roll call was: Alan, Brian, Graham, Keith, Ken, Maurice, Paul, Ric, Rod, Roger, Simon, Tom, Victor.

Simon’s route: 30 miles clockwise from Woodditton

Great route, Simon, and thanks for the beers.

Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Hertfordshire Hinxworth

Rain? What rain?

Early summer rides can see a goodly turnout of Windmillers and, should favourable weather coincide with someone’s birthday, the additional prospect of free beer can mean a bumper turnout.

This particular Thursday, however, saw many a Windmiller deterred by the bleak weather forecast and, despite news of this being Neil’s birthday, a low turnout was in prospect (good news for Neil as it made for a more affordable bar bill).

So it was that just eight riders departed the Three Horseshoes in Hinxworth sensibly clad in wet weather gear. We were to follow a route of Graham’s devising, a 31 mile loop around the lanes where the Bedfordshire / Cambridgeshire / Hertfordshire borders meet.

Pausing for a breather at Cockayne Hatley

Pulling up for the obligatory photograph near Cockayne Hatley, it occured to Martin that we had passed the village church many times and yet never taken a peep inside. With the prospect of an imminent downpour this seemed an excellent idea. Alas, the church was locked, albeit with an informative note tacked to the door teasing would-be visitors with a list of the treasures inside; the references to Long John Silver and Peter Pan’s Wendy were particularly intriguing. We resolved to go back sometime for a proper tour.

St John’s, locked and shuttered at Cockayne Hatley

Pausing only for another photograph beside St John’s, we got back on the bikes and headed for Potton, Gamlingay and Waresley. Thankfully, the downpour did not materialise and, apart from the occasional light shower, we stayed dry all the way to the refreshment stop at the excellent Bean Theory coffee shop. Sure enough, once inside, the heavens opened.

Saddled up and ready to leave Bean Theory

Refreshed and back on the bikes we set off on the return leg, thankful that the worst of the rain had passed while we were enjoying our coffee and cake. Mid-way home, Graham advised against braving the ford at Sutton, though the 13th century packhorse bridge, allegedly Bedfordshire’s oldest footbridge, provided pause for a photo opportunity.

Another view of Sutton Ford taken in December 2020. Wet or what?

Delighted – and not a little surprised – we arrived back at the Three Horseshoes bone dry having encountered very little in the way of rain and, peeling off our superfluous waterproofs, we enjoyed a beer, courtesy of birthday boy, Neil, in the garden before sitting down to lunch in the pub.

Thanks go to Graham for organising things, Martin for the many photographs, and Neil, top chap, for the beers.

For the record, the turnout was: Alan, Brian, Graham, Martin, Neil, Ric, Rod and Simon (plus Ken who joined us after the coffee break).

Tags Windmill cycling club

Great Chishill Hertfordshire

Hills, spills and thrills

Post author By Brian Connellan
Post date April 23, 2026
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When Rod describes a route as picturesque what he really means is that we will be cresting a lot of hills in order to savour the scenery. Which is all very well for Rod himself, astride his souped up e-bike, but more of a challenge for those of us reliant on old fashioned pedal-power.

So it was that Thursday morning saw a gang of Windmillers heading away from The Fox & Duck, Therfield, bound for The Mixing Shed Café some 16 miles to the east. Sure enough, there were hills aplenty along the way. Indeed, by the time we returned for lunch we had laboured up some 500m of Hertfordshire hills and clocked up 32 miles. That is probably child’s play to Graham who seems to spend most of his time in mountainous terrain, but a challenge to those of us who live down by the Fens.

So much for hills but what about spills? Sadly, Ric took a tumble shortly after setting off. It was one of those freak occurrences as, running over an otherwise innocuous looking piece of wood, it somehow jammed in his wheel bringing the bike to a dead stop, launching Ric over the handlebars and pitching him face first on terra firma. Ouch! We will gloss over the gory details; suffice to say he left blood on the road and we hear his dentist is looking forward to a very good year.

This is why they call us The Windmill Club

So where does that leave us? Hills, Spills and . . . ah yes, Thrills. It was otherwise a special day; first and foremost it was Rod’s birthday and – top chap – he was buying the beers. Secondly, not only was this St George’s Day but also William Shakespeare’s birthday; he was 462 years old this very day. So, apart from the odd Scotsman and Irishman in the peloton, the English contingent were feeling pretty self satisfied. Rod, indeed, had affixed a George Cross flag to his bike! Might he be the guy who’s been tying them to lampposts in Royston?

Mid-way and pulling in at the Mixing Shed for coffee and cake we were delighted to meet up with Deborah who reports that her new hip is almost peloton-ready. We look forward to her joining us on two wheels in the near future.

Bluebell woods between Chrishall and Elmdon

To be fair to Rod, it was indeed a picturesque route. Highlights on the return leg included Great Chishill Windmill and the bluebell woods between Chrishall and Elmdon.

Special thanks go to Tom for driving Ric home, and Rod for his excellent route, not to mention the beers.

For the record the turnout was: Andrew, Brian, Charles, Gareth, Geoff, Howard, Keith, MartinB, Maurice, Neil, Paul, Ric, Robert, Rod, Simon, Tom and Victor.

Tags Fox and Duck, Therfield, Windmill cycling club

Thursday lunch club

First the bad news; this was yet another wet Thursday morning, the fourth in succession. And the good news? It was Jeremy’s birthday and he’d be buying the beers! No surprise then that, while only five Windmillers turned out for the ride, another seven rolled up for lunch. Talk about freeloaders.

We pride ourselves on being an all-season club but January, seemingly one of the wettest on record, really has tested our mettle and, for the first time in the club’s history, we have cancelled three Thursday outings in a row.

So there we were, the first Thursday in February and the forecast was for yet more rain. Pondering what to do, Brian, this week’s ride leader, eventually concluded, sod it, let’s ride. So it was that he, Alan, Howard, Jeremy and Rod, togged out in wet weather gear, gathered for coffee in Day’s Bakery, Newton, before heading out across Cambridge to Anglesey Abbey and back.

Lo and behold, apart from the odd spell of drizzle, the rain held off, we stayed largely dry and, returning to the pub some three hours later, we were delighted to be joined by Andrew, Deborah, Graham, Ken, Maurice, Tom and Victor.

The Queen’s Head at Newton with its cosy fires and old fashioned pub fare (where else can you get brown soup, not to mention toast and dripping?) is fast becoming a favourite lunchtime venue.

And Jeremy, top chap, bought all the drinks. Happy Birthday, old timer!

So here’s hoping for better weather in the weeks ahead. If we miss any more outings some Windmillers may need a cycling refresher course.

Tags Queens Head Newton, Windmill cycling club

Cambridgeshire Great Shelford Shepreth Shepreth L Moor

A happy new year ride

It takes a lot to stop us riding on a Thursday; the weather has to be truly awful or, as was the case this year, Christmas should happen to fall on a Thursday; but that is all the more reason to have a ride on New Year’s Day.

So it was that a small group of diehards – Jenni, Jeremy, Simon and Michael – took up Brian’s offer of a restorative ride to Wimpole and back on this, the first day of 2026.

Setting off from Great Shelford our first port of call was Haslingfield, where we pulled up to admire The Portraits House, so called because the walls are covered in pictures of locals. The owner, Robert Petryszak, began this magnum opus during Covid, turning his home into a local attraction and earning his very own landmark on Google Maps. Should you be interested the place has just gone on the market for £450k, including artwork.

From Haslingfield, we laboured up Chapel Hill before coasting down to Barrington and on via Orwell to Wimpole, where we took the off-road loop through the estate before pulling in at the Old Rectory Café for coffee and cake.

Refreshed, we headed back, again via Orwell, to Shepreth, where, finding the road closed, we made a one mile, off-road detour across Shepreth L Moor. Designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest it’s notable for the many anthills created by the yellow meadow ant.

Exiting the moor via the tunnel under the railway line

So it was that some 30 miles after setting off, we pulled in The Queen’s Head, Newton only to find several Windmillers who, having earlier tendered excuses for not riding, had nonetheless turned up for lunch and a pint. But it was great to see Martin, Penny, Andrew, Lynsey, Graham and Ric joining us to toast in the new year.

31 miles anticlockwise from Great Shelford

A very happy new year to all.

Tags Great Shelford, Shepreth, Shepreth L Moor

Black Horse Brent Pelham

A year end ride

The last Thursday ride of 2025 saw twelve Windmillers huffing and puffing their way around a hilly route of Graham’s devising.

After last week’s very wet outing it was good to be riding under glorious blue skies. Here we are somewhere between High Cross and Sacombe Green.

With Christmas in the offing there is a good case for moderating one’s calorie intake ahead of all that feasting on turkey and plum pudding. And what better way to make tummy room than an energetic 30 mile workout around the lanes of north-east Herts.

Alas, half way into the ride and confronted with the display of exquisite cakes at Ermine’s Tea Room all good intentions went out the window. Moderation be damned seemed to be the unspoken consensus as we tucked into our sweet treats.

Back on the bikes and labouring up the hill away from Thundridge there were some who regretted the cake, at least until digestion took its course and we settled into a steady pace on the return leg to Brent Pelham and The Black Horse – for yet more food and a very welcome beer.

Plenty of Christmas trees to be seen along the way. This one’s knitted!

For the record, our turnout of twelve Windmillers featured Alan, Andrew, Brian, Chris, Geoff, Graham, Howard, Keith, Ken, Ric, Robert and Victor.

Our thanks go to Graham for planning the route and leading the way.

And a very Merry Christmas to all our readers!

Tags Windmill cycling club

Essex Ridgewell Steeple Bumpstead

Winding roads, curved walls

Post author By Brian Connellan
Post date November 6, 2025
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Keith’s route – from Steeple Bumpstead to Glemsford and back – provided what was possibly our most traffic-free ride of the year. Coupled with a bumper turnout of sixteen Windmillers* it made for a most enjoyable Thursday morning’s outing.

Pausing for a breather beside the duck pond at Belchamp Walter

Setting off from the Fox & Hounds, the outbound ride took us through many a fine north Essex village, and none finer than Great Yeldham, famed for its Great Oak – which is recorded in The Domesday Book – and its crinkle crankle wall. “What’s that?“, I hear you say.

The crinkle crankle wall at Great Yeldham

These walls mostly date back to the days of the brick tax (1784 to 1850) when the government levied a duty of half a crown – about £24 in today’s money – per 1000 bricks to help fund the American War of Independence. No sooner was the tax introduced than canny builders found ways to minimise its impact. Some just used bigger bricks and some opted to build walls crinkle-crankle style. These curved structures provided stability and required just one layer of bricks rather than the usual two, doing away altogether with the need for buttressing. Not only were the walls economical to build but the curves provided shelter and retained warmth for the growing of fruit trees.

The tax was eventually abolished in 1850 leading to a boom in the brick industry (and a return to the building of straighter walls!)

Some seventeen miles after setting off we crossed the River Stour into Suffolk and pulled in at the excellent Willow Tree Farm Café, just outside Glemsford.

Refreshed and back on the bikes we re-traced our way over the Stour and back into Essex for the return leg via Belchamp St Paul, Ridgewell and Birdbrook – and it was somewhere along here that we encountered that scourge of autumnal outings – the tractor and hedge flail.

There’s many a puncture from thorny hedge flailings

Sure enough, and just a few miles short of the pub, MartinB pulled up with a puncture, a long thorn protruding from his tyre. Seeing it would be the quickest way for us all getting back in time for lunch, Rod dashed the remaining few miles to the pub, got the car and retrieved both Martin and machine. Well done, Rod!

We subsequently learned Martin wasn’t the only one to suffer a puncture; a similar fate had befallen Alan, though his caused by glass and thankfully mended en route.

Returning to the Fox & Hounds we were delighted to find MartinW waiting there for us and together we enjoyed a beer or two and a good lunch.

Our thanks go to Keith for planning and leading an excellent morning’s ride.

33 miles anticlockwise from Steeple Bumpstead

^* The turnout was: Alan, Brian, Deborah, Geoff, Graham, Howard, Jenni, Keith, Ken, MartinB, Maurice, Paul, Rach, Rod, Simon and Victor.

Tags Windmill cycling club

Sicklesmere Suffolk

Keith’s birthday outing

Thursday morning saw nine Windmillers gathering in the car park of The Rushbrooke Arms, Sicklesmere, just south of Bury St Edmunds where, with the beet harvest in full swing, there is a distinct tang in the air from the nearby British Sugar factory as it cooks up lorry-loads of the stuff and refines it into Silver Spoon sugar. It makes for quite a stink.

Keith, Rach, Alan and Robert pause to take in the view

Keith, this week’s ride leader, led us southwards away from the stink towards Lavenham and on to Brent Eleigh where we pulled in at Café Como, fast becoming a Windmill favourite given its fine selection of homemade goodies.

Not only is Suffolk beautiful cycling country but, if you keep your eyes open, there is plenty of history hereabouts worthy of closer inspection. So it was that our return route, via Thorpe Morieux and Little Whelnetham, took us past the memorial to the seventeen American airmen who died in 1944 when two Flying Fortress’ collided and crashed midair near Hitcham.

Rod, Andrew and Roger at the memorial on the road between Kettlebaston and Hitcham

Later we pulled over to admire the fine 15th century farmhouse near Brettenham.

Back at the pub Keith bought us all a beer and endured our rowdy rendition of Happy Birthday. Top chap!

Thanks go to Keith for planning the route, leading the way and buying the beers; also to Simon and Robert for the many photographs.

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Some Cambridge culture

Arriving by train, visitors to Cambridge are confronted with Ariadne Wrapped, an artwork commissioned to grace the new station forecourt. According to sculptor Gavin Turk, the mythical Ariadne is,

‘. . . presented as a packaged shape forever in transportation, informed by the sound of the train the parcel lies in limbo. The criss-cross of ropes and string act like compositional or navigation lines, pointers to new perspectives.‘

The general consensus among Windmillers was that it was a monstrosity, best replaced by a statue honoring a Cambridge worthy, say Stephen Hawking or suchlike.

Following last week’s hilly ride in North Herts, Brian – this week’s leader – had opted for a flatter ride around South Cambs and, having set off earlier from Little Shelford our first port of call was Cambridge Station.

From there we wound our way along quiet backstreets to the riverside and thence some five miles along the towpath to Waterbeach. This idyllic stretch of the River Cam is particularly peaceful just now as the section between Cambridge and Milton has been shut to boat traffic for the past year. Inspection of the locks at each end has shown the lock islands to be unstable and vulnerable to collapse. Both carry public footpaths over the river and they too have been closed.

Jesus Green lock in Cambridge – closed until further notice

We witnessed some of the short term stabilisation currently underway – see Simon’s pictures below – but the locks are likely to remain closed until the lock islands are rebuilt at a cost of £25M and, as yet, no-one seems prepared to stump up the money. Meanwhile, visitors are unable to reach Cambridge by boat, indeed many boats are stranded on the river and some owners have taken to craning their vessels out in order to leave. The situation seems to be stalemate.

Simon snapped these divers engaged in remedial work on the Baits Bite Lock

Arriving in Waterbeach Brian had arranged for us to visit the Military Heritage Museum on the site of the wartime RAF airfield and subsequently barracks for the Royal Engineers. The base was decommissioned in 2013 and is now a development site for the planned Waterbeach Newtown and it’s 11,000 new homes.

Simon loves museums and, as you can see below, he got very hands-on with the exhibits. We won’t be taking him to glassware museums or maternity wards anytime soon.

Leaving the museum we headed half a mile further down the road and pulled in for refreshments at the Evolve Coffee Shop & Bar. Refreshed and back on the bikes, we headed for Landbeach where we picked up the Mere Way, a new and very wide cycleway, taking us back to Cambridge. Come the new year this will be extended all the way to Waterbeach where the new cycle bridge spanning the A10 has recently been lifted into position. We must plan a ride in the spring to try it out.

The A10 cyclebridge at Waterbridge being lifted into position on 21 September

Returning to Little Shelford, we piled back into the Side Quest for a well deserved lunch.

For the record, 14 riders completed a 26 mile circuit: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Chris, Deborah, Geoff, Jenni, Keith, MartinB, Nigel, Rach, Ric, Rod, Simon.

26 miles anticlockwise from Little Shelford

Tags Cambridge, waterbeach, Windmill cycling club

Hertfordshire

Climb every mountain

Bloody Hell, Keith! . . .

. . . was just one of the many oaths heard from the peloton as we crested yet another hill, Keith’s route proving quite a workout as we effed and jeffed our way up ascents totalling some 600m.

Robert, Nigel, Jenni and Rod pause for a breather before the next hill climb

Oaths aside, it was a delightful outing as, blessed with good weather, each hilltop afforded fine views over the north Herts countryside. We were equally impressed with Keith’s choice of refreshment stop, the hitherto unknown Lolleywood Café, tucked away on Fairclough Hall Farm, just a stone’s throw from Halls Green.

Along the way Martin spotted this Commer Q4 lorry, a 3-ton, 4×4 general-purpose workhorse looking very smart in its AFS (British Auxiliary Fire Service) livery.

Martin spotted this Commer Q4 in AFS livery

It most likely dates from the 50s and was used for various tasks such as hose laying and foam and water tendering on military bases and airfields. Many were subsequently converted for civilian use when the AFS was disbanded in 1968.

Other highlights included pulling up to admire George Orwell’s house in Wallington where the blue plaque declares he lived from 1936 to 1940. It’s just down the road from Manor Farm, the name he gave as the location for his Animal Farm.

Much grunting in front of Manor (aka Animal) Farm

Having clocked up 34 miles we returned to The Woodman for lunch and a round of beers, courtesy of Robert this week’s birthday boy.

Some say we’re as much a lunch club as a cycling club

Our thanks go to Keith – for planning and leading the outing – and to Robert for the generous round of drinks.

And – for the record – the turnout was 15 Windmillers: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Geoff, Graham, Jenni, Keith, Ken, MartinW, Maurice, Nigel, Ric, Robert, Rod and Simon. Well done, team!

34 hilly miles anticlockwise from Nuthampstead

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A tour of the Barleywolds

Post author By Brian Connellan
Post date August 21, 2025
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When people ask where the Windmill Club is based, there isn’t really a simple answer. With members scattered over a wide rural area we don’t so much have a home base as a home patch straddling the Cambridgeshire / Hertfordshire / Essex borders and roughly bounded by Royston, Baldock, Stevenage, Bishops Stortford and Saffron Walden. But now it seems a name has been given to this particular neck of the woods – The Barleywolds.

*The Barleywolds*; courtesy https://www.barleywolds.com/home

I can find no mention of the name in the historical records but there is a newish website – barleywolds.com – making the case for this “. . . area of wolds (gently-rolling hills) and 60 villages, about 30 miles north of London, between Royston, Stevenage and Bishop’s Stortford, on the border of Hertfordshire, Essex and Cambridgeshire”.

While Barleywolds has a certain ring to it, academic opinion would seem to favour The Hundred Parishes, so named by David Heathcote, Saffron Walden historian and author who coined that name in 2009, as defining “a large, attractive, gently-undulating area, around 450 square miles, of northwest Essex, northeast Hertfordshire and southern Cambridgeshire that is largely unspoilt and is richly endowed with many fine examples of agricultural and built heritage.” Indeed, two years ago the Windmillers enjoyed a presentation from the Hundred Parishes Society.

The Hundred Parishes; courtesy https://hundredparishes.org.uk/location-overview/

Whatever the name, this was the area Keith chose for Thursday’s outing. Setting out from The Black Horse, Brent Pelham, he led the way along quiet roads and the occasional bumpy track to Ermine’s Café, Thundridge, a new (to us) venue and, given the high standard of refreshments on offer, we are likely to return in the not too distant future.

32 miles anticlockwise from Brent Pelham

Thanks go to Keith for planning the outing and getting us all organised.

For the record our peloton comprised: Alan, Brian, Geoff, Graham, Jeremy, Keith, Ken, MartinB, Paul, Ric, Rod, Simon and Tom.

Suffolk

Golden vistas

A sunny August morning saw Maurice leading the peloton out of Balsham and over the Cambridgeshire border into East Suffolk where, this being harvest-time, each rise in the road opened up vistas of golden fields dotted with hay bales and bounded by dusty hedgerows. What a delightful part of the world.

Along the way we pulled in at Café 33, ever popular with motorcyclists, cyclists and prison visitors, for coffee, cake and ice cream.

Returning to The Black Bull, we enjoyed a hearty lunch on the patio and free beer (hooray!) courtesy of Ric, this week’s birthday boy.

For the record the turnout was: Alan, Brian, Geoff, Graham, Jeremy, Keith, Ken, Mark, Maurice, Nigel, Ric, Rod and Simon.

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A smashing lunch

Windmillers pride themselves on being courteous and proficient cyclists. Alas, their table manners can be, well, rudimentary with dining mishaps legion and well documented; witness Simon throwing beer around and Martin sousing everyone in hot coffee. But this week it was Victor’s turn as he demonstrated a whole new way to dispense ketchup by smashing the bottom end out of the bottle; an effective, albeit messy, technique and fellow diners are advised to probe their lunch for glass shards.

So it was just as well that, mindful of landlady Mel’s carpets, curtains and soft furnishings, we were dining al fresco at The Cock in Henham. Ketchup capers aside, we enjoyed an excellent lunch and Andrew, whose birthday passed quietly several weeks ago, finally bought us all a beer.

Andrew, top chap, conducted the choir in a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday

All this followed a very enjoyable ride. Planned and led by Graham, it was scenic, quiet (apart from the occasional Ryanair approach to Stansted) and traffic-free with a mid-way coffee stop at NT Hatfield Forest.

Many thanks, Graham, for devising such a lovely route and getting everyone organised. Our thanks also to Andrew for the drinks.

For the record the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Deb, Geoff, Graham, Jenni, Paul, Simon and Victor.

Essex

Windmillers athwart Essex

Essex boasts many a fine market town – and Maldon is up there with the best of them

Ten miles into Thursday’s outing, we pitched up on Maldon High Street seeking refreshment and, in particular, a guided tour of the Moot Hall. The six hundred year old brick tower has at various times been a mansion house, town hall, courthouse, police station and town jail, and boasts a fine view over Maldon and beyond to the Blackwater Estuary.

Maldon Moot Hall: in bygone times a prison where inmates left their mark on the walls

An hour or so earlier, ten Windmillers¹ had set off from The Rayleigh Arms, Terling, following Martin’s route through some of the prettiest lanes in Essex. And it was on the approach to Maldon that we chanced upon the intriguingly named Cut A Thwart Lane.

In old English athwart meant crosswise, as in “Cutting athwart the bow,” meaning one vessel was passing directly in front of another. So Cut A Thwart Lane could well refer to the lane being a shortcut between Maldon and Woodham Walter. Interestingly, Cambridge, Bedford, Chelmsford and many other English towns can all boast a Cut Throat Lane, a likely corruption of Cut Athwart Lane.

Leaving Maldon, we followed the Chelmer & Blackwater Canal to Heybridge Basin before turning inland and returning to Terling via Great Totham, Wickham Bishops and Hatfield Peverel.

Back at the pub, Deborah bought us all a beer and endured a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday.

Happy birthday, Deb. Seen here at Arisaig

Thank you, Martin, for planning the route and thanks again, Deborah, for the beers.

Thursday’s team roster was: Brian, Deborah, Graham, Howard, Jeremy, Keith, Ken, Martin, Ric and Simon ↩︎

Tags Windmill cycling club

Newmarket

Newmarket in the dry

The weather forecast was bleak – it was odds-on we were in for a soaking. Several Windmillers had already tendered apologies and Brian was in two minds about calling the whole thing off. But eventually he thought “Sod it, let’s ride!”

So it was that just six hardy, some might say foolhardy, Windmillers set off from Balsham heading for Newmarket, Brian leading Simon, Ric, Charles, Howard and Alan away from the Black Bull. We had hardly gone a mile when Simon pulled up with a puncture, but with help from Howard this was soon fixed and we were underway once more.

Wonder of wonders, apart from a few spits and spots, we somehow stayed dry and arrived back at the pub in high spirits, hungry for lunch and a good beer.

Ken’s birthday outing

Riding through Ashdon reminds one of the splendid Ashdon Meteorite on display in Saffron Walden Museum. A century ago this grapefruit-sized space rock landed in the village and today a post marks the spot where it fell. Yet another reason to wear a bike helmet, eh?

The Ashdon Meteorite – photo credits and further info here

Having set off from The Crown in Little Walden, we were 6 miles into a 31 mile route of Ken’s devising. Before setting off, Andrew – aka Mr Elf & Safety – had listed the many hazards we would encounter along the way and, though omitting to mention meteorites, it all sounded rather alarming. Given the bumper turnout of 18 Windmillers, we wondered how many would make it to the finish unscathed.

Several miles on from Ashdon we paused in Radwinter to admire the fine building at the crossroads.

Risen from the ashes; Radwinter Village Hall

Opened in 1885, the Village Hall formed the centrepiece of the village re-development following Radwinter’s Great Fire of 1874. Caused by a young girl playing with matches in a barn, the fire destroyed 24 buildings and left 95 people homeless. Note to Andrew: add playing with matches to list of hazards.

Pulling in at Debden Barns, we realised Simon was missing. He turned up as we were finishing our coffee and cake having overshot the Barns by some miles before realising his mistake and turning back. Note to Andrew: add rider inattention to list of hazards.

In the event, we successfully avoided Newport’s potholes, dodged our way through Saffron Walden’s busy traffic and all arrived safely back at The Crown.

Ken’s ride saw a bumper turnout: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Geoff, Howard, Jeremy, Keith, Ken, Martin B, Martin W, Maurice, Nigel, Paul, Rach, Ric, Rod, Simon and Victor – and we were delighted to see Ann, Deborah and Deborah’s new love, her black labrador puppy, join us for lunch.

Our thanks go to Ken for planning and leading the ride, not to mention buying the very substantial round of drinks.

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A bumper turnout at Helions Bumpstead

Post author By Brian Connellan
Post date April 10, 2025
1 Comment on A bumper turnout at Helions Bumpstead

A fine, if chilly, Thursday morning saw sixteen Windmillers gathering at The Three Horseshoes, Helions Bumpstead. Andrew, Brian, Charles, Geoff, Howard, Jenni, Ken, Keith, Martin B, Martin W, Maurice, Paul, Ric, Rod, Simon and Victor were there, all raring to go and looking forward to returning for a big birthday lunch with Charles.

Splitting us into three groups, Martin led the way out of the village towards Steeple Bumpstead and on to Ridgewell and Ashen, keeping to the southerly, Essex side of River Stour marking the boundary with Suffolk. There was some uncertainty as to whether the route had been devised by Martin or by Victor, each modestly claiming it was the other’s, but there was general agreement that it was up there with the best, 29 miles of traffic free lanes and fine views.

Near Great Yeldham we pulled in at Petals Tearoom and, as you can see from the photograph, it is quite the pinkest, most floral of tearooms; the sort of place you would expect to find Barbara Cartland, all pearls and twinsets, sipping Earl Gray in the corner. The service was lovely and the cakes were fabulous; we shall return.

The pinkest of places, Petals Tearoom, near Great Yeldham

Refreshed and back on the bikes we headed for Finchingfield, pausing for the obligatory windmill photograph, before turning north for the return leg to Helions Bumpstead.

There are many sensible people in the Windmill Club . . . as well as some daft ones

Arriving at the Three Horseshoes, we enjoyed an excellent lunch and Charles, top chap, bought us all a beer while enduring a lusty rendition of Happy Birthday. Many happy returns, Charles!

Thanks go to Martin – or was it Victor? – for devising a splendid route and getting everyone organised. And thanks, of course, to Charles for the drinks.

29 miles clockwise from Helions Bumpstead

Great Chishill The Pheasant

Bidet drinks?

All too often in this ever-online world we find ourselves at the mercy of autofills and spellchecks that render our hastily despatched messages into meaningless gibberish – or even unintended filth; we will never forget Andrew’s promise of a sinning trip to London! This time round it was Martin who, ahead of Thursday’s ride was promising “bidet drinks“. How intriguing; Cillit Bang martinis? Domestos daiquiris? Who knew? On reflection we decided he meant birthday drinks; more specifically, free beer. Top chap! No surprise then that 15 Windmillers turned up for the ride and a couple more freeloaders rolled in for lunch.

Victor enjoying a glorious winter’s day, with Maurice following up behind

What a sumptious day, all blue skies, sunshine and very light winds, to explore the rural idyll that is North East Herts. Setting off from The Pheasant, we headed south to Anstey and The Hormeads before turning east to Furneux Pelham, Manuden and Rickling Green where we pulled in at The Cricketers for coffee. There’s never a good time or place to suffer a puncture but, if that is your misfortune, where better than just before the coffee stop. So it was that Howard, notwithstanding his sealant-filled tubeless tyres, pulled up with a flat rear tyre. Not to worry; while the rest of us took refreshment, Howard, with the help of yet more sealant (courtesy of Charles) affected a swift repair.

Stopping for a breather – with one of Clavering’s two windmills in the background

Back on the bikes we made short work of the return via Arkesden, Clavering and Langley Upper Green to Great Chishill.

Despite the glorious day, the ride was wet in parts. Here’s Rod making waves somewhere near Clavering

As ever, we enjoyed a cracking lunch at The Pheasant and Martin, top chap, bought us all a beer.

15 for lunch, including Charles behind the camera

For the record, the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Deborah, Geoff, Howard, Martin, Maurice, Nigel, Ric, Rod, Roger, Tom and Victor – and we were delighted to see Gareth and Ken joining us for lunch.

Happy birthday, Martin. It seems no time since the last one!

30 miles anticlockwise from The Pheasant, Great Chishill

Our thanks go to Alan for planning the route, booking the pub and leading the ride; Charles for the many photographs and, naturally, birthday boy Martin for the big round of drinks.

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Old pumps

Our first Thursday outing of the year and, alas, Graham, the poor chap who’d planned the ride, tendered a sick note. Undeterred, we wished him well and set off from The Black Horse, Brent Pelham, following the GPX route Graham had kindly supplied.

The ride featured a new – to us – coffee stop, Crumbs Bakery & Café in Watton-at-Stone. “Muddy boot walkers are welcome, cyclists can have the perfect refuel, and we love a good dog!” says the website. All bread and pastries are baked on site and I can personally vouch for the excellence of the Eccles cakes. That said, it is a small establishment and while the six of us were comfortably accommodated I fear they would struggle to fit in more than ten of us given a larger turnout.

Notable along the way was the old garage at Dane End. Now converted into a home, the petrol pumps have been retained and the frontage has featured in several TV period dramas such as Grantchester and Foyle’s War.

Don’t tell Graham but at Roger’s behest we cut a corner towards the end, allegedly to save a mile and get to the pub more quickly. But, don’t tell Roger, there were mutterings in the peloton about it being muddy and, in Brian’s case, puncture inducing. That said, Roger did the decent thing and drove back to pick him up, so all was forgiven and Brian, this week’s birthday boy, was decent enough to buy everyone a beer.

Graham’s route in blue – with Roger’s shortcut shown in red

For the record, the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Howard, Gareth and Roger – and Geoff joined us for lunch in the pub. Get well soon, Graham.

Tags Windmill cycling club