The Committee and Associates of your Aviva Fellowship, Croydon Area, organise a programme of Events for the enjoyment of Members. We've sometimes been told "All you ever do is eat and drink", and maybe there is an element of truth — after all, those are the sort of events which usually seem to attract the largest turnout (some of us may no longer retain our previous youthful vigour, and occasionally are happy just to sit down for a coffee and a chat) — but we can still enjoy an interesting walk or cultural visit. Here's a sample of what we've been up to in 2024.

On Thursday, 2nd May, Dave Newland led us on his annual Bluebell Walk, this year from Badger's Mount   On Friday, 7th June, Jackie Husain took us for a walk around South Norwood Lakes   Following the success of a similar visit last year, on Thursday, 20th June, Judy Dumbrill took us back to the Natural History Museum to see winning entries in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.   Dave Newland (our erstwhile Newsletter Editor) and Judy Dumbrill (event organiser) have been long-term, much valued stalwarts of the Croydon Committee, but sadly both stood down at this year's AGM, and both will be sorely missed.   We need new volunteers to join the Committee so, if you are willing to give it a go, then please email your details to croydonavivafellowship@outlook.com   On Wednesday, 17th July, event organiser Hilary Kearney arranged a private visit to the Eel Pie Island Museum, where we learnt about the historic significance of this island in the Thames, and its wild days back in the Swinging Sixties   On Friday, 16th August, Jackie Husain led us on a walk to see the dinosaurs (and llamas) in Crystal Palace Park   On Friday, 11th October, Jackie Husain and her husband, Jeremy, took us back to Crystal Palace Park, to visit the upper levels and the Sphinxes where the old Crystal Palace once stood, followed by a walk round the "Crystal Palace Triangle Blue Plaques Shops Trail"   Meanwhile, we have continued with our regular programme of lunches and coffee mornings — our regular lunches attract on average about 30 attendees, and the coffee mornings about 12–15   Our biggest event of the year is always our New Year Lunch at Croham Golf Club (really our Christmas Lunch, but held in January as something to look forward to in the New Year) which regularly attracts over 80 diners For the last year, we have been trying out the All You Can Eat Breakfast at our local Toby Carvery on various dates in January, April, October and December In March and September, we partook of a 3-course Lunch at the popular Horseshoe pub on Warlingham Green In April, we sat down to a Fish'n'Chips lunch at the award-winning McDermotts restaurant in Forestdale In May and October, we enjoyed an Italian Lunch at Ponte Nuovo restaurant in Croydon On the second Tuesday of each month, we meet for coffee in the Clocktower Café, part of the Croydon Town Hall complex Four times a year (in February, May, August and November) we have our coffee in the Seasons Restaurant at Knights Garden Centre, Chelsham Three times a year (in March, June and September) we travel to Badgers Mount, and take our coffee in Novell's Restaurant at Polhill Garden Centre On the last Thursday in July, we hope for good weather when we meet for coffee in the National Trust Café at Winston Churchill's home, Chartwell

If you have taken photographs at our of our Events and you'd like to share them with other Members, we would be very happy to see them. Perhaps you'd like to take up a pen (keyboard?) and write a short report? Please email details to avivafellowshipcroydon@outlook.com

Chris Hall Website Manager Chroydon Chronicle Aviva Fellowship Croydon Area