Did you come on quiz-walks in the 1980s? If so, you're almost certain to have been mentioned in one of the following three Quizzical Ramblings newsletters:

Edition 1 published on 25th May 1982
Special edition published to coincide with Annual Lunch in October 1987
End of decade edition published in October 1989

Click on the edition you wish to read.

Quizzical Ramblings was the creation of Ken White and his then partner, Joan Powell. They used to rent a flat at Les Bradbury's house in Balham and started coming on quiz-walks in 1978, organising their first walk that same year.

Ken hasn't been on a walk since the year 2000 as he's been living in Northamptonshire. However, we've re-established contact with him and he promises to be there for the re-walk on Saturday 29th September from Reigate Station and the lunch at the Reigate Manor Hotel the following day.

After you've read what he had to say about you back in the 1980s you may think that the 29th and/or 30th September dates will give you a great chance to get even!

Our first Newsletter - of sorts! - And the main immediate contention suggested by one Brian Hennessy was "Can it be made into an anagram?" Well it's been tried and various words that immediately spring to mind are - amazing, claiming, quill, railings, buzz, mauls, liar and there is a Q.C. in there somewhere. Any ideas?

We are well into a new season, the second league hunt, and we have to congratulate Janet and Bill Clack for WALKING away with the "Handicap". Mind you, around Mitcham, we think, and obviously so did Janet and Bill, that to walk away from Mitcham would be the best we can all do!

Frank's walk at Leatherhead provided a much welcome change with some excellent views of the Mole Valley, with twenty members attending, and two new subscribers taking the honours. - Rosemary Parkhurst and friend Joan III, making hay in the sunshine with full marks. Yes, all twenty-five questions answered correctly.

Next came Andy and Joan Wilson's hunt, just down the road in East Horsley, a picturesque village, south of Leatherhead, with plenty of good views. And on each occasion, thus far, the weather has inclined to be kind. Whilst the final result has not been officially announced it is believed that Roger Heath's team answered the most questions. The team comprised of Roger, Joyce, Roger and Jenny Abbott and Nigel Ley.

The next hunt, this coming Whit Sunday, is being organised by Robert and Sue Whale, who along with Rosy Treasure enjoyed an extremely successful first season in 1981. Let us all wish them luck with their first organised hunt.

This will take place from the "PLOUGH", Leigh, in Surrey, on 30th May at 2.15pm. King and Barnes beer is the secondary attraction for all to acclimatize. Let us hope that the weather and the turnout complement the event.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

5th June 1982 - Brian Hennessey and John Davis skirmish with the one-eyed Harold at Hastings. We feel that this might result in 1066 and all that, judging by the map and questionnaire handed out as advertising material. Full marks for enterprise with this arrangement. Several members are making a weekend of it at the Yelton Hotel.

20th June 1982 - The John Cooper Anniversary Ramble, enthusiastically organised by Les Bradbury, our Chairman of longstanding, in memory of the originator of these fun Sundays! It takes place over an original course and starts at Boxhill and Westhumble B.R. Station at 10.00am. So be up early and bring your picnic boxes. Look forward to what looks like being an extremely interesting and enjoyable day.

Lastly, we must once again thank Andy and Joan Wilson for their extremely amiable hospitality in allowing their residence to be used for the A.G.M. and providing refreshments and edibles which took our breath away. The Cake, in celebration of this year's anniversary, was decorated with flags bearing the names of many of the places where walks had taken place in previous seasons and congratulations must be given to our two diehards for a tremendous show.

The next League hunt will take place on the 4th July, at a place to be advised, but with all the intermediate activity there is plenty to keep you occupied until then.

JOAN POWELL & KEN WHITE

P.S. Any and all contributions for the next edition of "QUIZZICAL RAMBLINGS" will be very welcome!!!

Yes Folks, it is indeed a few years since you have seen one of these - a collector's item you might say, to celebrate a rather unusual season of quiz walks.

It was one of the rainiest summers our islands have seen, records falling all over the place, yet of the ten walks plus the early season 'Andy Cap' which were initially listed, only one walk was cancelled due to personal reasons, and, of the remainder, the 'Joke' walk in early September was the only one where the weather almost won. Being the organisers' luck, they missed the deluge by seconds and every one of the competitors handed in their answers, albeit on papier mache - a close call, but it added to the luck that the committee had selected all the better weather weekends to organise the season's walks.

Rosemary and Bernie's walk ideas were abandoned due to personal reasons; this was enough to allow Roger and Joyce the luxury of relaxing on the last walk of the season, for they had succeeded to the number one slot after a two year absence. It only goes to show that sheer persistence and 100 percent attendances accrue the points, notwithstanding consistent answering and a minor change in the rules. Whatever the reasons, congratulations to Roger and Joyce for heading the tables yet again in an exceptional year's entertainment and choice of walks.
Now for the more serious diatribe, folks! A little number run up by our ex-chairman of many years since, a big hand for Les Bradbury (.sorry! David Jansen came in looking for the one-armed man and we got confused). Take a bow Les, your little number goes something like this dah!

Very often a season brings about some new idea, some new problem, some new character, but 1987 brought about something very unique - refreshments after the ramble.

At the season's start we had a welcome cuppa and wads at Joan and Ken's residence in Cheam, after the 'Andy Cap' ramble round the wilds of Nonsuch Park. This was followed in May by a similar finish at Betchworth in the home of Jenny and Roger Abbott. This was not the end of it. Come August and Claygate, we had yet another nice welcome at the home of Rosy and Dave, which included, f or me and other interested parties, a trip around the estate and a nice bunch of rhubarb. Prior to this the only rambles to finish in a member's home were: the 'Andy Cap' 1.9.63 at John Cooper's (he organised all 'Andy Caps' at this time), at 15a Ravenswood Road, Balham, and the 'Andy Cap' of 1981 at Roger Heath's in Mitcham 4.4.82

This year we also had refreshment breaks at the Manor House, Nonsuch Park, and the Church Hall, Toys Hill. (That Toys Hill spot, Win and I returned to since the walk - well, for a second cuppa for 10p, we had to!) Also this year there were three entirely new routes, Ide Hill, Crowhurst Land End and Stone Street. Well done! The few short parts of the other seven were only second-hand to a very few old hands.
LES BRADBURY
P.S. This old hand is also unfortunately the possessor of old legs.

Les has a complimentary way with words, and with his memory and historical knowledge of the 'John Cooper Treasure Hunt' who knows what facts may be brought to light next season. We must not forget Win and her understandable aversion to hills, the last one at Stone Street was exhilaratingly exhausting, never mind about Les's legs, how about the other poor old 'soles'?

Memories of the season are: the slick patter at the commencement of each walk between the contestants and the organisers; the welcome smile of familiar old friends; the agonised look of terror on the organisers' faces after morning check, when they've found the record rainfall achieved this year has washed away their best clue and all their substitutes; the state of the papers after the Headley walk; the depth of questioning, or should we say interrogation, Roger Heath has with one or other of the organisers in ascertaining the parameters of the Bonus stage and the areas that are carefully described as dangerous; Roger Abbott's purposeful stride, and his telescopic dog leash firmly in hand, pipe stuck determinedly in jaw; chicken bits and mange-touts on the Toy's Hill walk, and the vicarage tea party of course; Martin's overhang, and Karen's too come to that (hers is undoubtedly the more attractive of the two); Wellington boots and umbrellas; Joan's (Ken's Joan that is) bum (I never see anything else - I'm the slowest walker); Les's boots and cloth cap and clipboard, the professional kit for quiz walkers; Andy and Joan's look of disbelief when, halfway round the walk, you try and convince them that you've answered less clues than they have, and the cute matching cagoules they wear to hide their picnic in; Joyce's indefatigable indifference as Roger H trudges the 4th, 5th and 6th stages seventeen times (these are usually the easier stages); Mike Patch's walk where everyone came first and our team came fifteenth with 24 questions answered correctly; Rosy and Dave's happy smiling faces in the pub beforehand and their continuing exuberance throughout the walk; Win's honesty when the going gets tough, she sits down and rests (usually on the very answer we are all looking for, probably on Les's prompting); Peter and Cheryl's failure to answer the cricket question on our walk (no, they did really), a welcome addition to the organisers' team; John Davis and his walking knowledge of modern music (Mike Read's, Tim Rice's and Paul Gambaccini's almanac); Robert and Sue's previous out-of-sight venues, but missing from some of the walks this year; Andy and Geoff's MI5 tactics to break into the top five of the league (if there's one team we appear to overtake more than others ........ where on earth do they go to get in front of us?); Nigel Ley, now there's a name to enjoy yourself with, Camra's answer to lager adverts, the only contestant who truly enjoys the pre-combat tactics more than the battle, the quartermaster who carries all our refreshments out on the tough course.

Naturally, (long may these people rain …oops! sorry, it's the weather) we have failed to mention Nick Worsfold, Elaine Renwick-Forster, Derek Harding, Cyril Johnson, Nick Loader, Mick, Gill and Aaron Milborrow, Al? John and Jenny Kelly, Sheila Harding, Mike C, Stef, Steve W, Helena, Helen and Murray, Renee and Nigel Johnson, Martin, Katherine, Mick, Yvonne, William (thanks for the chimneys) White, Susan Harding, Sarah, Ann, Arthur, Alex, Katie, Shelagh and Tricia and last, but by no means least, Jenny Abbott and the two children, all of whom assisted in making it a most pleasurable walking season.

Only one note of irritation, for me anyway - sad to note the split up of familiar duo's on the league table list, whether it be by the rule, missing walks or whatever - it does seem to spoil the contest.

Finally, Martin and Karen have invited us all to return to their place after this quiz walk luncheon - you remember they had the corner of the flat that was breaking away, well it finally fell off and with the change in the clocks we can all enjoy a starlit party.

K.A.W

OCTOBER 1989

After much ado about nothing, it would appear that in this latest issue of Quizzical Ramblings all you are going to get is the incoherent mutterings (often heard amongst the fields of Surrey and Kent, particularly on Roger and Joyce's walk at The Villagers in Blackheath where only 17 questions won the day) of the co-editing team.

This team's requests for contributions have continually fallen on stony ground. Andy Hooper's unrequited promises of an article remind me of the empty words expressed by the world political circles. The silence is deafening.

By now you will be realising that this much sought-after magazine is becoming a collector's item with an annual limited edition published at the Annual Quiz Walk Luncheon.

SNIPPETS

Roger Heath phoned one evening to persuade us to attend Nick and Elaine's walk at Sutton Abinger as he was away (unprecedented absence) that weekend. Scoop! Scoop! I enquired the whereabouts of his other half that evening. Apparently the lovely Joyce was enjoying herself at a Section outing. Roger then went to great pains to advise me that Section is spelt
S-E-C-T- I-O-N
Of course, those who fail to get the possible innuendo involved are not true Quiz Walkers

MEMORIES OF THE EIGHTIES

Roger Abbott doing the first 'Quizwalk of the Eighties', lucky devil, the 'Andy Capp' was postponed because of bad weather in 1980; Roger's was the First and the Last. Well done.

The walk where Roger Heath lost his shoe (almost his leg) and I, through being too smart, lost a good long range camera lens - six foot of mud??? Those were the days.

Starting work at a firm and joining a team of exceptional talent in 1980, and watching it break up and finally end in 1989.
The decade of new trails, new members, and sadly, the loss of valued characters. Frank Roberts, his death touched all those members who enjoyed his wry sense of humour, his talent for countryside matters, and his knowledge of organisers' methods. Indelible on the memories of those who regularly came into contact with him.

The teams who now only turn up at the occasional function and the personalities who have fallen away like autumn leaves, being replaced slowly by new entrants.

Talking about new entrants. How about OBERSTURMFUHRER, HERR GENERAL, Nick Worsfold, he of the "I'll take any of the answers you have, as long as you choose the wrong one" fame. We should have taken Elaine's advice and given her our questions. Fair do's though, the pub and the walk were excellent, it was a shame the weather blighted a good choice of venue.

My lack of full knowledge concerning all our events over the last three years due to working on and off in Cyprus has curtailed my observations of Quiz Walkers behaviour, particularly our newer members. Look out in the 90's!! The 1890's were called the 'Naughty Nineties', but wonder what the adjective attached to the 1990's will be. Any ideas out there? I suppose not, you've all been plurally lacking in such things as contributions over the last few months. I suspect even that would be too much to expect.

Robert and Sue delivering us into Buckinghamshire for the first time, although Mike Forsey attempted to get us into Hertfordshire or Essex but failed; unrequited promises again.

The Cream Tea half-way break provided a new feature to those of us getting old and tired of Organisers who told us the walk was only two and half miles long, like an urban cycle, who the hell can maintain 56 m.p.h. on a flat surface for over 20 miles unless you're Hans and Grace and come from the Netherlands. Win would most probably enjoy all our Quiz Walks if they were in Holland.

Les once gave us a walk across the ground commonly used by the British Army to test its latest tanks, and believe me, as I recall, you would have to have sat in the turret of one of those monsters to see most of the answers to his clues on that Sunday.

Martin and Karen gave us the Saltire Cross and a Rusty Nail cocktail in their attempts to bring savagery to a quiet interlude on a Sunday afternoon in Surrey; lucki1y we were helping them and put the right proportion of complete insanity into the walk.

Roger Heath's dreams gave the Editor ideas regarding questions in an Abinger Common quiz walk, whilst Brian Hennessy and his band of the hard stuff gave us a weekend at Rye and a barbeque at Cooden Bay on the way home - in his parents' garage would you believe.
Mike Patch and John Davis 1ed us around the canals of the world whilst Les Bradbury took us over the Forth Bridge - or was this arithmetical error as well, Les?

If you followed Nigel Ley then you probably went in circles. You know what they say about Nigel - you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink it. Sorry that 's a slurrrrh on his character, he doesn't drink water. We should not have mentioned it in the same paragraph.

New faces such as Derek and Sheila Harding, Jim and Pam Wescombe joined in the Eighties as Laties; whilst Rosy Treasure and Dave Saunders took pride in showing all their Claygate country estate after their walk - in a Rose garden somewhere?

Les, our ex-chairman, wrote poems and in 1981 he was inspired to read this one out at our Annual Dinner - and we quote it here without his permission.

Roger Abbot finally brought the Eighties to a close with his walk at Iron Bottom near Reigate and apart from missing Tesco's free bus ride and getting aerials in a twist, it was an excellent afternoon, with the weather bringing out a good gathering.

And now let's see who selects the walk of the nineties when it snows blizzard style, sun shines for a few minutes, bombards the competitors with hailstones, rains, gusts at about 75 mph, goes so dark you need a torch to light the route on the O.S. map, sends fluffy white cotton balls across the heavens and makes you sink ankle-deep into mud. Oh yes! It can be done - it was in the Eighties on a particular 'Andy Capp' we recall. Greenhouse effect?? What's that? Meteorology??!! The weathermen couldn't run a bath.

See some of you at the usual A.G.M. Enjoy your last Quiz Walk Lunch of the Eighties.

Meanwhile:
The unluckiest Quizwalkers of the Eighties:
1) discovered the answer to one clue was a sundial, but it was too slow!
2) tried winning a Quizwalk by swallowing all the scrabble tiles - they ended up word bound!
3) got all 25 questions correct, only to discover that under directions sheet on their clipboard was yesterday's winning pools coupon ....... unposted!
4) had a desperate need to be relieved, just as the other thirty members took it upon themselves to gather around the only private spot for miles!
5) reversed their answer and kept getting STAR COMEDY BY DEMOCRATS !!!!!

Lastly, in 1959 "Never on a Sunday" starring Melina Mercouri was released. She is now the Greek Minister of Culture, and because all the Greeks have lost their marbles, she spends most of her time trying to recover them from some geezer called Elgin.
This has led to the classic term "NEVER USE STATUES AS CLUES IN QUIZ WALKS, IT MAY BE MELINA MERCOURI.... BOY COULD I LOSE MY MARBLES".

Worsfold and Abbott get the vote for the best pubs and most picturesque walks in 1989. This is a STOP PRESS item gleaned from poll analyses taken from two Quiz Walkers. Regrettably they were the only two who were polled. Guess what, they only went on those two walks!!!

OH WELL, FOLKS! JUST ANOTHER FIVE MILES AND WE CAN HAND IN THE ANSWERS - SEE YOU IN THE NINETIES.
Have an appetising lunch and enjoy the liquid refreshment.

Good Hunting!

KAW/JEP