Directions

Nat Grid Ref: TQ323582

Location: Whyteleaf is just off the A22, about half way between Purley (to the north) and the M25 Junction 6 (to the south). Kenley Aerodrome is just to the west of Whyteleaf and the Wattenden Arms is on the north-west corner of the aerodrome in Old Lodge Lane.

Maps:

Organiser's Comments

It is 10 years since I organised a special walk to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain from Englefield, near Runneymead. This walk will have a historical military theme with a route round Kenley Aerodrome, which was particularly active during the WW2. It is still in use now, run for training by the RAF. Also stationed there are Air Cadets and a private gliding club. Recently a new memorial was established to commemorate all those of every nationality who flew from here. Please take the opportunity to look around the common land, some of the views are quite spectacular!

Route & Question Sheet

STARTERS 
All answers can be seen on the front of the pub from the from the picket fence and down the right hand side to the rear of the side wall.

1.	Send war team stirred up with no tea at front. It provides refreshments anyway.
2.	Last letter drop. Replacement sounds essential to troops trying to pre-vent B.E.F. being extricated.
3.	A call to arms for the commando's. They will unlock the armoury for their shells and sheaves. Get the picture?

STAGE I
Facing pub, turn right along road to where houses end. Take track to left. Follow track, ignoring right for at "The Haven" sign, straight on to 90° left hand turn - ignore and go straight ahead between two concrete posts. Pathway winds downhill to safety barriers between houses, where stage ends.

4.	Is there some small eternal danger playing the lamp post?
5.	Primarily a command officer's regiment near Scotland. A pillar of army society, pity one of them went A.W.O.L.
6.	Swashbuckling, eh! pays French Musketeers to brandish, the cavalry to wield sabres, whilst R.A.F. foil another raid.

STAGE II
Turn right along pavement. Stay on right hand side, continue until road ends. Straight ahead onto (main) track up Dollypers Hill into woods. Keep to this main winding track, ignoring others crossing, merging or forking away. Stage ends where emerge to main road.

7.	The "Fab Four" made it a hit 25 years on, but the few gave it to us without question.
8.	Wartime British Airforce staff car very near one over seven stopping advance.
9.	Stone cast to support secondary lines of communication. Doubtful whether its removal would have aided, geographically, any invasion force finding us.....
10.	.....where such secondary lines of communication were obliterated, it meant walking to the front lines.

STAGE III
Cross road and very soon, just past lay by, take trodden path between two dead trees on left. Follow winding path up into woods, ignoring any other crossing, side or merging paths. Soon after tree with carving of nude woman (on right of path) fork left. Through safety barriers, emerging onto clearing, continue ahead along wide mown track. Keeping oaks on left, soon meadow opens and head for childrens' swings ahead. There turn left passing in front of bench and follow path to trees in left corner and through gap to main road where stage ends.

11.	It is doubtful whether our busy pilots took any of this during the "Battle of Britain"
12.	Fanny? Lily Marlene? George Formby? Underneath their masks, despite being "hot stuff", emitted hot air.
13.	Over a mile long caravan was enough to upset Rommel and slow down his desert campaign?

STAGE IV
Cross road, stage starts at access to "Welcomes Road". Continue down road, round left hand bend. At Kenley Common black sign board, on right, go through gate on right. Proceed up wide track (could have muddy patches). At top, with house on left, turn right at major path intersection. Soon stage ends at 6 foot post (with yellow arrow on top) where path comes to clearing.

14.	No non-coms., or warrant officers allowed a pass to this area for a score of reasons.
15.	To coin a phrase! The wrens were on only one side, our side and no other side.
16.	Rationing? Not here. It appears there is food a-plenty to cover these government circles.
17.	Looks like an Italian job on the face of it. Well perhaps more Roman in its set-up really.

STAGE V
Take left diagonal fork past a cluster of oak trees in open land, towards gap in tree line opposite. Cross a woodchip covered pathway onto the airfield perimeter track, turning left. Follow perimeter track until reaching high chicken wire compound on left (by another Corporation of London black notice board) where stage ends.

18.	Henry VIII stripped England's heart out to build our navy. Mosquitos were made from ply. Whatever next? "would" you know?
19.	Explosions aftermath combines with a golfing hazard around a curved beach provides protection on a higher plane.

STAGE VI
Follow perimeter track, keeping high fencing on left towards hangar. (Ignore exit to road here.) Continue on perimeter track keeping buildings on left until reaching a blast bay with some undergrowth next to it. Turn left following shrubbery towards road and entrance gate. Do not go through gate but turn 90° right and head for tunnel through well tended blast bay, emerging at war memorial, where stage ends.

20.	A tree bends..... men gathered..... Mo threw herself in to test its gusto, perhaps it might put the wind up Adolf.
21.	Dig for victory? Modern technology makes it out of the question here.
22.	Ancient medicine chest? Tablet tin? Kept the occupants secure during a frontal onslaught.
23.	They lie on two sides on one side, their partiality gives them "no side" on the other side. Numerically balanced but still..... it doesn't add up.

STAGE VII
From war memorial turn left onto perimeter track and follow round to right. Shortly after large double gates where outside road almost merges with perimeter (by a dog litter bin) take path to exit gate. Turn right, carefully traversing road, down to mini roundabout. Turn left down Old Lodge Lane. Follow road round to right arriving back at The Wattenden Arms where walk ends.

24.	What an enigma? A real post code.
25.	No pilots gratuity allowed here, otherwise, fine!

Answers

1. Wattenden Arms - anagram of "send war team" and N T being initials of "no tea"
2. Axia-Vent extractor unit on side wall of pub - Axi(a), "ess" sounds like "s" = "axis"
3. Coat of arms on pub sign, overhanging road at front
4. Red triangle on small post outside house before "The Heights"
5. A-C-O-R-N-S (initial letters) on pillared entrance to "Heights" - one missing.
6. Fencing on left
7. "Ticket to Ride" advert for "Freedom Pass" on bus stop
8. Austin Close. To left are 8 bollards preventing access to vehicles
9. "B-ROADS, 185 B" circled. Manhole cover on large concrete block on right
10. B - rambles over to right
11. Leaves
12. White painted gas lamp in garden over on left
13. "Humps in Road 1¼ Mile" & "200 Yards", either side of path onto road
14. "Private", alongside "20" in red circle
15. Farthings
16. Ham Baker & Co Ltd. on manhole cover
17. Roman numerals on clock face at "Gatehouse" on right
18. Oak, or Oak Trees. Benches under made from other wood from fallen trees
19. Blast bunker (or blast bay) for protection against shrapnel or flying debris to aircraft awaiting maintenance or ammunition
20. Anemometer (for wind measure) in compound on right
21. "Metal detecting - digging for finds is prohibited" on black notice board
22. Old pill box for machine gun or snipers
23. The squadron numbers on the war memorial are on the front side only
24. CR3 5LN on bottom left hand side of gate post (outside as you leave)
25. "NO FLYTIPPING - PENALTY £400" on notice