Malcolm's Wake

 

                                                                   Malcolm (Bronco)

Yesterday we waked Bronco although it was anything but woke. He had sadly died on January 5th and had been cremated by Maria a day or so ago.
The Bish alerted the NERDS to the wake which was to be held at Malcolm's favourite (and nearest) pub, The Anchor at Ringmer.
Lafayette got on the phone and managed to round up Steve Gorilla Brown, Colin MBE Crowe, and Roger and Ed Coombe from The Darkside ( a minor rambling group). Surprisingly they all managed to make it (one with only a couple of hours notice).
The grand meeting took place at Lewes station where Lafayette, Paco and Froggy met Les Autres and were then bundled off quickly to Waitrose to get the 28 bus.
With five minutes to spare we got the bus and Laf. telephoned Sandyballs so that he could be picked up at the end of his road.
Getting a bunch of NERDS and Les Autres into the same location from disparate places is a logistical nightmare but finally we arrived at The Anchor just as things were starting to kick off. Apparently the whole pub had been reserved for this special occasion and there were lots of people we didn't know there who had come to celebrate Bronco. Maria was not there, however, even though she must have paid for it all.
The NERDS et Les Autres grabbed some tables by the fire and got served drinks by a jolly waitress. Then more drinks, then more drinks. The waitress service was pretty impeccable and in addition there was a hefty brandy ration doled out to everyone so that we could drink to Bronco's memory.
Then we had more drinks and laid into the free sausage rolls and sandwiches and took lots of photos of each other so that we could remember who we were. At one point a small delegation arrived from Newhaven Port. There was Shirley and another nice girl plus Can of Beans and somebody else called Simon. It was all very jolly which is what a proper wake should be.
Finally someone thought we ought to pay for the vast number of drinks we'd had and then, since we were probably in the middle of Storm Zebedee and there was a bus to catch which only turned up once a week, we wound it all up and departed.
Lafayette has vague memories of leading everyone into The Lansdown Arms but after that things got a bit misty.
It had been a good wake with lots of people there all of which testified to Bronco's popularity and in his favourite pub too. We shall probably all remember him for different reasons but especially for his good nature and bawdy humour; he was the Rabelais of The NERDS.
All for now.
Lafayette,

Rest in Peace Malcolm (Bronco)

Very sad news about Malcolm 

- a one time NERD, don't forget. There are so few of us left now.......

I have been in touch with Charlie and he and I will be attending the wake at the Anchor in Ringmer on Tuesday. Charlie will be getting the 2.00 PM train from Newhaven and I will meet him at the station and taking the 28 bus from Waitrose. I think Tony is going as well. Anybody from the dwindling band of NERDS is welcome to join us.

Regards

Harry

February 2024 Ramble initial arrangements

 

Hi. Shall we set a date for the February Ramble? I'm thinking about Wednesday 21st. Perhaps a short stroll to The Rainbow at Cooksbridge for the Carvery?

Any probs let me know.

Cheers

Harry

Seems alright to me (famous quote).

Charlie.

January 2024 Birthday Ramble

 

It was Lafayette's 77th birthday, the only time when for a short period he was two years older than Sandyballs,

 There was to be a cast of thousands - well twelve since it was a special occasion. There were, representing the NERDS: Sandyballs, Paco, Froggy, Dio and Imogen (minus dog) plus Moi. Then there were, representing The Darksiders: Marion, Jane, Debbie, Roger, Ed and Peter Thompson.

The NERDS waited at 12 at Lewes for the Gatwick lot who were wasting time sitting about in the Runaway cafe. However Laf rounded everyone up and passed the baton to Sandyballs

who had organised the brief walk. The weather looked ominous, it was warmish but threatening heavy rain so we all set off past the Lewes Football Club and down in the direction of the Town Dump.

After about half a mile Laf called a halt so that he could have a brief rest (bad legs).

 By now we were near to The Mighty Ouse which was showing signs of raindrops beginning to fall. 

We hurried on. Lafayette had another brief calvados stop thanks to the kind attentions of Ed who knew when to oil the wheels. There was a brief photo stop by the river where we admired the back of the posh flats near Harvey's Brewery Bridge.

At this point it started to rain like hell so we all legged it fast for The John Harvey Tavern, aka the
BrewerTap.

There were lots of pints of Old ordered and we all managed to cram into the back room for our pitstop. Imogen got bored and went to the Harveys shop where she bought all next year's Christmas cards and a bottle of cider. (Another NERDS' alchy.....)

After one or two pints and because it was nearly time for lunch Laf. whipped everyone up and out into the
now pissing down rain with the prospect of scampering up the length of School Hill to get to the pub.

The stars were aligned for Lafayette who got to the bottom of the hill with Paco and spotted a number 28 bus

which obligingly took them both one stop to the Rights of Man.

There we met Dio who had been keeping a bar stool warm and had had the sense to bypass the walk and go straight to the pub. Marion was startled to see Laf and Paco ahead of us in the pub since they had definitely been behind her at one stage. Nobody mentioned buses.

We settled in and Laf got some prosecco going which made everyone feel in the mood.. Then the rest of the festivities began. As usual the food in the R of M was magnificent, although pricey. But there again What the Hell...... There were scallops and pheasant and beefy things and panna cotta and lots of red wine and coffee and illicit calvados and it was a real swinging party.

Finally we all poured outside about two hours later when fortunately the rain had more or less stopped and Laf led a bunch of hard cores down to the Depot where more coffee cognacs were drunk. The Gatwick lot made for the trains.... hope they got home because......Dio returned with Imogen from the station to say most trains were not running because of flooding on the line. However, Froggy and Paco took a dry train to Eastbourne and a number 12 bus back to Seaford, and Dio, Laf and Imogen took an expensive taxi back to Newhaven and Seaford so the day did not end in total disaster.

It had been eventful and thanks to Sandyballs for organising the "ramble" pity he had to leave the pub early to attend to familial duties but I expect he managed to get home ok.

Thanks to all those who came and made it exciting. Hope they all got home as well.

Lafayette.

(Bowles Club)