July 2026 Final arrangements

Hi all,

Hope everyone is looking forward to the trip to Glynde. We should be 5 or 6 at table. I shall book a table at the Steamworks after a pint at The Trevor Arms.

Travel details as follows: Take the 11.24 train from Seaford, arriving at Lewes at 11.41, Plenty of time for a coffee or whatever at The Runaway Cafe before the onward service at 12.14.

See you on the day

Harry

July Final Arrangements

Thanks for the replies, guys. Let us meet on Wednesday July 1st. Details to follow!


Cheers

Harry

June 2026

At the recent CORDS meeting, some Legacy NERDS members expressed an interest in meeting up for a non- ramble at Glynde. We had previously discussed taking the train to Glynde and visiting both pubs, probably lunching at the Steamworks.

Looking at the calendar I would suggest Wednesday 1st July or possibly 2nd, 6th or 7th. Let me know if any of those dates are good for you. If I have some idea of numbers I will try to book a table at the Steamworks.

Look forward to hearing....

This feels like old times!

Harry

1st April 2026

 

NO March Ramble this year 2026

So March 2026 is passing with no “Ramble” organised! Sandyballs has been in and out of hospital, Froggy has been performing at the odd pub gig,

 Matt has been seen at the local pubs and restaurants, Dave has been visiting Sandyballs and keeping up his spirits, as for Paco I don’t know where he has been, and I’m enjoying the delights of the Pyrénées-Orientales spring 

and attending the local Mayoral elections. We do not get much news of Great Britain over here but it seems that the United Kingdom has gone to the dogs under “Sir Keir Starmer” that well known ‘toolmaker’s’ son.

 But who are we to complain as we have our own problems under the Parisienne electorate!

World events being what they are we are all waiting to see what happens next in the Middle East.

 So far my baby brother, that well known cinema projectionist, is managing the hazards of his family’s location.

To end on a different note our local flock of sparrows have been making the most of the spring weather 

and being what they are they are all pairing off to make further offspring. Even the odd visit from the sparrow hawk 

has not been too much trouble for them.

I hope April and Easter will be more adventurous with all the NERDS gathering!

Cancellation of February's Ramble 2026

Hi all.

I guess all or most of you will by now have heard of Harry (and Matt's) woes. As we get older even the slightest accident or surgery can cause more longer-lasting grief than when we were younger.

Without the 2 remaining founder members, it just wouldn't be right to continue with Wednesday’s planned outing to Glynde. Let us hope that normal service can resume sometime soon.

Best wishes to you all and see you whenever?

Phil

(Froggy)

February 2026 Sandyballs' fall!

Hi All,

Bit of a disaster. I had a fall at home and have damaged my tibia. Needs an op.Am currently in A&E Brighton waiting transferred to the ward

Can you email the NERDS and tell them the news. Obviously I cannot make the ramble. Might be an idea to postpone? Please let me know what you think.

Also include the Bish.

Will keep you posted. No booze involved in the accident!

Harry

2026 February Ramble arrangements

Hi all,

We are due to meet next Wednesday 25th for our two pub crawl/ mini non - ramble in Glynde, First visiting The Trevor Arms (which opens at 12 noon) and then crossing the railway tracks to The Steamworks for lunch.

So the Seaford contingent should take the 11.24 service to Lewes which arrives at 11.41. There we repair to The Runaway Cafe on Platform 2 for a half-hour or so for a coffee or a little drop of whatever you fancy. Onward train to Glynde departs at 12.14.

I shall probably book a table at The Steamworks for (perhaps optimistically) 5 persons.

Hope to see y'all on the day. No Admiral this time. He and Jan plan to be sunning themselves in Barbados!

Dave, see you in the cafe.
Regards
Harry

February 2026 initial arrangements

So, February 2026 has arrived and we are looking forward to Valentine’s Day and Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) and Chinese New Year!

Sandyballs has sent out the following message:-

Last month's idea to go to Gynde 
didn't really work. Shall we have another go this month? I am looking at Wednesday 25th. Let me know if that is a problem for anyone.
Cheers
Harry

January's cancellation for 2026

Some days ago I sent you a message about a suggested non-ramble to Glynde on 28/1. I had two replies.

I would not have thought there was too much effort involved in pushing the 'REPLY' button

and typing a few words.








Anyway I think it would be best to postpone this any other similar trips to later in the year. No meeting on 28/1.

Regards

Harry

A January 2026 'Ramble' arrangement.

About time we got together for another non-ramble. How about this? A mini pub crawl between the two rival pubs in Glynde? Possibly the shortest pub crawl/ ramble in history. I would think a combined distance of - oh- a couple of hundred yards from one side of the tracks to another.

I suggest we go first to The Trevor for a drink then actually eat at The Steamworks, where the food is more reasonably priced. The Trevor supposedly now brew their own beer but I am a bit sceptical about that. We will see.

When though? How about Wednesday 28th Jan ? If that is a problem for anyone please let me know and we can think again, possibly.

Let me know anyway

Cheers
Harry

Happy New Year 2026

 

Wishing all our readers a happy and prosperous New Year for 2026.

The rumour mill suggests that there will be a ramble this January 2026!

Here in Pyrénées-Oriental we have just had a weeks continuous rain which has filled up the rivers but luckily not produced the floods which have occurred in Spain. We are now looking forward to sunshine for a prolonged time.

Regards to all and we wish you all well.

Keep in touch,

Regards

BT

Further on in December 2025

As there is no NERDS ramble or even a Christmas lunch BT decided to celebrate his 25th Wedding Anniversary in Gothenburg with Helen. Not spending all December in Sweden but returning to France for Christmas to be with Morgane, Denzel and Wesley.

Further updates later depending upon world events!

BT.

December 2025

 Welcome to December - in the United Kingdom 

and here in France 

Regards BT

November's Lafayette Memorial Ramble 2025

Matt was unable to join in because of his medical issues

and he was sorely missed.

The weather promised to be very wet, windy and cold and it did just that. At the time of waiting for anyone to turn up at Charlie's favourite bus-stop

waiting place, Newhaven was blessed with heavy sleet. Someone said that it was actually snowing in Lewes! Steve arrived at the bus stop and then Harry and Dave. There was no sign of Paco, Tony or Mike but they were around and would meet up with us later on. We arrived at the Ark

to find it closed. Instead of 11am it did not open until midday. So the 4 of us trudged on into town to find the Bridge also closed! Our only option was the Ship,

where we quaffed 3 pints of London Pride and a Moretti, courtesy of Mr Brown. Tony was waiting for us in the Ark and Mr Hack then bought a round.

Imogene popped in to reveal the location of Paco and Mike and then ran off hot foot to reunite with them.

By the time we left the Ark, the rain had mainly ceased and we arrived at the Rustico

nice and dry.

There was a table for 8 at the back wall and we all had pizzas, as there was no other choice.

It is probably just as well that Charlie's favourite Newhaven restaurant

had been sold to make way for a chain (there is one in Lewes). He was warmly toasted there and in fancy everywhere we went. It was a shame that we didn't make the Hope, but it was a step too far for Harry's limp.

Returning to the Ark, Steve and Mike slipped away and Tony was collected by Hilary. Paco

had graciously bought us a bottle of red and the 5 left enjoyed a small glass or two

. We then crossed the bridge and arrived just in time to board a 12A, which was ideal for both Paco and Imogene.

Harry and Dave went off to catch their train and the time moved towards 5pm. Quite likely the longest time spent out on a ramble for a very long time!

There is to be no Christmas ramble lunch/gathering and we will see what we will see in the New Year!

Phil xx

2025 November's Ramble for Lafayette

Hope to see you all on Wednesday. !! Ish at Newhaven Town station.

Chance to raise a glass or two to one of our own.......
Harry

November Ramble 2025

Hi each,

We are all arranged for the Memorial mini-ramble on Wednesday 19/11. ( International Mens Day!)  I have booked a table at Rustico (formerly Luna Rossa) Newhaven for 1 PM. Meet at the bus stop at Newhaven Town station at about 11.15. Or a bit later at The Ark for the traditional stirrup-cup. Please let me know if you can't make it so I can amend the restaurant booking.
Dave, see you on Platform 3 (?) at Lewes station for the 11 .00 train.

See you on the day
Harry

2025 November Ramble Final Arrangements

All,

Looks like everyone can make Wednesday 19th November so let us do that. I will be arriving 'en train' at about 11.15 so meet on the usual bus-stop bench outside Newhaven Town station. Our first port of call should be Charlie's old watering-hole The Ark which opens at 11AM. Then lunch at the faux Italian. Possibly then to The Hope -hopefully .

Plenty of chances then to raise a glass to the late lamented Lafayette.

Dave. Hope you can join us, I will be taking the 11.00 train from Lewes.

Harry

November 2025 First Ramble Arrangements

Hi all,

I thought it was about time we all met up to celebrate the life and times of Charlie ( Lafayette ) Swann. I am thinking of a mini- ramble in Newhaven visiting one or two local hostelries and lunching at the restaurant formerly known as Luna Rosa. This is now part of the Rustico chain which of course is faux Italian! There is one of these in Lewes and although I haven't been there myself, my daughter Katherine speaks highly of it.

The question is when in November? How about Wednesday 12th or 19th ? Flexibility of course. Doesn't have to be a Wednesday. Please let me know what you think.

The NERDS is (are ?) not dead. Merely sleeping........

Harry

Charles "Lafayette" SWANN

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings. The worst possible tidings.


Here we go. Charlie passed away this morning at about 10.30 AM. Carmel was with him at the time along with Colin and Audrey Crowe. He was still at the Princess Royal Hospital at Haywards Heath. Moves had been made to take him home and I believe a hospital bed had been installed there at The Purple Palace. But in the end his deterioration was rapid and Charlie wanted to stay where he was. Yesterday he had been placed on End of Life Care and was having some pleasant morphine - induced dreams. In one he had a vision that Carmel was going up to Scotland to poison Donald Trump! A joker to the end.


He had no pain and finally just slipped away.........Myself and Barbara saw him at the same hospital just a few days ago and had a long chat with him. He knew how the ground lay and he asked me to organise his wake. At his request this will be at The Anchor in Ringmer. Charlie remembered Malcolm Senior's wake there and wants something similar himself. Of course I will organise this but Carmel thinks this will probably be in about month's time. The funeral will be along Pure Cremation lines and there will be no ceremony,


Colin Crowe will take care of notifying EXIST. May already have done it.


And there you have it. Under my self-induced health regime I normally only have a drink on weekends......Not tonight though.






Harry