On 20th May, eight CTC Portsmouth volunteers worked with a Hampshire County Council officer to minimise flooding and mud on Park Lane Bridleway.
Category Listing: News
In memory of Mike Izod
I attended Mike’s very simple and dignified funeral service yesterday. Many riders remember Mike as a most pleasant, calm and friendly ride colleague – never tired or grumpy at the route taken and encouraging riders who might have been a bit tired and struggling at the end of the ride. His bike was always in immaculate condition. He'd often be asked about his 'new' bike only to be told he'd had it for ages.
Mike joined the Navy as a Marine Engineer and served 22 years for pension, during which time he got an Open University degree in mathematics and became a school teacher up to A level standard. Unfortunately after some years he got throat cancer which affected his voice and he had to stop teaching. He then worked in the accounts department of John Lewis for some years. Some 10 years ago he contracted leukaemia but was cured and in remission until 18 months or so ago when it returned.
The photo on the service sheet was taken about 2 years ago and shows Mike with his granddaughter, Viva, then aged 4. Viva is an old Izod family name. Mike came from Huguenot stock and there are a number of Izods who were land owners in the Cotswolds, unfortunately not recently on Mike’s side of the family. A family relative told me after the funeral that he recently visited a church in one of the picture-postcard villages and saw a grave of 'Viva Izod'.
Mike Izod
I'm very sorry to have to report that Mike Izod - a regular rider with us until 18 months ago - has died.
Irene Izod writes:
It is with great sadness that I have to tell you Michael died on 28 April 2016 having lost his fight with lymphoma.
He thoroughly enjoyed his cycle rides with the Portsmouth CTC and last autumn had purchased a new bike which he was looking forwarding to testing out, unfortunately that wasn't to be.
The funeral will be held at Portchester Crematorium on Tuesday 17 May at 11.45am and any member would be more than welcome.
CWIS & Campaigning News
You may already be aware of the government’s CWIS (Cycling & Walking Investment Strategy) which is now at the draft stage and open for comment. The consultation closes on 23 May, so it should be possible for all members to have their say, which can be done by using the on-line survey, using the e-mail address supplied or by normal post. You can view the documents and make your views known here.
Sheet level crossing to remain open
Mike Ashton previously reported plans for Sheet level crossing that included the possibility of complete closure.
Mike has obtained a copy of this letter from Network Rail that announces the level crossing will remain open and that the half-barriers will be replaced by full barriers.
Butser Cutting update
You might be aware that work at the south section of the route has stalled because of issues with the slope up from the Queen Elizabeth Country Park car park to the new path.
This document is the proposal to Hampshire County Council to spend the extra money necessary to complete the route.
This document is the record of the approval given by the relevant executive member to the extra spend.
So it looks like the path will be completed. It will be a while, however, before we get a reliable completion date.
Father's Day family outing and charity ride on Hayling
We're keen to encourage young cyclists. Well Havant Rotary are organising a Father's Day family outing and charity ride, on Sunday, June 19th, 2016. It starts from Northney Farm Field (opposite the Tea Rooms), then south down the Billy Trail to the beach, and back again for a barbecue and bouncy castle. If you know any children or grandchildren, it's a great way to get them riding - or adults, come to that. And prostate cancer is a very appropriate charity for Father's Day.
Riders set off after registering and collecting their free T-Shirt at Northney Farm Field from 10 am. At the end of the ride there is a BBQ and activities back at the field. Alternatively, you can picnic if you wish to bring your own food.
Find out the answers to our quiz! No racing is involved so you have time to enjoy the ride and at the same time be sponsored to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK and Havant Rotary‘s local Charities, or you can choose to donate your sponsorship money to your own charity.
This is a fun day for families who want to have an enjoyable day out with their children and bikes. The 12 mile ride should take about 2 hours at a family-friendly pace (but you can turn round at any point along the way if it's too difficult!). Why not get your wider family and friends to join in and make a real day of it?
Entry is only £12.50 for one adult and a child (under 18) and includes a free T-shirt. Additional children are £2.50 each to cover the cost of the T-shirt. When you complete the entry form don’t forget to let us know the sizes of T-shirt you need!
Fuller details are on the Rotary website at events.havantrotary.org.uk or on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/502724423247667/
CTC is now known as Cycling UK
The national CTC organisation (of which Portsmouth CTC is a member group) is changing its public image to be more effective in campaign work. It now calls itself 'Cycling UK' and will campaign under the brand 'We are Cycling UK'. The CTC logo will be replaced by this image…
Rationale for the Centurion Way extension
Gilbert brings our attention to the following letter to the Chichester Observer explaining the logic behind the Centurion Way extension which ends in a cul-de-sac...
We are pleased to hear that people are enjoying the recent extension to the Centurion Way between Lavant and West Dean.
We appreciate that there is some frustration that it doesn't yet offer an off-road route into West Dean and thought it would be helpful to clarify the current status and next steps as part of our long-term ambition to bring the route all the way to Midhurst. The recent path extension which opened in December was made possible thanks to funding from the Department for Transport. As this funding was time limited we considered it best to carry out agreed construction works at once even though this would result in a dead end as we had not yet identified a means of providing access to the village.
We have been working in partnership with landowners and the local community to resolve this issue and are confident that we will find an acceptable solution in the near future.
In the meantime we've installed information panels and fingerposts at Binderton to alert users that access to the village remains via the route adjacent to the A286.
We are asking that people using the path respect the privacy of adjacent landowners. Trespassing on their land is not only unlawful but could jeopardise ongoing discussions and erode goodwill as we try to find a long-term solution.
We will continue to develop the Centurion Way as and when funding becomes available as part of our vision to develop a network of core shared paths across the National Park.
We are grateful for the support of the Edward James Foundation, owners of the West Dean Estate, for their continued support and look forward to working with landowners, tenants and communities to reach a a solution. For further information about the Centurion Way project, please contact info@southdowns.gov.uk
Andrew Lee
Director of strategy and partnership
South Down National Park Authority
2015 CTC Photo Competition results!
Here are the results of the 2015 Photo Competition held at Bedhampton Hall last night, 26th Nov. It was for a group of 6 photos, at least one of which had to include 'cycling'.
1st was Keith Wileman, number 13.
2nd was Wilf Forrow, number 4.
3rd was Martine Hebblethwaite, number 11.
You can see the pictures at: https://picasaweb.google.com/107860504705085729694/2015CTCPhotoCompetition?authkey=Gv1sRgCL7gn6S0-bma7wE#slideshow/
Many thanks to Pat, for organising it, and to Sue for judging, and for passing on some great insights. Please feel free to contact Pat for more information.