Ride and Stride 2026 – It’s All Over Now
Nick’s report
The day dawned brightly, a little blustery, and thankfully dry (but with the promise of rain later). I cycled up to the ruined church of St Mary in Colston Bassett at 10 am, to display the posters and leave the visitor registration sheet – and then be the first to sign it! Then, back to St John the Divine where the welcomers were still just setting up. After a few more churches in the Wiverton in the Vale parish (Langar, Tythby and Cropwell Bishop, by way of Cropwell Butler), I set out on a route which would take me to the south of Nottingham and the borders of Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
At Plumtree church, the lady on welcomer duty was using her time to knit a poppy, one of 2,000 they are hoping to produce in order to create a Remembrance display of poppies cascading down the church tower. As I arrived at Keyworth parish church, the first drops of rain appeared from the sky and I sheltered there for a few minutes until it cleared up.
Bradmore parish church was, alas, destroyed in a fire in 1705 but the spire remains. The attached Mission Room has been recently repaired (partly with the help of a grant from NHCT) and a craft fair and pop-up café were being held to raise further funds. I was (easily) persuaded to sample their wares and enjoyed a very tasty chocolate brownie to provide energy for the onward journey. After another short break at Bunny to shelter from a shower, I headed into previously uncharted Ride+Stride territory (for me) in the form of Gotham and then under the A453 to Barton-in-Fabis, where there is a fascinating clock mechanism (sadly no longer functional) on display, believed to date from the 17th century.
Then, on to Thrumpton and past the former power station, before coming back under the A453 to Ratcliffe-on-Soar. At these, and each of the following churches, as far as Normanton-on-Soar, I was the first Ride+Stride visitor of the day! Having said that, Normanton was by far the busiest church I visited all day, with their annual fête seemingly attracting the entire village population.
From that point on, not a single church on my route had a welcomer on duty – I suppose the time was getting on – but it was disappointing not to receive a cheery welcome and an encouraging farewell.
After Upper Broughton, with the rain now steady, I strayed into Leicestershire (Nether Broughton) to avoid the treacherous steep and potholed farm track down into to Hickling, where the Scarecrow Festival was still in progress. The theme was “H for Hickling”. Can you guess what the winner was?
Click here to find out.
Hyacinth Bucket
Finally, with the rain getting heavier, I visited Kinoulton and Owthorpe, before returning to Colston Bassett shortly before 6pm for a cup of tea and a warm shower.
All in all, I cycled 106 km (66 miles) and visited 40 churches.
Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me already and, if you haven’t already done so, it is not too late to sign up. Find out how by clicking here.
Many thanks
Nick