| Date | Hare | Scribe |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Nov 2023 | Helen & Hilary | Kevin |
We thought we were going to get away with it, the weather I mean not a heist. The forecast looked promising for the rain to hold off, but alas not to be on this occasion for Helen and Hilary’s hash from the Royal Oak, Bishopstone.
Upon arriving at the car park Helen and Hilary were waiting for their fellow hashers and questions were asked of them – what ground conditions could be expected, and what appropriate footwear should be worn? Their valid opinion was that conditions were not too bad, good walking boots or wellies would suffice and for the runners running shoes of course!
GOM, that’s me, asked everyone to gather for the usual group photo before observing 2 minutes silence for Remembrance Sunday. Annie was sorting out her socks and boots for the occasion, which delayed her joining the throng for the group photo. Julie H came attired in poppies for the occasion and mentioned that she had a family connection to Bishopstone on her mother’s side of the family and holding the hash in the village was a very poignant moment for her (see postscript written by Julie about her family connection to this mag).
By this time the rain was becoming persistent. GOM counted the numbers, about 23 including hares and GOM although we would be 24 in number before setting off as Ainslie arrived a little later. At the stroke of 11:00am GOM asked all in attendance to observe two minutes silence which was impeccably observed by everyone, and was very poignant as we could hear the bells ring out from Bishopstone Parish Church during our silence.
Helen and Hilary gave their briefing with Hilary re-educating us with a flour demonstration of the markings we should encounter on the trails. Long was about 4½ miles, short about 2¾ miles and the long/short divide up on the Ridgeway. We were set On! On! our way towards the front of the Royal Oak and to the left. The trail meandered through the village of Bishopstone towards the Ridgeway and Lammy Down where the those hashers taking the short trail would walk along the Ridgeway for a short while before returning back to Bishopstone via Ridgeway Farm. Those hashers who were keen to follow the long trail continued running up to Lammy Down (seemed a bit steep for me to tackle today and the weather was not providing me any encouragement to follow the long trail) to a point of exhaustion before turning back towards Bishopstone and catching up with the walkers. As it worked out the trails laid by Helen and Hilary meant that the those of us taking the long or the short trail would meet back at the Royal Oak about the same time.
There are two people who deserve a mention for their endeavours on this hash, both have had mechanical interventions one a few years ago and the other three weeks ago – Mike and Dave retrospectively. As I observed them tackling the short trail I wondered what made them superhuman today, were they given bionic parts or had they eaten three shredded wheat for breakfast?
Within 1¼ hours we all back at the Royal Oak for the après. The Royal Oak had set aside the nook in the bar for us to have our social which was fitted out with some cinema seating. Alas, no films were showing today and there were no ice creams during the interval. However, David made up for it by providing the fresh hot fries which were very much appreciated by everyone.
GOM thanked Helen and Hilary for laying two well marked trails and I handed back to Hilary a plastic milk container top which I found along their trail. Jeremy had forgotten to bring along the bags for the umpteenth time, apparently still in his other ca. Perhaps he can work out how to drive both cars to the hash. Mike still has the hornsso who knows when they may return to a KVH3 hash!
Postscript – by Julie Harrison
“The Stone family who are buried in the churchyard in Bishopstone are my mothers immediate family (Yvonne Harrison née Stone).
They lived at Church View which is the house directly opposite the church next to the brook. Her aunts/uncles and cousins are also from Bishopstone and lived at ‘The Folly’ which we passed on the Hash route on the way up to the lynchets. They are also buried in the churchyard and I am frequently asked about her cousins who passed away at such a young age. The one remaining cousin who now lives in Devon gave me the following information regarding the early death of some of his siblings at such a young age.
“Margaret died from a brain tumour, Robert from stomach cancer, Thomas from a leg illness, he wore leg irons and Christopher also had a leg illness which meant he had trouble walking”