Bank Holiday Monday 26th August

The plan today was to just have a mooch around the lanes and see what`s a doing, so a 7am start and once again I was on the Rory. It was warm but overcast and breezy as I made my way out to South Weald and Blackmore. Then onto Norton Heath and Willingale where that`old currant bun` came out to play! I picked up the Shellow Rd and headed for Roxwell and once through the village I headed for Hoestreet and then onto Newney Green to reach Writtle. A short stop on the green was called for to tuck into my iron rations and to feed the ducks as yer do. I had 30 miles on the clock so I decide to head for home from here, this saw me passing through Edney Common and Loves Green.
Just before Blackmore a group of Gateway C.C riders sped towards me and among the normal greetings I heard my name, so I`m guessing Ken Hamilton was among them. Pressing on through Swallow Cross to Mountnessing I headed for St. Giles church and the annual Flower Festive. So a much enjoyed cuppa and yummy cake was taken, apart from the wasps it was very enjoyable too. Around the refreshment tent they had two wasps nest bags hanging, the wasp see them and they go away thinking it another nest, but didn`t seem to be working! I then headed for Hutton via the A129 as I wanted a photo of a roadside memorial. Then from here it was Hanging Hill Lane and The Avenue to a very packed Thorndon Country Park, the car park was full so cars were parking along The Avenue and Childerditch Lane! My route home from here was along Bird Lane and Warley Street to be indoors by 13.30 with 55.80 on the clock. So a nice little mooch around the lanes was had with some lovely sunshine too.

This is memorial on the A129 at Hutton, it`s for the first Essex Police Officer to be killed (sadly not the last) in the line of duty.
Police Constable 514 Robert Bamborough was killed near this spot on 21st November 1850.