To the Manor born

8th June 2025

After some biblical weather on the Saturday I was delighted (surprised) to see a magnificent 29 riders, plus three pillions, turn up on the Sunday, Rykas, Box Hill. A good effort, particularly as our event was competing with a our sister Chapter Meridian ride on the same day!! and a number of our regulars were on their way to the 31st European H.O.G. Rally, Medulin, Croatia.

Shortly after delivering the safety briefing to rapt attention, with particular emphasis on the ride disclaimer, the group set off. Through the market town of Dorking and along the A25, before turning left after Shere onto the beautiful B roads of Surrey. The ride headed south westerly eventually joining the A283 north of the Chiddingfold, where their annual village fete was in full swing. South of Chiddingfold we entered the South Downs National Park, known as the ‘gateway to England’.

Turning right off the Petworth Road I slowed to drop off, what I thought was a C&F member, however they seemed very reluctant to mark the turning. I wobbled to a stop only for the rider to pull alongside announcing he was a member of the 1066 Harley Owners Group, who with a number of his companions, had somehow mistakenly joined our ride!

This incident vindicates the mandatory vest policy with large H.O.G. Eagle & large Chelsea & Fulham or Meridian rocker above. Had the 1066 rider not spotted our vests and realised he and his friends were in the wrong group, who knows what drop off carnage would have ensued!! Check out the Warr’s website, your Sponsoring Dealer, for vest guidance.

We quickly jettisoned these freeloading interlopers and headed down the wonderfully tarmaced (a rarity nowadays) Jobsons Lane to emerge from the trees onto one of the most famous biking roads in the south east, the A272. Onwards, through the always challenging to drop off Petworth one way system, before joining the A283 to our destination, Tottington Manor, where they had coned off a large section of their car park for our exclusive use. Tottington Manor is lovely hotel/restaurant and most riders/pillions stayed to enjoy a fabulous lunch with beautiful views of the South Downs in the company of their fellow riders!

• Special thanks to John Warr & Warr’s Harley-Davidson.
• Thanks to Rykas for the reserved parking.
• Thanks to the Road Captains for their support, both on the recce and the day itself: Ray Campbell, Andrew Eborn, Jonathan Gooch, Paul Wiggins and everyones favourite last man, Andrew Papas!
• Thanks to Turabi Ay for taking such excellent photographs.
• A special mention for Cat & Millie at Tottington Manor for making us feel so welcome.
• But mostly, a big thanks to all C&F riders for playing your part so well, marking junctions, for your fellow riders to ensure the ride went smoothly and all arrived at our destination in good order.

Colin Houliston - C&F Assistant Director

 

Photographs courtesy of Turabi Ay - C&F Photographer