Rhubarb Issue 2

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7
In the 2006/07 Chronicle you may have read
about Fred Fishlock’s last cycling adventure
around the coast of India. In July 2011 Fred
embarked on a shorter (as working life
dictates) but perhaps more challenging event:
“On Friday 15th July at midday, myself
(Fred Fishlock, H), Ali Walker (Fettes
College) and Henry Kay (Uppingham),
departed South London on a worryingly hot
summer’s day. Our aim along with around
25 others was to cycle the 400km from
London to Brussels in less than 24
hours to raise money for the
British Heart Foundation.
It quickly became
obvious that this wasn’t
going to be an enjoyable
experience, high
temperatures and a solid
headwind made the UK
leg a real energy sapper. My
decision to attempt the journey
on my single speed bike soon
back-fired, any hill could only be climbed
at pace or else the air took on a treacle-like
consistency. Very tired and a little sunburnt
we arrived at Dover and got on the ferry,
a chance to rest for two hours and take on
some sustenance.
Night greeted us in France, so we donned
our lights and reflective gear before setting
off into the darkness. The next eight hours
until sunrise had the depressing combination
of tiredness, boredom and depleting iPod
batteries, made worse by being told at 3.00
am that we were only half way!
We were lucky to have a great support
team who kept us going with food stops
roughly every 40 miles or so. Mum’s
chocolate brownies perhaps had less
nutritional value than the energy bars and
funny tasting drinks, but provided much
needed moral support.
As day broke we found a second wind
which I can only attribute to being able to
see our surroundings for the first time since
crossing the channel and the realisation
that we were going to finish. After a
great breakfast on the outskirts of
Brussels we arrived just in time,
with a few comedy moments
involving bicycle wheels and
tram rails, which don’t mix well.
We all agreed not to do
anything as stupid ever again.
However we perked up once we
found Delirium, a bar in Belgium with
over 2000 beers, needless to say having been
awake for 42 hours we barely dented the first
page of the drinks menu.
If you would like to donate please
visit;
london2brussels24/”
Fred Fishlock
C L-R: F Fishlock, A Walker, H Kay at
La Grand Palace, Brussels
OSE IndianWedding
Charlie Baggs Hon. Sec. to the SES Society
It is not often you get invited to India, and when the invitation includes the
wedding of an OSE it is an absolute honour. I was therefore delighted when the
Warden sanctioned a few days away and I set off from Heathrow with Kingfisher
Airways to fly to Delhi en route for the wedding of Agrima Pokhriyal (D, 1998-
1999) and Deepankar Gairola on 20th November 2011.
The wedding took place in Dehradun, home of the Doon School and Welham
College – our two Indian exchange schools. This allowed me the opportunity to
visit the Doon and talk to ex-exchange students as well as the member of staff
responsible for international relations.
To reach Dehradun we undertook an eight hour road trip on some of the
worst and most congested roads I have experienced. The young driver proved
to be fearless and actually quite talented as he overtook buses on blind hairpin
bends and negotiated potholes, various stray animals and numerous dangerous
situations.
The wedding consisted of five major events spread over a full five days. These
started with the engagement party, a family only affair plus a few favoured guests
and culminated in two evenings of lavish receptions for four hundred or so
guests. In between there were rituals, ceremonies and lots of time preparing for
the rituals. As you can see from the attached photo Agrima and her husband both
looked fantastic and the whole event was an extraordinary experience.
London to Brussels in less than 24 hours!
we perked up
once we found
Delirium, a bar in
Belgiumwith over
2000 beers
p
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of
i
le
s
D left to right; Deepankar Gairola, Agrima Pokriyal, Charlie Baggs.
rhubar b