Rhubarb Issue 2

r h u b a r b

London to Brussels in less than 24 hours!

p r o f i l e s

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

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; http://www.justgiving.com/ london2brussels24/” Fred Fishlock C L-R: F Fishlock, A Walker, H Kay at La Grand Palace, Brussels

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 . M y decision to attempt the journey on my single speed bike soon

we perked up once we found

Delirium, a bar in Belgiumwith over 2000 beers

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 batter ies , made worse by being told at 3.00

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.

D left to right; Deepankar Gairola, Agrima Pokriyal, Charlie Baggs.

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