Good Companions

The Good Companions is a social group for men who have retired, are partially retired or who work from home. Our membership now totals approximately 60. The group had its first meeting on 29th February 2000. On 7th March this year we had a celebratory supper party in Kitson Hall to celebrate our Tenth Anniversary with entertainment provided by Cameo Opera and this was attended by just over 100.

About once a month a men’s lunch is held. The host provides bread, salad, glasses, plates, cutlery etc and those attending bring wine, cheese, fruit, pate. Occasionally, particularly in the winter, these men’s lunches are held in one of the local pubs. From time to time a group led by Fergus O’Kelly has formed a male voice choir which has performed at the St David’s Day Supper and the St Mary’s Midsummer Party

In addition to the lunches we organise a wide variety of activities and our wives participate in most of these. In 2008 we completed our walk of the Thames Path, from the Barrier to the source - 185 miles. Vic Nolan who is now close to his 90th birthday completed each of the stages of the walk. In 2009 we started on our walk of the Ridgeway - Avebury to Tring – some 87 miles and we are now approximately half way through this, having walked 42 miles. During summer 2010 we are hoping to complete the remaining 45 miles. All our walks, transport by the Fish minibus and the associated lunch venues have been most efficiently organised by Brian and Janice Turk

We have had a number of other walks, mainly around London and in Surrey. We have visited Oxford, numerous cathedrals, churches, museums, art galleries, theatres, concerts, historical houses, had a number of boat trips, eaten out at a number of local restaurants and had a number of summer drinks parties. Our wives have joined us on all of these activities

Each Autumn we organise a work party to clear rubbish etc at the back of St Mary’s and Kitson Hall and assist in the preparations for the Christmas Fair.  In 2009 we adopted Combat Stress as the charity we wished to support.  Donations from our members have raised £570 and a further £280 was raised from a Saturday Morning Coffee Shop, making a total of £850

Most of the members have some slight link to St Mary’s and the Good Companions is now an affiliated group.  New members are always welcome. Tim Budgen acts as Co-ordinator and can be contacted at: 2 Suffolk Road, SW13 9PH. Telephone 0208 748 3413 or by e-mail

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