Section Reports B

righton and Hove Clarion have more or less got back into a fortnightly ride schedule as the Covid threat diminishes. On two recent rides we’ve come across interesting things that we’ve never seen before, and this made me think about several other experiences we’ve had on our rides in the past. For me, this is one of the pleasures of going on rides (along with just being in the countryside, away from traffic, buildings and noise).

1st CLARION CHAMPS Nottingham Clarion CC

1st TEAM OVERALL South Normanton CC 00:54:43

2nd TEAM OVERALL Nottingham Clarion CC 00:55:07

3rd TEAM OVERALL Sleaford Wheelers Cycling Club 00:57:35

1st COMPOSITE Amicus 13 / VC Lincoln Comp’ 00:59:25

1st LADIES TEAM Tuxford Clarion all ladies 01:19:36

On a ride in December 2021, one alert Clarionista spotted a dinosaur. It wasn’t a real dinosaur, of course – it was made mainly out of bits of old farm machinery, although it had a purpose-built head, which resembled that of a triceratops. It was on a farm, next to a bridleway, and you could easily miss it – as most of us did.

A few weeks later, in a different part of Sussex, we came upon a farmyard where someone had constructed a huge sculpture, mainly out of old galvanised dustbins. This was apparently the studio of local artist Hamish Black. The writer of the ride report on that occasion said she was reluctant to tarry in case he appropriated our bicycles to add to it!

I think the nicest “artwork” I’ve seen on a ride was a little group of statues in the centre of the old Sussex town of Hurstpierpoint. Three of >>

BRIGHTON AND HOVE

>> us were at the back of a long “peleton” in late 2019, and the others had all ridden past it, but we stopped and looked. It’s a group of seven small children, standing in a circle holding hands. They represent the seven centuries of the existence of the St Lawrence Fair, which dates back to the time of Edward II. Each child is dressed in the appropriate costume of the age, and it is delightful.

Another statue that deserves a mention is to be found in Southwater, near Horsham. In June 2018 we cycled part of the Downs Link cycle route between Christ’s Hospital and Shoreham, and came across the statue, which depicts an iguanodon, whose skeleton was found during quarrying at the former brickworks there. (Mind you, you wouldn’t know that from looking at the plaque, which records only the names of the artist and the person who unveiled it; due to the current vogue for art to “speak for itself”, the reason for it being here is not actually mentioned!)

These statues are important. Even when all the slave-traders’ statues have been removed, there will, unfortunately, still be many that depict men with guns. A greater diversity in statues, including women, children and animals, will help to redress the balance.