Evening Harriers.
Next Sunday 12th November, and for the twelfth year, we will be holding our Remembrance Run to the memorial known as the ‘Airman’s Grave’ on Ashdown Forest (new members should see below for significance). The full 12 mile run (6 miles there and 6 miles back with 1700 ft of ascent) will start from St Johns car park on Ashdown Forest at 9.10am. The timings are precise so that we arrive in good time for the 2 minutes silence at 11am. This car park is the next turning on the right after the Horder Centre in St John’s Rd if approaching from the Groombridge direction. Please be aware that car park charging is now in force on the Forest, so car sharing is desirable.
An alternative 6 mile run will start from Gill’s Lap car park at 10.10am – please wait for the long run group to arrive to guide you. Similarly, this is three miles each way, so you will have plenty of time to get to the Airman’s Grave. Both routes will be marked with flour, and I have attached gpx files for each route for you to upload to your devices (whatever that means).
Please wear your club vest over your normal Sunday run attire, or bring it to don for the short ceremony where a member of the club will lay a wreath. I suggest that you also bring a warm top to wear, as it’s likely to be rather chilly standing on the breezy exposed hillside. Following the last few weeks of heavy rain, the paths on the Forest are very soft, so trail shoes or studs are recommended. Dogs are most definitely welcome (on leads due to horses on the route and road crossings).
Both distances will be at an easy pace with plenty of regrouping over a stunningly picturesque route – weather permitting! If you don’t want to run, but would still like to join us for the ceremony, I suggest that you park in one of the car parks on the Nutley Road well before 11am as it normally becomes extremely congested. Photos from previous runs may be found here.
Looking forward to seeing the Harriers on the Forest on Remembrance Sunday.
Andy Howey.
For those of you aren’t aware of the historical significance of the Airman’s Grave, this small walled garden just south of the Hollies car park is in fact the crash site of a WW2 aircraft. On the night of 31st July 1941, a badly damaged Vickers Wellington Mk II bomber of 142 Squadron was returning from a raid on Cologne when, unable to make it back to its base at RAF Binbrook in Lincolnshire, it crashed on the Forest. All six crew members were killed, with the 2nd Pilot, Vic Sutton being a local man from nearby Nutley. Although none of the crew were buried there, the mother of the 2nd Pilot established a small memorial which grew in size as years passed.
In recent years, the Friends of Ashdown Forest have held a brief and informal remembrance ceremony at the site, and the Harriers will join in laying a wreath at what has now become a very popular event with hundreds on foot and horseback in attendance. In 2022, seventy runners completed the shorter route from Gills Lap, with members of Lingfield RC and East Grinstead Runners joining the Harriers on our run.
