Chertsey 17 - 21 Sep 25

For this trip we were planning to venture into Europe or take a tour of Scotland, but things never seem to go according to plan. Mother in law's health was not the best,  therefore had to shorten the duration of the trip and ensure that we were a reasonable distance from home, just in case. Richmond were playing Cambridge in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, so a stopover in Chertsey for a few days before heading down to the Sussex coast seemed like a good plan. We could take in this game, visit Mother and also have a few beers with old friends from Harlequins. 

Chersey C&CC Club Site

So, on Wednesday we once again negotiated the awful M1 and M25 to go to Chertsey C and CC site, which has recently been refurbished. It always was a bit of a dump, but now it is a dump with nice loos (and a much increased price to match). We arrived at around 2pm, stopping for a stretch at Toddington services on the M1. What an absolute disgrace that services is. The potholes were massive and the whole place stank of lorry driver's pee. Never again. Anyway, after arriving at Chertsey we set up and didn't do anything for the rest of the day

On Thursday we braved the dreadful South West Trains to venture into Chiswick to visit Mother, then onto Ashford for a few beers with some old friends from Harlequins before heading back, exhausted, to Chertsey. We walked over 20,000 steps that day - nearly 11miles. No wonder we were knackered.

On Friday the weather was incredibly warm. After all the exertions of yesterday we fancied just dossing about and relaxing and that's just what we did. In fact we were so lazy we couldn't even be bothered to cook and decided to have fish and chips from the stall on site. Big mistake! It was utterly disgusting.

Chertsey Bridge

Saturday we went to Richmond to watch Richmond v Cambridge. Richmond is 11 miles from Chertsey. It took nearly 3 hours to get there by train. It would have been quicker to walk. Basically, as ever with South West Trains, the lines were screwed. We paid £20 to catch a train from Chertsey to Barnes and then change for a train to Richmond. It's a tortuous trip to Barnes, taking forever. Once we got off at Barnes there were no boards advertising the destination of trains, no staff, no information, no detail on the incoming train as to where they were going - it was hopeless. We got on a train and ended going the wrong way, so we got off and retraced our steps, finally getting on a train which was advertising that it was going to Waterloo whereas in fact it was going to Richmond. It really is an appalling way to "run" a railway! Anyway, we eventually arrived in Richmond and found Laura and Steve in the pub, which apparently features in some American show called Ted Lasso and is therefore famous (and packed with Yanks). From there we headed to the ground, watched our boys lose, then headed back for the nightmare journey to Chertsey, arriving after dark, which wasn't a good thing. Chertsey isn't the best place to be on a Saturday night, We saw a horse and trap parked outside a dodgy looking pub, a woman walking along in her dressing gown, girls heading out wearing very little and groups shouting at each other. We stopped for provisions at an awful Aldi then sought the sanctuary of the campsite.

The Prince's Head

Something about Ted Lasso

Richmond Athletic Ground

Sunday and we were a bit concerned that mother in law still wasn't in the best of health and we had to make a decision as to whether to go on or head home to ensure that she was OK. We decided that we could always try again another time so the trip was cut short and we headed for home.

It was nice to get out in the van again, but this wasn't the best of trips or the most picturesque of places to visit. Oh well...until next time.