Sunday 19th June 2016

The church of Saints Peter and Paul at Chaldon, in Surrey, England was built before 1086 and contains a large wall painting of around 1170 depicting images of the ways of salvation and damnation and their result ^[a] and is in length 17' 2". Malden in 1911 described it as "perhaps the most interesting ancient wall-painting in England".^[1] This Grade I architecturally listed building ^[2] retains its west and east walls (of nave and of chancel/chantry) of their original dates, both with "extraordinarily high-pitched" gables, round window in the west and three windows in the east.^[1] The mural is divided in two by a cloudy band, with the lower half decorated to torments and punishments of the wicked; the upper half devoted to the judgement and salvation of souls. In the centre is a ladder with Jesus Christ above. The main figures include the Tree of knowledge, with the Serpent (bottom right), the Seven deadly sins and a cauldron for boiling murderers. Across the top are depicted the three Marys and the Ascent of Elijah and Enoch to heaven, Jesus defeating the Devil, and Jesus preaching to the spirits in prison.^[2]

Nathaniel Westlake wrote:^[3]

It is evident that this painting was the work of a very studious man, probably one of the learned monks of Chertsey, and the school of the art of this monastery here finds valuable illustration for comparison with that of Canterbury, Winchester, Lewes and Durham.

Several fundraising bike rides take place between London and Brighton each year. The most famous is the British Heart Foundation event which has taken place each summer since 1976,^[1] and in 2014 involved an estimated 30,000 riders. Despite most roads being closed to cars, the number of bikes is such that traffic jams occur, especially at hills. The toughest part of the route is the climb over Ditchling Beacon which once featured in the Le Tour de France; having already cycled some 50 miles (80 km), cyclists must then tackle a 1 mi (1.6 km) climb with an average grade exceeding 1 in 10. Several sections are somewhat steeper, and whilst the fittest will try to cycle up, the vast majority will walk. To date, over 650,0000 riders have taken part and have raised over £40 million so that the BHF can fund pioneering research, patient care and the provision of vital information. In recent years, the BHF have introduced a night ride and an off-road ride. These are on separate dates, and some competitors will ride all three routes in the same year.