Author: Marcus Bicknell

Geoff Gudgion – his life

Geoff Gudgion – his life

Marcus Bicknell

We thought you might like to read more about Geoffrey’s life, in fact several in the riding and writing communities have asked to know more.

I cooperated with Geoff’s family, Cambridge friends from 50 years ago and more recent writing friends to bring together details of his terrific life which will interest you. This is not so much an obituary as an account of his life which serves as a long-lasting online tribute to a good friend of Hodgemoor, the community and those who knew him.

With thanks to James Gudgion for coordinating the family’s input; to Graham Wiltshire, James Wrigley and Charles Style for inputting from the perspective of Geoff’s Cambridge friends; and to writing friend Clare Christian clare166@gmail.com   www.clarechristian.co.uk

The account of Geoff’s life… click on  https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Geoffrey-Nigel-Gudgion-his-life.pdf

Geoff’s funeral, order of service… https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Geoffrey_Gudgion_order_of_service_8Sept2025-1.pdf

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Visit the Roman Road in Hodgemoor 27 July

Visit the Roman Road in Hodgemoor 27 July

Marcus Bicknell
Those of you who attended Nigel Rothwell’s talk in Seer Green on the Roman Road between Verulamium (St Albans) and Silchester in April may be interested to know that he will be leading walks around Hodgemoor Woods, including visiting the road, on 27th July. This is part of the Council for British Archaeology’s Festival of Archaeology and is in conjunction with the Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society. Booking is essential as the number of attendees is restricted. However, the walks are open to the public and can be booked either from the Festival website at https://www.archaeologyuk.org/festival/festival-event-listing/hodgemoor-woods-heritage-and-wellbeing-walk.html, or directly with Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society at https://bas1.org.uk/bas-outings-july-2025. There is a small charge for non-BAS members of £5 – cash or card (assuming the technology doesn’t let us down).
The walks are 3.5 km and 3 hours, on woodland paths. All information is also all provided at the Festival booking site.
E-bikes not allowed in Hodgemoor

E-bikes not allowed in Hodgemoor

Marcus Bicknell

Further to recent incidents in Hodgemoor Woods and enquiries from members of the public, we publish here the law which prohibits e-bikes in these Woods.

Section 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (as amended by Schedule 7 Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000) states that it is illegal to ride or drive a motor vehicle on common land, moorland, Forestry Commission land or any land that is not forming part of a road without authorisation. There are a range of penalties available including heavy fines, and the power to confiscate vehicles and bikes which are used off-road in a manner which causes ‘alarm, distress and annoyance’ in s59 and s60 of the Police Reform Act 2002.

This applies on Forestry England land whether the bike is an ‘electrically assisted pedal cycle’ (EAPC) or not. Users of e-bikes are reminded that you must know the specification of your e-bike and whether it is an EAPC or not before setting out anywhere, including roads and pavements. Not certain? Check it out. Until the new bill comes out classifying e-bikes as motor vehicles for all legal purposes, the follow is the definition of an EAPC:

An EAPC (electrically assisted pedal cycle’ (EAPC)

  • must have pedals that can be used to propel it
  • can have more than 2 wheels, for example a tricycle
  • It can be propelled up to 15.5mph without pedalling but only if it’s been approved.
  • must have an electric motor with a ‘continuous rated power’ output of no more than 250 watts and
  • which must not be able to propel the bike at more than 15.5 miles per hour (mph)
Hodgemoor donation to Thames Valley Air Ambulance

Hodgemoor donation to Thames Valley Air Ambulance

Marcus Bicknell

On Saturday 10th May the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, at their Stokenchurch HQ open day, received a donation for £500 from the Hodgemoor Riding Association, Frank Everest, Susie and Marcus Bicknell. Our photo shows, Nicola Bishop (Community Fundraising Manager) and Ruth Dunkin (Head of Community & Events) of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance with Marcus Bicknell (chairman) and Susie Bicknell (secretary) of the Hodgemoor Riding Association. £300 of the donation was from Frank Everest whose fee for maintenance work in Hodgemoor Woods he wanted to give to charity. Frank at Waylands Equestrian is a great support to the riding community. £200 was from Susie and Marcus.

We can strongly recommend you attend one of the open days of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance (Open Days 15 Aug & 12 Dec https://www.tvairambulance.org.uk/hq-open-days) where you can get to understand the extraordinarily high medical skills deployed by the organisation across Berkshire Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire on an average 9 times a day by helicopter and by car. Their objective and specialisation now is to co complete as much treatment as possible on the scene of the incident including surgical operations, setting wound fractures and administrating advanced drugs. Of their 3000 interventions per year 65 are equestrian related. We horse riders remain grateful for the knowledge that they can come to help if required.

The charity is totally funded by the community it serves, receiving no government or lottery funding – there are lots of way you can support from making a donation, taking part in an event or even leaving a gift in your will. In addition volunteering is a huge help to the charity, whether as a one-off or more regularly. The team would love to hear from you to discuss any of the above further and can be reached via fundraising@tvairambulance.org.uk

The Hodgemoor Riding Association has raised over £300,000 since 2000 to encourage horse-riders away from busy traffic and into the woods and horse trails in the Seer Green, Jordans and Chalfont area. www.hodgemoor.org.uk

Look at the media release or forward it in pdf: Thames Valley Air Ambulance Hodgemoor donation 10May2025

Philipshill Wood – an interesting hack from Chalfont St Giles

Philipshill Wood – an interesting hack from Chalfont St Giles

Marcus Bicknell

Long leisurely hack to in the cool of Monday…. Two hours including the roadwork from the top of St Giles, through the village and up the other side on the Chorleywood road.

Philipshill Wood is delightful, nice clear bridle ways and a loop at the end round the fields. About 40 mins off road. Recommended for any quiet rider with a quiet horse. Not too much traffic today.

Hodgemoor Quiz Night, 3rd December

Marcus Bicknell

Christmas Pub Quiz – Tuesday 3rd December 2024 – just £3

Please join us at the White Hart pub in Chalfont St Giles from 7 pm for dinner and quiz night social. £3 per person for the quiz to raise funds for maintaining the trail in Hodgemoor Woods. Up to 6 per team. If you are a small group and would like to be grouped with another please let us know. Dinner and drinks can be individually ordered at the bar.

We need to start getting an idea of numbers by 15th November so as not to mess the White Hart around . Please let us know ASAP if you want to attend and pay via PayPal on the website or correct cash on the day. Please give at least 48 hours notice to cancel as the White Hart been great not charging us a deposit.

 

 

The White Hart Inn,Three Households, Chalfont St Giles, Chalfont Saint Giles HP8 4LP. Mini roundabout at the junction of Threehouseholds, Narcot Lane and Deanway. When you use their parking remember to check in your car registration on the machine in the pub.

Pay by standing order

Marcus Bicknell

If you pay your membership by bank transfer please consider making it a standing order. This greatly reduces the work to be done by the Hodgemoor Riding Association secretary, work done since 2000 by Susie Bicknell. We have put the standing order form on our website now, to encourage you to download it, fill it out and get it back to us (email or post). The form is in MS Word so you can type in your details easily…

https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/so_standing_order_mandate_hodgemoor.doc

We confirm that the Association will reimburse you any monies paid on a standing order after you notify us of your leaving the area and the Association.

By the way, if you pay be PayPal then setting up a PayPal annual payment to us is even easier. Then the secretary does not have to remind you and chase you every year.

Thanks in advance, Marcus