Journey journal
Last minute packing – yesterday consumed with media appointments. I’m officially ‘on the road’ driven this week by my step daughter Charis.
An early start for Higginson Marlow Parkrun and such a fantastic welcome there, with a posse of Chippenham Parkrun tourists in attendance and Brathay 10in10er, Rachel Ongs, pictured, also turning up to run with me! Marlow Striders were also very welcoming and I enjoyed meeting Run Director Andrew, Alice from the Striders and we all had a passionate chat about England at coffee afterwards with Striders taking on the Big TOE quiz.
Then it was lunch at The Hand and Flowers and a send off gift from Tom Kerridge, his well wishes written into the front of his Cooks Britain book (see Instagram @bigtoerunner). This is his latest book and it was published this month.
After a very hearty lunch, we drove on to our cathedral for Buckinghamshire, the Tree Cathedral at Milton Keynes, going there with my 30 years friend Jill Hawkins who is the number one guide to MK and Stony Stratford.
Our evening with Jill made sure that we knew all the Stony legends – including stories of Queen Eleanor and of Withnail and I.
I loved the smart frontages of The Cock and the Bull hotels proud of their place in the history and heritage of banter and anecdotes. I love the way that the Cock and Bull story gets retold and retold to strangers and travellers as if it might be a load of Cock and Bull.
In the media
I was a bit excitable talking to Arun Verma, BBC Radio Nottingham, but its still a chat which enjoyed listening back to. A great audience too. Requested back for filming later in the tour.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0j1h19d
Quiz
Over on TikTok and Instagram: Nicola and Valerie asked “What European city is twinned with the bridge in Marlow?” There’s a Jen Rolfe Marlow tea towel now added to the prize draw pot.
‘Where I live’
Jill’s evening tour of Mk and Stony Stratford was full of nooks and corners. We snapped the concrete cows, dined at the Crown which was the King’s Arms in Withnail and I (the Penrith Tea Rooms from the film is actually the chemist in the same square) and talked a load of Cock and Bull at the MK Biergarten, a thoroughly modern craft beer bar that nevertheless had singer Duncan (from local bad the Zeros) picking out some storytelling songs.
Fuel
The hearty hearty Hand and Flowers at lunch was amazing cuisine, though somewhat overwhelming on a summer’s day. The home baked bread though – to die for, and a pint of Hand and Flowers goes straight in at number one of the of the ales, beers and ciders list. So, in the end, with amidst all the fuss and the fancy, the highlights were bread, butter and beer.
The Crown, a pub filmed for Withnail and I was so friendly and I very much enjoyed the squid and chips.
Venues
Coffee shop M at Higginson Park, The Hand And Flowers, Marlow, The Crown, Stony Stratford and MK Biergarten all helped to make a great day out. A can of Pilot cider there with singer Duncan belting out Dirty Old Town and Amy Winehouse’s Back in Black was infectious and we were all singing along with him. MK Biergarten have also given us a competition prize, will be in tomorrow’s blog!
Shopkeeping
The bunting strewn High Streets of Marlow and Stony Stratford are cheerful places. Shops there were showing innovation in the face of aversity and these high streets and still busy hubs. Nevertheless, with average house prices at 60% above the national average and wages only 11 per cent about the norm,
The Natural World
The Tree Cathedral ftw. A lovely natural urban garden with stunning trees plated in the layout of Norwich Cathedral. It took a bit an umming and ahhhing to identify the trees catching the light in this picture as lime tees, but they were just adding such a feeling of welcome to this peaceful space.
Friends old and new
Jill, Rachel Ongs from the 10 in 10 marathons at Windermere and the Chippenham Posse for the old. Alice and the Marlow Striders and Michelle Williams and Tony from MK Biergarten for the new.
Club Scene
Alice spoke glowingly about the Marlow Striders (See Insta/ TikTok)
Heroes
Tom Kerridge. Tom was swift and surprising in his show of support for my Big Tour of England. Cook’s Britain is an inspirational book about British cuisine.
I spoke with Tom at MAD Fest along with Jay Rayner a couple of year’s ago. The two of them talked to an audience about the ethics of brand representation as well as Tom’s challenging early year’s growing up in Gloucestershire. He really empathises with youth challenges.
His Pub in the Park events also link him strongly with the content of my Field Marketing and Brand Experience magazine, so I feel like I know him better than those few words.
Dog of the Day
Definitely Rachel Ong’s terrier Ramsey, who came to meet us at the parkrun.
Photo of the day
Jill, Charis and I on one of the charismatic concrete cows of Milton Keynes.
Events and Festivals
Pride has been zinging in London and Coldplay giving a masterclass of delegation by getting other famouses on board on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.
Inspiration
The connection we made with the Striders and their great interest in the charity was very rewarding. If we make room to stop and talk over a coffee, then life feels less complicated.
Top fifty Beers and Ciders (so far)
1. Hand and Flowers ale – at H&F Marlow
2. Ascension Pilot Cider – an MK Biergarten, Milton Keynes
Top Dogs
1. Kramer the German Shorthaired Pointer – from the Whipsnade Tree Cathedral
2. Ramsey – a Cairn? Terrier – from Marlow Parkrun
