Fenland

Campaign for Real Ale

Campaign for Real Ale

November 2015 - Bicker & Donington

We met at “Ye Olde Red Lion” in Bicker which dates form 1665 as a party of 11.

After crossing the A52 and walking a short distance along the B1181 we followed a lane to Donington.

Part of the way along this lane is a Lancaster memorial. On 10th April 1944 a Lancaster of 635 squadron took off from RAF Downham Market. It crashed in a nearby field where the plane and its crew are still buried. The names of the crew are recorded on the memorial.

We walked on to Donington where we visited the Black Bull which is in the Market Place. On the opposite side of the road is a statue of Matthew Flinders, the locally born explorer who mapped the coast of South Australia. He sometimes named coastal features after places in his native Lincolnshire such as: Boston Bay, Port Lincoln and Sleaford Bay.

The pub had a real fire on the go even though it was a very mild day for November. The pub claims to have served Donington for 450 years.

There were four ales on offer: The Cottage Great Western Ale at 4.5% was excellent as was the Wadsworths Dirty Rucker at 3.9%. The Batemans XB was in good form and the fourth choice was Green King IPA.

The pub had a low ceiling with exposed beams including a large beam across the front of the fire.

We also stopped off at Donington Parish Church to visit the Arnham Oak in the church yard. This is a memorial the 1st Air Troop Royal Engineers and the 1st Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers. Like the Lancaster memorial poppies and tributes were there from the recent Armistice Day celebrations. The reason the walk was held a week later than usual.

From Donington we followed a footpath to Northorpe and then followed Days Lane to the A52 and carried on to Bicker.

The walk end at the Ye Olde Red Lion which had three real ales on offer. The Courage |Directors and Adnams Southwold Bitter were excellent. The third beer was Sharpe's Doombar.

There were recycled tractor seats for those who wished to sit at the bar and a very dignified red lion was set into the inside wall. Those needing the toilet were sent to the Throne House to visit either the Dukes or the Duchesses. Everyone enjoyed their meal.

Black Bull, Donington

Matthew Flinders