IGS Expedition revisits Banstead Heath

Monday 1st May saw an expedition of the Imperial Geographical Society (IGS) explore an area of Surrey countryside first visited by the Society in 2011.

The expedition – led by Emperor Jonathan I – consisted of nine people, including Emperor Father Terry, Emperor Mother Margaret, and the latter’s sister-in-law Lady Boxall.

The former Lord Marshal William had been planning to join the expedition along with his mother, which would have pushed the numbers up to eleven, but could not do so due to car problems.

The IGS has long had an annual tradition of launching an expedition on the first Monday of May to explore countryside in the British county of Surrey, with the first of said expeditions taking place in 2009.

Monday’s expedition revisited the same area explored by the 2011 expedition, with some slight adjustments to the route.

The expedition explored Banstead Heath and adjoining wooded areas with a mostly circular route, then briefly headed south over the M25 motorway to see the view from the top of local vantage point Colley Hill before heading back to the start point.

The expedition stopped for lunch in a sunny clearing, and later on stopped again for a tea and coffee break at The Sportsman, a nearby pub which is also of significance to the Imperial Family for having hosted the wake of Dame Bette (Emperor Mother to the former Terry I) in 2012.

The route taken also encountered several coal tax posts, nineteenth century structures marking a boundary around London for tax purposes.

While 2011’s expedition was remembered as being very windy, Monday’s was much less so, although the weather was somewhat mercurial, alternating between brilliant sunshine and heavy showers. It was also noted that various footpaths were far muddier than remembered!

A video of the expedition will be published shortly.