Kentish Express Ashford & District
Cyclists invited to a picnic for Catha
An annual charity bike ride is set to take place for the fourth time in memory of a keen Ashford cyclist.
People are invited to take part in the Catha’s Seat Picnic on Saturday, April 29, from 1pm to 3pm.
Participants will walk, run or cycle through Stour Valley before gathering at a peaceful spot overlooking Chilham Castle.
The event is in memory of Catherine ‘Catha’ Keegan, a keen cyclist who was commissioned by charity Sustrans to survey the section of National Cycle Route 18 between Ashford and Canterbury to make it a safer path.
Catha died in 1998 and in 2013 a resurfaced section of the route between Godmersham and Chilham opened, where the seat in her memory is located.
It is a remote, quiet place that features two handcrafted solid oak benches with in-built cycle parking.
It was named after the dedicated cycling campaigner from Wye because her mission was to create safer cycling routes and encourage their use.
The event and annual picnic also aims to help people discover the joys of cycling and walking in the Kent countryside.
There will be live music from Arlet and Ashford Folk and sandwiches with produce from Ripple Farm, the Wooden Spoon and Wye Butchers and Delicatessen.
This year, the sponsored event has more starting points than ever, in Ashford, Wye, Chilham, Canterbury and Faversham.
Groups already taking part include bike shop Biketart, the UK’s first cycling pub The Freewheel, Wye Footpaths Preservation Society, cycle training group Cycle Circle and Wye Breeze, a women’s cycling initiative.
To find out more about Catha’s Seat, contact her son Nick Keegan at cathasseat@gmail. com, on 07708 523994 or visit www.cathas-seat.org.