We all need our local church – if only for hatches, matches or despatches – and sitting on damp pews with rain dripping on your topper is apt to mar an occasion.

The recent spate of lead thefts is more than usually dispiriting, but not altogether surprising...look at the price of the stuff... and a tiny parish like Combs has a bit of a job on to raise the lolly to fix it up.

So... let us pay ... even if it's only a fiver.

Click on "read more of my story" below for names of entrants so far...

The following hearty souls will be cycling in vintage style from the Punchbowl, Battisford to the Preston Six Bells via Kettlebaston, and returning via Brettenham on St George's day.

They will be competing for, among other things, 'best turned out', 'greatest combined age (cycle and rider)', most 'extravagant bell or horn', 'conspicuous gallantry on two wheels' and so forth.

Riders so far...

David Stevens-Rowe, Denis and Caroline Wicking, Reb Capper, Richard Prentice (and George), Sam Jackson, Will and Jenny Taylor-Jones, Sam and Izzy Taylor-Jones, Joe Sharpe, Ben Sharpe, Steve Hammond, Jason Bullard, Aaron Durrant, Lucy Durrant, Richard Furniss, Mark Smith, Rob Denny, Tony Hodsall, George Farr, Tony Bamber, Peter Miller...