Sunday 18th May 2025
And was massive!
936 Rides world wide and currently Guildford is 3rd largest with
800 871 944 961 993 1,017 1,126 1,290 1,392 riders registered!!
£98,169 raised
If that’s not raising awareness for men’s health around the county tell me what is?
To view photos of the day, click the image.
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is a world wide event raising awareness and funds for the 1 in 7 men that will contract Prostate cancer in their lives and the millions of men living with mental health issues they feel they can’t share.
The 2025 ride details
Riders will begin to gather in Guildford High Street from 8:30
After coffee and banter, “gentlefolk” will be asked to start their engines ready to leave at 10:30
A leisurely ride will pause at Loseley House for a comfort break, more banter and take in the scenery.
Once again you will hit the road for 30 mins or so, ending at Hogs Back Brewery around 12:30
Then sit back relax, get a drink and some food, buy a raffle ticket or 10 and get ready for the auction, all to the sounds of not 1 but 2 entertainers. Inside will be the wonderful Cafe Blues Band who have entertained us for the last 2 years. In addition, outside (weather dependant) I am delighted to announce the presence of Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq and his Banjolele!
As part of our fund raising efforts for the Guildford Ride the pubs run a raffle and auction. Below is our current list of prizes, if you are in a position to donate anything please get in touch nigel@theolivetreesuttongreen.co.uk thank you.
RAFFLE ITEMS
To buy raffle tickets on line, please use the form below. Once the order is received I will fill in the required number of stubs, send you a photo and enter them into the draw. It’s the only way I can think to do it and will hopefully not only relieve the pressure on the day trying to get round 1,000+ people but also boost ticket sales.
£50 voucher towards a meal at the Olive Tree Pub, Sutton Green
£50 voucher towards a meal at the Dog and Pheasant Pub, Brook
Lanson Champagne in Presentation box
Tour voucher for Silent Pool distillery
Cases of Aspall, Doom bar and Madri
Tour Voucher for Hogs Back Brewery
Wine tasting vouchers for Denbies vineyard x 2
Wine tasting voucher Albury organic vineyard
Molton Brown Hamper
Voucher for Elm Nursery Farm in Sutton Green
Jack Daniels 70cl bottle
Rum & Reggae, Mango & Passion Fruit Rum (a massive favourite at the pub)
A selection of Lyre’s Non alcoholic drinks
Lyre’s wine glasses
Blue Spider Climbing Voucher
and much more
AUCTION ITEMS
2 tickets for England v Argentina at Twickenham Sunday 23rd November 2025
Rev-it jacket, Sand 3, black size XL
Alpine stars bionic protection jacket, black & red, size medium
Weekend Family pass at David Lloyd Leisure Woking
Shirt from Charles Tyrwhitt, details will be given to order shirt and size of choice
2 x Crown Golf Vouchers for 4-balls at any of their 9 courses
Signed Woking FC match ball (already have a bid)
4-ball of golf at any of 59 clubs. Click here for the list
4-ball golf at The Belfry
Nigel’s magical booze cruise – not for the faint hearted! (details on the day as I’m still making it up)
2-tickets for Reverend Richard Coles at G-Live Guildford 31st May
3 course meal for 2 at the Coppa Club Guildford
A package of BMW items, Canvas Bag, Cap, 3 great t-shirts and a wallet. Worth over £200
It’s not too late to get involved. Sign up to ride and / or donate, or give your time. With so many riders we are going to need a small army to sell raffle tickets in the High Street from 8:30am or once they arrive at the Brewery at 12:30. If you can help please email me at nigel@theolivetreesuttongreen.co.uk
A man’s tears don’t fall
where anyone can see.
He hides them in late nights,
empty rooms, and quiet car rides,
so his family never have to feel his pain!
Why am I involved? – In simple terms because the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride makes a difference to the people around me.
Those that know me, know I wear my heart on my sleeve. Over the years I have done a fair amount for varying charity as most of us do. We raise money for Cancer Research, British Heart Foundation, the RNLI and numerous other pet charities. BUT to me the DGR is different because it is personal, very personal.
As a publican I am well placed to promote men’s health. Using the back drop of the DGR, having posters and general activity going on, massively helps foster conversation. General discussion with men of a certain age about getting a prostate test. Sadly, or is that wonderfully? several of those tests have come back positive, but catching it early has meant much easier, less invasive treatment. I had one customer come back a few week after we had that very conversation to give me a hug. It turned out he tested positive without any symptoms.
As for mental health, that is far more complicated, but still I stand and observe, the DGR gives me the opportunity to enter into gentle conversations. Once again a handful of men have found the strength to open up, start the difficult journey to getting help. A complete stranger fell apart in my arms only recently. That conversation has hopefully given him the strength to speak to his wife, then doctor and on to where else is needed.
But it’s not just me, we can all help each other. Our Fathers, Brothers, Sons, Friends and drinking buddies. There is no excuse not to get a prostate test. It’s no longer the dreaded finger up the ….. (unless you ask nicely of course). As for the mental state of those around us, you don’t need to be an expert, just observe! Is someone you know is less communicative, spending more time on their own, drinking more? If so you don’t need to be full on, just a simple question “Are you okay?” isn’t a bad place to start, don’t push, just be available. It’s a proven fact that a hand on a shoulder is a simple yet extremely comforting gesture, which for what ever reason relaxes the recipient, maybe allowing them to open up.
I’ll leave you with a shocking statistic – every minute a man takes his own life somewhere in the world! My pubs, your pub or social club should be a place where men feel comfortable enough to share their problems. Between us, alongside the DGR we can all make a difference to those around us.
One of the saddest things in the world is that nobody talks about why the only reason a lot of guys are still alive is so the people they love and care about won’t have a dead brother, friend, son or boyfriend.
The Olive Tree’s involvement
In 2021 The Olive Tree was proud to step in at the last minute to host the start and finish of the Guildford, Surrey Hills ride. It turned out to be a huge year being 3rd largest in Britain and 18th World Wide raising an incredible £27,455
In 2022, despite the ride returning to it’s rightful starting place on the Historic Guildford High Street, my heart had been captured by this incredible organisation and I continued to offer what support I could to the Ride Director, now a personal friend and “extremely” regular to the pub, affectionately referred to by now as Campaign HQ!
2023
With a few more locals at the Olive Tree getting involved, planning starting a little earlier and plenty of hydration available 2023 was an incredible year attracting 583 riders, raising £52,714
To paraphrase a famous movie line “we are gonna to need a bigger high street”
2024 just got BIG!
791 riders raising £52,362
There are no words! An incredible job done by organisers, volunteers and all the wonderful riders.
As for 2025 that’s up to you!!! See you on the 18th x
Prior year videos to remind you just how wonderful it is.
The Distinguished Gentleman’s ride is part of the Movember Foundation
a charity registered in England and Wales number 1137948
For more information please contact Movember on 0207 952 206