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October 2026 — exploring roots & branches with some autumnal events
4 days ago
5 min read
Originally shared in our October 2026 email newsletter. You can sign up to receive our monthly updates here.
Good afternoon dear reader, and welcome to this month’s TCB newsletter.
After last month’s dalliances with fourth-wall-breaking metacommentary, we are back to our regularly scheduled programming — and we couldn’t have returned at a better time. October may have looked a quieter month for us on the calendar, but the reality on the ground couldn’t be further from the truth.
Two headlines for you today. We have a slew of new (and free) events coming up over the coming fortnight inspired by none other than the unsung hero of SWR, the Chessington Branch Line. But before we get to that, we need to look back at Ski Sunday, and how it has managed to take the world’s media by storm.
Exciting enough for you? Let’s get into it.
International attention at Ski Sunday 2026
Suburban skiing's flagship competition made the news across 20 countries, from Austria to Australia
We may have bitten off more than we can chew with this one folks. Surbiton Ski Sunday’s title as the one and only suburban skiing championship may be under threat; we’ve gone global, and we couldn’t be more pleased.
Dubbed ‘Britain’s wackiest sport’ by one Canadian news channel (who clearly haven’t heard of British Bread Golf), suburban skiing’s egalitarian approach to winter sports seems to have struck a chord with audiences world wide. Over 100 news programmes in 20 countries featured a segment on this year’s competition, including coverage in Korea and a feature on CNN in the United States erroneously labelling the day as ‘a downhill skiing event’. The implication of a possible uphill skiing event has blindsided scientists at the University of Seething, who are looking into this new, still-theoretical form of the sport as we speak/read/write.
There was limited domestic coverage given the sport’s maturity this side of the pond, such as a comedically-brief segment on ITV News London, but we were more than happy to give the poor organisers over at the Royal Parks Half Marathon the extra screentime. We’re sure they appreciated the gesture.
All that excitement aside, we are as always indescribably grateful to the hard work of all the team — the hi-viz heroes — from the unspeakably early set up to the final mouthfuls of the subsequent King’s Soup. We can never forget that the fun is only possible with the generous donation of their weekends: we, and the populations of at least 20 other countries thank you.
For those who weren’t able to make it, we offer you your own ridealong in the bath luge with the Chubby Bunnies and a trip down the soapy slopes with Lara (no, not the one from the films) in video form; and for those who did, know that we would trade our worldwide notoriety for your company up on Surbiton’s slopes in a heartbeat.
Branching out on the Chessington line
Creative walking and talking to discover the railway’s lost and found stories
Here’s something new for you this month: we are pleased to announce our new Root and Branch Line project, created in partnership with the good people of Kingston University.
Our aim with this series of creative walking and talking events is to dive into the relationship between the (in our opinion) long-underrated Chessington Branch Line and the natural world through conversation, with the help of the line’s very-own resident artist Martin Dines. These walking chats will not only follow the line itself, but in the spirit of the route, branch out from its various stations and into the wilderness beyond.
We'll read together, share stories and chart our discoveries, in a collaboration which will ultimately inform the creation of a podcast on the topic, along with providing inspiration for a new map of the line being produced by the artist Helen Cann to be put on display at Tolworth Station.
All the events devised by Kingston Uni’s artists and writers are free and open to the public, and you can attend as many (or as few) as you like, but please do book a place ahead of time through Eventbrite. Tickets are going quickly — in fact, one of them has already sold out — so don’t delay and book today!
The events are suitable for adults and children alike, provided the latter are accompanied by the former. For further details, you can speak to Martin himself regarding any questions you may have at m.dines@kingston.ac.uk.
Date (singular) for your diary!
Yes, you read that right: with TCB nearing its annual hibernation period, we only have one date for your diary this month. Well, that and the five other events you just read about. You best believe it’s a good ‘un though; quality over quantity and all that….
On the home stretch now…
What a refreshingly concise update this has been! Short but sweet in this writer’s eyes, and we hope in yours too.
There is still lots to get excited for, and plenty more behind the scenes we’re working on getting newsletter-ready. Remember, it’s only a couple of months before 2027 rears its ugly head, softened of course by announcements of Britain’s wackiest events and some projects of yet-determined wackiness for the coming year. Believe us when we say it’s going to be worth getting excited over.
See you at the station,
— The Community Brain team
