February
Our AGM was well supported this year at the Upminster Masonic Hall,
followed by a hearty 3 course Lunch. All we needed to make it a mini Christmas again was some music !
April
We had a walk through part of the East End of London, giving us a taste of the old and the new.
Starting at Bromley by Bow station, we followed the paths linking Three Miles Island to the Greenway, Stratford, and into the Olympic Park.
This was an interesting and enjoyable walk of about three miles.
May
Our Spring Lunch at the Upminster Masonic Hall. A delicious meal in great surroundings.
May
If you weren’t on this trip you missed a treat. We were blessed with a warm and sunny day and our tour of the National Stud with our guide was interesting to say the least. We learnt that the Nat Stud had been an integral part of the British thoroughbred industry for over 100 years and that it had been acquired by The Jockey Club in 2008.
Our tour included visiting the various stallions in their individual paddocks (including Stradivarius – the fees for his services are eye watering) and meeting the mares and foals. We were even allowed to feed the mares!
We saw some stables, including the “covering” stable and it was amazing to see these beautiful animals at relatively close quarters. They even had a graveyard for us to see.
Next up we had time to explore Newmarket town and get some lunch.
On our way back we visited the Cambridge American War Cemetery & Memorial which is the only one in England and is over 30 acres. It currently contains over 3800 war dead. Immediately after WW2 there were considerably more but the USA generously offered a repatriation scheme for those who wished to take up the offer.
The picture you see of the memorial wall contains the names of some 5127 missing and is the longest such wall in Europe. It includes the name of Glenn Miller, whose plane was lost over the English Channel in December 1944.
Finally, on the return trip we visited a garden centre for a wander and the chance of a much needed cup of tea/coffee.
A long but very full day.
June
Legal London
We were treated to a walk by Peter Goodfellow around "Legal London, which included the Royal Court of Justice, Inner and Middle Temples, Grays and Lincoln Inns of Court and Inns of Chancery.
We visited "The Old Curiosity Shop" as mentioned by Dickens and the Oldest Twinings Tea Shop in London
An interesting and pleasant day which was also blessed by good weather.
June
July
This was a two part coach outing. First we went to the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow. This was a 'taster' visit as time was limited, but we may well return at some time in the future. We then went on to have a two course lunch at a riverside pub which had its own jetty for our river cruise boat. There was a running commentary and we saw the overhanging Ware gazebos, passed along the flood plains of the river Lea, and through a lock before turning round to make our leisurely way back. We were again so fortunate with the weather - it was a gloriously sunny day.
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Our visit to Hythe & Romney Marsh.
Our coach stopped at a garden centre in Ashford for a refreshment break and to pick up our Blue Badge Guide Liz. We were then treated to a tour of Romney Marsh and learned many fascinating facts about its history, stopping at the Church of St Augustine in Brookland on the way.
There were tales of smugglers (which included a man who was a rector by day and smuggler by night)
Our lunch stop was at the Pilot Inn, Dungeness for fish and chips and we were lucky enough to see a passing steam train on the Hythe/Dymchurch railway. A tour of Dungeness followed; It certainly has its own "charm" and many famous writers have lived there.
The canal seen in the pictures is the Royal Military Canal, built in 1805-9 as a defense against Napoleon at considerable expense.
The weather forecast for our day was dismal, but it turned out to be a very pleasant day.
August
Our tour around Clerkenwell included many historical sited, including Charterhouse public school, Smithfield meat market, St-Bartholomew-the-great Church, Barts, St John's Gate,Priory Church pf St Johns, Hatton Garden, Ye Olde Tavern dating from around 1546, & Ely Place
September
Sadly our very last visit to the Cranleigh.
The venue is due for redevelopment and we have enjoyed many a fiune meal here in good company.