Category: Outings

It was an early start, even before the sparrows were up. This did allow us to miss most of the early morning rush hour traffic.  We were very fortunate not to get held up on our journey, reaching the RNLI in good time.  When we arrived, there was ample time to use their facilities and to sit in the Slipway Bar to enjoy coffee/tea and biscuits which had been ordered in advance. The Bar overlooked the harbour and The Twin Sails lifting bridge which is an amazing piece of engineering, and the first bridge of its type to be built in the world. When the bridge is up, the two lifting leaves symbolise the sails of a yacht and offer different views from every position along the quayside, from a sailing symbol to the spire of a Cathedral. 

The RNLI College is at the heart of the RNLI – where lifesaving volunteer crew and lifeguards from around the UK and Ireland are trained. There are over 350 lifeboats in the RNLI fleet based at stations around the UK and Ireland. Between them, RNLI lifeboats cover 19,000 miles of coastline and some busy inland stretches of water.  All the RNLI’s boats are built at Poole, and they have an engineering facility where boats from the entire fleet are serviced/repaired as necessary. There are two categories of Lifeboats all-weather and inshore.  Two highlights of the tour were to visit the simulator in which we were taken on a lifeboat rescue; and then to the Sea Survival centre which hosts the wave tank; a crew was already receiving a briefing on what to do if their boat capsized. Getting into boat the crew positioned themselves ready for the boat being turned upside; eventually they came from under the boat, one by one, went to the back of the boat and the skipper pulled a rope which inflated the buoyancy chamber and turned the boat the correct way up again, fascinating.

It costs approx £180 Million a year to run the lifesaving service.  They rely on donations from the public and revenue from hiring out teaching and conference rooms.  A 24 bedroom accommodation block enhances this facility and if not hired out to crews needing to stay for trainings can be hired out to the public.  The College can also be used for corporate events and weddings etc.

As you approach the entrance to the RNLI there is a beautiful sculpture which is a tribute to every lifeboat crew member who lost their life while endeavouring to save others at sea

After the visit to the College our coach driver picked us to transport us to Bournemouth where we had approx 3 and a half hours free time, to have lunch, sit or walk by the sea and let the world go by.  It was a long day but well worth it. Our journey home was without hold-ups and we arrived back in Carterton approx 6.45pm. Pam 

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It was cold but a dry morning when we set out for this visit. The journey to London was reasonable but slowed once we got into the city.  Our coach driver was able to park in the grounds of the Chelsea Hospital.  It was a short walk to the British Army Museum.

British Army Museum

The National Army Museum tells the story of the British army over the past 400 years. The recently refurbished Museum has around 2,500 objects divided into 5 galleries over four floors; space for exhibitions, a study centre, café, shop and play area.

The Five Permanent Galleries of the National Army Museum in London includes:

The Soldier Gallery reflects individual experiences of soldiering.

The Army Gallery traces the origins and development of the British army as an institution.

The Battle Gallery tells the story of the army through individual conflicts. It is divided into four chronological sections: horse and musket, rapid-fire, total war and modern warfare.

The Society Gallery on the top floor provides some light relief and can be enjoyed as an art gallery, reflecting how the Army has influenced British culture.

The Insight Gallery explores the actions and the impact of the Army throughout the world from historical and contemporary perspectives.

The Museum welcomes younger visitors with interactive and hands-on exhibits.

Chelsea Hospital

The Royal Hospital is a Grade I and II listed site, a beautiful architectural legacy left to us by Charles II and Sir Christopher Wren. 

The Royal Hospital Chelsea is the home of the iconic Chelsea Pensions, who are all retired soldiers of the British Army. Their unique Scarlet tunics stand out wherever they go, making them instantly recognisable around the world. Naturally, the Pensioners often find themselves the centre of attention at events that they attend and are always happy to answer questions about the Royal Hospital as well as themselves. Some 300 army veterans live at the Royal Hospital today, including those who have served in Korea, the Falkland Islands, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and World War II. Others may not have served in campaigns, but all understand what it means to be a soldier and the potential sacrifice that it entails.

 We were shown into a small room and watched a video of what we were going to see. We were split into two groups and each shown round by a Chelsea Pensioner Guide.  The Guides were very knowledgeable, humorous and told us lots of jovial stories.

Founder’s Day is the highlight of the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s calendar, an event attended by all Chelsea Pensioners, which celebrates the founding of the Royal Hospital by King Charles II. The event has taken place almost every year since the Royal Hospital opened in 1692. The Royal Hospital Chelsea’s Founder’s Day, also known as Oak Apple Day, is always held on a date close to 29th May – the birthday of Charles II and the date of his restoration as King in 1660. The Oak reference commemorates the escape of the future King Charles II after the Battle of Worcester (1651) when he hid in an oak tree to avoid capture by the Parliamentary forces, and is expressed through all Chelsea Pensioners wearing oak leaves on their famous scarlet uniforms.

The gold statue of Charles II that stands in the centre of figure court is also adorned in oak leaves for the occasion. Over the years the statue oak leaf dressing has varied from a large wreath at the base to a wreath worn on the head, and from total covering where the statue is not even visible to a discreet skirt of oak branches around the base.

A member of the Royal Family attends the ceremony each year. Her Majesty the Queen has reviewed the parade four times.

Every year the official visitors book gets prepared with the Royal Coat of Arms ready for the member of the Royal Family to sign.

The Wren Chapel

Built between 1681 and 1687 the chapel is a rare example of Wren’s religious architecture. It was designed to accommodate about 500 people, all the staff and pensioners, and rises 42 feet high. The painting of the Resurrection in the half dome of the apse is by Sebastiano Ricci, assisted by his nephew Marco. The Royal Hospital’s magnificent silver-gilt altar plate was made by Ralph Leake and is hall-marked 1687-8. One of the original service books has been preserved. The Chapel was consecrated in August 1691, and compulsory services held twice daily. Nowadays they are normally confined to the Sunday morning. 

At the end of the tour we were shown a small museum, café and shop.  

Our journey home was reasonable with only minor hold-ups.  An enjoyable day out.  Pam

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There were 36 members for this visit.  It was a lovely morning and we were able to wait for our coach in the sunshine.  We had a good run to Basingstoke and a quick entry into the museum where we were all given a wristband and then we were free to explore.  Most went to the café for elevenses and then started their self- guided tour.

Milestones is made up of a network of streets that have been recreated according to those found in Victorian and 1930s Hampshire time. From cobbled streets to vintage vehicles some from The Thornycroft collection and Taskers of Andoversford; a 1940s sweet shop selling old favourites like aniseed balls, rhubarb and custards, pontefract cakes, liquorice torpedo’s etc, to a penny arcade where you could swap new pennies for old and play on the machines. The museum is set over 3 levels with tramlines in parts of the Victorian section.  The upper floor was well equipped for school visits with a Victorian school room complete with chalk boards and desks; a school teacher walking round the streets ringing the school bell.  The Edwardian Baverstock pub was a good place to take a rest and partake of some of the old fashioned drinks. There is so much for everyone to see, do and enjoy at Milestones museum of living history.  The museum was interesting, fun, and well laid out. To complete our visit, we all sat down to a cream tea and chatted of our nostalgic memories.  Pam

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Waiting for our coach was not very pleasant as it was a damp morning but thankfully the coach was early and we were able to board before getting too wet.  After a short local detour to avoid traffic queues on the A40 we had a good journey to Laverstock.  Time was built into our visit to allow for refreshments on arrival.  The temporary café, a double decker bus, was quite a novel sight.  Suitably refreshed we were split into two groups. My group guide was Helen, who was witty, funny and very knowledgeable.  She made the point that of the normal shop price of £22, the Government took £12, so it was in our own interests to “keep on drinking”. Part of the tour was to the Aroma Room, where there were 22 glass jars with lids.  We were asked to smell the contents (called Botanicals) of each jar and any that we liked mark on a card that we had been given;  from this Helen was able to suggest which Gin based cocktail might suit us, when we reached the bar at the end of the tour. There was a choice 10 alcoholic and 2 alcohol free, and all agreed that whatever they tried, they were very nice.  

In the Doomsday Book it shows that Laverstock Mill was a corn mill. In 1719 the mill was converted into a hand-made paper mill.   The site was later expanded and was used to manufacture bank notes. Laverstoke Mill has been under the ownership of William the Conqueror, Henry VIII and enjoyed four royal visits, most recently Queen Elizabeth in 1962.  Bombay Sapphire is now part of the Bacardi group of companies.

Bombay Sapphire’s heritage begins in 1761 when distiller Thomas Dakin purchased a site in Warrington, with the intention of distilling gin. In 1831, having moved to Laverstock, the Dakin’s purchased a second still, and adapted it so that instead of adding the botanicals to the still they were used to flavour the Gin by capturing the flavours in the vapour as it passed through a second chamber – this is known as Vapour Infusion, and still faithfully used by Bombay Sapphire today.

At Laverstoke, every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the processes and buildings are as ecologically sustainable and efficient as possible. In recognition of this the distillery has been awarded the highly prestigious BREEAM Award for Industrial Design in 2014. 

The second visit of the day was to Whitchurch Silk Mill.  There being only a very limited café facility, we were nevertheless able to enjoy our packed lunches in a private room where we could also get Coffee and Tea. After lunch, we were split into 2 groups and taken round the site by tour guides.

Whitchurch Silk Mill was built on land owned by the Dean and Chapter of Winchester Cathedral. We know quite a lot about the different owners of the Mill but, unfortunately, the Mill records were destroyed by fire in 1955, making it very hard to know much about the number of employees, their wages and conditions through history.  What we do know, is that during the troubles in Europe in the early 17th Century many Huguenots’ came to England a few of whom came to Whitcurch and set up this mill. We were shown how the raw silk was turned into cloth and the various patterns, thickness of material, and colour combinations could be used to produce the very fine silk goods that we see today.  The cocoons are initially imported through Sudbury in Suffolk and distributed to this and other mills in UK.

The weaving machines are original ones that have been in use for well over 100yrs. The whole manufacturing process is very labour intensive which accounts for the high cost of Silk products.  The only cheap bit is the use of the waters of the river Test which drives the Water Wheel and through a system of gears, and belts etc the machines them-selves.

The journey home was trouble free, and despite a poor weather day, a good time was had by all.

Thank you to Henry for the article and to Janice, Martin and Frank for the photographs. (There are several similar but they are inclusive to those that submitted photographs).

Visit to Waddesdon Manor Christmas Carnival 5th December 2018

Waddesdon was purchased in 1874. Since this time members of the Rothschild family have taken it in turns to improve and develop the estate. On arrival we were met and given badges (instead of tickets) and maps and then transported from the car park, by buses to the House. Unfortunately, it was not good weather for our trip to Waddesdon.  We are normally so lucky with the weather and have often wondered what it would be like to make a visit on a wet day.  Today we found out; we were all dressed in our wet weather clothes and enjoyed and made the most of the day.  Apart from visiting the Manor House  with its Festive decorations we went to see the Winter Lights and explore over 80 Christmas market stalls.  There were samples to taste of mulled wine, cheese and caramel to name just a few.  There were plenty of opportunities to sit and enjoy the festive foods.  From dusk there  was a light trail full of movement, sound and light.  The front of the Manor house was bathed in lights of changing colours.  By the stables was a tunnel of light and a projected light show onto the walls. Inside the Manor the rooms were decorated from floor to ceiling with dazzling lights and Christmas trees.  The East Wing and Bachelor Wing were most impressive, while some rooms were closed for cleaning. Fortunately, our driver stayed on the coach so that we could return and sit in the dry.  Some did this while others stayed until the return time home. Both journeys were good  and quite quick.  In spite of the weather the visit was enjoyed.  Pam

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As usual, the trip to the Classical Spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall was looked forward to with excited enthusiasm, especially those who had not been to the Royal Albert Hall before let alone  the Classical Extravaganza.

The journey to London was good.  The driver was able to drop us off and wait right outside the Albert Hall.  This was so convenient and eliminated the hunt for the coach in the main road after the concert, as so often happens.  The journey home was a different matter, roads works etc making the journey over 2 hours.

The members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by John Rigby, were their usual brilliant selves and ably supported by the Royal Choral Society and a band of retired Military Musicians.

The atmosphere inside the Albert Hall was exhilarating as we enjoyed an evening of good music culminating with the usual patriotic music and songs that we all love so much.

We were treated to a plethora of well-known, and popular music from Grieg, Rossini, Sousa, Bixet, Holst, Pachelbel and Suppe.  The Orchestra and choir really excelled with their rendition of Finlandia. There was a standing ovation for Peter Auty (tenor), after he sang Nessun Dorma.  The highlight was the Benedictus by Jenkins which was first performed in public in this Hall in 1999.  The Cello Soloist was particularly good.

The 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky, brought to an end an evening of  superb musical entertainment.  Despite knowing that the cannons and firearms would burst forth at a certain point in the music, many were caught out and jumped at the suddenness of the of the muskets and cannons being fired. Many were amused at being startled by the noise from both sides of the auditorium.

As an encore the Classical Spectacular Dancers brought a smile to our faces, as they danced the Can-Can .

After the finale a large net released many hundreds of red, white and blue balloons on to the audience.  Not many survived the popping frenzy that followed.

Without exception we all had a great night out with Carterton U3A,  and many thanks to Pam Howard for her impeccable organisation. 

Henry Howard

The morning was cold with a biting wind, which was not ideal as our first visit was mainly in the open-air.  Sensibly we were all wrapped up warm. We had a very good journey to the Museum and arrived before they opened.  The staff however were very pleasant and allowed us to enter the booking office and shop to stay in the warm.  By the time we had used the facilities the café was open where we enjoyed pastries and tea or coffee which had been ordered before the visit.

Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings is an open-air museum of rescued buildings which have been relocated to its site in Stoke Heath in Worcestershire. All of the buildings were threatened with demolition or neglect. In moving them to the Avoncroft Museum grounds, every effort has been made to retain as much of the original structure as possible.  It now has over 30 different structures and buildings which have been salvaged and re-built.  The Museum is spread over a large site and includes period gardens, a wild flower meadow and a Perry orchard. A mission Church, Threshing barn, Windmill, Ice house, Showman’s wagon, a Spire, and a Cottage and Forge, were are just a few of the buildings and structures to be seen.

Our second venue was Webbs of Wychbold which was only a 5-minute journey away.  This is where most people queued up to buy and enjoy lunch.

Webbs is one of the biggest garden centres in the UK. They cater for all garden and home needs; and at this time of the year they have a fabulous and extensive Christmas range of goods and Christmas displays.  Everything for an inspirational visit. Situated within and adjoining is a large Lakelands and Hobbycraft.  They were in the process of constructing a Christmas Grotto and ice-rink.

For half-term, at both venues, children were well catered for with pumpkin trails and competitions things to find Halloween related items. The gardens alongside the river, at Webbs, although not a lot of colour left were pleasant to walk through. 

Returning to our coach at 4pm it was an opportunity to rest our feet and legs on our very good journey home.  Two very different locations visited which had something for everyone.  Pam

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The morning was wet and grey, most unusual for our day trips as it is usually sunny and warm.  Our coach was early and we were able to  board quite quickly and start our journey to visit Tewkesbury. Our driver did a good job with the lashing rain and mist.  Near to our destination we were held up for about 20 mins in traffic; this was probably to our advantage as by the time we reached Tewkesbury Abbey, the rain had all but stopped.  We spent three and a quarter hours looking round the cathedral and town, taking morning coffee and having lunch.  Tewkesbury is an extraordinary riverside town; with a rich, vibrant history and a beautiful waterside setting with a lot todiscover.  There is a lovely riverside walk alongside the River Severn, Victoria Gardens still with plenty of colour, boat rides, museums, chapels and so much more to visit.  The Battle Trail  takes you around the ancient fields where the Battle of Tewkesbury was held in 1471. Walk the  Heritage and Alleyways Trail around the town centre to see some of the historic buildings.  Every summer there is a displaydisplay of medieval banners that brighten the streets of Tewkesbury. Each is based on the arms of a person who was involved in the Battle. They are made from cotton ‘duck’ and then hand-painted using modern acrylic paints.  During the winter months they are part of a rolling programme of refurbishment, to keep them looking fresh. Tewkesbury Abbey is world-renowned for being one of the UK’s greatest examples of medieval architecture. Its striking Norman tower and long nave have dominated the Tewkesbury skyline for nearly 900 years. Our members found Tewkesbury to be very interesting and many will go back to explore more of the town.

At 2.30pm we boarded our coach, allowing time for hold-ups, we made our way to Toddington to have a journey and cream tea on the railway. Our train arrived, the steam engine was named Foremark Hall, pulling 8 coaches.  We were booked into carriage B and our places were set out at the tables.  Once the journey had begun we were served two scones each, with jam and cream, and tea or coffee.  We spent a very pleasant journey to Cheltenham, eating, chatting and laughing. After arriving at Cheltenham whilst the engine, watered and ran round the train, some stayed on the train, some walked the platform and entrance pathway to view Cheltenham Racecourse, and the enthusiasts took photos of the engine.  At the end of the journey we climbed back on our coach and had a very good journey back to Carterton, before the rain started again.  A great day out.  Pam

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The morning was overcast as we set off on our journey to Hereford.  The only hold up was an RTA on a crossroads where road works were being carried out. Hereford is a Cathedral city, and county town of Herefordshire. It lies on the River Wye, and borders Wales with Worcester and Gloucester close by.

The  market town has a warm friendly atmosphere and for hundreds of years has been  a commercial farming centre.  It has a prestigious new shopping centre built on the site of the old livestock market.  The livestock market has been moved to a modern home just outside the city.

The Cathedral is stunning and has many unique features with heaps of history. The  shrine of St Thomas of Hereford with a stone and marble tomb is one of the best medieval shrines in England.  The corona depicting the crown of thorns was exceptional.  There are two new stained glass windows which are very intricate and  the subject is the writings of Thomas Traheme and his association with Herefordshire. It is the birth place of the world renowned Three Choirs Festival.  A new lighting scheme was made ready for the Festival which includes a pair of magnificent pendants that hang in the transepts. 

The current Cathedral dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a medieval map of the world dating from the 13th century.

The Chained Library contains 225 illuminated manuscripts with the earliest dating from the 8th century, and over 1,200 early printed books. The books are chained to the 17th-century cases where they were housed and read.

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Eastnor Castle

Eastnor Castle is now the home of the Hervey-Bathurst family, and is surrounded by a beautiful arboretum and lake. Its decorated interiors containing medieval armour, fine art and tapestries.

We were able to visit the magnificent state rooms including the Great Hall, State Dining Room, Gothic Drawing Room, Octagon Saloon and a number of bedrooms.

In the Red Hall sits a medieval knight’s helmet which visitors are invited to try on!

Each room had well informed guides to answer our questions.  It was a pleasant afternoon to take the 45 minute walk around the lake.  Holiday events for children were taking place. Most used the café and sat outside to enjoy the fresh air.  An ice cream stand was doing a good trade.

We arrived back in Carterton at approx 5.30 after an excellent day out.

Pam

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On a lovely morning, the group boarded a coach for Knebworth.  Our journey, as far as Wycombe, was amazingly quick with hardly any traffic on the roads. At this point our driver had notification that there was an obstruction ahead of us, and so we diverted.  Unfortunately, when we got back onto the M40 we had not passed, what turned out to be a RTA.  However, the traffic began to move again and we were back on the planned route.  Arriving at Knebworth we were greeted by a member of staff and given maps and a few general tips.  We used the facilities and café and then it was time for the first tour to begin, whilst the remainder started to look around the gardens.  Both tours had incredibly well-informed and friendly guides who had a wealth of knowledge to share with us.  After the tours there were various gardens to visit . The Gardens at Knebworth were delightful. The 28-acre formal gardens include a maze, colourful borders, fine trees and a wilderness area with an exciting Dinosaur trail. There is also a walled vegetable garden planted with colourful and unusual vegetables. In the gardens was a Matombo Garden Sculpture Exhibition, which had sculptures with many interesting shapes and designs. 

The romantic exterior of Knebworth House with its turrets, domes and gargoyles silhouetted against the sky does little to prepare the visitor for what to expect inside. The House has stood for many years longer than the Victorian decoration suggests; the stucco hides from view a red brick house dating back to Tudor times.

Knebworth House first achieved fame in Victorian times as the home of the novelist, playwright and politician Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton; author of the words “The pen is mightier than the sword”. Other notable family members include Lady Constance Lytton, a well-known member of the Suffragette movement.

Every generation of the Lytton family has left something of its style and taste; making Knebworth an extraordinary walk through 500 years of British history. Stories and heirlooms reflect the family’s contribution to literature, politics and foreign service; alongside visits by characters as diverse as Charles Dickens and Winston Churchill.

Within Knebworth House there is a fascinating display and video presentation telling the story of the Lytton family’s connection with India. Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl ofLytton, the Viceroy of India who proclaimed Queen Victoria Empress of India at the Great Delhi Durbar of 1877.

There have been gardens at Knebworth House since at least the 17th Century, but the present layout dates largely from the Edwardian era. The architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, who married into the Lytton family, simplified the ornate beds and statuary of the Victorian garden with lawns and avenues of pollarded lime trees. Lutyens created ‘garden rooms’ with each area having a different feel depending on the planting. The Herb Garden was recreated in 1982 from Gertrude Jekyll’s 1907 design. Each generation has enhanced the gardens and the recent wood carvings around the garden are particularly interesting.

Jordans Mill

The Mill tells a fascinating story about the people and the events behind the last working flour mill in Bedfordshire, which has been tucked away on the River lvel, for over 150 years; a story of innovation and survival as Holme Mills continues to keep our food heritage alive to this day.

The Williams family who own the Mill have kept the mill operational through good times and bad. The family firm away from milling flour has its own range of breakfast cereals and cereal bars including Ryvita.  The Mill is one of the last rollers mills in the country and a fine example of Victorian technology preserved for future generations to see.

The gardens were very interesting and divided into many different sized plots showing what could be grown pn very small plots; including many herbs, vegetables, fruit and flowers.  A children’s trail went all round the grounds, we saw a few interesting items for them to find.

The café which overlooks the River Ivel, had tables and chairs outside which made it very pleasant to sit in the sunshine with a hot or cold drink.

The journey home was uneventful and we arrived back in Carterton at approximately 6.15pm.

Pam

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