Following my exhortations at the last lunch, I have the following ideas on the table. They are not yet detailed or fine-tuned but I would like to know whether you might be interested in taking part in any of them. So please let me know by either returning this sheet to me with your comments and name or by emailing me or ‘phoning me with your thoughts and any other ideas which might interest you. 1.
After the AI UK Conference at Bletchley Park, would you be interested to visit there and have a guided tour of the historic buildings and hear the full story of the code-breakers. They have just completed a further £13 million refurbishment of another building on site so the Museum will certainly have improved a great deal since I first went. 2.
Chatham Historic Dockyard is not far away from Woking but very few people have visited there. There are three warships to visit and a large collection of naval exhibits from the Imperial War Museum and Greenwich Royal Museum not forgetting the famous Ropery and much else. 3.
Visit the famous Middle Temple in Fleet Street the home of many Barristers’ Chambers. We would have a tour of the historic buildings in Middle Temple and then have lunch in their magnificent double hammer beamed roof hall alongside some of those barristers. After lunch we have two choices. Either you can have a tour of the High Courts across the Strand with a visit to an actual hearing, if there was a suitable one happening on that day, or you can visit the old Temple Church which is interesting and the RAF Church St. Clement Danes built by Wren in 1682 in the middle of the Strand. Travel by train or coach. 4.
Your Chairman speaks highly of the Didcot Railway Centre which is a special place for many engines and other memorabilia of the Great Western Railway. I know we have some other railway enthusiasts in the Club so do let me know if you would enjoy this day out. 5.
The old RNLI Station at Poole, I am told, is very interesting but I haven’t done any research yet. 6.
Fort Nelson at Portsmouth has also been suggested. The Fort lies in a fabulous position overlooking the Solent. It has a glorious collection of guns and artillery. They currently have a Falklands exhibition. 7.
Final throw…Have you ever been to Eltham Palace which is maintained by English heritage. It is a splendid mixture of a medieval royal palace and a modern Art Deco house developed by the Courtaulds. The garden is good so a spring or summer visit would be best. By happenstance it is a stone’s throw from the Royal Blackheath Golf Club where I would seek to negotiate a late lunch in their fine Club House at a fair price. All these places have websites, so do pursue some further research if you want to know more before you respond. I look forward to your responses….remember all new ideas are good ideas. David Robbins
01483 767183 07752 340685 davidandraerobbins@gmail.com |