Encore Day Trips 2016

ENCORE DAY TRIPS 2016. Wimbledon and the BBC. Saturday 5th March. It was a rather damp start as we headed south for the first tour of 2016. After a comfort stop at Beaconsfield Services, we arrived at a showery Wimbledon. We had a very nice guide, who after an intro- ductory talk, took us around. We went into Cen- tre Court and No 1 Court, and several of the outside courts. We went into the Press Centre, but as Wimbledon is a private club, we were unable to visit the dressing rooms. The tour took nearly two hours. After the tour, we had lunch, then visited the museum and shop. Then it was back on to the coach for a fascinat- ing drive through London to the BBC. Our driv- ers gave a commentary as we drove along. Bat- tersea is an area that is being re-developed, with many foreign embassies relocating there, and property prices are rapidly increasing as a result. Once at the BBC, there was time for a cup of tea and a cake before our tour. The party was split into two groups; each tour had two very en- tertaining guides. We saw the newsroom and all the journalists who provide the stories. We visited The One Show studio. Then we went into a news studio, where two of our group were news- readers, and another a weather presenter. We visited a radio theatre, where programs such as Just a Minute are recorded. The tour ended in a radio studio, where several of us took part in a radio play, which we all heard at the end. It was a long day, but very enjoyable, and a good start to the 2016 programme. Chavenage House and Cotswold Farm Park. Saturday 2nd April. It was a late start (by Encore standards!) for the short trip to the Cotswolds on a chilly, but bright, morning. Our first stop was Chavenage House, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire. Upon arrival, we all went into the Ballroom, where tea, coffee and biscuits were served. We were given an introduction to the house, and it's his- tory, by the owner, Da- vid Lowsley-Williams. He explained that there was a problem with the heating, and that the ballroom was the warmest place in the house! We split into two groups, with David leading one group, and his daughter Caroline the other. Both were very good speakers, and kept us entertained throughout the tour. After the tour, most of us had lunch, again in the ballroom. We were then driven to the Cotswold Farm Park, the home of Adam Henson, which is at Kineton near Cheltenham. This is home to many British rare breeds. There were tours of the site on trac- tor drawn trailers, with a commentary provided by the driver. It was a warm, sunny afternoon, and we delighted in strolling around, looking at the animals, many of us eating ice creams! Eltham Palace (EH) and Red House (NT). Sunday 15th May 2016. It was a bright, sunny day for our visit to south-east London. It was a smooth, uneventful drive down, with a comfort stop at Beaconsfield, and arrival at Eltham Palace at 10:30. We were given hand-held, audio-visual guides to the house and gardens, so were able to tour at our own pace. The house was built in the 1930s, in the Art Deco style and using all the latest technology, for Stephen and Ginie Courtauld. It was attached to the Great Hall, surviving from the original Palace and dating from the 1470s, and this caused much controversy and debate at the time. After a good lunch, in what seemed to be a large greenhouse, we toured the gardens. These include many features fashionable in the 1930s. We left Eltham and went the five miles to Red House, Bexleyheath, which was built in 1859 for William Morris. Much of the furniture and decorations in the house was done by Morris and his associates. We left at 17:00, but were delayed on the M25, which meant that Clive, our driver, would run out of working hours before we were all home. We had a stop at Warwick Services, where another driver took over for the remainder of the jour- ney home. Plas Newydd (NT). Saturday 4th June 2016. We had an early start for our long trip to Anglesey. We stopped for breakfast at the Rhug Estate near Corwen, then continued through Snowdonia, enjoying the views on a warm sunny day. We crossed into Anglesey over the Britannia bridge, and to Plas Newydd, which is in Llanfairpwll- gwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, which means "Saint Mary's Church in the hol- low of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio of the red cave". Plas Newydd is on the shore of the Menai Strait, and is set in beautiful countryside. There are some lovely walks along the strait, but the path along the shoreline is only possible for a short length. We returned home the same way as we went, but had to stop at the Whittles garage to change driver, as our driver Steve did not have enough driving time left to drop everyone off. Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and Bronte Museum. Saturday 2nd July 2016. It was a fine day in the Midlands, but heavy showers were forecast for Yorkshire! We travelled up the M6 and M65, stopping at Sandbach Services on the way. The last several miles were along a very scenic route, but very narrow in places. We arrived at Haworth during one of the heavy showers. Six people got off the coach, and spent the day on the Keighley and Worth Valley Rail- way. Everyone else then went to the Bronte museum, and spent time in Haworth. Later, it was back on the coach for the short drive to Oxenhope, and a round trip on the train to Keighley. Westons Cider. Friday 8th July 2016. It was a beautiful summers evening on the 8thJuly when Tony and I joined a happy throng of cider lovers and went for a glorious run out to Westons for a tour of the cider-making plant followed by tasters and a two course dinner. Great company and excellent cider tasting and boozey food. Tony and I both had the pork dinner which was very tasty followed by strawberries for myself and Baileys cheesecake for Tony, all washed down with more cider. Nobody could say that we hadn't had our five-a-day that day! Well done Gloria and Steve - perhaps a trip around Scotlands whis- ky distilleries another year? I say - bring it on! Louise Lisseman. Bletchley Park. Saturday 13th August 2016. This trip was a repeat of one run a few years ago, which is remembered as being extremely cold! This time, the weather was good. Bletchley Park has been greatly improved over the last several years, with a new visitor centre and reception area. A number of the huts have been restored, and are furnished as they would have been during the war, and are open to visitors. Our guides were extremely good. On a purely personal note, I only recently found out that my father was at Bletchley Park during the war, but I have no details, and as he died some years ago, I cannot ask. There is a database of people who were there, but as no official records exist, the details are provided by those who were there or their families. My father was not on the list, so more research is needed. Will Owens. LYVEDEN and CANONS ASHBY. Saturday 3rd September 2016. This trip was to two National Trust properties in Northamptonshire, at the extreme points of the county. After a brief stop at Corley Services, we travelled north east to Lyveden. Tea and coffee had been pre-ordered, so we all sat in the garden with our drinks. The house was started in 1595, but was never finished. The stone walls have stood for over 400 years, and are in remarkedly good condi- tion. The gardens were interesting, with earth mounds overlooking water. An hour and a half drive took us to the other end of the county to Canons Ashby, an Elizabethan manor house with magnificent gardens. Unfortunately, the rain started, so our time in the garden was limited. As Steve Harper was unwell, this trip was led by Peter Field, who did a very good job, although he did not walk up and down the coach all the time! Thanks, Pete. Woolsthorpe Manor and Southwell Workhouse. Saturday 1st October 2016. Woolsthorpe Manor (NT), Grantham. The was the birthplace of Sir Issac Newton, and our visit gave an insight into who he really was and not just the man who had an apple fall on his head while sat under an apple tree! The Workhouse, Southwell, Notts (NT) Built in 1824, The Workhouse is the best preserved example of the hundreds of workhouses built across the country. Up to 158 inmates at a time, from 62 parishes, entered this building as a last resort. Becher's view was that workhouses should be a 'deterrent' to ensure that only the truly destitute would submit themselves to such a harsh regime. Adults were divided into categories - those unable to work (called 'blameless') and those capable of work but unemployed (considered 'idle and profligate able bodied'). These categories and fur- ther subdivided into men and women and children were kept separate. Each group lived in differ- ent areas, meaning families could not meet.

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