RECENT VISITS:
Suffolk Coastal Tour – April 2024
In April we hoped for some good weather for our Suffolk Coastal Tour but it was cold and very windy with the odd heavy shower. However we were not deterred.
A fishing boat on the shingle beach, Aldeburgh.
We picked up our Blue Badge Guide and headed for Aldeburgh driving through Woodbridge en route. We dispersed to various places to find coffee and battled against strong winds off the sea. The sun did shine briefly, highlighting the colours of the Edwardian houses on the seafront.
Houses on the sea front in Aldeburgh
We passed the House in the Clouds in Thorpeness. Originally intended to provide an adequate storage capacity for a basic water supply for Thorpeness village, it has been converted into a house in the trees 70 foot high. It is now a holiday let and there are 68 stairs.
The House in the clouds
Ruins in Dunwich where most of the village has been reclaimed by the sea
Lunch was in Dunwich at the Flora cafe right on the beach which is famous for its fish and chips! The wind blowing on the beach was so strong that we were happy to get back in the coach and continue our journey along the coast to Southwold. The Blue Badge guide delighted us with stories of pirates and local people in the area which made the journey interesting and informative about places that we perhaps had visited before but knew little about.
Southwold Jack, a 15-century clock jack in St Edmund’s Church Southwold
We had free time in Southwold before journeying home after a very successful day.
London – Christmas 2023
An unusual start for most of us was a Sunday in London starting with a fish and chips lunch! It was delicious and set us up for the rest of the day.
Paul drove us on to St Paul’s Cathedral where we sat under the dome to take part in Choral Evensong. The singing was lovely and we were able to really feel part of the service.
Rain did not deter us as we set out on a coach tour of the city to experience Christmas and the lights.
It was very busy with sightseers and shoppers.
The throngs of people were even greater when we stopped at Covent Garden. It was difficult to move but created a real lead up to Christmas.
After a comfortable journey home, 48 members had had a thoroughly enjoyable day.
FORTHCOMING OUTINGS:
In August 2024, a visit to Windsor has been arranged, It will start with a cruise on the Thames with a ploughman’s lunch and then free time to explore and possibly visit Windsor Castle.
Please contact the Chairman for details.
LIST OF RECENT VISITS:
(click the links below to access the archive)
- Suffolk Coastal Tour
- London at Christmas
- Highclere Castle – Hampshire
- Royal Opera House Workshops – Essex
- Stamford – Lincolnshire
- Ickworth – Suffolk
- Sutton Hoo – Suffolk
- Saatchi Gallery for the exhibition – Tutankhamun Treasures of the Golden Pharoah
- Fitzwilliam Museum – Cambridge
- River Blackwater – Barge Tour
- Penshurst Place – Kent
- New Hall – Chelmsford
EXTENDED TOURS:
Over the years an extended tour of five days has enabled us to visit places of interest too far away for a day visit.
Please see our dedicated website page to read about our most recent visits.
- Pembrokeshire Extended Tour 2023
Cardiff Castle
On 23 April, 32 members of the Friends set off to Pembrokeshire in South Wales for a 4 night stay at the Beggars Reach Hotel near Milford Haven.
This was our 10th extended tour and we had a busy programme of visits each day.