Visits

RECENT VISITS:

Tuesday 26 May 2026

On a very hot and sunny day 44 Friends set off to Ipswich for a trip on the Orwell Lady from Ipswich to Felixstowe.

Due to some traffic congestion we did not have time to wander around the quay, but instead boarded our boat just after 11.30am.

Some people braved the top deck where there was no shelter from the sun but we were able to move around to get shade from time to time.

We passed through a lock which took around 20 minutes and then joined the river. From time to time there was a lovely breeze, and being such a beautiful day we could see far into the distance.

Unfortunately the P.A. system did not appear to work, so for those on the top deck the skipper was able to raise his voice to give some commentary.

We passed by Pin Mill and also Freston Tower, a six story building. Legend says that is was built by Lord Freston for his daughter to study a different subject on a different floor 6 days a week. A bit eccentric!!

A nice buffet lunch was served on board just before the turn around back to Ipswich. A lovely relaxing day enjoyed by us all.

Thank you Jean for organising another great trip

NEXT VISIT:

There are other outings at the planning stage, further information will be released by Jean Harrison nearer the time of next visit. Thank you for your continued support.

Burghley House and Gardens – 25 March 2026

Friends set off bright and early, departing Braintree railway station at 8:30am, with a second pick‑up at Acorn Avenue shortly after. It was a sunny, though still decidedly chilly Wednesday morning, when 48 friends in all boarded the coach for their first outing of 2026: a visit to the beautiful Burghley House and Gardens.

The forecast may have looked gloomy, but no one was deterred. We left in cheerful sunshine, met a burst of heavy rain midway through the 1 hour 40-minute drive, and then—almost theatrically—the skies cleared again just as we reached our destination.

When we arrived, the blustery weather worked in our favour: staff kindly permitted our driver to bring the coach right up to the house, sparing friends a long walk from the coach park and leaving just a short stroll to the ticket office.

With tickets in hand, plenty of us headed straight to the Orangery Restaurant, where a warm drink and a tempting slice of cake made the perfect start to the visit.

Burghley House, conceived by William Cecil—Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I and built between 1555 and 1587, stands as a testament to the ambition and vision of the most influential courtier of the first Elizabethan age. Our tour took us through 18 magnificent State Rooms, showcasing an extraordinary art collection and a wealth of priceless treasures. Many rooms also had knowledgeable guides on hand to share the history and stories behind them.

A few of us, brave enough to face the very windy conditions, ventured out to explore the Garden of Surprises and the Sculpture Garden. Both were a delight to wander through and would certainly merit a return visit in more favourable weather.

After a final stop at the shop for souvenirs, we reboarded the coach at 3:45pm for our journey home and arrived back in Braintree safely just after 5:30pm.

Thank you to Jean and Karen for organising another successful outing.

Below is a selection of photographs from the day, kindly captured by Philip and Christine Deal.