School Liaison Mrs Rosemary Francis€¦ · Hester Liakos General Manager 27 TENTERDEN & DISTRICT...

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Contact Us

Mrs Ann Stevens,

Membership Secretary

Tel: 01580 764791

email: [email protected]

Mr. Jim Wood (White Cliffs/South Foreland Lighthouse Ambassador) Tel. 01797 280208, e-mail [email protected]

Outings/fundraising Committee Mrs. Sue Harvey Tel: 01580 441006/Mobile 07876315771, e-mail [email protected]

Mrs. Stephanie Haworth Tel. 01580 761113/Mobile 07732 759591, e-mail [email protected]

Mrs. Gill Wood Tel. 01797 280208, e-mail [email protected]

School Liaison

Mrs Rosemary Francis (non-committee member)

Tel. 01424 212980/Mobile 0779 2670571 e-mail [email protected] *also members of the Outings/Fundraising Committee

Tenterden and District National Trust Association

Newsletter

Spring 2018

Number 72

In support of National Trust

mailto:[email protected]


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Newsletter Distribution co-ordinator: Mrs Ann Stevens

01580 764791 [email protected]

Front cover photograph: Titsey House

Welcome

The Tenterden and District National Trust Association was founded

in 1994. It aims, through a varied programme of activities, to

enable its members to:

• make new friends and acquaintances with similar interests;

• go on outings to varied places of interest in the company of

compatible companions;

• enjoy well organised short break holidays, mainly in the UK;

• meet at sociable gatherings in beautiful environments.

Follow us on:

Facebook

Twitter: TenterdenNTA@NtaTenterden

Our website:

tenterdenanddistrictnationaltrustassociation.wordpress.com

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Committee and Sub-Committee members

Officers Mr. Tony Pearlman, Chairman Tel. 01580 766642/Mobile 07775755130, e-mail [email protected]

Mr. Bernard Beardsmore, Vice Chairman *

Tel. 01580 713293 e-mail [email protected]

Mr. Tony Buttler, Hon Treasurer Tel 01580 763970/Mobile 07709907783, e-mail [email protected]

Mrs. Gil Springett, Hon Secretary* Tel. 01580 763406/Mobile 0780 393 5566, e-mail [email protected]

Committee Members Dr. Jack Gillett (Publicity) Tel. 01580 762087, e-mail [email protected] Mrs Carola Gostling* Tel. 01233 732318/Mobile 07598 487948, e-mail [email protected]

Mr. Rupert Harvey (Bodiam Castle Ambassador) Tel: 01580 441006/Mobile 07876315771, e-mail [email protected]

Miss Sue Hatt (Newsletter Editor) Tel: 01580 241661, e-mail [email protected]

Mrs. Sally Klemen (Equipment and Smallhythe Ambassador)

Tel. 01580 762170/Mobile 07840 354197, e-mail [email protected] Mrs. Christine Standen (Educational Lectures Secretary)* Tel. 01580 713627/Mobile 07580 572177, e-mail [email protected]

Mrs. Ann Stevens (Membership Secretary) Tel. 01580 764791/Mobile 07749 415061, e-mail [email protected] Mrs. Jenny Webb (Schools Liaison) Tel. 01580 765721/Mobile 07986 964343 e-mail [email protected]








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3

Contents

Page

Welcome 2

Contents 3

Chairman’s Musings 4-5

Treasurer’s Notes 5

Membership Update 5-6

Smallhythe Thanks 6

Smallhythe Ambassador’s Report 7-8

Review of Outings and Holidays 2017 8

Peter Webb 9-10

Lecture Programme 10-11

Outings, Holidays and Fund Raising Events 11-15

Members’ Reports on Holidays and Events 15-20

Insurance Notes 22

Guidance on Outings and Events 22

Booking Forms 21-29

Committee Members 31-32

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Chairman’s Musings To our committee members, I give my heartfelt thanks for the fantastic support I have received from them during my first year and for their dedication, hard work and good humour.

The Outings’ Committee have arranged many most pleasurable events. Those who went on the Cruise greatly enjoyed it, but unfortunately, due to lack of support, the outings to the Viewing Tower at Brighton, the

Gardens at Arundel Castle and the three day holiday had to be cancelled. These cancellations were disappointing but they

have encouraged the Committee to look at other types of events. Membership levels have been sustained by active recruitment, advertising, the opening of membership, and the tenacity and skills of our membership

secretary, Ann Stevens. Lectures get better and better, thanks to the hard

work of Chris Standen. You will have read in the last Newsletter of the great success of our Schools’ Conservation and Heritage Programme. The children will always remember this year’s outing to the North Foreland Lighthouse right on the top of the cliffs. How very clever of the organisers to have chosen a very

blustery day, which enthused the children even more. Congratulations on this imaginative and successful initiative. Finally, looking to the challenges ahead.

• We need to increase our membership so that more people will

participate in our events. This will help us raise money for our local NT properties. Personal introduction is best but we are also using

recruitment leaflets, posters and social media.

• Communication needs to be more effective. Electronic mail and

social media will enable us to keep members up to date with news and events which fall between newsletters and which currently cannot be communicated.

• Social activities. We are developing a programme of more local

events, including half day outings, meet the Committee and new

members’ coffee mornings. Your Committee is working very hard to develop new ideas to make our Association an enjoyable, convivial and educational experience. But you too can help by:

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TENTERDEN & DISTRICT NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION BOOKING FORM

16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th September 2018

Four Day Trip to Yorkshire Dales and the City of York

Cost: £399.00 each for a double room or sharing a twin

room, £475.00 for a single room

Please note, I only have 2 twin rooms, so it will be first come

first served.

Membership no. .......................

Name(s) 1............................................................................................

2............................................................................................

Address ............................................................................................

..............................................................................................................

Email address: .....................................................................................

Contact telephone number(s).............................................................

Please write preferred room option: : double, single or twin

…………………………………………………………………………………..

Please complete this reservation form and send your cheque for the

deposit of £75 per person, made payable to Tenterden and District

National Trust Association, together with a SAE, to Chris Standen,

Greycoats, The Hill, Cranbrook, TN17 3AH, within one month of receiving

the Newsletter.

Please advise the organiser of any mobility/dietary/access

requirements. In the event that you are unable to use the tickets

you have bought, please advise the organiser so that members on a

waiting list can be contacted.

Please remember to bring your National Trust card.

28 5

• Introducing or encouraging new members.

• Giving feedback on our events.

• Coming forward with ideas for social activities.

Treasurer’s Notes

Set out below is a summary of the Accounts for the year to 30th

September 2017 as presented to the Annual General Meeting on

Thursday 9th November.

Income

Subscriptions 2,403

Educational lectures 998

Fund raising 906

Holidays 825

Compensation, donations and bank interest 506

5,638

Expenditure

Donations to Smallhythe Place for rose pergolas

etc. - 5,041

Donation to Chris Welfare Educational Trust - 550

Charitable donations in lieu of fees for lectures - 200

Printing, stationery etc. - 2,606

Other expenditure - 415

- 8,812

Deficit for the year - 3,174

Assets brought forward 13,395

Assets as at 30th September, 2017 10,221

Tony Buttler

Membership Update We have 248 memberships (116 family) making 364 in total. New members since our last newsletter are: Mr and Mrs R J Burrough, Mr J H Clayton, Ms M Gillard, Mrs E Harrisson, Mr P Lehos,

Mr and Mrs R F Marks, Mrs C Salmon, Mrs P D Smyth and Mr and Mrs R Vince. We extend a warm welcome to you all and hope you

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enjoy your membership to the full. If you have any queries regarding your membership, please contact Mrs Ann Stevens on 01580 764791.

Did you know that anyone who is over 60 years of age and has been a National Trust member for five out of the last ten years can apply for Pensioner Membership at the reduced annual rate of £48.60. Contact the membership department on 0344 800 1895 for further information.

Smallhythe - A Thank You to Members

Please accept the most sincere thanks from me and the team at Smallhythe Place for the generosity and support from the Tenterden NTA that has allowed us to reconstruct the rose pergola. The generosity of the Association has made the reconstruction possible, and we are so pleased with the result. The roses planted have been carefully selected older

varieties, very much in keeping with Ellen Terry’s preferred planting, and the pergola itself has been hand-stripped and built to give a traditional appearance.

Next year (once we have our garden team fully recruited) we will undertake the work to relocate the gate to the end of the pergola to ensure the

sightline is restored, moving the hedgerow and replanting as appropriate – this will create an even bigger and more beautiful impact. I attach a lovely picture which looks down the original pergola.

I truly believe the pergola will become a much talked-about and much-loved feature of the property, and we will see visitors returning each

year to see its progress. Please pass on my thanks, and that of the whole team at Smallhythe Place, to your members – this project has meant so much to us all.

Kind regards

Hester Liakos General Manager

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TENTERDEN & DISTRICT NATIONAL TRUST

ASSOCIATION BOOKING FORM

A Special Afternoon Strawberry Tea in a private room at

London Beach Hotel, Tenterden, with gentle background music.

Tuesday, 19th June 2018 from 3pm-5pm

Tickets : Members £14.00 , Non members £15.50

Membership no. : .......................

Name(s): 1............................................................................................

2............................................................................................

Address: ............................................................................................

..............................................................................................................

Email address: .....................................................................................

Contact telephone number(s):.............................................................

No coach for this event.

For further details of this event ring Sue Harvey on 01580 441006

or e.mail [email protected]



you have bought, please advise the organiser so that members on

a waiting list can be contacted.

Please return this form with your cheque, made payable to

Tenterden and District National Trust Association, together with a

SAE, to Sue Harvey, 3 Eastgate Road, Tenterden, Kent TN30 7AH


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Ambassador’s Report on Smallhythe Place As Ambassador for our National Trust Association to Smallhythe Place and long time volunteer there, I have been asked to write a short piece about the property and the projects we, as a local Association, are supporting now and have done so in the past. As you will all know, Smallhythe Place was the home, and retreat from the theatre, of Dame Ellen Terry, one of

the most famous actresses of the Victorian era. (27.02.1847–21.07.1928)

The house is Tudor in age, believed to have been built some time soon after the disastrous fire of July 1515, which destroyed virtually the entire

hamlet of Smallhythe. The house itself is an absolute treasure trove of Ellen memorabilia, as her daughter, Edy Craig, determined to establish it as a museum in her mother’s memory and so kept many of her personal

possessions, including numerous costumes and artefacts from her theatre days. In the past our Association has made a contribution towards the restoration of the very famous and beautiful Beetle Wing dress, now on display in the house.

Edy also decided to convert the barn into a theatre in her mother’s memory, an idea Ellen had always resisted, and the first Memorial matinee was performed there in July 1929. The Barn Theatre Society keeps this

tradition alive through the Summer Theatre Company’s annual performance, which will be A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2018. Over the years many improvements have been made to the theatre and when it was decided to replace the rather old and worn black velvet curtains with

the present lovely green ones (the original colour as discovered by Susannah Mayor, the House

Steward, in her research) our Association gave a donation to cover their cost and these can now be seen hanging in the theatre, greatly enhancing the newly refurbished stage.

More recently the staff and Head Gardener have been working hard on the gardens, and decided to replace the rather rickety rose pergola with a new longer one, again replicating how it had been in Ellen’s time. This work has now been completed, again

through a donation from our Association, with a very fine wooden structure. A variety of age appropriate roses, some paid for through individual donations, are

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now being planted along the pergola, which in the coming years will greatly enhance the gardens.

Our National Trust Association has a very warm and supportive working relationship with the National Trust staff at Smallhythe: Mark Chittenden,

Operations Manager; Susannah Mayor, the House Steward; Nicola Byrne, Administrator, and all the staff and volunteers, who greatly appreciate the support from our Association and all its members. They would be very pleased to show any members these items, purchased through these donations. When the house is open (March 1st – October 31st), there are tours of the gardens, the backstage area with all its historic props and the costume store, showing some of Ellen’s stage costumes. This year’s main

theme is going to be based around ‘Triumphant Women’ celebrating the contribution the women at Smallhythe made to the Suffrage movement through the theatre and there will be exhibitions in the house and Barn Theatre throughout the year showing these activities and their impact on society.

For more details on these events you can go to the following websites:

1. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/smallhytheplace

2. www.etbarntheatre.com/

Sally Klemen

Review of 2017 Outings and Holidays The final events in 2017 have now taken place with differing results. For instance: the trip to Sonning to the Mill Theatre, including dinner and play,

was enjoyed by everyone who went but not enough members booked to make it a viable undertaking; however, the Christmas Lunch was a resounding success. The numbers attending beat all previous records.

Thank you for your support. As you know, it is the money that we manage to raise from our outings and activities that enable our Association to fund developments such as

those referred to in the article on Smallhythe, and the thank you letter from the Property Manager makes it clear how much our efforts are appreciated. The Outings' Committee wants to arrange events that you will enjoy and support. Please let us know what your preferred venues and outings are.

Thank you. Bernard Beardsmore

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Godinton House, Thursday 31st, May 2018

Meet at 1.45pm for tour starting at 2.00PM

Price: £16.50 members, £18 non-members

Membership no. .......................

Name(s) 1............................................................................................

2............................................................................................

Address ............................................................................................

..............................................................................................................

Email address: .....................................................................................

Contact telephone number(s).............................................................

Coach pick up points below (please circle the pick-up point required or indicate that you plan to make your own way to Godinton House).

Please note that the coach will only be provided if sufficient people request the service to make the hire cost viable. An additional fee of £10 will be charged for the return journey for those using the bus. If the coach does not run, efforts will be made to arrange lifts/car shares with others making their own way to Godinton House.

• Cranbrook Post Office 12.50pm

• Benenden Village Hall 1.00pm

• Tenterden Coach Park 1.10pm

• Homewood School 1.15 pm

• Self-drive

Please advise the organiser of any mobility/dietary/access requirements. In the event that you are unable to use the tickets you have bought, please advise the organiser so that members on a waiting list can be contacted.

Please return this form with your cheque, made payable to Tenterden and District National Trust Association, together with a SAE, to Sue Harvey, 3 Eastgate Road, Tenterden, Kent TN30 7AH

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/smallhytheplace

https://www.etbarntheatre.com/

24 9

Peter Webb

10th September, 1931 to 20th October, 2017.

It is with great sadness that we have to report Peter’s death after a year

during which his health deteriorated.

Peter was a founding member of the Association in 1994. He took on the role of chairman soon after its formation even though he was still working as an inspector for the International Monetary Fund, monitoring the financial assistance granted to poorer under developed countries, having

previously retired as Collector of Customs and Excise for the Port of London (a post held in the fourteenth century by Geoffrey Chaucer, the poet).

Peter has been chairman on two separate occasions covering half the time that the Association has been in existence.

Peter has also been editor of the Newsletter and devised its current format, he promoted the instigation of the Welfare Memorial Fund for educating schoolchildren in the benefits of the National Trust and introduced the concept of ambassadorships with local properties to encourage greater liaison. All three initiatives have been advocated to other supporter groups

by the National Trust. Peter also arranged many outings and holidays on behalf of the Association.

Apart from the Association, Peter contributed an enormous amount to the Tenterden community. He was a past president and deeply committed to the Tenterden Lions Club where his appearance as Father Christmas on Santa’s Float will be sorely missed. For many years he was a trustee of the

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Leisure Centre and chairman of its Bursary Fund which makes grants to aspiring young athletes. He was a joint author of a book published in 2013 entitled Tenterden Then and Now where all the proceeds were donated to charity. He, with his wife Jenny, judged gardens on behalf of the Kent

Wildlife Trust. He was also involved in many other organisations in the town. In 2015 the Town Council honoured Peter with a Civic Award to recognise the immense contribution he had made to Tenterden over many years. He will be sorely missed by the local community.

Tony Buttler

Lecture Programme 2018

Guest speakers give educational lectures or talks on the second Thursday of every month, except August and December. Please note that January, February and March lectures are held in St Mildred’s Hall, Church Road, Tenterden at 2.00pm. Other lectures are held at Tenterden Junior School, Recreation Ground Road, Tenterden at 7.30pm.

Thursday, 11th January: Tony Harris, ‘Life as a Redcoat Sergeant in the Zulu Wars’ After his impressive Henry VIII, Tony, through his alter ego, will entertain us with his first-hand knowledge of how we lost and won the Zulu Wars.

Thursday, 8th February: Fred Walker, ‘Captain James Cook RN’ Our popular local speaker will tell us of the amazing life of the world’s greatest seaman. Thursday, 8th March: Imogen Corrigan, ‘Stone on Stone’ Our very popular mediaeval historian will tell us of the men who built the cathedrals.

Thursday, 12th April: Barry Walsh, ‘Richard III the body in the car park’ A new speaker and Blue Badge Guide will give an illustrated talk on one of the most remarkable discoveries in recent English history.

Thursday, 10th May: Ian Bevin, ‘The American Civil War’ A welcome return to Ian who will tell us how the movement to abolish slavery divided the Southern States from the Northern States. Thursday, 14th June: Wilf Lower, ‘Behind the scenes of television’s golden years’ A new speaker to entertain us with his background knowledge of the BBC

and stories of our much-loved television programmes. Thursday, 12th July: Gilly Halcrow, ‘The Shetland Bus’

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An evening at Tenterden and District Museum.

Thursday, 19th April, 2018

The evening will start at 6pm. There will be a light buffet and a glass or two of wine. The cost will be £7 each. Bok early, only 30 places available.

Membership no. : .......................

Name(s): 1............................................................................................

2............................................................................................

Address: ............................................................................................

..............................................................................................................

Email address: .....................................................................................


For further details, please ring Tony Pearlman Tel. 01580 766642/

Mobile 07775755130, e-mail [email protected]



you have bought, please advise the organiser so that members on

a waiting list can be contacted.

Please return this form with your cheque, made payable to

Tenterden and District National Trust Association, together with a

SAE, to Tony Pearlman at 2 Hurst Close, Tenterden TN30 6UG

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Insurance Notes

A reminder of aspects of the National Trust’s insurance

arrangements.

1. The National Trust has in place personal accident cover for

people who are injured while undertaking voluntary activity

for the Trust. This can enable, at the Trust’s discretion, a cash

benefit to be claimed for an injured supporter group member/

volunteer. However, this cover is not provided beyond

an individual’s 80th birthday.

2. The Trust does not provide insurance cover against accidental

loss or damage to personal possessions.

3. The Association has a definitive document, “Evidence of

Insurance Letter”, which can be shown to members who wish

to know more detail about the insurance cover in place for

the Association.

Guidance on Outings and Events

• The organisers reserve the right to cancel any outing. Should this be

necessary, a full refund will be made.

• Ticket-holders who wish to cancel their booking should inform the

organiser as soon as possible. No refund can be made unless the

vacancy can be filled from the waiting list. If there is no waiting list,

ticket-holders will be responsible for reselling their ticket(s) and for

letting the organiser have details of the new holder(s).

• If, on the day of the outing, ticket-holders are unable to participate,

they should inform the organiser so that the coach is not delayed.

• Coaches will not wait for late arrivals more than five minutes after

the scheduled departure time.

• Unless otherwise stated, lunches and light snacks may be obtained

at the places visited but are not included in the ticket price. The

ticket price normally includes an appropriate tip for the coach driver

and any guides, etc.

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Following on from her excellent lecture on SOE, she will tell us about the brave Norwegian sailors who kept a link open between Britain and occupied Norway.

NO LECTURE IN AUGUST

Thursday, 13th September: Ian Rumsley Dawson, ‘Wildlife of Rye Harbour’ A welcome return to Ian and his wonderful wildlife pictures of an area close to home.

Thursday, 11th October: Sir Jeremy Elwes, ‘The Livery Companies of London’

A Freeman of the City of London, his illustrated talk will give a brief history of the Craft Guilds and development of Livery Companies.

Thursday, 8th November: AGM – Helen Arnold, ‘Who’d Play the Harp?’ Helen will entertain and play to us to end the year.

Outings, Holidays and Fund-Raising Events Saturday, 17th March, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm Spring Coffee Morning at Oxenbridge Farm, Iden, TN31 7UY

We hope that you will join us in celebrating the arrival of Spring in our lovely C18th barn, set in a beautiful garden with far-reaching views.

Among the many attractions will be:

• wine sampling, courtesy of Chapel Down Winery, including some of

their finest wines;

• a spinning and weaving display;

• displays by local artists of art, pottery, jewellery, and many other

crafts;

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• plants, troughs and hanging baskets with Spring flowers (courtesy of

the Rare Breeds Centre);

• home-made cakes;

• a raffle.

Many items will be for sale in time for Easter.

After coffee, why not wander around the garden and enjoy the spring flowers?

(If the weather is inclement, the house will be opened.)

Entrance £5 to include tea or coffee, cake and biscuits, and entry to the

lucky ticket draw.

Funds raised will go the Tenterden and District National Trust Association to support local National Trust properties.

For further details, please ring Gill Wood on 01797 280208 (answer

phone), or e.mail [email protected]

Thursday, 19th April, 2018 A Themed Evening at Tenterden and District Museum.

Come and see what has been happening behind the scenes at the Museum this winter. You will be able to experience the newly refurbished ground floor and hear about our current projects. Dip into a 1,000 years of history with the help of our friendly stewards, and discover rich layers of history, architectural trends over the centuries, house or family history.

Exhibits show the history of Tenterden and the Cinque Ports, reflecting the rich history of the area. Artefacts range from a Tenterden’s recently discovered Eighteenth century Theatre wallpaper to a 1500 BC flint axe head.

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Spring Coffee Morning at Oxenbridge Barn, Iden, TN31 7UY Saturday, 17th March, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm

Entrance fee £5 payable on arrival. An indication of numbers

attending would be appreciated to allow for catering arrangements

but all visitors and their guests will be welcome on the day in any

event.

Membership no. : .......................

Name(s): 1............................................................................................

2............................................................................................

Address: ............................................................................................

..............................................................................................................

Email address: .....................................................................................



requirements.

For further details, please ring Gill Wood on 01797 280208 (answer

phone), or e.mail [email protected]

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Christmas lunch is a well-established tradition, but for us it was all new. However, after enjoying good food and good company this year, we plan to make it part of our annual Christmas routine for the future. We can’t wait to see if the Chairman can come up with a new and original grace to say each year!

Alison and Cliff Chandler

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The archives house extensive research into local house histories and genealogy and hundreds of unique photographs and post cards. See further information about this event on our website or follow us on

Twitter. The evening will start at 6pm. There will be a light buffet and a glass or two of wine. The cost will be £7 each. Book quickly as only 30 places available.

Thursday, 31st May 2018 A Private Guided Tour of Godinton House, Ashford. Meet at 1.45pm for the House Tour at 2pm We are delighted to offer a private conducted tour of Godinton House, Ashford followed by a stroll round the lovely gardens and then afternoon tea and cakes in the house.

Godinton House has absorbed the history and culture of its region for six hundred years. Standing in a tranquil parkland setting it has had only two major changes in ownership in six hundred years. Twelve acres of tranquil gardens are surrounded by ancient parkland studded with stately oaks and chestnuts. Four hundred years of changing garden fashions have

contributed to a landscape which is now predominantly Reginald Blomfield’s 1898 design. Terraced lawns bordered by a vast yew hedge and box topiary have been softened over the last century by the addition of long, herbaceous borders and ornamental tree and shrub plantings.

Return transport by mini bus is available for an additional £10 subject to

sufficient members to make the rental cost viable. Please indicate whether you would like to use this transport or whether you will make your own way to Godinton House. If the mini-bus is not sufficiently in demand we will do

our best to arrange lifts with other association members joining the group. Tickets : Members £16.50, Non Members £18.00

Tuesday, 19th June 2018 from 3pm-5pm A Special Afternoon Strawberry Tea in a private room at London Beach Hotel, Tenterden with gentle background music. No coach for this event. Tickets : Members £14.00 , Non members £15.50

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For further details of both these events ring Sue Harvey on 01580 441006

or e.mail [email protected]

Thursday 16th August 2018,

We are planning an outing to Broadstairs, with the afternoon spent at a nearby village where villagers dress up and take us on a re-enactment tour of the past. Look out for further details in the next newsletter.

16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th September 2018

Four Day Trip to Yorkshire Dales and the City of York

Our trip this year will be to the North Yorkshire Moors and we will stay in the ancient City of

York at the five star Dean Court Hotel with easy access to the Centre and its many attractions, for example, the living Viking Museum; the Minster (opposite the hotel) the largest Gothic Cathedral in Northern Europe;

the cobbled streets of The Shambles; the Treasurer’s House (NT); and, the all important, BETTY’S for Tea!

One of our days will feature a trip from Pickering, on The North

Yorkshire Moor’s railway (packed lunch provided) through beautiful scenery to Whitby, where there will be some time to look around before our coach brings us back again.

The other day will be spent at Castle Howard in the morning - one of Britain’s finest stately homes designed by Vanbrugh, with ornate interiors and landscaped gardens - and then back to York for freedom to visit the many attractions of the City and attend evensong if you wish.

After leaving our hotel on the last day, we will visit the awe-inspiring ruins of Fountains Abbey (NT) for lunch, before heading home.

This trip is booked on a bed and breakfast basis except for the night of our arrival when you will be served with a 3 course meal. The two other evenings you will be free to explore the many cafes and restaurants close to the Hotel or, if you wish, inform the Hotel that you want to dine in.

The cost will be £399.00 each for a double room or sharing a twin room,

£475.00 for a single room

This photo is licensed under the Creative

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Attribution: Keith Laverack

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Saturday, 7th October, 2017. Perfect Wedding at the Mill at Sonning

Although I wasn't personally able to go on the trip to Sonning the reports I have had back are absolutely glowing. The organisation was excellent and everything went like clockwork, except for a little trouble with coaches discharging too many people at the same time.

As the coach driver had very sensibly researched the route before leaving he was able to avoid two closed roads and so got the party there in good time, ahead of the other coaches. No doubt this added to the charm of the

event.

One of our visitors, Mike Hockley, told me how much he and Pat had enjoyed walking over to look at the lock which he remembered from his childhood and how delighted they were to see that there was still a beautiful display of flowers on the lock. Others have commented about enjoying a pre-lunch cup of coffee in the local pub and also that there was sufficient free time available before the event, to explore the area.

Everyone agreed that the show was really excellent, very professional and that Judi Dench’s daughter was exceptionally talented and played her part with distinction. The uniqueness of the theatre was much appreciated and admired.

Another exceptional outing, well done, Gill Wood.

Tony Pearlman

Friday, 8th December 2017 The Christmas Lunch

The weather outside was icy, but inside the Chart Hills Golf Club the atmosphere was warm and convivial. Thanks to Gil Springett’s meticulous organisation, we were all seated close to our good friends and acquaintances with those menu choices made so many weeks ago helpfully recorded – just in case some – like us – had forgotten what they had ordered! For many of those attending, the Tenterden National Trust


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Creative_Commons

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Creative_Commons

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

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There followed a very interesting tour of the house and we learnt that Titsey's historical significance stretches back to Roman times, it was mentioned in the Domesday book and the manor of Titsey was acquired in 1534 by John Gresham, a member of the most prominent merchant

dynasty in Tudor England. The story of the family is fascinating and John Gresham’s descendants, the Leveson Gowers, ascended from Tory Staffordshire baronets to the grandest of Whig grandees each generation marrying an heiress richer than the last, and each generation being raised a step in the peerage. The house has been much changed over time; the current interior was

designed by William Atkinson and features well-proportioned rooms with regency plastered cornices, paneled doors and simple marble chimneys. There is a fine collection of family portraits from such artists as Sir Joshua Reynolds and Peter Lely and four paintings of Venice by Canaletto in the dining room.

The gardens are beautiful and there is a glorious vista from the house across the picturesque parkland grazed by the 'Titsey Herd' of handsome pedigree Sussex cattle beyond the ha-ha. To get to a much anticipated cup of tea we walked through the kitchen garden which was restored in 1996 as an illustration of Victorian horticultural techniques and is one of the best surviving of its kind. Again we wondered what they do with all those vegetables.

It was a lovely day marked by perfect weather, interest, beauty, incident, good company and lots of laughter. Our thanks are due to Gill for the work she put in to organise such a full day and to Junior, for his heroic coach driving.

Susie Andrews

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Please note, I only have 2 twin rooms, so it will be first come first served.

I hope many members will join us on this holiday and if so please complete the reservation form and send it to Chris Standen with a deposit of £75.00 per person made out to Tenterden and District National Trust within one month of receiving the Newsletter.

Please remember to bring your National Trust card.

Chris Standen.

Members’ Reports on Past Events

Thursday, 14th September

Heather Woodward, ‘Nelson - The Myths and the Legends’ Heather started her fascinating lecture by suggesting that 99% of the population would regard Horatio Lord Nelson as the most famous admiral of all time – better known than Drake, Raleigh, Mountbatten etc. Virtually everyone is familiar with Nelson’s life and his achievements so Heather

concentrated on aspects of the man that are not so widely known.

Yes, he was slightly built, but, at five feet six inches, he was of average height for men in the eighteenth century and much the same height as Churchill, Napoleon, Kipling, Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin. He was a devout Christian and suffered from bouts of severe depression, known as “Black Dog”, as did many of those mentioned above. He was vain and egotistical

and had no concept of fear. He joined the Royal Navy in Chatham at the age of 12 and by 17 he had mastered all the necessary seafaring skills. At that age he was promoted to acting second lieutenant and his reputation was significantly enhanced when he successfully boarded a privateer ship after those more senior had failed. Throughout his life he suffered from seasickness.

Before he was 21, he was promoted to captain and ensured that all the men

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on the ships under his command had a daily ration of lemon juice which had the effect of eliminating scurvy. In 1787, when he was 29, he was put on half pay as there were no battles to be fought at sea so he spent the next six years back home in the parish of Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk

assisting his father, who was a clergyman.

It was at the Battle for Calvi in Corsica in 1794 that Nelson lost his right eyebrow which damaged the optic nerve, but he was not blinded and did not wear an eye patch. He wore an eyeshade to protect his eye from the glare of the sun.

And then three years later, at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Nelson’s right arm was shattered and it had to be amputated without anaesthetic. The next year at the Battle of the Nile, the French flagship, L’Orient, was ablaze and

the English sailors were astonished to see a boy standing alone at his post, surrounded by flames. This was the event that inspired the poem, ‘The boy stood on the burning deck’. Finally at the age of 47, a bullet entered Nelson’s left shoulder at the Battle of Trafalgar and he died uttering the words, “Thank God, I have done my duty”.

Thank you, Heather, for the most interesting insight into the life of Horatio Lord Nelson.

Tony Buttler

Thursday, 9th November Layton Frewen - The Mary Stanford Lifeboat Disaster

Layton Frewen preceded his lecture by telling of two recollections from

friends set during the Second World War. He then told of the background of the Mary Stanford which was powered by eight sets of oars with a small sail for stability - Layton had met the granddaughter of the coxswain.

This boat was kept in a shed at Rye but launching it was the first problem as it had to be dragged across shingle in order to reach the water.

Early on November 15th 1928 a call came from a Latvian ship in distress. The conditions were very stormy with winds gusting to eighty miles per hour. The lifeboat crew of seventeen, aged between forty-seven years and seventeen years put on their kapok lifejackets (which were useless, but all

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that was available in those days) and launched the Mary Stanford. A message that the crew of the Latvian ship had been safely rescued by another craft didn’t reach them in time to turn back.

Tragically the lifeboat became swamped and all seventeen crew members perished. A fine memorial stands in the churchyard at Rye harbour to commemorate and honour these men.

Sue Harvey

Friday, 25th August 2017.

Down House and Titsey Place.

It was a shining day as we set out for Down House; a minor accident necessitated a detour down some extremely narrow lanes, interesting for those of us not driving. Many of us had visited Down House before and were familiar with the house where Charles Darwin lived for 40 years with his wife, Emma, and large family; we had visited the study where he wrote On the Origin of Species and explored the gardens where he conducted many of his experiments. I have always particularly liked the stair slide

Darwin devised for his children.

New since 2016 is Charles and Emma’s bedroom. Working from family letters, a detailed inventory, contemporary descriptions, paint analysis, and in-depth research into mid-Victorian interior design, English Heritage has tried to recreate the bedroom’s original late 1850s appearance. It was here that Darwin read and rested, recovered from various illnesses and

kept an eye on his experiments in the garden from the room’s lovely large bay window. The ladder, presumably for climbing into the high bed, with storage under each step, struck me as a very useful bit of furniture.

It was a marvellous time of year to see the kitchen garden. We wondered

what they do with all those vegetables.

There was a further short delay before we set off for Titsey Place, a broken down tractor this time. We had lunch in the Titsey

Place tea rooms where the service was surrealistically

disorganized, but the quiche salad and apple pie very good.

School Liaison Mrs Rosemary Francis€¦ · Hester Liakos General Manager 27 TENTERDEN & DISTRICT...

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Transcript of School Liaison Mrs Rosemary Francis€¦ · Hester Liakos General Manager 27 TENTERDEN & DISTRICT...