Quenington – 2 July
A quintessentially Cotswold village, exemplified by its vernacular architecture constructed in honey coloured oolite Jurassic limestone with a precisely manicured and precious appearance…
Exbury Gardens – 8 May
Exbury was unknown to me until its Coach Outing listing. The two hundred acre woodland garden, forming part of the New Forest National Park, near Beaulieu, was an enthralling experience.
Bob Williamns: The Methodist Modern Art Collection – 5 May
Throughout its history, the Christian Church has used images to express faith and to explore theology. The Methodist Church takes its place in this long tradition with a collection now comprising 54 paintings, prints, drawings, relief and mosaic works.
Oxford – 27 March
On a beautiful Spring morning our new 57 seater coach arrived, the largest we have ever used because the trip was quickly fully booked and had a long waiting list.
John Salvat: The History of Walled Gardens – March 3
50+ people turned up on a wet stormy night to listen to John’s talk on walled gardens, starting with basic rectangular ones from thousands of years ago in Africa
Heale House and Salisbury – 16 February
We left Bradford on Avon with a full coach on a slightly dull morning. How many members on the coach had heard of Heale House I wondered?
London – 20 November 2018
A blockbuster exhibition at the British Library on Euston Road, and the first ever survey of Oceanic art exhibited in Britain.
Tyntesfield – 11 December 2018
From 1844 – 2001 this was the country home for four generations of the Gibbs family, their bolthole from London. Originally purchased by William Gibb it was transformed in 1864 by his engaging John Norton to redesign and rebuild, the result being a home in High Victorian Gothic.
Mary Shelley: Frankenstein at 200 — 4 November
A large audience testified both to Allan Phillipson’s popularity as a speaker and perhaps also to our perennial fascination with Mary Shelley’s iconic “creature.”
Wiltshire Music Centre: A Programme for All — 2 September
An uplifting talk with which to begin our new season: a verbal behind the scenes tour of the Music Centre, from the initial idea mooted thirty years ago to the present day.