Shrewsbury Branch holiday to Torquay (May 2017).
This year's holiday saw members of the Shrewsbury
Branch and their carers at the Heathlands Hotel,
Bournemouth. Nineteen people went on the
holiday, three fewer than were booked, because of
last-minute difficulties. We wish all those affected
well.
We travelled on 19th, May and then enjoyed two days
of mostly, sunny weather, during which we visited
Winchester and Salisbury. Both cities had beautiful
cathedrals and most people spent at least some
time visiting them inside and out. The architecture
is absolutely amazing and the visitor guides in both
were all extremely helpul, pointing out the
particular features of interest and answering any
questions we had. Whilst Salisbury gave us the chance to see a rare mediaeval clock and one of the
four original copies of the Magna Carta, perhaps one of the most important human-rights documents
ever produced, Winchester holds a magnificent early twelfth-century bible, hand-written over several
years in four volumes and illustrated with the most amazing illuminated characters at the beginning of
each book.
On the way to and from the two historic landmarks of culture and religion, time was found to call in at
places offering more down-to earth pleasures such as the Larmer Tree Gardens, with connections to
the Pitt-Rivers Museum (Oxford), and a garden centre in the New Forest with its own narrow-gauge
railway. For those who were not impressed by culture or history, everywhere we went had fantastic
cakes and retail therapy opportunities!
Thursday saw most of us narrowly escaping or receiving a soaking from the rain as we explored
Bournemouth on foot or went further afield and on Friday we were homeward bound in the rain,
wondering where we would be going next year. Before then, however, thanks are due to Fred and the
committee for organising the holiday, to Phyllis for running the raffle and to helpful Gavan, who drove
the coach skilfully and safely, taking us everywhere and back again.
Old Timers with an Old Timer
