This Tour has been cancelled due to the extreme weather.  It has been rescheduled for Friday, 30th October.

Join us for a walking tour of the Inns of Court, with our guide, Kate Davey, who is a practising barrister, Blue Badge Guide and a member of Inner Temple. We will meet at the café The Garden Room, Middle Temple Lane, EC4Y 9BT at 10.30am on Friday 10th July. Our walk will start promptly at 10.45am and will cover Inner and Middle Temple, a visit inside Temple Church and Lincoln’s Inn. It will last approximately 2 hours and will be followed by a buffet lunch in the celebrated Middle Temple Hall, for which you will pay separately. Currently, prices are in the region of £17 for the hot dish of the day, £14 for a large salad and £7 for soup.

The nearest tube station to the Garden Room is Temple, on the Circle and District lines, and easily accessible from Victoria.  Blackfriars station (Thameslink) is a 10 minute walk away.

There are 23 places on this tour. The cost will be £22 per person which includes a £5 admission charge for Temple Church. Tickets will be on sale at the May meeting. The booking form is on the website under Our Society in Documents and can be completed in advance but no bookings will be accepted prior to the May meeting. The organiser, Liz Cruise, can be contacted on 07776 383 797 or sawb1914@sky.com with any queries.

POSTPONED DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT FORECAST

It is hoped to run the trip later in the year.

Sheffield Park Station has been restored to reflect the Brighton era of the 1880s.  Built in 1882 and splendidly restored to its 1880s Brighton era grandeur, the station offers a gateway to a bygone age of steam rail travel.  From exploring the rich narrative of railway evolution in our acclaimed museum to experiencing the thrill of driving a steam train in SteamWorks!   The station invites visitors of all ages to immerse themselves in its unique blend of history and interactive entertainment.

Enjoy a return journey departing from Sheffield Park Station for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.  Travel a 22 miles round trip through the Sussex countryside behind a steam engine passing through Horsted Keynes, you may have seen its guest appearance in Downton Abbey, Kingscote and East Grinstead.  On arrival at East Grinstead there will be a short stop whilst the locomotive uncouples from the front carriage.  On return to Sheffield Park Station, visit The Bessemer Arms to redeem your voucher for a tea/coffee and a slice of cake.   Tickets are £28 per person.

Platform 1: Your ticket includes entry to SteamWorks! the locomotive shed has interactive exhibits and a model locomotive.  The Gift Shop offers a range of souvenirs and local produce.

Platform 2: Cross the bridge to the very comprehensive Museum.  The restored Signal Box is also worth investigating to discover the intricate system in place to keep the trains running safely.

Arrangements for the day:

Meet at 10:00am at Sheffield Park Station Ticket Office entrance (TN22 3QL) Our train leaves Platform 1 so please take your seats by 10.35.

Make use of your Hospitality Voucher in The Bessemer Arms as part of your ‘free-flow’ day.

An application form can be found under Our Society in Documents.

June Coach Outing to Waddesdon Manor

A full coach left the Banstead Community Hall Car Park on time for our journey to Waddesdon Manor, arranged by Committee Members Sheila Vallance and Tim Murari.
Our journey ‘north’ took us mostly along motorways but also along interesting country diversions as we were for some time in the land of the HS2 construction project.
We arrived in time for a morning coffee. The travellers made their own way around the grounds and gardens before the house opened at noon. There was no formal tour but a helpful Tour Guide to the house was given to each visitor and very knowledgeable guides were in each room. They were very pleased to answer questions and pass on information......and to direct tired visitors to chairs where it was possible to rest for a while.
The House, of course, with its treasures - paintings, sculptures, books and furniture is the star attraction but the gardens, the fountains and the woodlands are spectacular.
A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to Sheila and Tim for organising the outing - it was a lovely day out. We are looking forward to next year’s programme already and hope another such visit will be arranged.

Waddesdon Manor is a neo Renaissance French style chateau owned by the Rothschild Foundation. Just outside the village of Waddesdon, Oxfordshire, it was built in the 1870s as a weekend property for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild to entertain his guests and to house his rare and extensive art collection.

Highlights include:

·       English 18th century portraits by artists such as Gainsborough and Reynolds, Sèvres ceramics, Dutch Old Master paintings, Limoges enamel and the famous musical elephant automaton

·       There are beautiful gardens, which include the Aviary, Parterre and sculptures. Woodland walks may be enjoyed in the extensive grounds

·       Waddesdon has impressive wine cellars where an art collection relating to wine can also be visited as part of our ticket

As Waddesdon Manor is such a large property with many varied attractions, we have not arranged a house tour on this occasion. A free flow visit will allow you to choose how you spend your time exploring the house and gardens at your own pace depending on your individual interests and the weather! Room guides will be available to provide more information as you explore the house.

Coach to Waddesdon Manor: Assemble 8:15 for prompt 8:30 departure from Banstead Community Hall. Please collect a parking ticket at the entrance to the car park and park your car at the far end. If you have any problems on the day please call Sheila Vallance 07947 410964 or Tim Murari 07934 729730.

Refreshments:   There are several different options for morning coffee and lunch. Hot and cold food may be purchased at the Coffee bar and at the Stable Block. There is also the Manor Restaurant serving light lunches. Alternatively you may bring a picnic to eat in the grounds.

Accessibility:     Most areas of the house have wheelchair access. Wheelchairs suitable for use inside the house are available at the main entrance on a first come first served basis. There is no lift providing access to the wine cellars or the treasury.

Return journey: Assemble at 4:15pm for a prompt 4:30pm departure. We expect to arrive back in Banstead between 6:00 and 6:30 pm depending on traffic conditions.

Price including coach travel and driver’s gratuity:

NT members £25

Non NT members £48 including £23 house and garden ticket (group rate price)

An Application Form can be found on the home page under the Our Society tab in Documents.

An Application form can be found under Our Society in Documents.

VISIT TO WESTMINSTER ABBEY    Saturday 21st March 2026

Over 1 million tourists visit Westminster Abbey each year, but on the evening of 21st March there were just 40 members from Chipstead Arts Society and 35 members from Winchester Arts Society.    It was a complete privilege to have this magnificent 1,000 year old building to ourselves.    We were there as guests of the Purcell Club - a male voice choir formed predominantly from members of the Westminster Abbey Old Choristers’ Association.

We were welcomed in the Cloisters by the Chairman of the Purcell Club Neil Medland and then taken to our seats in the Nave, and again welcomed this time by a member of the Abbey clergy.    Our excellent guide for the evening was Vanessa Silcock and she eloquently described the history and architecture of the Abbey in some detail, moving from one location of interest to the next, including the Quire, Sacrarium, High Altar, the Cosmati Pavement (unique in the country), St Edward the Confessor’s Shrine, Henry VII Chapel and Poet’s Corner.    At various points we paused to listen to members of the Purcell Club sing suitable musical items ranging from the 16th to 21st centuries.

On returning to the Nave for the final part of the tour, a short piece was played by one of the Abbey organists to demonstrate the Abbey’s magnificent organ.   The tour ended with the choir singing a piece of suitable solemnity around the Grave of the Unknown Warrior as the lights dimmed.

It was a truly magical evening and one we all much enjoyed.

We had a very interesting walk around Soho with Ian Swankie, our guide.  We passed famous places like Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, L’Escargot restaurant and the Groucho Club and Ian told us fascinating stories about the area.  Although the weather was rather dull, it certainly wasn’t dull in content!

Thanks go to Liz Cruize for arranging such an immersive morning out.

Margaret Shackleton

A guided garden walk and afternoon tea at Painshill Park on Tuesday 19th August has been arranged.

Book  your place in the Mead Room after the June lecture.

There will be two walking groups and a buggy for 6 people will also be available. Please reserve a place if walking is a problem.

Members will need to make their own way to Painshill.

‘We had a lovely day in Chichester organised by Sheila Vallance and
Tim Murari.

We arrived in Chichester about 10 a.m. and were able to enjoy a coffee and biscuits in the Cathedral restaurant before separating into two groups for a tour of the Cathedral.  We were able to see and understand more about works of art by John Piper, Marc Chagall and Graham Sutherland and admire the gothic architecture.

Free time was allocated for lunch and exploring Chichester before going to Pallant House Gallery in the afternoon.  There was an interesting exhibition on entitled ‘Seeing Each Other: Portrait of Artists’.

We boarded the coach about 4.15 p.m. for our return journey and arrived in Banstead in good time.  Thanks go to Sheila and Tim for organising an excellent day out.’

Margaret Shackleton

Coach trip

Chichester Cathedral was founded in 1075.  The Cathedral Church and Cloisters are Grade 1 listed and demonstrate Gothic Norman and English Gothic styles.  Medieval stone carvings and Roman mosaics sit alongside world famous works of art including those of Graham Sutherland and Marc Chagall.  The Cathedral is currently celebrating its 950 year anniversary and is staging an exhibition "Chichester 950, Religion Rebellion, Reformation" at the time of our visit. (Photo: Pexels - Ivan Vi) 

Pallant House Gallery contains a world-class collection of  Modern British art from 1900 to the present day including works by Barbara Hepworth, Graham Sutherland, Paul Nash, Rachel Whitehead and Damien Hirst.  There will also be a temporary portrait exhibition to view alongside the permanent exhibition.   

Both venues have excellent accessibility with ramps and lifts where necessary. 

Timings for the Day

8.15          Prompt departure from Banstead Community Hall car park
(boarding from 8am. Please collect ticket from Sheila or Tim on entering the car park)

10.30         Coffee and biscuits in the Old Bakery at the Cathedral

11.15          Guided tour of the Cathedral in small groups

12.15-1.45  Free time to explore Chichester and take lunch in the City, Cathedral Cafeteria or picnic in the beautiful Bishop's Palace Gardens adjacent to the Cathedral

1.45             Meet outside the entrance to the Cathedral (North Transept) for the ten minute walk to Pallant House (alternatively, make your own way) 

2.00              Assemble outside Pallant House for an unguided tour at your own pace

4.00              Leave Gallery for walk back to the coach at the West Street pick up point

4.15              Departure

Price £45 to include guided tour of the Cathedral, entrance to Pallant House, morning coffee and coach driver's gratuity.  

 

On Tuesday 25th March Robina Holmes booked two private morning tours for 40 of our members for a tour of the Opera House when it is closed to the public    Those who attended found the tour fascinating and it all went by very quickly.   Everyone had their favourite bit, but seeing the ballet dancers practise was high on the list for many. 

Thank you Robina for organising this tour, and also thanks to Katherine Goldsmith who led one of the groups.

Tuesday, 25th March 2025 at 10.30am

We have arranged for two groups to attend private guided tours of The Royal Opera House, Bow Street, London WC2E 9DD. We will all meet outside at the Main Entrance, Bow Street at 10.30am before going through security together. This entrance is at a modern fully glazed building which is to the left of the original Opera House building. Attendees will make their own way to the meeting point.

The cost is £20 per person. This event is limited to 40 attendees.

Katherine Goldsmith will lead the first group of 20 on a tour at 10.45am and I will lead the second tour at 11.15am. We will be taken to areas not normally accessible to the public, including rehearsal studios, costumes and production workshops. Each tour lasts 75 minutes.

Should you need to contact me on the day my mobile number is: 07827 200 729. If you have any queries before the visit please ring me on the landline number below. Tickets will be on sale at the February lecture. Contact: Robina Holmes 5 Peaks Hill Purley CR8 3JG e-mail: me@robinaholmes.co.uk Telephone: 020 8660 5412

The Arts Society Chipstead

Behind the Scenes guided tours of The Royal Opera House

Tuesday, 25th March 2025 at 10.30am

We have arranged for two groups to attend private guided tours of The Royal Opera House, Bow Street, London WC2E 9DD. We will all meet outside at the Main Entrance, Bow Street at 10.30am before going through security together. This entrance is at a modern fully glazed building which is to the left of the original Opera House building. Attendees will make their own way to the meeting point.

The cost is £20 per person. This event is limited to 40 attendees. Katherine Goldsmith will lead the first group of 20 on a tour at 10.45am and I will lead the second tour at 11.15am. We will be taken to areas not normally accessible to the public, including rehearsal studios, costumes and production workshops.

Each tour lasts 75 minutes.

Should you need to contact me on the day my mobile number is: 07827 200 729. If you have any queries before the visit please ring me on the landline number below. Tickets will be on sale at the February lecture. Contact: Robina Holmes 5 Peaks Hill Purley CR8 3JG e-mail: me@robinaholmes.co.uk Telephone: 020 8660 5412

Holiday to Norfolk and Suffolk from 7th October to 11th October 2024

The full itinerary and further booking forms will be available at the March lecture with deposits required by the end of March.

The Gleaming Towers of the East (of the City of London)

London Walk

From Cannon Street Station to Liverpool Street Station

Thursday 26th September 2024

Join us for a walking tour in London with our guide, Ian Swankie. We will meet at 10.45am and begin our walk promptly at 11am at Cannon Street Main Line Station. The walk will last between 90 minutes and 2 hours. Individual autoguides will be provided. The walk should finish by 1pm at Liverpool Street, where you can make your own arrangements for lunch.

You can either travel to London Bridge Station and go to Platform 3 for a connection to Cannon Street, or travel to Victoria and from there by Underground to Cannon Street.

 Our visit starts at Cannon Street Main Line Station. We will meet at the Plumber’s Apprentice Statue situated at the entrance to Platform 4. We will assemble from 10.45am.

We start in the concourse of the Station and then meander through the eastern part of the City towards Liverpool Street. We’ll pass the Bank of England, Lloyds, and the Royal Exchange and explore hidden gardens, medieval alleyways and tiny churches reflected in gleaming glass skyscrapers such as the Gherkin, the Walkie Talkie and the Scalpel. This is one of the world’s most successful financial districts but it is steeped in history and juxtapositions.

Our guide for the morning will be Ian Swankie and the cost will be £17.00.  Ian is an official guide in the City of London. There are 24 places on this tour and tickets will be on sale at the June meeting.

Visit to Titsey Place and Gardens

On 14th August, 30 members visited Titsey Place and Gardens in Oxted, Surrey.
 
Titsey is one of the largest surviving estates in Surrey and dates back to the mid sixteenth century. Titsey Place is now a comfortable early nineteenth century house in a picturesque park under the North Downs which here rise to 800 feet and provides magnificent views. The estate was originally bought by Sir John Gresham, a London merchant and has been the ancestral home and gardens of the Gresham family since 1534.
 
The surroundings of Titsey Place are largely the work of William and Granville Leveson Gower in the nineteenth century. They planted the Park and laid out the gardens. The gardens have been a particular feature of Titsey Place and recently much work has been done to improve and enhance them. On the day of our visit they were full of plants of rich colours.
 
Our visit ended with an excellent cream tea. The rain held off until we were on our way home!

A warm word of thanks to Margaret Shackleton and Anne Fuller for organising the event.
 
Margaret Palmer.

Parham House and Gardens in Sussex: Thursday 25th July

Another lovely outing was arranged by Sheila Vallance and Tim Murari. We set off from Banstead just before 9 am and arrived at Parham House in good time to have coffee at 10.15. The weather unfortunately was not on our side and it had started to rain on arrival!

As there were about 40 of us, we split into two groups for the tour of the house.  The photo shows the Long Gallery which is stunning. After this, we all had lunch in the Tudor Kitchen which enabled members to get to know each other better.

At about 1.30, when we were all thinking of visiting the gardens, the heavens opened!  However, the rain did lift and those who were intrepid enough to venture into the gardens were met with spectacular plants in vivid colours within the walled exterior.  There was also a brick built Wendy House, Greenhouse and Church in the grounds but because of the weather it was difficult to fit everything in.

We left Parham House and Gardens at 4 pm and were back in Banstead by 5.30 pm.  This was a very enjoyable day out and thanks go to Sheila and Tim for arranging it.

Visit to the Old Bailey - Tuesday 25th June 2024

We had a spectacular evening tour of the Old Bailey organised by Robina Holmes.  The tour comprised 20 members and our excellent guide was Jay Patel who had worked at the Old Bailey for just over 40 years.

More formally known as the Central Criminal Courts, the current Portland Stone faced building was designed in neo-Baroque style by EW Mountford and opened in 1907.  With a lavish marble interior, amongst its six Court Rooms is Court No. 1 - the world’s most famous criminal court and location of numerous infamous trials such as Oscar Wilde,  Dr. Crippen and the Yorkshire Ripper.  Damaged by bombing during World War II, twelve further Courts were added in 1972.  We were able to sit in Court No. 1, view one of the newer Courts and visit the prison cells!  The photo depicts the design in the Great Hall which mirrors the nearby dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral

Afterwards, 12 members went to the nearby Côte Brasserie for a very enjoyable meal.

This was a very well organised event and thanks go to Robina for planning it.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

EVENSONG AND PRIVATE TOUR OF THE TRIFORIUM MUSEUM

Thursday 30th November 2023

We have arranged for a group to attend the service of Evensong in Westminster Abbey that day, followed by a private guided tour of the Triforium, aka The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, led by Dr Tony Trowles, the Abbey’s Head of the Abbey Collection and Librarian.

The Triforium is located above the Abbey floor, where the Abbey’s greatest treasures are on display and tell the story of the Abbey’s one thousand year history.  The area, hidden from the public’s eyes for over seven hundred years, was opened by HM the Queen in June 2018.

We meet outside the Abbey Bookshop next to the gates to the Great West Door entrance to Westminster Abbey, off Victoria Street at 4.30 pm.  Attendees will make their own way to the meeting point.  The cost is £24 per person and tickets will be on sale in the Mead Room at the October Arts Society lecture.  This is a small event and limited to 30 attendees.

Post Event.  The evening can continue after the tour.  Please indicate on your form when booking whether or not you would like to join us for a meal at Pizza Express, 85 Victoria Street, so that a reservation can be made.  This cost is not included in the ticket price.

ARTS SOCIETY CHIPSTEAD HOLIDAY – 8TH – 12TH OCTOBER 2023

The choice of our tour to the West Midlands, entitled The Historic Houses of Shropshire and Ironbridge proved to be an excellent one. The holiday was much enjoyed by the participants. All the arrangements worked out well under the auspices of the travel firm, Tailored Travel with our Leaders, Anne Fuller and Margaret Shackleton, and our Chairman, Liz Cruise, looking after everything. Our coach driver was Neil, who proved a most proficient and knowledgeable driver with a good sense of humour. Our hotel was The Copthorne at Merry Hill, Dudley (out of the town adjacent to the large shopping centre and situated by the restored canal). The accommodation was comfortable with good service and tasty meals. On our first day after the drive from Banstead, we enjoyed a nostalgic train ride on the Severn Valley Railway having stopped for lunch in the delightful small town on Bewdley on the River Severn. A Blue Badge Guide, Vicky, joined us on the next three days who gave us a wealth of information about the history of the region and details of the places we visited. We went to four castles/stately homes in all: Stokesay Castle, a medieval manor house, Hanbury Hall, a National Trust property, in William and Mary Style, Attingham Park, also run by the NT, a Palladian Mansion and Compton Verney, a Robert Adam mansion with a magnificent art gallery on the way home. The walking tour and visit to Shrewsbury was much enjoyed – such an interesting and historic town. The weather was fine for the first three days but was overcast and wet for the afternoon of our visit to Ironbridge and Blists Hill Victorian Village. The sun was shining as we walked over the bridge and visited the Toll House Museum, then we went to the fascinating Jackfield Tile Museum and the intriguing Coalport China Museum followed by Blists Hill after lunch. We managed to dodge the showers!

The holiday was enjoyed by all and we were sorry that four people were unable to join us on account of Covid. Thank you again to the organisers for providing us with such a good time.

Diana Bowes

A selection of pictures submitted by Diana Bowes, Jeannette King, Margaret Shackleton, Ann Mason, and Anne and Ernie Fuller are in the Gallery (The Gallery 2023).

A Morning Walk around the new Battersea Power Station with Guide Ian Swankie

Tuesday, 19th September 2023

at 11.15 for 11.30 a.m. start

We are pleased to announce that we have made arrangements for a walking tour of the new Battersea Power Station.

We will meet at the new Battersea Power Underground Station at the top of the escalators.

Take the train to London Bridge and then the Northern Line, five stops to Battersea Power Station.

If you wish to have a coffee before we start, then purchase one on the way to the Assembly point as there are no cafés near the station.

Assembly will be at 11.15 a.m. where we will be issued with individual audio guides. The walk will start promptly at 11.30 a.m.

The tour will include the outside and inside of this most iconic of London landmarks. After being derelict for so many years, it has finally undergone the restoration it deserves. Included in the tour will be a walk around the prestigious flats which have been built around the area. It is also possible to book a lift in one of the chimneys giving views across London from £15.90 per person but this would have to be done individually either in advance or on the day (https://lift109.co.uk).

After the walk, there are many places to have lunch/snacks.

Our guide is Ian Swankie and the walk will be one and a half to two hours. The cost is £15 including the audio guides. There are 30 places available on this tour. Please contact Robina Holmes, organiser, for any queries (me@robinaholmes.co.uk).

Visit to Arundel Castle Friday 21 July
By Tim Murari
 

Perfect weather with blue skies and no forecast of rain, gave us the ideal start to the day.  We left Banstead on schedule at 8.45 am turning off the M23 to travel on A and B roads through pleasant countryside to reach our destination arriving at the Castle at 11am.

We made our way either on foot or by electric buggy, up to the entrance of the castle, which was founded on Christmas Day 1067 as a motte and bailey, a year after the Norman conquest. The site of the Castle and a third of Sussex was gifted to Roger de Montgomery by William the Conqueror, as a thank you for looking after Normandy during the invasion of England and the Battle of Hastings. The Castle was extended over the centuries to its current structure and layout. History records numerous battles and sometimes a change of control of the Castle, especially during the civil war. There were twelve Fitzalan Earls of Arundel followed by eighteen Dukes of Norfolk. The current Duke taking the reins in 2002.

Enough of the history and back to the visit. Our members and friends explored the castle rooms and corridors located on the first and second levels. The main restaurant and café were on level one, offering good value food and beverages catering for all tastes. Other key attractions within the castle were the Catholic chapel, the Armoury, the Barons Hall and the Bedrooms.

Our group split up to further explore the Castle with some members climbing to the top of the main keep. Others took time to wander through the rose garden or explore the enclosed fruit, vegetable and herb garden.  

Others manged to explore Arundel itself and enjoy lunch and the opportunity to shop. The Castle and town are located on the River Arun and opposite the Castle entrance is the Arundel Museum which is also well worth a visit.  At the end of a full day of exploration we reboarded our coach for the traffic free return to Banstead.

(Some photos from Chris Templeton, Tim Murari and Margaret Shackleton are in The Gallery 2023)

Thank you to Shelia Vallance and Tim Murari, both members of the Events Committee for organising this trip.  Other committee members, Diana Bowes, Margaret Shackleton and David Palmer also joined the visit.

Visit to Battersea Power Station Tuesday 13 June
By Margaret Shackleton
 

We had a lovely sunny day for our walk around Battersea Power Station with our guide, Ian Swankie.  He gave us interesting information about the development of the area and our walk lasted about an hour and a half walking around the outside of the Power Station as well as inside the Turbine Halls.  Afterwards we were able to stop for lunch and some members decided to go up one of the chimneys to see the spectacular views.

Day trip to Romsey Abbey and Hillier Gardens:

The Society enjoyed a lovely day out to two delightful places on 15th September 2022.  Rowena Cox organised the day which started with coffee at the Potters Heron near Romsey.  Afterwards the coach took us to Romsey where we split  into three groups for a guided tour around the Abbey.  There was time to have lunch before travelling to nearby Hillier Gardens.  We then had a tour around the gardens in two groups by two very informative guides.  There was then time for refreshments before boarding the coach back home.  Thanks to Rowena for organising a very interesting trip.

Thursday 14th July 2022

We made initial enquiries to visit Hatfield House in February 2019, and we finally got there on 14th July 2022 thanks to the patience and tenacity of our organisers Robina Holmes and Cynthia Smith.   The journey to Hatfield was surprisingly speedy along the M25 in our comfortable Banstead Coach, and on arrival we soon found ourselves enjoying a very welcome coffee and the most delicious biscuits.

Hatfield House was built between 1607 and 1611 by Robert Cecil, lst Earl of Salisbury and Chief Minister to James 1, and this amazing Jacobean house has been in the Cecil family ever since.     We were divided into two groups to tour the house and both guides Richard and Eric were outstanding, and gave us a full insight into the history of the building.      Particularly impressive was the old Banqueting Hall with its magnificent timber roof.    The State Rooms are rich in paintings, furniture, fine tapestries and historic armour.   But, above all, it is a home which is still lived in after over four hundred years by the family that built it.

The restaurant was very good and gave us an excellent opportunity to enjoy a meal in the company of other members in our group.     After lunch many of us took the opportunity to stroll through the extensive gardens and parkland.    It is a very impressive estate.

Our 4pm departure time came around surprisingly quickly (always a good sign that you are enjoying yourself) and we had a good journey back to Banstead.   

It was a lovely day out and one we all appreciated.    Again thank you to Robina and Cynthia for organising the trip and even for ordering such perfect weather too.