Category: Gallery

Please click on the link to download the Summer Newsletter 2019

Our Annual FRA Dinner will be held once more at the White Horse on Tuesday 8th October.  All members and guests are invited to attend.  The cost is £35, and there are plenty of places still available.

Our speaker this year is Simon Hughes, whose background includes the Air Ambulance service.  There will be some musical entertainment from Tim Rogerson and Dick Hewett once again to send everyone home in a light-hearted mood!

Payments can be made:

– On-line direct to the FRA account: Sort Code 30-97-14, account 31345360.

– By cheque, payable to “Friends of Romsey Abbey”, to 42 Botley Road, Romsey, SO51 5AP.

Friends of Romsey Abbey Dinner Menu

October 8th 2019 (7.00 for 7.30)

Welcome Drink

Starters

Celeriac & apple soup, toasted almonds (gf) (v)

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Smoked chicken, baby gem, bacon crisp, quail egg, old Winchester, truffle mayonnaise (gf)

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Hot smoked trout crostini, pickled fennel, micro herb

Mains

Pork cutlet, herb roasted new potatoes, cider pickled onions (gf)

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Pan fried sea bream, roasted tomato & olive sauce, lemon herb oil (gf)

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Wild mushroom “cottage pie” grain mustard mash potato, roots (gf) (v)

Panache of Vegetables for the table 

Desserts

Blackberry Eton Mess, chantilly cream, meringue (gf) 

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Apple & pear crumble, crème anglaise

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Chocolate mousse, candied orange, honeycomb  

Coffee

Please find below a link to the minutes from the AGM on 6th July 2019

FRA AGM Minutes 2019

The Friends of Romsey Abbey recorded one of their busiest Friday Coffee Mornings at Romsey Town Hall on Friday 19th July.

The bi-monthly Coffee morning was a great success, welcoming over 72 visitors including both Friends and members of the public.

Romsey Town Crier, Terry Hamer was on duty in the Romsey shopping area spreading the word and encouraging shoppers to excellent enjoy coffee with biscuits and good company.

Caroline Nokes MP and Romsey Town Mayor, Cllr Janet Burnage also enjoyed coffee with the Friends.

All proceeds from the Friends Coffee Morning go towards helping to fund projects for Romsey Abbey.

The next Friends Coffee Morning is on Friday 20th September in the Town Hall 10am – 11.45am, everyone is welcome.

Reporter Ken Gibson
19.07.2019

The Friends were officially launched in April 2009. For our 10th Anniversary Liz Hallett found the first ever Newsletter from the Friends. Some of this was shown at our 10th Anniversary event on July 21st.

Click on the link for the complete booklet –> Newsletter 1 Summer 2009

“There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” Kenneth Grahame.

The Friends’ first trip in April 2019 continued our very successful waterways theme. This year we decided to move onto the River Thames. A luxury coach took us to Henley, where we spent the morning in the River & Rowing Museum. We enjoyed especially the William Morris gallery – “An Earthly Paradise” and the walkthrough atmospheric and nostalgic “Wind in the Willows” exhibit.

We boarded our boat the MV Hibernia on the museum’s jetty and were taken on a 3 hours cruise on the Thames, passing through Marsh Lock and viewing many splendid properties. We then cruised gently along the regatta course, which was being prepared ready for the races in July. A delicious lunch was served during the journey by helpful and attentive staff.

The combination of the meticulously-presented, modern and attractive museum and the river in the spring sunshine with lovely ever-changing views and waterways wildlife ensured that the Friends had a great day out. It was also a pleasure to welcome some new members.

The trip was led by Colin and Rosemary Davis.

Join the Friends today at https://www.romseyabbeyfriends.org/contact-us/

On Saturday 10th December a party of 49 Friends of Romsey Abbey travelled by coach to Sonning on Thames to see ‘Guys and Dolls’ at famous Mill at Sonning Theatre.After a welcome coffee in the bar and a chance to view the quaint surroundings and the turning Mill Wheel, a delicious 2-course buffet lunch was enjoyed in the beautiful oak-beamed dining room.The Friends then enjoyed the best seats in the house, in the intimate 215 seat Theatre.
The production of the American musical ‘Guys and Dolls’ was sensational. “Superb, spectacular, professional, inspirational cast”, were some of the Friends’ many comments received after the show by the organisers Colin and Rosemary Davis.

The Party returned satisfied and happy to Romsey in the early evening.
One of the Friends remarked that it was a “splendid start to the festive season”. It was certainly a great way to relax and share companionship, conversation, enjoyment and happiness.

The Friends’ programme for 2019 is being finalised and will be available in the New Year. One definite booking is on 29 April when we shall be continuing our popular series of boat trips with a luncheon cruise on the River Thames at Henley, coupled with a visit to the River & Rowing Museum.

Please update your diary ………….

Ken Gibson

Romsey Abbey’s Christmas Fair is a major fundraising event for the Abbey, fully supported by the Friends, who manage the highly successful Bottle Tombola stall.  Bottles are donated weeks beforehand, by members of the Friends and the wider Abbey congregation.  This year a fantastic 226 Bottles were donated.

A very big ‘thankyou’ from the Friends Organising Team

The Tombola stall was managed by Colin and Rosemary Davis and supported by Friends members.  Their efforts resulted in a wonderful £540 for Abbey funds!!  Overall, the Christmas Fair raised £5500 for the Abbey.

Our picture shows our Romsey MP Caroline Nokes with Celia Rowe, trying her luck at winning a bottle.

Ken Gibson

Friends of Romsey Abbey