This programme of events is organised by the Friends, with first priority for all bookable events (shown in black) given to members. (** = non-FRA event)
March
Friday 15th March:
Coffee morning in the Town Hall, including raffle. 10am –11.30am. Entrance £2. Non-members welcome.
Monday 18th March:
Talk with Puddings. Rob Gower presents “St Kilda”, 7.30pm, Church Rooms. £10. Open to non-members.
Payment with booking please.
Sunday 24th March:
Friends of Romsey Abbey AGM in the Church Rooms, 4.15pm (agenda below). Followed by a Friends’ Afternoon Tea (£5), and Choral Evensong at 6.30pm. Payment for tea with booking please.
The Friends of Romsey Abbey
Charity Number 1134191
2024 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Sunday 24th March 2024 in The Church Rooms at 4.15pm
AGENDA
- Opening Prayer
- Welcome by the President
- Apologies
- Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting (available on website and on request)
- Chairman’s Report
- Honorary Treasurer’s Report (accounts available on website and on request)
- Honorary Project Chairman’s Report
- Honorary Events Chairman’s Report
- Honorary Membership Secretary’s Report
- Election of Officers and Committee Members
- Any Other Business
April
Monday 22nd April:
A cruise on the River Thames, from Henley-on-Thames. Depart Romsey 9am, return by 5.30pm. Led by Colin & Rosemary Davis. £90 (inclusive of coach, boat and lunch). Payment with booking please.
May
Friday 17th May:
Coffee morning in the Town Hall, including raffle. 10am –11.30am. Entrance £2. Non-members welcome.
Tuesday 28th May:
Highclere Castle and Gardens: Depart Romsey 9.30am, return by 4.30pm. Led by Dick Hewett. £40 for castle entrance and minibus. Lunch at own expense. Payment with booking please.
June
Tuesday 18th June:
Isle of Wight Steam Railway. Depart Romsey 10am, return at 6pm. Led by Dick Hewett. £45 (inclusive of minibus, ferry and steam train). Lunch at own expense. Payment with booking please.
July
Friday 19th July:
Coffee morning in the Town Hall, including raffle. 10am –11.30am. Entrance £2. Non-members welcome.
Tuesday 30th July:
Day trip to Larmer Tree Gardens and Groveley Jigsaw factory (on Cranborne Chase). Leave Romsey 10am, return by 4.30pm. Led by Dick Hewett. £35 including minibus and entrances. Lunch arrangements to be confirmed (at own cost). Payment with booking please.
August
Tuesday 27th August:
Churches tour: Four churches in the Wilton area. Guide: Brian Woodruffe. Depart Romsey 9.30am, return by 4.30pm. Led by Dick Hewett. £20 for minibus and donations to churches. Pub lunch (at own cost). Payment with booking please.
September
Friday 20th September:
Coffee morning in the Town Hall, including raffle. 10am –11.30am. Entrance £2. Non-members welcome.
Tuesday 17th September:
FRA Annual Dinner at The White Horse. Arrival by 7pm for dinner at 7.15pm. A 3-course dinner with predinner drinks, and tea/coffee. Light musical entertainment. Organised by Jill Hall and Dick Hewett. £55 per person. Payment with booking please.
October
Friday 25th to Sunday 27th October:
** Ethelflaeda Festival in Romsey Abbey. Event sponsored by FRA. See Abbey website for details.
November
Friday 29th November
(note later date)
Coffee morning in the Town Hall, including raffle. 10am –11.30am. Entrance £2. Non-members welcome.
Saturday 30th November:
** Abbey Christmas Fair, including Tombola Stall run by FRA. In the Abbey, 10-2pm.
December
Saturday 7th December:
Trip by coach to the Mill (Theatre) at Sonning for lunch and a matinee performance of “White Christmas”. Depart Romsey 9.30am, return by 7pm. Led by Colin and Rosemary Davis. Price for coach, lunch and theatre seat: £100 per head. Payment with booking please.
Sunday 15th and Thursday 19th December:
** Provisional dates for Services of 9 Lessons and Carols in Romsey Abbey. 6.30pm. All members welcome. (FRA provide one of the readers.)
** We would also remind you of the regular monthly parish event: Last Sunday of every month: Afternoon Parish Tea and cakes, with the Romsey Abbey Catering team. 4pm in the Church Rooms.
** In addition to the events listed above, extra events may well be arranged during the course of the year. Details of these events will be announced in due course. We will keep you posted!
For more details of any event:
Detailed event arrangements will be sent to all those who have booked, at least one week before the event.
In the meantime, if you wish to check any details, please contact the organiser of the event as shown on the list, or email events@romseyabbeyfriends.org, or ring 01794 500523
Pick-up points and parking:
The standard departure pick-up point for the coach trips is the coach stop at the Bus Station.
The minibuses are based at Romsey Football Ground (access off the By-Pass). Cars may be parked for free
for the day, next to the minibus parking (facing Southampton Road). Minibus trips therefore all have two pick-up points: 1. Romsey Town Football Ground; 2. Between the Abbey and the Former Magistrates’ Court.
Insurance and emergency contacts
Members need to be aware that FRA do not provide insurance cover for personal injury or loss and
therefore attend events at their own risk. Transport by minibus or coach is covered by their fleet insurances, whilst venues likewise have their own insurance cover.
A list of participants on trips, including emergency contact details, is supplied to a contact at Romsey Abbey
To book for events (those bookable in advance):
Bookings accepted from 27th January onwards.
Members may book as follows.
Either pay on-line direct to the FRA bank account at TSB, Sort Code 30-97-14, Account 31345360, Reference ‘EVENTS’, and email events@romseyabbeyfriends.org to confirm you are booking and have paid on-line, identifying which events are involved (important, as several are the same price). (This is the preferred method.)
Or write a simple note listing the event(s) for which you are booking, and post to: The FRA Bookings Officer, 42 Botley Rd, Romsey, SO51 5AP, enclosing one cheque to the total value, payable to ‘The Friends of Romsey Abbey’.
You are invited to combine payments for more than one event into a single cheque or on-line payment.
Confirmation of booking and receipt of payment will be given.
Members will be advised when any trip is full. In that instance, members are invited to register to join a waiting list, however please do not send payment until requested.
Members may wish to note that all events are priced to ensure costs are covered with a planned minimum break-even attendance, which is less than full capacity. An event will be cancelled, and refunds offered, if too few people book to reach the break-even figure. Any surpluses generated by attendance being over and above the break-even figure are added to the overall funds of the Friends for use in future projects for the Abbey