Friends of Romsey Abbey

Please find attached a link to the AGM Minutes June 8th 2017

A day at the seaside which includes a steam train ride, sunshine, wind and the occasional downpour is a quintessential British way to spend the day.

Twenty-three members of Friends travelled to the Swanage Railway in Dorset and alighted at Norden Station to board the 10.40am steam train to Swanage. Pulled by steam locomotive BR 2-6-4 T Class 4MT – No. 80106, a gleaming black steam engine built in the 1950’s for commuter and suburban services.

The 25-minute journey took in some wonderful scenery and of course dramatic views of Corfe Castle. Upon arrival at Swanage, the Party enjoyed a welcome cup of coffee at the Station Buffet, courtesy of the Friends Team.

The Party had plenty of free time in Swanage to view the sights including, the stunning ocean views at Peveril Point and of course the brand-new RNLI Building and Life Boat.

After lunch, the Party caught the 14.00hrs steam train back to Norden Station, with half the Party alighting at Corfe Castle Station to visit the Castle and enjoy afternoon tea.
A wonderful trip thoroughly enjoyed by all of the Friends!!

Reporter Ken Gibson

Please find attached a link to the 2017 AGM Reports 

(open the post to find the link)

On a gloriously sunny morning 47 Friends gathered in Church Place for a Coliseum Coaches luxury coach trip to Bradford on Avon, on the edge of the beautiful Cotswolds and onwards, on the Kennet and Avon Canal for 9 miles to Bath.  The trip was organised and led by Colin and Rosemary Davis.

Our boat, the ‘John Rennie’ Luxury Restaurant boat operated by Bath Narrowboats, arrived from Bath after a short wait and we boarded, ready for the cruise to Bath and a wonderful two-course gourmet meal with coffee.

Exiting the Bradford on Avon Wharf lock, one of the busiest in the country, we ‘slowly’ made our way up stream.  We travelled for 200 yards, before the engine on the boat promptly stopped and seized, with rope tightly bound around the prop!!

The staff from Bath Narrowboats were wonderful.  Pegs were hammered into the towpath bank and we were tied up in the afternoon sunshine to enjoy our meal and plenty of wine!!

Meanwhile our Coliseum Coaches driver had driven to Bath to pick us up.  Colin and Rosemary organised his return to collect us all safely at 3.30pm for our return trip to Romsey.

Even though we only travelled 200 yards, everyone on board had a great time, gourmet lunch, wine and an onboard Canal Quiz organised by Colin and Rosemary.

Reporter Ken Gibson (06.04.2017)

Photos!

Part of an Abbey Concert performance on Saturday 4th February, The Light Launch Ceremony and ‘Songs of the Light’ performed by Richard McLester

The Light is a remarkable and unique collaboration between musicians, technicians, art and the Abbeys work with Mental health.

Dear Friends and Visitors – please find attached the winter newsletter with information and photographs of our latest events and the new programme for 2017.

It also includes a message from Revd Canon Tim Sledge, Your Chairman John Twigg and how the Friends have helped the Abbey.

Friends newsletter winter 2017

 

This beautiful Tudor Organ is on loan to the Abbey and can be seen in Chapel of St Nicholas. It can be heard in rehearsals on Wed 1st and Thur 2nd February. All we know about the times at which it will be played is “at times on Monday and on Tuesday – but not during lunch on Tuesday”.

In October 30 Friends of Romsey Abbey visited Laverstoke Mill on the river Test, to learn about the origins and production of Bombay Sapphire Gin.

We started our tour in the extraordinary tall modern glasshouses where samples of each of the 10 botanical plants used in the manufacturing process are growing in their natural state. Later in the Dakin Still House we were shown the unique vapour infusion process where the high quality sprit is infused with exotic botanicals that complete the gin making process.

Each person was given a personal interactive guide for use in a tasting and sampling process in the Botanical Dry Room. Here we selected our preferred aromas from 10 botanicals and chose which type you wished to have to suit our individual palate in our complimentary cocktail, served at the end of our tour in the Mill Bar. The interactive guide also gave details of the various botanicals and lists the better known gin cocktails and the alternative of two soft drinks.

In the Heritage Room we were able to discover the rich history of Laverstoke Mill over the past centuries. The visit culminated in a delicious lunch at the Red Lion Overton.