Tuesday 8th July 8pm Zoom Book Club – Join South West members to discuss the book of the month. July 8th Sharpes Command by Bernard Cornwall Please contact the Local Contact, Liz Ashcroft, before the end of June to be added to the list to receive the log on details.
Tuesday 8th July. 11am Meet at London Bridge City Pier for the boat to Greenwich to explore historic building and the National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, Greenwich, SE10 9NF. Entry is free to the Museum. The ferries run twice an hour and take around just under half an hour.
Thursday 10th July 2025 at 11am Meet for coffee at River Café, 5, High Street, Bedford MK40 1RN before first visiting The Higgins Museum, Castle Lane, Bedford, MK40 3XD at 12.30pm. This free museum was established by Cecil Higgins who was a philanthropic brewer and houses his art collection which is mainly ceramics and glass. If we have time, we shall follow this with a visit to the John Bunyan Museum which is a short distance away (Mill Street, Bedford, MK40 3EU). The museum celebrates the life of the author of The Pilgrim’s Progress and is again a free museum.
Saturday 12th July. 11am Meet in the downstairs café at the Treasurer’s House, Minster Yard, York YO1 7JL. The house, which is partially hidden behind York Minister, shows the life if Frank Green who purchased it in 1897 then transformed it into an extravagant town house in 1900 ready for a visit from Edward VII. There is free entry to all National Trust members or £11 for adults and £5.50 for children. The nearest parking is at Lord Mayor’s Walk but there are several Park and Ride carparks outside the city with frequent buses into the centre. Treasurer’s House is situated half a mile from the railway station.
Thursday 17th July. 11am Meet in the Stables Café of Lamport Hall, Lamport, Northants, NN6 9EZ, before exploring the Hall and gardens. Admission for house and gardens is £16.00 and for gardens only £11.00. The Hall was developed from a Tudor manor house and the extensive gardens are famous for the rock garden as featured on ‘Monte Don’s British Gardens’, supposedly the birthplace of the garden gnome.
Thursday 17th July. 12noon Meet at Nero’s at Gloucester Green Bus Station, Oxford, OX1 2BU. This is for the Spy Mission at Christchurch Meadows. Your assignment, if you choose to accept, is to follow the clues that will save Christchurch Meadow. Then a debriefing and late lunch at Wetherspoons, Castle Street at 15:00 hrs. Just in case you are of a nervous nature, do not worry as we will be working as a group on this mission so it will be a team effort. This event will be taking place whatever the weather.
Thursday 24th July. 11am Meet online with other Welsh members to chat about anything of mutual interest. Please contact the organiser, Jean Hertzog, by 21st July to be included on the log on details list.
Saturday 26th July. 11am Meet in the cafe of the Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3JL, before enjoying the delightful paintings, especially the large collection of Pre-Raphaelite works. This venue is back again by popular request.
Sunday 27th July. 1.30pm Meet in the free car park for SS Shieldhall, Berth 110, Western Docks, Southampton, for a Steam to the Solent Cruise, with the Southampton Sea Dogs Shanty Band. The cruise will last about four hours, and probably reach Calshot and Fawley, dependent on tides and shipping movements. ‘Shieldhall’ is a converted effluent carrier, built in 1955 and originally from Glasgow, but later used in the Solent area. It is thought to be the largest working pure steamship in Northern Europe. There is a licensed bar, cafeteria and comfortable lounge, and opportunities to visit the bridge and engine room. The cost is £47, and bookings must be made via the website: https://ss-shieldhall.co.uk/ As there will be cruise ships in port, access to berth 110 is recommended via the Western Docks, gate 20. SO15 OHH is the postcode, but not precise for the car park. This event is being advertised jointly with the OU Music Society.
Saturday 2nd August. 11am Meet with Jean Hertzog, the Vice-Chairman online to chat. This is an International Zoom offering a chance to join in an informal discussion with members from all Regions and Nations. The topic for this month will be ‘School is out for the Summer’. What does this phrase conquer up to you? Does it take you back to memories your childhood or does it fill you with dread of the crowds and hustle and bustle in the normally quiet parks. Contact Jean by 30th July for her to arrange to send you the log on details. jean.hertzog@aoug.org.uk