We had beautiful sunshine for this day out in Gloucestershire, a bit further than our average walks. 8 Polyramblers braved the longer journey to Kemble. After walking through a meadow, we found the infant Thames which we followed for a while. We crossed more meadows and reached the source of the Thames (dry) marked by a stone. We continued the walk along the abandoned Severn and Thames Canal until we reached the Coates Tunnel. We had a leisurely lunch at The Tunnel Inn but resisted the desserts. We walked through more fields before reaching the source again where we had a celebratory piece of chocolate provided by the leader. We then retraced our steps to the lovely Kemble station.
Thirteen Poly Ramblers and Yvonne B’s dog Daisy met at Chorleywood station on Sunday morning in bright sunhine but below freezing temperatures. We were five minutes up the road when Geoffrey phoned for directions as he had been held up parking his car. Eventually he caught up with the group and we headed across fields with the sun low in the sky. Normally it would have been a seriously muddy walk but the ground was frozen over which made the going much easier. We passed the old site of Newlands College and Hilary remembered she was once a student there. Soon we reached the Vache Estate and the site of the Captain Cook Monument. This was built in 1781 by Sir Hugh Palliser, then owner of the Vache Manor house. Sir Hugh had many distinctions including Comptroller of the Navy and Lieutenant General of Marines but is best known as the man who picked Cook out for high command. The monument is accessed via a moat and steps to a tower. After viewing and eating chocolate we headed down the road to the village of Chalfont St Giles where the group divided for lunch between sandwiches by the frozen village pond, Costa Coffee and Merlin’s Cave, a rather upmarket (but very nice) pub. After lunch Yvonne and Daisy left us and the rest of the group headed on to Little Chalfont via the Chiltern Way, passing a field of birds similar to but not quite the same as ostriches. We decided they were rheas. Avoiding the black ice near a ford we headed up the edge of Harewood Down golf course and out onto the one of the desirable estates of Little Chalfont.
Once again the GSO gave us an inspirational demonstration of musicality, vitality and expertise, from the haunting violin solo of Scheherezade to the stirring ensemble performance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Even though they are well known works, the Orchestra and especially the solo violinist, Amarins Wierdsma, under the baton of the Venezuelan conductor Diego Matheuz, put their hearts and souls into their playing, imbued with youthful energy and enthusiasm, leaving the audience stimulated and refreshed, to face the outside world and all it has to throw at us! Continue reading WEDNESDAY 9th NOVEMBER 7.30pm: GUILDHALL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AT THE BARBICAN:→
Fifteen walkers met at Barbican station for a 5 mile walk, led by Martin and assisted by his friend John, tracing the steps of the bard, William Shakespeare. From the station we went to Barbican Centre, stopping at the site of Fortune Theatre. Here Martin showed several ways the bard’s name was spelt. We studied the Roman ruins and past the St Giles and made our way towards the garden where there a memorial to Heminge and Condell, two of Shakespeare’s fellow actors who is buried. At the Guildhall we saw the Lord Mayor’s coach. Continue reading SATURDAY 5th NOVEMBER: SHAKESPEARE IN LONDON (LINEAR):→
