A group of 13 Poly Ramblers gathered at the meeting place outside the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), eager to begin the tour at 11am. However, the tour guide had not noted the date into his diary and therefore did not show. On making enquiries, we were informed he could get to us by 12:30. One person was not able to stay due to an afternoon commitment. Being near Regents Park and Great Portland Street, a couple of people went to look at the Queen Elizabeth Garden. The rest of the group took the opportunity to grab some food and drink. We were thankful to staff at Honey & Co., who accommodated us and served us in a timely manner.

On returning to the RCP, we were greeted by Dr. Henry Oakeley FRCP, a very knowledgeable tour guide and Garden Fellow of the RCP Medicinal Garden. The initial introduction stated there were many thousands of plant species within the garden. All plants are poisonous. The garden plants are laid out by the continents from which they originate.

‘Plants that evolved poisons survived: of the 400,000 plants on the planet, most are harmful if eaten or touched. A few contain chemicals which are the basis for modern medicines; even fewer are edible. This garden is a living museum to their historical and current uses.’ Dr. Henry Oakeley FRCP, Garden Fellow RCP
The tour began by Dr. Oakeley showing us a leaf from the plant Hepatica nobilis. This leaf has three lobes, like the liver, which also has three lobes. This plant was used to treat liver disorders, until they found it caused jaundice, therefore a liver poison!

There were many interesting tales and stories narrated during the tour, too many for me to remember and to note here. I asked the group to highlight what they took away.

‘All plants being poisonous’.

‘I thought ‘the professor’ was quirky and fascinating he did treat us a bit like naughty school children, but it was fun. It made me realize how little I know about science and Latin and want to learn more about plants. 

“I wish it had been longer to learn more about plants. I will look at my garden in a different way! Plants are amazing – and poisonous but this downside also results in cures for many illnesses. But it takes so much research!”

“a seed as poisonous as ricin could be used as a method of killing and also as a necklace for children.”

“I found the story about Taxol very interesting. Also, talking about tobacco and poppy plants. When he started to talk about Datura, it reminded of my first trip to Kew with mum. She was so pleased to see the flower she grew up with.”
“I was fascinated by the number of plants that can be used medicinally but are also toxic. I enjoyed hearing about the Yew Tree as it is my favourite tree!”
“The Madagascan Periwinkle, used as the drug Vincristine within chemotherapy for treating leukaemia has provided much hope for achieving remission of the disease’”

As you can see from the comments there was much to learn and absorb. We all enjoyed the tour and were extremely glad we returned rather than cancelled on this occasion.  Dr. Oakeley did send an email to apologise and noted it was all his error; the communication to organise the tour followed.

The garden and RCP museum are open daily, and anyone can call in. Visitors of up to five people can visit Mon -Fri 9am – 5pm. Free entry.  There are guided open tours given by fellows of the RCP on the first Wednesday of the month at 2pm (April – October). To book call +44 (0) 20 3075 1649 ask for reception. Tours are free. Voluntary donations are used towards the garden upkeep.

Royal College of Physicians, 11 St. Andrews Place, Regents Park, London NW1 4LE

Further Information www.rcp.ac.uk/about-us/rcp-garden-of-medicinal-plants

Carol D’Souza.   Photos by Ida and Carol

Fully booked. Enquiries to Gillian

Photo: Philip Halling / Kleve Walk, Worcester / CC BY-SA 2.0

Nearly 30 Poly Ramblers gathered at Great Missenden station on a Sunday in early June for a short walk to whet our appetites for a traditional afternoon tea at Missenden Abbey, an event organised to mark the Club’s 140^th anniversary.  Although it was June the weather forecast was uncertain with rain threatened so everyone turned up in sensible walking gear. Plans by some to wear tea dresses were abandoned.

Yvonne Delahaye led us on a lovely circuit of the town with some gentle climbs rewarded by splendid views over the Chiltern Hills.  After descending through woods a small group led by Danny took a shortcut back into the town (to go to the pub?!)  while the rest of us climbed through woods and descended again to reach St Peter’s and St Paul’s church where we paused to view Roald Dahl’s grave before continuing to the Abbey.

Missenden Abbey is a 12^th century former medieval abbey, now used as a conference and events venue.  It was the first time I had been there since Stuart and I got married there 24 years ago.  Thirty four Poly Ramblers gathered for tea in the very pleasant Fleetwood room.  I had requested a traditional afternoon tea served at the table so I was a bit disconcerted to find guests queuing for self service tea and coffee!  Once that (and some confusion about the vegetarian sandwiches) was resolved, we sat down to a plentiful array of delicious sandwiches, cakes and scones with cream and jam.

Jennifer, our Chair, spoke about the history of the Club and recounted some memories of committee members of their time in the Club.  These included trips to Italy and France, walking across Morecambe Bay, and, closer to home, one member’s first walk with the Club in Epping Forest.  More prosaically another member remembered being mildly hypothermic on the way home from a particularly wet walk in the Chilterns!  Geoffrey, who has been a member for over 40 years, recounted a memory from each of his six decades in the Club. We headed home pleasantly full with our doggy bags full of scones and cakes after an enjoyable afternoon.   We were sorry to hear in the news ten days later that Missenden Abbey was being sold and was due to close in November.

Gillian.  Photos by Nita, Vanessa, Suzanne, Lan and others

As a prelude to the Xmas Lunch, around twenty-five members assembled at Hyde Park Corner Station on a damp morning for a short walk to sharpen their appetites for what was to come.

We first crossed the Wellington Arch roundabout with its array of war memorials before walking along the edge of Green Park to Buckingham Palace. There, we encountered numerous tourists awaiting the changing of the guard. The crowds eased as we strolled through St James’s Park and looked at the wildlife on the lake, although unfortunately no pelicans could be seen. Leaving the park and passing various ministry buildings, we entered Victoria Embankment Gardens which forms a green strip alongside the Thames between Westminster and Waterloo Bridges. We followed it to the Savoy Hotel where we headed up to the Strand and on through Covent Garden to our regular venue of the Freemasons Arms.

There we were joined by many more members so that a bumper attendance of fifty-six sat down for the 2023 Xmas Lunch. As ever, the food was good, the service efficient and the atmosphere convivial. To finish, before we all all wandered into the night, our chair Hilary thanked the staff and detailed the Club highlights of the year.

Danny

Fifteen Polyramblers and two guests met outside Harrow-On-The-Hill station under a clear blue sunny sky to begin our walk and tour of Harrow School. We set off at a leisurely pace past Greenhill and Harrow College and crossed into Grove Hill with the War Memorial on our right. The noise of Harrow Town diminished noticeably as we progressed up the hill.

We passed the site of Britain’s first fatal car accident in which occurred in 1899. A little further on we saw the plaque on the wall of the Art School, which says that ‘Charles I paused here in his flight from Oxford to Nottingham to water his horse’ and to look out over his kingdom for what turned out to be the last time. We had now reached the first of the historic school buildings on our right-hand side with the first of the boys boarding houses to our left. Many of the boarding houses had been commissioned by and named after Harrow School masters from the mid 1850’s when the school expanded rapidly. The Masters had obviously taken advantage of a money-making opportunity! We continued past the Speech Room and War Memorial buildings and ascended further, with the old school building on the left, to St Mary’s parish church which sits on the top of the hill. St Mary’s dates back to 1050 and some of the original Norman stonework is still visible at the base of the tower. The hill is 124 metres (408 feet) above sea level and offers views out to Windsor to the West and the City of London and Canary Wharf to the East. It was here in St Mary’s cemetery that Lord Byron sat dreaming on the Peachy family tomb. A spot that he remembered with fondness all his life.

We paused here for lunch with some remaining in the churchyard to picnic while others made their way to the ‘Dolls House’ or the ‘Castle’ public house. After lunch we re-convened at the Speech Room entrance to meet up with our tour-guide Miep.

The school tour lasted 90 minutes and we were taken into some of the historic rooms and buildings such as the Fourth Form Room, School Chapel and War Memorial Building. Unfortunately, the famous Speech Room was closed for renovation works. Miep covered much of the history of the school and gave us an insight into the day-to-day life of the pupils and staff. She told us about the education and welfare provision, the strict discipline and the extensive sports facilities available to the boys. Overall, it was a very interesting and informative tour providing a glimpse into life inside Harrow’s other world.

After the tour Tea and Biscuits were served in the West Street Meeting Room. 

Mick & Dolly