The Summer Lunch returned to Ernest Morris’s home in Chesham Bois this year on Sunday 5th July
On the Saturday afternoon we erected the gazebos. There were only 4 of us this year, with Rose Edwards joining Colin Thomas, Lloyd Jones and David Powell to do the preparation.
Ernest’s garden was looking lovely with a large well-kept lawn to spread out on.
It was quite warm and we had difficulty preventing Ernest from doing the heavy lifting, but we managed to complete the task and get all the tables and chairs out before 6pm.
We then hoped that a stray wind wouldn’t blow them all down, as the catering tent needed quite a few running repairs.
Ann Tenant’s team arrived early on Sunday morning to prepare the food and dress the tables, and by 12:30 all was ready for the guests to arrive.
The weather was just right, warm with some clouds and a slight breeze.
This was a chance to catch up with old friends and quite a few new members too, and some people started reading the newsletters that were distributed among the tables.
Fewer people had signed up this year, with only 4 tables being needed, and by 1pm we were getting worried as not everyone had arrived yet, but as food was served, the remainder arrived – all apart from poor Jayne Pegler who had the day wrong!
Ann Evans welcomed everyone and thanked Ernest for the use of his garden, Kay Day for arranging the catering and the gazebo team for their hard work.
The food was lovely as usual, with ham, salmon, chicken and different salads. A wide range of desserts were on offer and it being Ann Tenant’s team – there were lots available to go back for seconds!
We have had the gazebo that we use as the catering tent for probably 15 years, but it was showing its age today, with one leg none too straight! Still, it had served us well for many years.
As the afternoon progressed, the clouds disappeared and the temperature started to rise, causing some on the sunnier side of the gazebo to transfer to the shadier spots of the garden.
Soon Ann was thanking everyone for coming and she presented Ernest with a bottle of wine as thanks for his hospitality.
As the tables were cleared we had quite a few volunteers to help put away the tables, chairs and gazebos as the temperature continued to rise.
Another successful Summer Lunch – thanks to all those who made it such an enjoyable day.
The tour was very informative and full of surprising insights into life in Amersham during Tudor times. We also discovered the origins of many everyday expressions that originated in that period.
We met again with the three other women. One was the Wise Woman, who sold herbs and potions for medicinal purposes. She trod a fine line between providing a health service and being accused of witchcraft. Life was hard for most people and meat was a luxury. A family meal might be a pot of vegetables with a very small portion of meat. It was “pot luck” for whoever pulled out a ladleful with the piece of meat in it.
The Martyr’s Memorial was a poignant reminder of harsher times. Their crime was to read the Bible in English, an act seen as a challenge to the authority of the Church and its bishops. They were burned at the stake, with the daughter of the first victim made to light the fire. Ironically, within less than a century English language bibles were to be found in all Anglican churches. A play about those events is held every four or so years in Amersham, and for those that haven’t seen it, preparations have already begun for the next performance in 2027. Well worth seeing.
His Chairman’s Report ran through the events that we had organised over the previous year, starting with the Summer Lunch (where more help is needed in setting up the gazebos) which was hosted by our President, Ann Evans.
Membership of the society has remained constant at 121.
That concluded the formal part of the meeting, and we broke for a meal provided by Ann Tennant and her daughter-in-law, Jagger. This was up to their usual standard – delicious – with a choice of chicken or salmon and lots of different deserts.
Being new to the location, we did have some tense minutes trying to set up the overhead projector, but then Wendy was able to start her talk.
The evening finished at about 10pm with Gwyndaf thanking Wendy for such an interesting and informative talk.
David Hancox made it in time, which was a surprise as he had to drop his children off, then get changed and rush all the way from Kingston Bagpuize, which is the other side of Abingdon, and a good hour away.
Gwyndaf had prepared a table plan so that we knew where we were sitting. We had 62 in total spread across 7 tables, so it was a good turn-out.
Ann Evans had arranged for the golf club to be decorated with lots of Welsh flags and, with the help of the ladies and wives of the committee, there were bouquets of daffodils on each table.
A baritone, Gwion was born in Gorseinon, South Wales. He gave up a career in banking to study singing at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, where he graduated with Distinction, winning many prizes. He has been a wide-ranging opera and concert soloist, taking leading solo operatic roles with the Welsh National Opera, the Scottish Opera, and many other companies.
Gwion and Chloe sang a variety of solos and duets starting with a piece from Handel and covering Mozart, Welsh songs and pieces by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
We were told of tragic stories in which magicians had met their end on stage through various accidents, including that of Chung Ling Soo, who died when a member of the audience tried to see whether the magician could catch a real bullet between his teeth.
Sooty is the only non-human member of the circle, and demonstrated his skills by cutting a lady (Barbie) in half live on TV.
We all met at Milton’s Cottage at 10am on Friday 10th October. Most of us arrived early and, as the weather was good gathered in the garden.
Milton took refuge from the plague in London by escaping to this cottage in 1665, and, although he lived here for less than two years, wrote his most famous work Paradise Lost and began Paradise Regained, whilst living here with his third wife.
We then walked down the hill to the parish church of Chalfont St Giles. Here we met our guide Tony Ferguson, who is not only an author and speaker, but also a member of the St Giles watch, which helps to ensure that the church remains open to visitors.
One of the most striking features of the church is a set of 14th century wall paintings depicting scenes from the bible. These were discovered and revealed by the Victorians, but about 20 years ago suffered damage as a result of thieves taking lead from the roof.