ThamesMog
Secretary's Report September 2005

While we take a short intake of breath after our busy summer, I thought I would keep you up to date with some Centre news. As you read this report Estelle and Ian Sollen’s daughter will be happily married, the ceremony was held over the August bank holiday weekend. Also, Bert Oslar’s son Jason has just gotten engaged to his long term girlfriend. Naturally Jason you be expelled from the Bachelors’ club in due course. And finally we have a new arrival expected very soon. Mary and James McLaren will be collecting their new Plus Four within weeks, if I remember correctly their new baby will be blue with a grey leather interior. I may have the details of the interior wrong; they will certainly be getting an indigo blue car. I understand the new indigo colour from the Factory is even more gorgeous to look at. On behalf of the Centre, congratulations to you all!

Terry Tedman and his wife Teresa have arranged for us to make a private visit to the Hell Fire Caves in Wycombe including the surrounding grounds. The National Trust car park will be open exclusively for our use. We shall spend the morning there and then we shall go on to our normal lunch time noggin at the Hampden Arms. All our entry fees for the grounds and the Caves will be donated to our funds that we have collected this year for Marie Curie Cancer Care. I would like to thank Terry and Teresa very much for this wonderful opportunity. Please contact Terry and Teresa if you would like to go. You can arrive on the day but Terry and Teresa will gladly help with advice on how to best enjoy the caves. Teresa works at the caves on a regular basis. I hope to see you there. The monies collected of course will be going to a very good cause. The full details for the visit are:

By kind permission of Sir Edward and Lady Lucinda Dashwood.

A VISIT to WEST WYCOMBE PARK SUNDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 05.

The cost £5 per head. NB All entry fees will be donated to Marie Curie Cancer Care. Contact Teresa at the Caves 01494 533739.

Why not afterwards, drive in convoy to the Hamden Arms for our Monthly Noggin !!! All Centres are welcome.

It is the One hundredth anniversary of the Brighton Speed Trials this month, a group of us will be going down to Brighton for the weekend and on the Saturday evening, on the day of the Trials, we shall be going to the floating Chinese restaurant at the Brighton Marina to celebrate. The Marina is a good free place to park for the day to watch the event; all you have to do is walk back along the sea front. You can then watch from the roadside or enter at the Brighton Pier end to watch at closer quarters. It should be a great day! You can’t miss the restaurant it has a row of holes on the side with oars sticking out. At the beginning of the evening the head waiter beats the drum as we row out into the middle of the Marina. I certainly felt a little sea sick on board last year. Only joking! Seriously, if you would like to join us at the floating restaurant please contact me and I will try and book you in. The food is quite something; you really need to fast for a week to do it justice. Of course why not make a weekend of it like the rest of us? I hope to see you there.

Our walk in the Chilterns this month takes us to the Whiteleaf near Princes Risborough. After all my mountaineering this summer with my two dogs Bobby and Sally the Chilterns should provide some welcome relief!

We shall meet at the car park for the Red Lion public house at 10.30 am. The pub is one mile north-east of Princes Risborough. You can approach from the A4010 along Peters Lane and by turning left into the Upper Icknield Way. The walk is three miles in length; this is a varied walk taking woodland paths, extensive views across Risborough Gap, a cricket pitch and a golf course. The best part is the very steep climb up to the top of Whiteleaf Hill! All our pubs to date on our walks have been very good, with great food and drink. If you just want to join us for a noggin we should be back about 13:00 for lunch. I hope to see you there.

Take care & see you all soon