The Friends annual outing was a visit to the small Fenland city of Ely with a special focus on the magnificent Cathedral.
Forty-six members and friends had booked and duly assembled at the Market Hall to board the coach for a nine-o clock start. A comfortable journey out to Kelmarsh to join the A14 saw us make safe and rapid progress towards East Anglia under at times clear skies and then more threatening build ups of darker clouds.
The bus reached Ely by about a quarter to eleven and then it was time to explore or as the Chairman suggested indulge in retail therapy.
Some explored the Cathedral prior to their river cruise or tour in the afternoon . The Cathedral art embroidery exhibition work by Jacqui Parkinson telling the of the story of Creation was superb in its accuracy and creativity. **
This correspondent visited Cromwell’s House now the Tourist Info centre and thus doing homage to his personal Nonconformist links This was followed by an interesting walk through two parks and a chance to admire the inter-denominational fountain in the Jubilee Garden adjacent to the river. as well as spot the frequency of trains running into Ely ‘ s railway station.
Some of our party set sail and the Skipper of boat the Liberty Belle ignored the request to go on to the North Sea with them!
In the afternoon over 30 of the party enjoyed detailed informative guided tours , in three groups . where the history and beauty of this outstanding Cathedral were pinpointed and lucidly explained ( too many to list ! ).
At the conclusion of the tours the whole group re assembled at The Almonery for light refreshments: a scone with Cornish cream , strawberry jam and a most welcome pot of tea.
A short gentle stroll from here took us back to our boarding point to join Swifts coach for the return trip to Market Harborough and almost on cue the dark skies gathered and the heavy rain showers formed before we had left the outskirts of the interesting City of Ely . The return route saw us witness fascinating cloud colours and formations and wide vistas much of the way and the added thrill of the raffle draw which was organised by Sheila and Ellen We returned safely to Harborough by about five forty-five. Favourable comments were made on departure.
Our treasurer Garry, was able to report that the raffle raised £106.00 a magnificent bonus to round off our day. Thanks to all.
So as Henry Hall of radio Home Service fame in the 1950’s used to say ;“Here’s to the next time”!?
** Footnote
BBC’s Songs of Praise on Sunday the 16 of July was a repeat of a programme from Torbay made and broadcast in 2022. By a most remarkable coincidence the programme featured in part the artist Jacqui Parkinson talking about her work from Torre Abbey where the same exhibition we saw in Ely had been on display. last year.