The hardy bunch of members and wives who set off early from Banstead and Cheam in driving snow and rain hoped that by the time we reached our first destination, Wesley's Cafe in the Methodist Central Hall for coffee the weather would have abated. We were in luck, so by the time we were queued up outside Westminster Abbey for the introduction by our Guides the rain had stopped.
We had two excellent Guides for our tour around Westminster Abbey, both giving us great history lessons of the many Kings and Queens who had been crowned, married and buried there in the last millennium. Highlights for me included the grave of the Unknown Warrior, the Coronation Chair, the Lady Chapel and the Order of the Bath, Stephen Hawking's grave and 'Poets Corner'. Both the Guides had a sense of humour and whilst our one told of ferrets taking wires up to TV cameras in the towers for our Queen's Coronation, the other group had Nursery Rhymes!
We were reminded of January's after-lunch talk by a visit to the graves of Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots, and February's Rochester talk by Charles Dickens grave in 'Poets Corner'. Photography is not allowed in the Abbey, so the following photos show the view from Methodist Central Hall and a view of the House of Westminster from the Little Cloister Garden.
After lunch in Wesley's cafe we were taken by coach to Two Temple Place, an extraordinary late Victorian mansion built by William Waldorf Astor on the Embankment. We were given guided tours around the ornate building which was used as an Estate Office, and not as a residence for one of the world's wealthiest men. It apparently housed the second largest strong room in the country but we didn't get to see that!
We returned home in the sunshine, very different to the cold and wet start to the day. Thanks to Norman and to everyone who came along for a great start to this year's Outings.
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