The Annual Coach Outing - Saturday, 14th June 2003.
This year it was to
Chatham Dockyard & Historic Rochester.
An air-conditioned Lodges coach left Danbury at 9AM
and headed to Chatham Dockyard. The weather forcaste had promised
rain and a cooler day than the previous with temperatures at the
most of 18 degrees, so there were plenty of umbrellas & macs -
however it turned out to be a cloudless sky & very hot!.
The organiser, David Bolwell had worked out a programme - we arrived
at 10.15 and were split into 2 parties for our conducted tour.
Harry, our guide said he was well qualified having served in the
RAF for 35 years!.
One party visited the Ropery. This is where rope is still made
in the traditional way.
The Ropewalk
Photo by Sue Jeager
The Ropewalk is 1/4 mile long and Members
were amazed to find that a bicycle was used to get from one end
to the other.
A large coil of rope being made
Photo by Sue Jeager
One party went past HMS Gannet which is being
restored to its full Victorian glory - the front mast was hoisted
last week.
HMS Gannet being rebuilt the mast was added last
week
Photo by Sue Jeager
The other party went past HMS Gannet and looked at the huge 200 year
old wooden shed which has just been reroofed at a cost of
1 million ponds.
Harry's group unfront of the wooden shed.
Photo by John Bowen using his £3 single use camera
Then past the submarine Ocelot which saw service
in the Falklands conflict.
The Submarine Ocelot
Photo by Sue Jeager
The Submarine Ocelot from its rear
Photo by John Bowen
The Submarine Ocelot's torpedo tubes
Photo by John Bowen
Next to the submarine is the Destroyer Cavalier
The Destroyer Cavalier
Photo by Sue Jeager
Some members had a conducted trip around both.
We then went to the
Officers houses which have now been restored and passed into
private hands. We were fortunate to be invited to tour one of
the private gardens restored to how it would have been in the early
1800s.
An Officer's House Private garden
Photo by Sue Jeager
An Officer's House Private garden
Photo by John Bowen using his £3 single use camera
The Commissioner's Gardens were our next port of call.
The Commissioner's House and Garden.
Harry is the guide in the straw hat. He said the house was
built in 1753.
Photo by John Bowen
Curt & Jean Brown in the Commissioner's Garden
Curt is the Chairman of the Danbury Society.
Photo by John Bowen
In the Commissioner's Garden is the old Mulberry tree referred to
by Sameul Pepys.
Mulberry Tree in the Commissioner's Garden
Photo by John Bowen
The Garrison Church was cool and inviting where we sat & listened
to its history. Harry told us that no Naval Church is consecrated
so that all persons can use it regardless of their belief.
After lunch the trip on the coal fired Kingswer Castle proved a
great success which lasted an hour. The water was very smooth.
The Kingswear Castle approaching the pier after the hour
cruise
Photo by John Bowen
About half then went to Rochester Town, some looked at the Cathedral,
Castle, Dicken's Museum while others found a tea room of their choice.
Rochester Town
At 5PM Steve in his cool coach picked up the hot crowd and went
back to the Dockyard where the remainder of the party got on and
headed back to Danbury.
Dave Bolwell was thanked for organising such a good outing & the
Met Office got 0 out of 10 for their forecast.
Where do we go next year?. It has been suggested Windsor & then
Frogmore - any ideas?
A very good day out, pity it clashed with the Twinning
Jumble Sale, though.