Reunion at Bishop's Waltham
May 29th-31st 2009



UPDATE : May 26th 2009

Reunion Itinerary :

1. 8.00pm Friday evening, 29th May, The Priory Inn, Bishop's Waltham, as a convenient place to meet up—somewhere to have a drink, perhaps, after which people might like to stroll into town.

2. 11.00am Saturday, 30th May, Winchester College Meet up at 10.45 am at the Guildhall, Winchester. Check the REUNIONS section on the website to see the details.

3. Lunch in the city.

4. 4.00 - 5.00pm (latest) A meeting in the church hall of Our Lady Queen of Apostles Bishop's Waltham. DIY Refreshments provided.

5. 7.30pm An evening meal at Banks's restaurant in Bishop's Waltham. Check below to see the details.

6. 9.30am Sunday 31st May, Mass in the Church at BW

List of attendees :

John & Margaret Morton
Michael Byrne & Andrew
Maurice & Janet Billingsley
Chris & Mary Cooper (not confirmed)
Chris & Josie Benton (if possible)
Tony Smyth (staying at Brent Villas, arriving Saturday am)
Peter Finn
John (JJ) Deeney
Mike Ellis Martin Hickey (arriving Thursday, from Cork)
Peter Vale-Humphreys
Tommy & Margaret Kelly (we hope)
Bernard Melling (unconfirmed)
Paul West
*Zelda MacBride is unable to join us because of ill-health.

CHECK BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILS

 


UPDATE : April 25th 2009

While investigating the proposed trip to Romsey Abbey, Peter Finn discovered that the town is so busy on Saturday mornings that parking is a major problem. As a consequence he has chosen Winchester School as an alternative visit. He has therefore provided us with the following information and schedule :

Winchester College Guided Tour
30 May 2009

Winchester college was founded in 1382 to train 70 boys for the priesthood. They then went on to New College, Oxford (the ‘senior seminary’). Both were founded by William of Wykeham to replace priests lost during the Black Death.


Meet at : 10.45am at The Guildhall, outside the tourist office.  We can then walk together to the College (about 15 mins depending on whether people need a comfort stop).

Tour start time : 11.15am
Tour start place : The Porter’s Lodge, College Street, Winchester.

Tour cost: £4 per person, £3.50 for seniors.

To get there from Bishops Waltham :

Take road to Winchester. After passing through Twyford you will come to a
T-junction with traffic lights, turn right on to the M3. Stay in left-hand lane.

Within a few minutes take exit into Winchester.

As you enter Winchester along Bar End Road (B3404), there is Park & Ride parking on the left. You then take a bus into the city (about 3 minutes). Get off in The Broadway (near King Alfred’s statue). The Guildhall is in The Broadway.

If you pass the Park & Ride you will soon come to a multi-storey car park on the right in Chesil Street, which is a continuation of Bar End Road. It’s a short walk from here to the Guildhall.

If you go beyond Chesil Street you will be in the city where there is multi-storey parking in Friarsgate. However, if you go beyond Chesil Street you will be in a one-way system.

 

UPDATE : March 7th 2009

The Saturday evening meal will be held at Bank's Bar Bistro in town. A reservation for 15 people has been made by John Morton and he has chosen the following 'Party Menu' as the best deal:



 



UPDATE : March 5th 2009

Preparations have already started for this year's reunion in the village of Bishop's Waltham, once home to The Priory, the junior seminary that was run by the White Fathers during the period1912-1967.



Information for 'Newcomers'

The reunion will follow a similar pattern to previous years, starting on the Friday evening and culminating on the Sunday morning with Mass at the parish church of Our Lady Queen of Apostles.

People who live some distance away generally book into their accommodation on the Friday evening and meet up with other early-arrivers for a bite to eat in the town. On Saturday, we assemble at an agreed venue and discuss with others which activity they have chosen for the day / afternoon. People are free to spend the day as they please, of course, or tag along with those who are taking part in an organised activity, such as a trip to Winchester or a visit to a nearby National Trust attraction. These are purely an excuse to enjoy some leisurely time in the company of old friends, of course.

Late in the afternoon we generally meet up for an informal meeting. We have been very fortunate in the past because Fr Buckley, the local parish priest, allows us to use the Church Hall for this purpose (with facilities for making tea and coffee). An agenda will have been drawn up to cover issues that have arisen since the previous year. For example, in May 2009 we talked about whether we ought to apply for Charity status in order to maximise the income derived from our donations to the White Fathers. At this meeting, our Treasurer, Pat Gibbons, lets us know how much has been donated during the past year and who were the beneficiaries.

In the evening we eat together at a local bistro and as this is within walking distance there are no problems about having a drink with the meal.

At 9.00 am Sunday we attend Mass with the parishioners, at which we are normally invited to sing one or two favourites, such as Veni Creator and Salve Regina. By about 11.30 am most of us are on our way home.

Which is a pity because Bishop's Waltham and the surrounding countryside makes for such an enjoyable extended break.

Please note

  1. A list of those who are attending will be published on this Page, as and when people register their interest.  (Please email Paul West asap if you intend to join us ).

  2. The Accommodation & Maps Appendix will help you make your arrangements.
    Most people will probably choose to stay either at Brent Villas (Tom Wilkie's B+B) or with Mrs Diana Ibbitson at The House on the Hill.

    Tom has 8 double rooms (at £47.50 per room per night) and one single (at £30 per night). 

    Diana has facilities for 5 people at present, but may be able to take 7 if asked at a later date. She has one single, room, one twin and 1 (or 2) doubles—all at £45.00 per person per night (pppn).

    We have experience of both B+Bs and can certainly recommend them. Both are situated near to the town. (See the Appendix for more details).

    The Priory Inn offers double/twin rooms at £47.50 per night, and £30.00 for a single.

    Make sure that you book early to avoid disappointment.



To contact John Morton click here


A trip to Romsey will be organised for the Saturday. We will meet up at a given place for 1.00 pm to have a light lunch, followed by a visit to the ancient Abbey.

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