The Spectacle Makers' Society Programme 2012

February

A day's visit to the Emirates Football Stadium.

Details on application.

Friday 16th March

A Gastrotour of Portobello Market.

Portobello Market in West London is one of the most famous Street markets in the world, popular with Londoners and tourists alike. Portobello Road goes straight through the heart of Notting Hill, and those who saw the eponymous film, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, will be able to spot various set locations. The market takes up most of the Road, stretching for about two miles, and is divided into distinct sections – antiques, fruit and vegetables, fashion, new goods & second hand goods.

All this may be explored at your leisure either before or after you have enjoyed a gastrotour of the Market, led by Celia Brooks Brown, a former resident of the area, and author and TV chef. As she conducts you around the food stalls you will be able to sample many culinary delights, starting with Spanish tapas. In no particular order, the "menu" will also include New Zealand Manuka honeys, British market cheeses, exquisite fish freshly flown in from the Italian Mediterranean with wine and masterly prepared vegetables from Sorrento, plus wine and cheese matching – all this along with further exploration of the area's unique shops for food lovers. The tours conclude with a chocolate masterclass and demonstration.

Price: £96 per person

Tuesday 17th April

A visit to the Battle of Britain Operations Centre at RAF Uxbridge.

A chance to see at first hand the operations centre from which Air Vice Marshal (later Air Chief Marshal Sir) Keith Park, AOC 11 Group Fighter Command RAF, directed the fight against the Luftwaffe over London and the southern counties during the summer of 1940. The complex also now houses an interesting museum. This will be a late afternoon/early evening visit, culminating in a buffet supper with wine.

Cost (inclusive of supper): In the region of £35.

Friday 18th – Sun 20th May

A weekend in Bath (to coincide with the transfer of the Chairmanship of the Society from Huntly Taylor to Barry Covill).

Barry Covill's assumption of the Chairmanship of the Society will take place in the beautiful and historic City of Bath. Members of the Society will assemble on the Friday evening in the Mercure Francis Hotel, before enjoying an informal dinner in a local restaurant. On the Saturday evening they will have an organized tour of the Roman baths and museum, which will be followed by a canapé and champagne reception, and then a candlelit dinner either on the Terrace overlooking the baths, or next to the bath complex. In between, there will be the opportunity for a City Bus Tour and/or visits to the wonderful Abbey, the famous Crescent, the spa, the Pump Room and many other attractions. Sunday morning will be taken up with the Mayor's walking tour.

Cost: In the order of £295 per person for two nights' B&B and the Saturday evening (but not including the informal dinner on the Friday evening). Unfortunately, Bath hotels will not let their rooms for just one night over a weekend. For those not requiring hotel accommodation, the cost for attending just the formal events on the Saturday evening will be in the region of £135 per head. In order to secure the hotel booking, you are asked to complete the enclosed reservation form and return it with your deposit before the end of January 2012.

Thursday 14th June

The Golf Meeting at Saffron Walden.

Details on application

June (Date to be decided)

A day's voyage along the Manchester Ship Canal.

A chance for intrepid sailors to enjoy a sniff (or three) of Lancashire sea air, as they cruise along this wonderful feat of Victorian engineering from Salford Quays to Liverpool for six hours, whilst listening to a very informative commentary. After two hours in Liverpool, a bus will take them back to Salford. Overnight accommodation will be available in Salford Quays, both before and after the cruise. Further details on application.

Saturday 14th July or Sunday 15th July

A day at the Farnborough Airshow

The Master and Mistress will welcome Liverymen and Freemen to their home for barbecue and a swim after the Show.

31st August – 2nd September

A weekend at the Braemar Gathering and the surrounding area.

The origins of the Braemar Gathering are believed to lie in the 11th Century, when King Malcolm the Great Chief visited Braemar. It was certainly the custom in medieval days for Clan Chiefs to gather their followers together in the autumn for a hunt lasting several days. During that time, there would be competitions to select the strongest, fastest and most skilful warriors. Although banned after Culloden, such gatherings could not be totally supressed, and gradually the Gathering at Braemar was revived and developed into the spectacular array of Highland competitions for which it is renowned today. Victoria & Albert's "love affair" with all things Scottish led to the Gathering becoming a permanent fixture in the Royal Family's annual programme.

The Spectacle Makers' visit will involve a three-night stay in a hotel in Ballater on DBB terms, plus entry to the Gathering at about £270 per person. For those who do not wish to spend all their time at the Games, the programme will include visits to some of the many other attractions within easy striking distance; these include a number of distilleries!

Further details on application.

September

A visit to St Thomas' Hospital

This visit will begin with an afternoon trip to the Florence Nightingale Museum, followed by a walk, via some interesting works of art, to the Eye Department for drinks and canapés whilst receiving a brief from ophthalmologists (hopefully also members of the Livery) on past, present and future methods of dealing with the various forms of ophthalmic disease. Then supper...

Further details on application.

Wednesday 31st October

A day in Winchester.

Join your fellow Spectacle Makers in England's ancient capital city, the power base of Alfred the Great, and home to Liveryman Helen Short and Freeman Martin Keys who will host this visit. The day will begin with a private tour of Winchester College, founded in 1382 and the school with the longest unbroken history in England. Lunch in a local restaurant will be followed by a guided walking tour of the Castle, the site of one of Charles II's palaces, and whose Great Hall houses what is reputed to be King Arthur's Round Table. Those with the time and energy to spare may then wish to visit the Cathedral, the almshouses at the Hospital of St Cross or one of the three military museums within the city.

Cost: per person for the guided tours of the College and Castle, plus a two course lunch, will be in the order of £40.

Tuesday 11th December

An evening in London, following the Court Luncheon.

The organizers will arrange attendance at a theatrical performance of some description.

Further details

If you would like further details of any of these events,
please contact the Clerk.