Convention 2008
Convention
The 2008 Convention will take place at The Park Hotel, Barnstaple, North Devon on the 23rd, 24th & 25th May.
The Park Hotel is a three star hotel with a recommendation for its food. It is in a quiet location near the river but within walking distance of : the town centre 10 minutes, the bus station 8 minutes & the railway station 18 minutes.
The rates for dinner, bed & breakfast will be £60.00 per person a night sharing a double / twin room & £75.00 per person a night for single occupancy.
The Park Hotel has 39 bedrooms & I have arranged overflow accommodation in a sister hotel, The Royal & Fortescue, near the town centre. This is a pleasant 9 minute riverside walk from the Park. However, apart from breakfast, we shall all eat together at The Park. I am hoping to reinstate the Saturday Gala Dinner but there will be no extra charge for this.
Apart from those members involved in running the Convention, accommodation at The Park will be on a’ first come, first served’ basis so there is an incentive to book early.
However, I ask anyone with walking difficulties or who feels the 9 minute walk would be a problem, to contact me directly & I will endeavour to accommodate them at The Park.
Barnstaple has a long history going back to the time of King Alfred & the town was well established by 1066. The Victorian Pannier Market & Butchers Row are in full swing on Friday & Saturday & are not too be missed. For those members extending their stay the North Devon coast & Exmoor are within easy reach.
For members travelling by train, the Tarka Line from Exeter to Barnstaple passes through scenic, tranquil countryside.
The Sunday outing will be a visit to Exeter in the morning. This ancient city, going back to Roman times, has many historic Churches, a magnificent Cathedral dating back to The Normans & quite a lot of surviving Roman city wall. Not to be missed is picturesque Exeter Quay which was at its peak during the woollen trade of the 18th Century. The Quay is now bustling with restaurants, pubs, antique markets & craft workshops. There is also an Information Centre.
In the afternoon we shall visit Coldharbour Mill in the village of Uffculme. This was a textile mill from 1800 until it closed in 1980 & is now a museum.
The mill was originally powered by a large water wheel, recently restored, and from 1910 to 1980 was powered by a large steam engine driving line shafts on the 5 floors . This is still in working order & on certain days the boilers are fired & the engine drives the textile machines. I am hoping this will happen for our visit but the mill engineers cannot guarantee this so far ahead.
I hope that we shall have an enjoyable Convention, in a beautiful part of the country & that the weather will be kind to us. That is something I still have to arrange!
Enquiries to
Brian Newbound, Mauretania,
Burrington, Devon, EX37 9LT
Tel: 01769 520529
Fax: 01769 520529
e-mail:
bri.newbound@btinternet.com