BSGDS Conference 2010 Chesford Grange Hotel, Warwick 9th October Social Program Report by Elaine Dixon

Friday dawned dry but overcast as a select group of 5 set off to explore Warwick Castle and the town. Once we had battled our way through the groups of school children at the entrance we quickly found ourselves in the splendid grounds of this ancient monument. We decided to take a look at the State Rooms and later Edgar Gordon climbed the curtain wall and went to look at the view from Guy’s Tower.

After a reviving coffee we explored some of the grounds, in particular the Orangery which has a magnificent view looking down a gentle slope to the River Avon and surrounding Warwickshire countryside.We had a tasty lunch at the Bretheren’s Kitchen (a 15th Century building) which is part of the Lord Leycester Hospital, a medieval alms house which still has 8 retired servicemen and their wives living there. We decided to have a look at the Hospital and its tiny chapel perched atop of West Gate where daily acts of worship still take place. This chapel is still lit by candlelight and seems to have no modern heating in it. The chapel and old guildhall with its uneven floor and bowing walls were evocative of an earlier era and were very atmospheric.

At this point I had to leave the group to pick up my son from school and I caught up with our explorers at St Mary’s Church, another magnificent building where many former Earls of Warwick are resting. By now it was gone 4 o’clock and we decided it was time to return to The Chesford Hotel.

Saturday also started overcast and dry and a larger group travelled by mini-bus to Stratford-upon-Avon. A stroll along the river bank to look at the RSC Theatre showed that it was still undergoing redevelopment and we decided it would be pleasant to take a short river trip along the Avon. This was followed by coffee at a pub. A couple from the group felt the lure of the excellent shops of Stratford were calling them more than a visit to Shakespeare’s birthplace which the rest of visited. At Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust there was a short video presentation which helped set the scene of Elizabethan England and was also combined with some artefacts from William Shakespeare’s school and home. The actual home where William was born was larger than I expected but the cottage adjoining it where William and Anne spent the first years of their marriage was quite tiny by comparison.

We were fortunate to have excellent guides (dressed in period costumes) who explained what the house would have been like for the young Will and his siblings and how it was used. His father was a glove maker and it wasn’t hard to imagine the smells from the tanning process and how the gloves would be sold from the shop window (which was part of their home) or at the local markets. Again the bedrooms had uneven floors and we could see the small loft area where the young apprentices would sleep. After exiting via the gift shop we had lunch. An intrepid group decided they wanted to visit Holy Trinity church and the rest of us took the opportunity to have a look around the town before all meeting up and returning to The Chesford Grange.

Sunday was undoubtedly the brightest day and we were fortunate enough to be visiting Ryton Organic Gardens, home of Garden Organic the national charity for organic growing and set in 12 acres. We were only here for the morning, which was a pity because after an excellent and informative tour of the gardens we did not have time to explore more or visit the award winning cafe which appeared to sell an excellent selection of cakes and (naturally) organic produce. I certainly learnt more about the different methods of composting, what biodynamic gardening is and how it is possible to grow vegetables in a tiny space.

I hope everyone who came along on the “social visits” enjoyed them as much as I did and I must thank everyone for their company, which as ever, was fun.