Dear All

As you will most likely be aware, next Thursday we were planning a picnic and optional visit to Holly Lodge in Richmond Park.

Firstly the bad news!

Holly Lodge will not be holding an open day because of the current Covid situation.

And The Royal Parks are not allowing group gatherings for the time being.

And now the good news!

We have a plan B!

Our Picnic Get-Together will now take place at the National Trust Claremont Landscape Gardens on the A307 just south of Esher.

The current weather forecast is for temperatures of up to 21°C, sunny intervals all day, light winds and almost no chance of rain. Whilst things can of course change it looks like we are set fair for perfect picnic weather!

Our plan is to meet at Claremont at 12.00 noon as we did at Runnymede and for everyone to bring their own seats and picnic materials.

Entry and parking is free to National Trust members and £8.00 per person for non-members.

We will be picnicking in front of the amphitheatre by the lake and this is just a few steps from the car park as you will see from the attached map of the gardens.

We do hope you will be joining us and if you intend to do so, even if you are NT members, you will need to pre-book your tickets since these cannot be purchased on the day and entry is not permitted without tickets.

Tickets are bookable for the following week each Friday so YOU WILL NEED TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS THIS FRIDAY!!

Online bookings can be made at midnight on Thursday and phone bookings on the Friday morning.

If you wish to join the party we suggest you secure your tickets as early as possible since there are only a limited number available for each 30 minute timed entry slot.

We suggest you book for the 11.30 am to 12.00 noon entry slot and drive into the gardens a few minutes before noon.

If that slot is already fully booked we suggest you book for the 12 noon to 12.30 slot and arrive at noon.

In the highly unlikely event that both these slots are fully booked then book for the 12.30 to 1.00 pm slot and arrive at 12.30.

Sorry it sounds complex but it isn’t really!

To book online here is the link: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claremont-landscape-garden

To book by phone here is the number to ring: 0344 249 1895. The recorded message says they are very busy and wait times are long but on the two occasions that I called them I got through straight away.

If you are National Trust members you will need your membership numbers available when you make the booking.

Once you have booked your tickets please drop me an email so that we know you will be coming.

We really hope you will be joining us and look forward to seeing you next Thursday at noon.

Best regards

Mark

Dear TSCC Members,

Elaina has arranged for a volunteer speaker to give a talk on the Air Ambulance.
Please see the attached flyer which has the Zoom meeting ID and password.
It will be nice to re-aquaint ourselves with our friends in TSCC even if only on a small screen.

Best wishes,
George

Dear All

I am sure that by now you will be aware of the government’s new restriction limiting the size of any group meeting for social purposes to six people.

Sadly, in these circumstances we have had no alternative but to cancel our forthcoming Bath and Bristol Autumn Getaway.

Please let Pauline have your bank details and we will refund all monies paid.

The only good news here is that the event is now fully planned and ready to go at a future date as soon as the restrictions are lifted and people are again feeling comfortable about travelling as a group.

Keep safe and keep smiling.

Best regards

Mark

UPDATE 3 November 2020
It is with much regret that due to Covid 19 restrictions this event has been cancelled.
UPDATE 4 MAY 2020: We are currently assuming this will go ahead as planned. They have a large indoor space so, if necessary, with a little organisation, some social distancing could be managed.

Download Flyer: TSCC Celebration Christmas Quiz

Details to Follow

As scheduled, the CPR and Defibrillator Refresher (Zoom) will begin at 19.45 hrs. (7.45p.m.) on Tuesday 23rd February and the refresher will be given by Mark Faulkner who delivered the original instruction in 2018.
We are very fortunate to have Mark, a senior manager and adviser in the Medical Directorate of the London Ambulance Service, with us at this very difficult time and we are hoping to reward him with a large audience of members and friends. Those who attended his CPR and defib session at Ajax in 2018 will know what a useful session it was and one that can genuinely enable anyone to save the life of a relative or friend.

Fortunately we have not had occasion to use our defibrillator and so I’m sure that we are all somewhat rusty and need the refresher. Therefore please join the Zoom session if you are able.

Talk by Steve Collins, Chair RUG 8

Hi All

We hope you are in good health despite the lengthy lockdown and that you are already enjoying the recent relaxation of the rules.

On 17th May the restrictions will be lifted further and larger groups will be allowed to meet outside

We do hope you will join us on Tuesday 25th May when we will celebrate this important next step towards normality with our first face to face get-together since last September!

This reunion event will again take the form of a picnic in the historic surroundings of Runnymede.

Here are the details:

Date: Tuesday 25th May at 12 noon – provided it’s not raining!

Meeting Point: The National Trust car park on the opposite side of the road to the NT tea shop. Parking is free to NT members and otherwise costs £1.50 per hour payable at a meter. Suggest you pay for two hours.

Picnic Site: This will either be in the car park field as last time or across the road in the large Runnymede memorial field. Your committee will be there early and will direct you accordingly.

Food and Drink: Bring your own food and drink as well as garden chairs and anything else you need.

Toilets: There are toilets inside the National Trust tea shop lobby.

Social Distancing: Please try to maintain two metres social distancing.

Face Coverings: At outdoors events with social distancing there is no requirement to wear a face covering. However, if you feel more comfortable please do wear one. In any case, please bring a face covering and be ready to wear this when chatting with any other member who has chosen to do so. We want everyone to feel comfortable at this reunion event.

Questions: If you have any queries please simply email me.

Confirmation: We really hope you will be attending and would appreciate an email to confirm.

All of us on the Committee greatly look forward to this glorious reunion on Tuesday 25th May.

With best wishes,

George

UPDATE: 24MAY2021
Dear TSCC Members,
We have changed the date of the “Guided Walk Around The Lake & Cream Tea” from 22nd June to Friday 2nd July. This is to be able to include members who would find the walk too difficult and would like to use the buggy.
Unfortunately, no buggies were available for 22nd June.
Everyone who put their name down for this event was given a selection of alternative dates and we have settled on 2nd July, this being the only date that all could make.
It occurred to us that with the change of date it may be that other members who could not make the original date may now wish to join us on 2nd July.
If you couldn’t make the original date but would like to come on the 2nd July please let Jackie know as soon as possible.
Best wishes,
George

Led by an experienced Painshill guide, this gentle walk around the Serpentine Lake will enable you to
take in a series of simply stunning views while discovering more about the garden’s history and its
creator, the Honourable Charles Hamilton. The entire walk is on the flat, along wide accessible
pathways. The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes and will be followed by a relaxing opportunity to get
together and chat whilst seated at reserved tables under an open sided marquee overlooking the
garden. A bottomless supply of tea will be provided, accompanied by a tasty scone with jam and cream.