NORTH EASTREGIONA Mini-break in Market BosworthIn early November, 46 <strong>Associates</strong>, friends,neighbours and family members embarked on anall-inclusive National Holidays coach break toMarket Bosworth in Warwickshire. Our base for fournights was to be <strong>the</strong> Bosworth Hall Hotel.After a final pick-up we headed for <strong>the</strong> ca<strong>the</strong>dralcity of Lichfield, in sunny Staffordshire, with time forlunch, at We<strong>the</strong>rspoon’s for some, and limitedsightseeing. Many would have liked to see <strong>the</strong>interior of <strong>the</strong> 760-years-old three-spired ca<strong>the</strong>dral,pictured below, but a memorial service preventedthis during our time <strong>the</strong>re.Litchfield Ca<strong>the</strong>dral across Minster Pond.On arrival at <strong>the</strong> hotel - this was to be a relaxedholiday with no fuss, no early starts and no latefinishes when travelling - we were held captive on<strong>the</strong> coach to be informed of eating arrangements for<strong>the</strong> week.Conflict! Our welcome envelopes containeddifferent information to that given on <strong>the</strong> coach, sowe had to scurry round to find out which was correct.Despair? The first we had heard about this for ourstay - it is ‘Turkey and Tinsel’ time.Joy! Our welcome packs contained bar drinktokens for each of <strong>the</strong> four days.So, first night was ‘Christmas Eve’. Our diningtables were decorated with shiny card hats,crackers, squeakers and streamers - this beingrepeated on <strong>the</strong> subsequent days. Meals werebuffet-style, each evening to include an excellentcarvery with o<strong>the</strong>r choices if preferred, all with aglass of wine too. Desserts - well just forget that dietfor <strong>the</strong> week.‘Christmas Eve’ meal.The night’s entertainment followed, after time fora rest, for <strong>the</strong> three coach groups and, of course,o<strong>the</strong>r hotel guests who wished to join in. It was alarge and lively compère who guided us throughgames of Bingo, to be followed by Disco Dancing.The liberal supply of drink vouchers allowed Bingowinners to keep <strong>the</strong>ir cash prizes intact.‘Christmas Day’ saw us in adamp, mostly magnoliapaintedRoyal LeamingtonSpa, again with <strong>the</strong> localWe<strong>the</strong>rspoon’s being anattraction for many, beforereturning for a siesta inpreparation for tackling '<strong>the</strong>works' - Christmas Dinnerwith all <strong>the</strong> trimmings.Jennifer Patterson (left) and KathMcloughin in <strong>the</strong> Pump Room –to taste <strong>the</strong> spa water?Disappointing describes <strong>the</strong> ‘singist’ on <strong>the</strong> floorthat evening – and on Thursday too - but Colin,having packed his guitar along with his quiz sheets,rounded off <strong>the</strong> evening with a cheerful sing-along.Not all holidaymakers joined each excursion, somestaying behind to explore <strong>the</strong> pretty village of MarketBosworth, and also enlighten <strong>the</strong>mselves regarding<strong>the</strong> Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.A depiction of <strong>the</strong> scene of <strong>the</strong> battle.6 | The Associate
Heading east into Lincolnshire a trip to Stamfordsaw us in brilliant sunshine after rounding RutlandWater, <strong>the</strong> lake looking so serene.The town boasts lots of pubs, which appear to beoutnumbered by churches, but no We<strong>the</strong>rspoon’s,though o<strong>the</strong>r hostelries were available.The ‘Boxing Day’ evening meal wasn’t leftovers butano<strong>the</strong>r challenge in terms of selection and volume.Later we were entertained by an excellent Yorkshirecomedian who played to his audience, who of courseplayed back to him. A 'horticultural' joke, not to berepeated here, caused much merriment andinteraction! He filled <strong>the</strong> complete evening for us, allfun and never offensive.On <strong>the</strong> last full day and it was south to Stratfordupon-Avon- We<strong>the</strong>rspoon’s are <strong>the</strong>re too - and aguided tour, for some, covering <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>atre and <strong>the</strong>houses which were part of Shakespeare’s life,toge<strong>the</strong>r with fascinating accounts of <strong>the</strong> goings-onassociated with each.On <strong>the</strong> last day how many of <strong>the</strong> nearly 1000 hats,squeakers, penny novelty crackers (yes 1d.!) andstreamers had been packed to reappear on <strong>the</strong> realChristmas Day?As we headed north to Bakewell in Derbyshire, forour lunch stop, it was time for ‘Colin’s Quiz No 5’.Later, we passed through Chesterfield, having agood view of its famous crooked spire, before joining<strong>the</strong> M1. After a driver’s break at Ferrybridge, withtime to shop at 'M&S Food', we <strong>the</strong>n were taken <strong>the</strong>last 100 miles into darkness, until we saw <strong>the</strong> lightsof home.Despite <strong>the</strong> welcome pack hiccup everything hadgone very well, as always <strong>the</strong> National Holidaysarrangements, supported by our driver, John, beingfaultless – and all for £179 each.Great Whittington to Matfen WalkThe rendezvous for <strong>the</strong> late November walk was<strong>the</strong> attractive village of Great Whittington, a relativelyunspoiled hamlet a few miles north of Corbridge.Three new walkers were welcomed into <strong>the</strong> group,but who was who? - in full wet-wea<strong>the</strong>r gear fewpeople were immediately recognisable as weprepared in <strong>the</strong> damp conditions. Eight of <strong>the</strong> partyopted for <strong>the</strong> 6½ mile route and <strong>the</strong> remainingfourteen were to do 5 miles.Anne Hathaway’s cottage.Back at <strong>the</strong> hotel <strong>the</strong>re was curry on <strong>the</strong> menu -vegetable, not turkey - and we <strong>the</strong>n psychedourselves up, or tried to, for <strong>the</strong> evening ahead. Ourentertainer, running ‘The Big Bosworth Quiz’tonight, stayed true to form and must have been alittle downhearted when he left, as many of <strong>the</strong>audience had disappeared earlier to do some ‘latepacking’. Again, though, Colin and his guitar cameto <strong>the</strong> rescue, with our group remaining to <strong>the</strong> end.The booby-prize winners in <strong>the</strong> Quiz.With <strong>the</strong> wet and boggy conditions pictured abovewe climbed from <strong>the</strong> village and passed <strong>the</strong> derelictWhittington Mill and some farmsteads on <strong>the</strong> way toMatfen, our original start point, but <strong>the</strong>n ruled outas <strong>the</strong> pub <strong>the</strong>re didn't open until four of <strong>the</strong>afternoon! From <strong>the</strong>re <strong>the</strong> return leg of our ‘round’walk was all on minor roads, so thankfully no moremud. On <strong>the</strong> way back we surmounted Grizzly Hilland passed ‘Click ‘Em In’ farm before <strong>the</strong> finalstretch along ‘St. Oswald’s Way’.Back at Great Whittington we invaded <strong>the</strong>attractive Queens Head Inn for lunch, our numberaugmented by some non-walkers joining us. Moregood food - and good beer from <strong>the</strong> local Wylambrewery - toge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong> conversation made for afun two-hour lunch stop.The Associate | 7
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