We are lucky enough to have family who live in Mentmore, Buckinghamshire, a beautiful spot in itself but also an excellent centre for visiting Stately Homes, old Churches and ART. Spent a day in Cookham in the lovely little Stanley Spencer gallery, wandered past his house, unsuccessfully searched the Churchyard for his grave and strolled by the Thames imagining what it was all like when Stanley lived there. Also visited Waddesdon Manor and it’s three summer exhibitions. There were Edmund de Waal ceramics in every ground floor room and the exquisite and ground-breaking (at the time) Chardin paintings in a gallery upstairs. There was a fabulous exhibition of contemporary sculptures all round the grounds with all the usual people represented – Anish Kapoor, Hirst & Gormley, Jeff Koons etc.
Home for a couple of days then off the Beverley with FoW to see some fabulously interesting Minsters, Abbeys, Priories and unusual churches. If you weren’t with us and you go to Whitby Abbey do not miss St Mary’s Parish Church close by the Abbey it has survived from another world and seems to exist in a time warp. Anyone considering a trip to Scarborough must also seek St Martin’s-on-the-Hill, a Pre-Raphaelite Church by George Hulme Bodley with bagpipe playing Angels by Spencer Stanhope on the organ screen and stained glass by Burne-Jones, William Morris and Rossetti. Beverley Minster and it’s astonishing roof (sort of attic with attitude) with pulleys and wheels was a revelation to all who ventured up. Must also mention St Mary’s Beverley with it’s marvellous misericords.
15th July off to the seaside for the day to ‘Another Place’ to walk with Antony Gormley’s 100 Iron Men on Crosby Beach, I finish with a message and a pic. from Sandra
We had such a lovely time, Thanks to our guide and thanks to the organisers. Sandra
joanatfow 