Past Events and Visits

For the visit to the Real Flower Petal Confetti Company in Wick, 39 members arrived to be greeted at Wyck Manor with delicious drinks and nibbles by Charles and Cressida Hudson.

Charles then explained how he came to diversify into the production of confetti completely by accident, having seen paper confetti littering the pavement outside the church and noticing fallen larkspur petals on the dining room table. An idea was born but it took some time to work out the right processes. This year 11 acres of larkspur have been planted with the help of satellite navigation guiding tractors to within an accuracy of 4cm.
After the flowers are pollinated the petals will drop and then have to be slowly dried in a specially converted barn.  The result is biodegradable confetti of many hues sold all over the world, and which, as it has to be handpicked, provides local employment not to mention a good source of bee nectar.
 Some years ago, a union jack was featured in a floral carpet which brought many visitors, and latterly the RAF logo was grown in honour of the Fairford Air Show, the progress of which was regularly monitored by Chinook helicopters.
A fascinating visit into the world of petals which everyone enjoyed, many thanks Charles and Cressida for your hospitality and patience with all our questions.
For more information: confettidirect.co.uk

On 20th May a visit was made to Evesham Vale Growers at Blackminster; who market 60 acres of tomatoes and is the largest speciality tomato supplier in the UK.  John Matthews and Roger Bloom welcomed us, invited us to don protective clothing and confirm that we were all healthy enough to be taken into the carefully monitored glasshouses to avoid any possible cross contamination.
The tour started in the huge packing shed where we saw state of the art machines grading, labelling and packing tomatoes ready for despatch to the supermarkets.  Orders are received and despatched the same day.  Quality control is of supreme importance and it was interesting to learn that the plants, which grow up to 40 metres in length each with up to 50 vines, are grown in water without any soil.  The pipes heating the glasshouses also act as tracks to carry the trolleys used by the pickers.EVG has a staff of approximately 180 migrant workers, speaking at the last count, 14 different languages

On a lovely sunny Sunday in April a group from Pershore Civic Society visited Elgar's birthplace at Lower Broadheath, and for many it was the first time.

The Visitor Centre was opened in 2000 where a video history of Elgar is given illustrating his private life and musical career.  Thence on to the cottage where he was born and lived as a child until the family moved to Worcester to live above his father's music shop.  In fact until he was 40 he was a jobbing local musician giving violin and piano lessons in the meantime conducting the Three Choirs Festival. He married Alice in 1899 and had a daughter Carice who established a museum in the cottage after her father's death and as he had wished.

The cottage showed the infinite variety of Elgar's life from mementoes of his 1,000 trip up the Amazon in 1923 to souvenirs of his racegoing days.  He was also an keen cyclist and there are many maps showing the trails he followed in Worcestershire.

During the visit one has to admire the bronze statue of Elgar relaxing on a bench in the garden (apparently one of his favourite spots) from where the Malverns can be seen

The National Trust are now the owners of this William & Mary style house set in rolling parkland just outside Droitwich.  The alterations to the existing house were completed in 1701, together with 'snobs tunnel' which apparently was used by the servants to approach the main house without being seen by the occupants. 

During a tour of one of the lounges we were told about the Axminster carpet there estimated to be 250 years old and purchased by the Trust in 1970,  being one of four still remaining of its type.  When sent for cleaning in 2006 it was only then realised how rare and valuable it is so walking on it is obviously, forbidden.

Inside the house are many wall and ceiling frescoes, some by Sir James Thornhill depicting many colourful scenes involving Greek gods and goddesses.

The Blue Bedroom still has its original furnishings and is where the Sir George Vernon (the last of the Vernons) committed suicide in 1940 whilst suffering from throat cancer and heart disease,  the National Trust taking over full ownership in 1953.
Restoration of the garden is ongoing, but has been completed of the Long Walk and Lime Tree Walk, the Long Walk comprising oaks grown from acorns of the original trees.

On a sunny Thursday in June members of the Civic Society visited Hartlebury Castle originally built in C15 and rebuilt in 1675 by Bishop James Fleetwood although the current Bishop now lives adjacent to Worcester Cathedral.

We were shown round the private apartments by the Hartlebury Preservation Trust who are hoping to purchase the castle from the Church Commissioners.  The Chapel is still consecrated and used for private services and has a window into a bedroom so that services could be attended by one of the Bishop's ailing wives.  The Great Hall is a joy to behold with its refurbished staircase, fireplace and plaster mouldings (which apparently are papier mache). 

We were privileged to be shown the Hurd Library founded by Bishop Hurd in 1781 and designed by the architect James Smith of Shifnal, the original drawings for which we were shown and which had only been found recently.  We were also shown many wonderful old books including The Golden Legend (1476), The Faere Queen (1611) originally owned by Dryden and Pope's copy of Chaucer, given to him when he was 13 years old. The library with its furniture is exactly as left by Bishop Hurd when he died in 1808.

Visit To Malvern 2008