Christmas Lunch
Saturday 25th November 2023,
The Crown, Granborough
Around 30 BGT members gathered at The Crown, Granborough for a resumption of the traditional Christmas lunch which had been on hold for a few years. It’s the sister pub of the Old Thatched Inn at Adstock which used to be our favoured venue, and the experience was just as good.
Our Chair, Claire de Carle, presented our esteemed ex-chair Dr Sarah Rutherford with a gift on the occasion of a significant birthday, and said that a John Lewis voucher would be going to Rosemary Jury, now ensconced in Brighton, in recognition of all her work on behalf of BGT. She also thanked the members of the Council and other helpers, who now form an effective Events Team.
As usual our star guest Brian Dix (when he had recovered from his journey from Wales) gave a trenchant address, noting that locally to him, societies are closing down for lack of support and ‘new blood’. Parks and gardens will only survive if we can inculcate respect, regards and love for them, he said. BGT is promoting parks and gardens via outreach projects and a network of contacts being built up via Head Gardeners, schools and the Young Archaeologists’ Club. All members need to be involved by distributing leaflets, encouraging friends and neighbours to show an interest or join the Trust, and helping out with events and publicity, as too much work falls on the officers. We need to make sure the success of BGT is continued.
Recommended reading: Hazel Conway and Paul Rabbitts, 14 November 2023, People’s Parks – The Design and Development of Public Parks in Britain, John Hudson Publishing.
Clare Butler
Editor’s Note: Paul Rabbits is giving a talk ” Public Parks” on Saturday 24th February at 2.30 at Aylkesbury Methodist Centre, Aylesbury
