Church
Holiday Club
Restawhile was started over 30 years ago for Senior Citizens to have a rest,
coffee and chat when out shopping in Epsom. We meet every Friday but as the
attendance has dropped over the last few years. Only the week’s holiday together
at the seaside which has been successfully running over many years is
continuing, under the banner of Holiday Club
The Holiday Club did not function in
2005 or 06 due to lack of interest, it is hoped that a 2007 venue will be more successful.
EMC Church Holiday 2002 - Weston-Super-Mare
Twenty-three of us received a very warm welcome from Justin Taylor the Manager of the Baymead Hotel upon our arrival. We soon fund out that the hotel was very near to Grove Park - a most attractive park. Which also contained the newly created 'Jill Dando's Garden' - a celebration garden for the life of Jill Dando.
This garden is now a year old and has matured into a most beautiful haven and a shelter from the wind even on the sunniest of days (and they all were sunny) the wind blew in Weston so Grove Park was used as a refuge quite a lot by our Group.
Sunday morning found us attending Morning Worship at Boulevard United Reformed Church, this being, the nearest Church to our Hotel. The holiday included three full days outings to Wells, Cheddar and Bath (where most of us enjoyed the open top bus tour of the City) and to Dunster and Minehead where we experimented with the pavement sundial especially made to commemorate the Queen's -Jubilee.
We also went to Clevedon for the morning, and our driver Robin arranged another morning tour
(General Countryside view left) to 'Rock of Ages' and the Chew Valley Lakes for those who wanted
to go.
The landscape gives rise to extensive views across the Chew and Yeo Valleys and Blagdon Lakes to the Mendips, Dundry Hills. Well-wooded slopes form prominent elements within these views, the tributary valleys by contrast have a more intimate quality.
Features within this landscape include the Chew Valley and Blagdon Lakes bordering the area and at Blackmoor the distinctive chimney marking the remains of an engine house put up by Bristol Waterworks in 1859 to pump water from an exploratory well.
The landscape is generally very tranquil with the silence broken only by occasional tractors, other vehicles, aircraft, and farm animals.
This was our eighth church holiday. All of them: have been organised by Phyllis Beck, who has, down the years, arranged the holidays with great calmness, courtesy and efficiency.
We owe her many thanks.
Epsom Methodist Church Holiday - Barmouth 2001
Off on our "SUMMER HOLIDAY" - 26 people met in EMC car park to board the coach leaving at 9am for Barmouth, Wales on 23 June. A bright and sunny start to a very enjoyable week.
The coach "Airedale Tours" was very comfortable and we had an excellent driver named Roger who had a sense of humour, which was just as well because of certain witty members in the party.
We arrived at the Hotel Arbour after a smooth journey and were met with a warm welcome by our host. A family run hotel, very comfortable, on the promenade with fine views of Cardigan Bay and stretches of lovely beaches.
During our week's stay we had excursions to Dolgellau, the lakeside town of Bala on the shores of Llyn Tegid, the largest lake in Wales. Among other places we visited were Betws-y-Coed, Criccieth and Aberdovey. Where ever we went we passed through beautiful scenery. One or two days the clouds were down on the hills, but we were lucky with the weather.
A mention of entertainment. The Monday evening we had a team demonstrating Line Dancing - very good - some of our more agile friends joined in. Much applause! There was an evening of "Country and Western" performed by the family and members of staff.
A good time was had by all,
due to everything being so well organised
by Mrs. Phyllis Beck.
Many Thanks From Us All, Phyllis.
A Holiday In Cornwall 2000
After a period of cold dreary weather, a 30 strong group set off from EMC on Saturday 24 June at 9am to holiday in Newquay. Our "Airedale" coach driver, David, cruised at a leisurely pace under overcast skies, stopping at Amesbury for coffee, then Exeter for lunch. We arrived at the Arundell Hotel at 4.30pm after a comfortable journey accompanied now by brilliant
sunshine, which was to stay with us for the rest of the week.
On Sunday most of the group "swelled" the congregation of the local Methodist Church, and partook of tea and biscuits afterwards, meeting the very friendly members.
Our full day trip on Monday was to Truro and Falmouth. After visiting the cathedral, refectory and city sights, David gave us the option of the coach to Falmouth - or a river trip on the M V "Enterprise". As it was a perfect day many chose the boat viewing the picturesque scenery and several large boats "laid up" in the Fal, waiting for work! We had lunch at
Falmouth overlooking the harbour and strolled round narrow streets in hot sunshine.
The morning drive on Tuesday was to Padstow along narrow roads with excellent views of the rugged Cornish coastline. Many a Cornish ice-cream was enjoyed whilst pottering around the harbour and narrow streets - arriving back in Newquay for a "free" afternoon. On Wednesday our excursion was in the afternoon when we went to Mevagissy - a delightful fishing village with
narrow streets of houses appearing to tumble down to the busy harbour. At 3pm we all met up at the Wheelhouse Restaurant where we were "treated" to a Cornish cream tea by the organising committee!!
Our day tour on Thursday was to St Ives and Lands End. Our coach parked on the outskirts of St Ives itself and we were "ferried" in mini-buses to the centre and harbour. As usual the narrow cobbled streets were crowded with visitors - many gift shops and bakeries, everyone offering the "best Cornish pasties etc". We then boarded the coach and David took us on
a "hair-raising" drive along winding lanes to Lands End - not without excitement - several cars having to reverse to let us through - including a police patrol car. (We all hoped they were not "in hot pursuit of a miscreant....") On our way home we made a detour near Portreath to visit the Gold Centre - a great tourist attraction, with items well displayed.
Although Friday was a "free" day, several of the group decided to support the local Western Greyhound bus and visit St Just in Roseland with its lovely church set in a tropical garden. This trip was one of the "highlights" of the holiday. We had Steve as our driver - a real Cornish character - who kept us in fits of laughter with his funny stories - we all
thought he was wasted driving a coach! Being a local man, every nook and cranny held a story. We had a lunch stop at St Mawes (known as the millionaires’ paradise?) and on to Veryan to see the famous "round houses", see yet another lovely church and take tea on the lawn!
On Saturday we said farewell to Newquay arriving back at EMC about 4.30pm. What a lovely week - sun every day (eventually) and rain on our homeward trip. We had a comfortable hotel with helpful, friendly staff, a good varied menu, entertainment each evening, games room and heated swimming pool.
Thanks once again to
Phyllis Beck
for her organisation
and to
Ron Perkins
and Rose Dunn
who supported her.
