Local news
Raynes Park Afternoon Townswomen's Guild - October 2016
A tour of The Vintners Hall in Upper Thames Street was arranged as the visit for October. A small group travelled on the District Line to Mansion House, walking down to Upper Thames Street for a tour of this ancient Guild’s Hall. With its fine panelling, banister carvings, historic paintings, silver items and wine related artifacts, this was an interesting visit. The surprise was the Vintner’s connection to the queen’s annual swan-upping in which they participate along with members from the Draper’s Guild and the Queen’s representatives. We left the dining hall with staff just beginning to set up for an evening dinner function.
Our speaker at the October meeting was Julie Chandler who gave a talk entitled ‘The Great Stink’. Her talk was a history of sanitation and the sewers of London. Although sounding a rather dry topic, this turned out to be a most interesting talk. With us seated in an intimate semi-circle, Julie illustrated her talk (from right to left) with pictures shown on her laptop computer. She ended by saying her favourite engineer is Sir Joseph Bazalgette who built the sewer system at the end of the 1800’s, having the foresight to give them twice the capacity needed at the time. Born in Morden and later living in Wimbledon, he is her local hero. We are of course still using this sewer system, although she confirmed Thames Water is currently building a further conduit. She has whetted our appetite to investigate whether a visit can be arranged to the Victorian pumping station at Crossness. Mrs. Eileen Brewer gave the vote of thanks.
The activity for November will be an exploration of Morden Hall Park in autumn on the 8th. Morden also features for the Lunch Club who will be going to Superfish on 1st November. In between, on 3rdNovember, a Bonfire Lunch is planned at a member’s house. At our next regular meeting at 1.45 on 17th November, Sarah McAlister will give a talk entitled ‘Hats for all Occasions’.
Visitors are always welcome to our meetings and other activities. Our monthly meeting is held at St Saviour’s Church Hall at 1.45pm on the third Thursday of each month. For more information please telephone.
Dorothy Raymond
