Local news
Raynes Park Townswomen's Guild - April 2018
A large group of members met to enjoy lunch at the Lime and Thyme Restaurant in Raynes Park, and the following week a group of 9 ladies visited Bourne Hall in Ewell. The upstairs museum documenting local history and development, featuring well known Epsom and Ewell historic personalities and, of course, the Race Course and Derby, proved fascinating. As a bonus, downstairs was an equally fascinating temporary display featuring pictures of the 1953 Coronation Celebrations. After this, we welcomed tea, light lunch and a sit outside in the sun in the gardens!
At our monthly meeting in St Saviour’s Church Hall our speaker was Peter Smith whose talk was entitled ‘Living in a Lighthouse’. Peter told us that practically every male member of the family for generations had been lighthouse keepers. If not they were lifeboat crew members or strongly connected to the lifeboat organisation. Peter himself spent his childhood in various lighthouses, a short while at Whitby, but mainly on the many Cornish lights. With pictures of the periodic delivery of supplies, fishing off the rocks, and the lighthouse completely enveloped in spray and water in rough weather, our Chairman asked how they were constructed. Apparently, it takes many years – a survey of the rock into which granite foundation stones, hewn by stonemasons to fit exactly are placed. Similarly, each of the walls is hewn by stonemasons with stones to fit exactly. No mortar is used. The last piece added at the top locks the construction solid.
Our next meeting at St Saviour’s Church Hall at 1.30 for 1.45 pm will be on Thursday, 19th April. The speaker will be Claire Nethersole from Merton Age Concern. Visitors or new members are always welcome to our small but friendly group.
Dorothy Raymond
