Parkinson's UK Oxford and District Branch Newsletter

Visits and Outings

Martin Cowell

When Sally caught my eye and asked me to join the Branch Committee (she made me an offer I couldn’t refuse…!) I wondered initially what role I might play. Pretty soon though the need for a new ‘Visits Co-ordinator’ became clear, and I jumped at the opportunity. My retirement hobby (which quickly became a full-time job, at least in the Spring and summer – and latterly a business which I owned and ran) had been driving and guiding (mostly) Americans to the Cotswolds and elsewhere – although we also took fans of ‘Midsomer Murders’ to the filming locations in south Oxfordshire (thus discovering that most of Australia watches the programmes at least twice a week!) It seemed like very good practice (and useful experience) for taking on this new challenge!

The first visit I organised, taking over from Sally our indefatigable chair, was to Warner’s at Lakeside on Hayling Island, in September last year. Although by then I was already booked to go elsewhere, I was able to be on hand to collect the keys from the Reception Office and make sure members found their way to their respective rooms, which were spread out across the extensive site. Jenyth, who is writing elsewhere in this issue, gave a positive report on proceedings and all seemed to go very well.

Our first excursion in 2019 was the Branch Lunch in March, for which we relocated to The Greyhound at Besselsleigh. I had driven by it many times as I brought touring clients back from Stonehenge and Salisbury, and had noticed that it was always busy, which seemed a good sign. It turned out to be an excellent choice: we were given our own dedicated space, were very well looked after, and nearly 40 members and their partners enjoyed a very good occasion: we even managed the logistics of getting the correct pre-ordered lunches to all the right people. Indeed the toughest part was getting off the S6 bus across the road past the speeding A420 traffic!

In early June we went to the Cotswold Wildlife Park where almost 30 attendees had a fun day out, just managing to stay dry enough for an outdoor picnic, on a cloudy Tuesday. Several new members joined us for this, as well as three from the Banbury branch. Once more the logistics, of marshalling the group past the ticket offices as they all arrived independently, worked smoothly: well done, Cotswold Wildlife Park and ‘thank you’ for the group concessionary rate.

Attention then turned to the Branch Holiday at Warner’s Holme Lacy for this year’s trip, in October. I decided that I should make a site visit early in the day so back in April I indulged myself with a trip by train along the Cotswold Line to Hereford. I must say at once that my experience of Warner’s staff and customer service has been exemplary at every stage. My new best friend, Debbie at Group Sales in Hemel Hempstead, could not have been more helpful or attentive, and this followed on with the time I spent on my fact-finding visit to Holme Lacy with national sales manager Sarah (who turned out to be a fanatical football supporter, and friend of the daughter of the current Oxford United Manager!). The baton has been taken up by the splendid local Sales Manager, Yasmin, who has assisted with the detailed planning. Just as an indication of what is involved, I have arranged car shares to and fro from Oxford; bags transfer for a couple of train travellers; a birthday cake and Prosecco for all; allocated tables for dinner for our group; special dietary arrangements; and for places on the hotel’s weekly bus into Hereford. Oh, and a switch of rooms after the hotel had to schedule building work in one of those we had been allocated. All part of the fun!

Our final event of the year was a trip by coach to Winchester Christmas Market at end-November (we were going to Bath, but after the authorities there decreed that buses could not park anywhere near the Abbey, with no concessions for those with mobility issues, we switched locations.

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