Chairman's Newsletter - February 2024
Thursday 15th February 2024
Dear Members,
As I write this, it is again raining outside, but on a positive note, it is getting lighter in the evenings.
The winter guided tours at Osborne have been very successful and helped in increasing visitor numbers over the winter. The costumes, which Friends of Osborne funded, have been admired and it is likely that Osborne may ask us to fund additional costumes.
Although the tours are prebooked and limited to twenty visitors a tour, there have been some slots available on the early morning tours. I went with two other FoO members and we managed to secure places on the 10:20 tour. If members want to turn up at POQ and see if they can join a tour, they are very welcome to do so, but it is subject to availability. The early morning tours and Fridays are the times when members are most likely to be able to find a slot available. However, you must be prepared to be disappointed if the tour is fully booked, as EH members have priority and some of them have also been turned away if the tour is fully booked.
During half term (February 12th to 16th) Osborne is back to free flow, so members wanting to visit the house are very welcome to do so and are not limited to just Friday. The beach is open and all the paths and damage from the storms have been repaired.
Osborne then goes back to opening five days a week, being closed on Monday and Tuesday. Access to the house is then only by guided tours. These tours then end on March 15th.
We have almost finalised dates for our events. The first talk is on Thursday March 21st.
Sarah Burdett is giving a talk on Norris Castle. Norris Castle was designed by James Wyatt for Lord Henry Seymour. The estate adjoins Osborne House and in August 1831, young Victoria aged 12 years old, stayed here with her mother, the Duchess of Kent.
Click here for details. Friends of Osborne | Talk on Norris Castle
Our second talk is by Mark Earp and is on Tuesday 30th April. The talk is ‘Curiosities of the Isle of Wight’.
Click here for details. Friends of Osborne | Talk 'Curiosities of the Isle of Wight'
Our first event will be a Spring Walk in April, led by Toby, the Head Gardener. Details will follow shortly when we have confirmed dates.
We had six entries for our January photo competition. Please click here to view these together with the winner Friends of Osborne | January 2024 - Photo Competition Entries | Friends of Osborne and here to see how you can enter a picture Friends of Osborne | Photography Competition.
The winning photo from each month will be displayed at the AGM in November, where an overall winner will be selected by EH staff. Although the weather is not conducive to taking photos, keep your eyes open for an interesting or atmospheric shot. We would love to see them and it is lovely for members to see images of Osborne and the grounds taken by members.
Best wishes
Allison Rogers