Chairman's Newsletter - April 2024
Sunday 21st April 2024
April Newsletter from the Chairman
Dear Members,
I hope you all had an enjoyable Easter and were able to get out and about, despite the weather. The longer, lighter evenings certainly help to raise the mood.
Our membership is growing all the time. We have had 121 new members joining since the beginning of the year and have close to one thousand members now.
Sarah Burdett’s talk in March about Norris Castle was fascinating and very well attended. We had to close bookings for this talk at 40, due to the fact we were in the Duchess of Kent Suite. Two members informed us, prior to the event, that they would not be able to come. However, four members who had booked, did not turn up on the day. If you are unable to attend, could you please inform us so we can give other members on a waiting list the chance to listen to the talk.
Unfortunately, our Flower Arranging Workshop due to take place on April 19th had to be cancelled due to insufficient interest. However, the very popular Christmas Wreathmaking workshop will take place in the Winter.
Our next talk on Tuesday April 30th by Mark Earp is now fully booked. Although it is in the newly refurbished Education Rooms, we felt 50 was the maximum we could seat comfortably. There is a waiting list on line for this talk, so if you find at the last minute you are no longer able to come, please inform us.
The talk begins at 11:00 and a member of the committee will be by the green gate near Admissions at 10:40, to give you a lanyard and direct you to the Education Rooms.
Toby’s Spring Colour Walk on Wednesday 24th April (which is limited to 30 members) has only one space available so will also be closed to bookings very shortly. Please meet at 10:45 by the green gate.
Below is a list of some of our upcoming events with links to details and booking forms.
There are still places available for Rosemary Cooper’s talk on
Princess Beatrice and the Carisbrook Museum.
This is on Thursday 9th May.
For more information, please click below
Friends of Osborne | Talk on Princess Beatrice and the Carisbrooke Museum
Places are being booked quickly for the visit to
Quarr Abbey on Wednesday 22nd May.
Please click below for details.
Friends of Osborne | Visit to Quarr Abbey
The provisional date for the Hidden Osborne Tour
with Christopher Warleigh-Lack is Friday June 7th
but this needs to be confirmed.
The Walled Garden Drinks Party will be on Wednesday July 3rd.
More details, including booking forms, will follow shortly.
Several members have already booked for the
Visit to East Cowes Boat Museum on Wednesday 10th July.
Please click below for more details.
Friends of Osborne | Visit to East Cowes Classic Boat Museum
We also have a Quiz Night planned for September and an Autumn walk with Osborne’s Head Gardener in October.
Two talks have been organised for the Autumn.
Thursday 5th September. ‘The Making of a Queen’ by Kevin Shaw.
Thursday 17th October. ‘Princess Beatrice - Island Governor’ by Sarah Lang.
Details of these talks will follow nearer the time.
With the better weather hopefully on the horizon, members can enjoy the grounds and be creative with scenes they are able to capture for our Photo of the Month competitions. Entries for the April competition close on 30th April. Please look at the entries for the last few months in the Gallery section of our website Friends of Osborne | Pictures | Friends of Osborne and vote for April’s winner. Entries for May will open on 1st May.
It was suggested by some members that we also have a separate ‘Dog at Osborne’ photo competition. Many of our members walk their dogs in the grounds at Osborne so photos of dogs enjoying a walk (with Osborne and the grounds in the background) will be accepted throughout the summer. The photos will be judged in October and the winner announced at the AGM. I would like to remind members that dogs must be kept on short leads at all times. There have been a few members, both EH and FoO, who have commented on how many dogs they see off the lead.
One of the committee members is liaising with EH as to where we may be able to hold a Ladies Lunch. Hopefully we will soon be able to give you a date and venue.
The committee meet on the first Monday of the month. We have a strong and active committee, but if any members would like to help with organising events, we would love to see you. Our next meeting is Monday 6th May at 6:00.
I hope you all continue to enjoy the beautiful grounds at Osborne and that I manage to meet some of you at the forthcoming events.
Best wishes
Allison Rogers