Up!

Chairman's - Newsletter December 2024

Saturday 14th December 2024

Dear Members,

As I write this newsletter, we are being battered by Storm Darragh which forced Osborne to take the difficult decision to close this Saturday and Sunday. Let’s hope the Christmas tree, donated and decorated by members of FoO, is going to survive!

Our AGM at the end of November went well and we were able to pass the amendments to our constitution. Willow, the catering manager at Osborne, supplied us with delicious cakes and David Bailey and Christopher Warleigh-Lack each gave us a very informative talk. 

They also judged the photo competition and chose ‘Osborne After the Rain’ taken by Anne Dziedzicki, as the winner of the Photo of the Year.

As I mentioned in my recent note last month, Members can ONLY book onto a guided tour of the House on a Friday from now until the New Year.  However, members are able to visit the House at weekends during December, and between Christmas and the New Year, when it is free flow. This gives members a chance to see the house decorated for Christmas.  Also, from January until February half term, members can book a guided tour at weekends when Osborne is open.  It is only on a Wednesday and Thursday during December that members are unable to book a tour. This is because with the Xmas tree decorations etc., the tours get very booked and priority needs to go to EH members and visitors.

However, booking a tour through the English Heritage website has proved problematic for some members. When making a booking via the EH website; select the Associated Organisation option and then from the drop-down menu click on New English Heritage Member.

Don’t forget to take advantage of the 25 % off all goods in the shop from Wednesday 11th to Sunday 15th December.

Some members may wish to visit The Whippingham Tree Festival, which is on from Thursday 12th December to Sunday 15th December. People can visit St. Mildred’s Church to see the huge number of trees that will be displayed there from 11:00 to 15:00 on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and from 12:00 to 15:00 on the Sunday. Friends of Osborne will be displaying a tree.

The committee met earlier this week and have started to discuss events we would like to run in 2025.One suggestion was a coach trip to visit Buckingham Palace. Opal Travel are able to offer a day excursion on Sunday 21st September 2025, with return coach and ferry travel and entrance to the State Rooms, for £62 pp. More details and booking forms will follow next month.

As a committee we have decide to introduce a £5 joining fee. This will come into effect on January 1st and will also apply to any lapsed memberships. 

I would like to thank all the trustees, committee members and EH staff, who have worked so hard this year to bring about so many wonderfully successful events. I also want to give an extra ‘thank you’ to the treasurer and membership secretary, who have put in many hours of work to enable Friends of Osborne to run so smoothly. 

Finally, I would like to wish all our members a Merry Christmas and hope you all enjoy it with your family and loved ones. 

Best wishes 

Allison Rogers

 

 

web site by Island Webservices