Newsletter - 9th November 2020
Monday 9th November 2020
Lockdown Update
You will all be aware of the latest lockdown restrictions that have come into effect this week and are in place until December 2nd (we hope no longer !?)
Remembrance Service
Obviously, this will mean the cancellation of the Remembrance Service planned for November 8th. There will however, be a private laying of the Friends wreath by arrangement with the Vicar of St. Mildred’s. All of those who had already paid, should by now, have had an email from the Secretary about how to get a refund directly into their banks – please contact the Secretary on the email below if there are any delays.
Osborne Visits
English Heritage has confirmed that the grounds and gardens will remain open throughout this second lockdown with all interior spaces closed. Consequently, you may continue to use the TELEPHONE booking system and note the winter opening hours of Wednesday – Sunday. Please visit the English Heritage website for further details.
Meeting with Osborne Management
We have had to postpone a planned meeting with Osborne Management when we had hoped to review the new booking procedures and also discuss the details of our next donations and what the monies would be used for. We will now meet in mid-December, all being well.
Annual General Meeting
We are hoping to hold our AGM, probably in May and subject to venue availability and a lifting of restrictions to permit a large gathering of members. Further updates on this will be given in due course, subject to the various changing scenarios.
Finally, a welcome to a number of new members who have joined us recently, we do hope that the full range of benefits will become available sooner rather than later! And alas, we wish to mark the passing of another long-standing member, Sheila Swan, who kindly left a number of Victorian related books to the Friend’s library at Osborne.
Please contact our Secretary, via this email address only, mtee45@hotmail.co.uk should you have any concerns or queries about any of the issues above.
Best wishes
Rob Flower
Chair of Friends of Osborne Trustees.
6 November 2020
NOVEMBER OPENING
English Heritage has, this afternoon, announced it’s intention to keep some of it’s sites open during the current lockdown. Consequently, the grounds and gardens of Osborne will remain open to local visitors within government guidelines on Wednesday to Sundays 10am to 4pm. All interior spaces will be closed until 3 December which includes the House, the Gift Shop, Petty Officer’s Quarters and the Orangery. Visitors are asked to bear in mind the government’s latest advice on essential journeys before planning their visit. All visits must be booked in advance.
5 October 2020
NEW BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS
Members have today been emailed the instructions for booking visits to Osborne which are applicable from today, Monday 5 October 2020. Also included in the email were details of the arrangements for this year’s Remembrance Service to be held at St Mildred’s Church on Sunday 8 November.
Any member who has not received the email is advised to contact our Secretary on mtee45@hotmail.co.uk.