Newsletter - 15th December 2020

Tuesday 15^th December 2020

Meeting with Osborne Management

The Secretary and myself met with Osborne management recently and discussed a number of issues – listed below: –  

Friends Booking System

This appears to be running smoothly from month to month with about the right number of bookings to fill our allocated 100 places.  If I can remind members to be considerate and not over-book so that all members have a reasonable chance of making a visit.  Osborne are keeping a list of member names to allow us to continue to monitor this.

Please remember that the site is closed Monday and Tuesday so try to book Wednesday visits the week before if possible.  After Christmas, Osborne will only be open at weekends until the February half-term.

Weather Vane

Members may recall that we committed to making a contribution to the restoration of the weather vane that sits on the top of the clock tower.  I am pleased to say that the work has now been completed and it is back at Osborne ready for installation (via a huge crane!) in early February.  The Project Manager has offered to provide and insight into the work that was required and hopefully we can create a photo opportunity with the County Press, highlighting the contribution of the Friends. 

Fence Repairs

Members may be aware of historic metal fencing to be seen on the walk down to the beach in the valley.  Urgent repairs are required and I am pleased that local iron mongers at The Forge in Whippingham have been contracted to undertake the work in the new year and the Friends will be making a contribution to the overall cost.  Again, I will be asking that Osborne management credit our contribution when this work is completed.

Benches

As many of us know, considering that Osborne is a 250-acre estate, there are too few benches for a much-needed rest!  Consequently, we will make a small annual contribution to provide more benches around the estate – each will carry a small plaque indicating that the Friends have gifted these to Osborne.

Eating at Osborne

Although the café in the Petty Officers Quarters is closed, the Orangery (adjacent to the Terrace Restaurant) is open for take-aways and the restaurant is available for pre-booked table service for on-site guests only.  The Beach Café is also open for a limited take-away offer.  After Christmas, the restaurant will be serving weekend roasts – again pre-booked table service only.

Toby’s Trees & Wreaths

Osborne has a seasonal wreath trail and Toby (Head Gardener) has Toby’s Tall Trees Trail as an added attraction over the next couple of weeks.

Platinum Jubilee

There is currently a national tree planting scheme being proposed to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.  We have indicated that we would like to fund a tree-planting at Osborne – very much in keeping with the tradition that Prince Albert and Queen Victoria began back in the 1850’s.  We’ll keep you up to date with this as the date approaches.

Further Meetings

As we all know the Covid restrictions can be changeable depending upon the tiering and hopefully the imminent roll out of the vaccine! Consequently, we will meet again with Osborne management in late January to review the status quo and then let you all know of any changes impacting upon our visits.

Remembrance Service

Despite the lock-down restrictions in November, we were still able to make a small and socially distanced service outdoors at St Mildred’s in Whippingham to mark the day and lay the wreath on behalf of the Friends.