What Happened + Photos

Tales of naked women (and men), four-poster beds that weren’t, Wayne & Coleen’s visit, walking across a river, the truth about the quiz and much more
by
BIVC’s Special Correspondent : N Trepid

To see some of the photos, click here

Almost 100 people from across the country booked to come on the weekend.  Most were from Birmingham IVC but there were also welcome visitors from London, Essex, Manchester, Chester and Merseyside.

About twenty of us were able to set off early and meet up for a tasty meal in front of the roaring log fire of a very pleasant hostelry – “The Chimneys”.   Others – the more energetic perhaps – took themselves off for a walk in the Cheshire countryside.  It’s always good to start these weekends early and beat the evening rush on the roads.

The hotel was set in its own grounds and we approached it up a winding drive to the grand entrance guarded by large white columns.  Once inside, there was a pleasing mix of the old and the new.  Many of the areas in the original main house still retained the dark heavily carved wood panelling – this provided warm and intimate areas in which we were able to sink into deep arm chairs for a drink and chat.  The bedrooms and function rooms were very much more modern with an airy light feel and all the conveniences that we have now come to expect from hotels.  However, the ability to watch TV whilst soaking in the bath was new to some of us.

The more virtuous went off to sample the delights of the hotel’s fitness centre and spa.  Others relaxed in their rooms or snoozed in soft armchairs.  Some decided to explore the quaint local village or was it the call of the local pub with real ale and a log fire ?

The local village - Thornton Hough – has its roots in the 13th Cent but many of its current layout & buildings have their origins in the late 19th Cent when a Yorkshire woollen mill owner  began the development of a small model village. The village was subsequently bought and expanded by William Lever who developed housing for family, estate workers and company staff in a similar way to Port Sunlight.

We all congregated for our evening meal – a sumptuous hot & cold buffet with a selection of deserts that defied decision.  Four intrepid damsels arrived late after an encounter with a tyre on an unlit road and one Birmingham member didn’t turn up at all – we never found out what had happened to them ! 

Ferry 'cross the Mersey

The next morning, some even visited the gym before heading for the excellent  breakfast – everything you could ever want from fresh porridge to pain au chocolate.  Eventually everybody stopped eating and left to enjoy the delights of the area.  Surprisingly, only two opted to sample the delights of Chester, whilst the majority either left in a big group on a local walk or to head for various other sights – the U-boat museum, the Wirral Space Port (!) or the Lady Lever Art Gallery. 

A sizeable contingent relived the lyrics of Gerry and the Pacemakers’ famous song and took the ferry cross the Mersey.  Rather than taking them straight across the river to Liverpool the ferry went up stream and the commentary informed us of many of the sights on the banks that slipped past. Once on dry land, various attractions were explored by the various groups – tea shops in the Albert Docks, the Walker Art Gallery, the two cathedrals (Liverpool has a spare) and the famous Philharmonic Pub (where a sign boasts that it has the only Grade 1 listed gents toilet in England).  A couple of contingents also took the Mersey Tunnel to drive up the coast to see the "Another Place” sculptures by Antony Gormley – better known as the iron men on the beach that get drowned twice a day by the tide.  A select few took to two wheels to take advantage of the local flat landscape.

The Saturday evening meal is often the highlight of these weekends and this was no exception.  Many – men and women – dressed to impress and there were a number of stunning flocks and dapper DJs on display.  Thankfully, Ann had kept a note of everything we had ordered and the food & service was excellent and we eat well illuminated by the candelabras. Pete Howe made a fulsome speech that seemed to thank everybody for everything – but mainly Ann for organising everything so well – I’m sure that the bottle of Champers will not last long. The DJ seemed to judge her audience very well and soon a good proportion of us were strutting our respective stuff.  Respek to the Great Wall of China for his annual performance to the Stone’s “Brown Sugar”. It seems that there is life in (some) of the old dogs yet as the dancing went on to at least 0130 Sunday morning.

All the rooms were excellent with all the amenities that are now expected in a modern hotel. However, some were (randomly allocated better rooms).  One long-standing member took much pleasure in trumpeting that they had a double bed.  However they complained that it was in the wrong position as they couldn’t see the TV whilst reclining in bed.  There was some sympathy until it was pointed out that there wasn’t in fact a post, just draped curtains that could easily be moved aside !

Port Sunlight Model Village

For some reason, there weren’t many people around for an early breakfast but most had emerged – just - before service stopped.  Again there were a number of forays into the Wirral and across to Merseyside – different people visiting the same sights as yesterday.  Quite a number descended on Port Sunlight, the purpose built workers’ village built for Lever’s employees.  It’s on the lines of Bournville but perhaps smaller, with wider distances between the different house designs and, most importantly, the residents took a vote and a pub was included.  The Lady Lever Gallery had some spectacular pieces – both paintings and sculptures : it’s always surprising that whilst the Victorians had a reputation for being somewhat prudish, that there was a large number of naked men and women on show in both 2D and 3D.  One of the most unusual walks was the across the tidal sands to the Hilbre islands in the middle of the Dee Estuary.  These rocks are cut off from the mainland by the tide for up to 5 hours out of every 12 hours.

About 60 people stayed for the Sunday night and were treated to yet another excellent buffet.  This was followed by an excellent if somewhat raucous quiz.  I’m quite sure that everything was above board and beyond reproach but Andy and Gill who did all the hard organisational work were sitting with the winning team during the meal (perhaps that's why they were all wearing masks on Saturday night) ! !   A few specially selected members were treated to a guided tour of the Penthouse that one member was lucky enough to have been allocated.  By the time you’d scaled various staircases there was a need for oxygen.  There was a massive bedroom (no four-poster), a living area and a massive bathroom with two glass hand basins, a roll-top bath big enough to swim lengths in and a separate shower room.  Evidently Mr and Mrs Rooney had also spent the night in the bed – I’m not sure whether that’s a plus or minus.

Monday morning saw the inevitable end  of the weekend as people wended their way back home for a good rest.

Many thanks to Ann for organising, with the assistance of Janet, an excellent weekend.

Also thanks to Rachel & Martin Wright, Keith Robbins and John Streel of Merseyside IVC for organising/leading walks for us.  Keith also organised guided tours of the Lady Lever Gallery and provided a large stock of information local information leaflets & maps. Sally Champion of Chester & North Wales IVC kindly led the walk to the Dee islands.