Black Cat Picnic

What is the Black Cat Picnic I hear you say?                      

                                                                                                    The Black Cat Trophy

Every year Team Essex have a picnic which is organised by the recipient of the “Black Cat Trophy” they received the previous year by way of a misdemeanour made on the day.

This year was organised by Andy Bailey and wife April, and having been invited to attend we duly arrived at the Down Hall Hotel, Hadley Heath, meeting up for coffee and biscuits with Team Essex.

Having received our itinerary and routes we made our way to Greenstead Church where a guided tour of the Worlds Oldest Wooden Church had been arranged. On departure from the Church we made our way too the gardens of Little Easton. Needless to say the usual BNMC navigation problems ensued, turning left or right to early – following the car in front instead of the route provided – etc. every one made their way to Little Easton sooner or later and were parked adjacent to the Sunken Italian Garden on the Croquet lawn, where we had our home grown Picnic Lunch.

Following lunch we were given a short insight to the history of the house and gardens by Claire a Trustee of the Preservation Trust, followed by a guided tour of the Gardens with Claire pointing out interesting facts relating to the History and Scandal of the original estate and its occupants.

On our return from the guided tour the symbolic Cream Tea was served followed by the presentation of the “Black Cat Trophy” to a very worthy member this year being Robert Emanual,who will organise next year’s picnic.

My thanks go to Andy and April for a most enjoyable day.

Rod Nash.