2007
Sunday March 25: Philip Heath led a walk around mediaeval Melbourne looking at the church in context with its neighbours including the Castle and Castle Green, the Churchyard, the Hall, the Mill and Pool, and the Dower House etc.
Saturday April 15 : Easter Garden - Old Graveyard. Once again, the graves in this peaceful resting place of many people from old Melbourne families was decorated with Easter gardens by a score of local organisations for the weekend.
Friday April 20: The Lord Lieutenant, Mark Todd MP and about 130 guests welcomed the Rt. Hon. Margaret Beckett M.P., Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Her talk was "Britain and its role in World affairs". After the talk she answered questions, some very pointed, in an informative and open manner. She stayed talking to over a glass of wine until 9.30 pm and showed herself very willing to engage with people.
Saturday May 5: A visit by coach to Packwood House and Baddesley Clinton, two wonderful National Trust properties. The gardens were lovely with blooms typical of June, not May.
Thursday May 24: Mr Ray Ruszszynski - Head Teacher, Chellaston Foundation School and Technology College gave a talk on The Challenges and Opportunities for Young People. His talk also covered the current hot local topic of secondary education in Melbourne. The evning was, as expected, very lively and informative.
Sunday June 24: We took a coach load of toddlers to Staunton Harold for Pottery Painting. I am pretty sure they had no idea who the Friends were, but their parents did.
Sunday July 1: A wonderful Summer Jazz Evening of good food and wine, good company, good music and dancing was held in the grounds of Castle House, by the remaining walls of the 14th Century Melbourne Castle. We would like to thank Brian Dollamore and his daughter Lucy who conveniently got married on the Saturday, and hence the use of his castle(!), marquee, dance floor, loos, tables, chairs, cutlery, crockery, cookers and the rest.
Sunday July 22: Lunch in the Dower House Garden has almost become an annual event. 56 people came; the lunch was sold out and thoroughly enjoyed. Griselda kerr deserves our thanks for hosting us. What a garden!
Saturday September 8: As part of the Melbourne Festival, Kate Adie, the renowned BBC broadcaster gave a talk to the Friends, following the unveiling of a commemorative plaque to Thomas Cook orgainised by the Melbourne Historical Research Group. 250 people came to hear her talk and she did not dissapoint. Thanks must go to Philip Heath, the chairman of the MHRG and a trustee of the Friends for carping the diem, (as they don't say) and getting her to agree to both events.
Thursday September 13: The second Friends event of the Melbourne Festival was the return of Fiori Musicali with a programme of Vivaldi including the Four Seasons. 160 people came, more than half of whom were not Friends paying £15 or £10 a seat, as compared to the Friends who also paid £15 and £10. Same price, but the Friends knew about it first, the critical advantage when a concert is a sell-out as this one was.
Sunday November 11: A series of readings and poems from the Great War with a rolling slide show. This was very moving and enjoyed by a small audience of 30. Perhaps the stunning success of last year's readings, (and its length), was enough for the Friends.
Friday November 23: Last year a very successful "Antiques Roadshow" was held, with Nigel Kirk of Mellors & Kirk, inspecting a range of treasures brought by Friends. This was repeated, once again with a good audience and an enjoyable evening.
Wednesday December 12: This included a tour of the house decorated for Christmas and a trip to the Chatsworth Farm Shop for the Duke's sausages and that essential leg of venison. The trip could have been run twice, such was the demand. It was a beautiful day and a great time was had by all.
