Ye who have a spark in your veins of cockney spirit, smile or mourn acccording as you take things well or ill;— Bold Britons, we are now on Shooter's Hill!
There’s another chance to experience the wonderful music of Woolwich Opera Works on Sunday at All Saints Church on Herbert Road, starting at 4.00pm, when they will be entertaining us with their Winter Warmers concert. They e-mailed with the details:
Welcome to the 2020 Woolwich Opera Works Season. Our first concert will feature some familiar faces, baritone Grant Doyle and tenor Samuel Stopford, as well as some new faces, soprano Imogen Roose and mezzo Vivien Conacher. These incredible singers are joined by Janet Haney on piano. WOW – Winter Warmers! In the chilly dark days of winter, what better way to warm your soul that with some stunningly beautiful operatic singing! Our singers will melt your souls with romantic ballads, schmaltzy songs and astonishingly beautiful arias! 4pm, Sunday February 2nd at All Saints Church, Shooters Hill. Don’t forget to bring someone new!
Once again the concert is free but there will be a collection at the end. Refreshments are available in the interval. Families are welcome, and there’s a kids’ corner.
We’re so lucky to be able to see and hear such talented musicians in the intimate setting of All Saints Church, with Hans Feibusch‘s beautiful mural as a backdrop.
Alison Dunne, Dominic J. Walsh, Maciek O’Shea, Angela Yang and Jeremy Silver in WOW – It’s Christmas at All Saints Shooters Hill
The Friends of Eaglesfield Park‘s rescheduled pond clearance will now take place this Sunday, 19th January 2020, between 9.00am and 2.00pm, and they would welcome volunteers to help. Bridget sent me details:
Friends of Eaglesfield Park Need You! Annual Pond Clearing Can you spare any time between 9am – 2pm on Sunday 19th January 2020 to take part in our Annual Pond Clearing? (Re-arranged from November) Residents and park users will be joining forces with Greenwich Council Parks Department staff to help clear the overgrowth of plants in and around the pond so that it can continue to thrive when Spring comes, and new life begins! Giving even an hour of your time would be so helpful. Bring gardening gloves, garden rakes and forks if you have them. Just turn up on the day or for more information call: 07734810402
There are more details on the Friends’ website, together with information about their plans for the refurbishment of the park playground. The Friends are also on Facebook and Twitter.
We look forward to welcoming you back in 2020 for another summer of nostalgia, riding behind our steam and electric locomotives. Due our possible relocation, the dates after 28 June may be subject to change or cancellation – notice will be published on the website and at the Falconwood site. The railway and clubhouse will be open from 2:00-5:00pm. Train rides will be available for children and adults(!), with the last ticket issued at 4:30pm. Refreshments are available in the clubhouse. Due to a reduction in car parking space, there is no parking on site on Public Running Days except for those with Blue Badges. Sunday April 5th 19th Sunday May 3rd 17th 31st Sunday June 14th 28th The following dates are subject to change or cancellation: Sunday July 12th 26th Sunday August 9th 23rd Sunday September 6th 20th Sunday October 4th (last running) Santa Special 2020 As you may be aware, we are moving from our current site. If we are able to hold our Santa Special day, it will be on Sunday 13th December, with tickets on sale on 20th September and 4th October. Please consult this website or our notices at our Falconwood site for the latest news. Open Day 2020 The date of our open day for visiting clubs will be published when it is finalised.
It now seems certain that the club will be moving to Hall Place in Bexley: Planning permission for a number of changes to Hall Place gardens was granted last November, and only listed building consent is now needed. The plan is to charge members of the public to go into the gardens once the changes are made.
Planning permission was requested by Bexley Council for the following:
• A new model railway and ancillary features for the Welling and District Model Engineering Society (sidings, station, ticket office, signal box, level crossing, carriage shed, miniature track and fencing); • A new clubhouse for the Welling and District Model Engineering Society, (to be located in the nursery yard area) • A new children’s play area • A new bridge across the River Cray to enhance accessibility • New window on west side of Visitor Centre/Pavilion Café • Canopy/covered seating area on east side of Visitor Centre/Café • New gates and fencing to secure separation between paid and unpaid areas • Signage/banners/wayfinding features • A human sundial • New wooden gate in the boundary fence for vehicular access
Funding of £619,000 has been secured for the changes, though this doesn’t include the cost of relocating the railway.
As shown in the plan above, the WDMES railway track would be on the South bank of the River Cray, on the other side of the river from the formal gardens area where Butterfly Jungles Experience and All About Owls are located. A new children’s play area will be constructed next to it.
Visitors who are not Bexley residents will have to pay £4.00 for access to the gardens, with senior citizens paying £3.00 and those aged between 5 and 16 £2.00. Bexley residents will pay half these amounts. Entrance to the areas where the owls and the butterflies are will continue to be free.
It is planned for the railway to run every Sunday between April and October plus occasional extra seasonal runs. As well as the track the WDMES area would include a carriage shed, station canopy, water tower and coal store, signal box and a ticket office.
Welling and District Model Engineering Society public running
Before heading down to Falconwood it’s worth checking the Welling and District Model Engineering Society web site for any updates or late cancellations. As WDMES said the dates from July onwards are particularly likely to change.
