APRIL - With clear blue skies, though with a slight chill in the air, 25 members (the maximum allowed), started off for Tetbury, Gloucestershire, for a tour of the gardens at Highgrove House, the home of Prince Charles. The overall trip with a 45-minute stop for refreshments at a motorway service station, took around four hours and was made in the comfort of a modern coach (a company new to us). Annette Dwyer-Joyce, our Social Secretary, had made the booking for Highgrove almost four years previously and was told at the time of booking that there was an extremely long waiting list. On arrival at the gates we were met by two police officers, one of whom boarded the coach and checked our names and photographic proof of identity against the list of names submitted by Annette when making the booking. The other police officer checked the underside of the coach using a large mirror on a long pole. We were then directed into the grounds and with an extremely knowledgeable guide, started on the tour of the gardens that lasted more than two hours. We were fortunate that the weather was sunny and warm and all agreed that the visit was one that had been well worth the long wait. It was a trip that exceeded everybody's expectation. Prince Charles has endeavoured to create a natural haven for all kinds of wild life and has achieved this by concentrating on a recycling and organic doctrine. There are many different "gardens" including a walled garden, and azalea walk, a southern hemisphere garden, a woodland garden, and many more. Unfortunately, for security's sake, cameras were not permitted, so there are no photographs available. Below is a picture taken from the souvenir brochure. (Report: Brian Leith)