Hereford Museum Archives Tour
On the 10th July the first of several groups of 6 Guides were treated to a fascinating tour of the Hereford Museum Archives in Friars Street. Sally Mansell kindly chose a broad selection of items for us to view including some David Garrick documents, and artefacts from his birthplace in Widemarsh St, Dr Francis's carriage, paintings by David Cox and Brian Hatton and several more, opening a tiny window onto the huge collection. The Archives hold a rich historical record of all aspects of life in Herefordshire through the ages, and will furnish the displays to be housed in the newly refurbished Museum and Gallery in Broad St, when works are completed in a few years' time. This will of course include the Herefordshire Hoard, currently on loan to the Yorvik Museum. What an exciting prospect! Many thanks to Sally Mansell, our guide for the morning.
AE
12.07.2024
Ian Stead Memorial Walk - 26th June 2024
A few days over one year since we sadly lost our friend Ian, members of the Guild joined forces with members of Dinedor History Group to take a fascinating walk around Ian’s best loved Neolithic/Iron Age Hill Camp. Lead by Professor Keith Ray, we were treated to a detailed and enlightening survey and interpretation of the telltale features of this prominent pre historic site on Dinedor Hill. Afterwards, to revive us from the heat of the afternoon tour, we were very kindly invited by Suzanne, Ian’s partner, to take tea and cake in the garden of their home in Dinedor, where we all agreed that it was the kind of occasion that Ian would have loved, and therefore a most fitting way to remember him. Our grateful thanks to Professor Ray and to Suzanne our host.
A.E
04.07.2024
Annual Summer Outing 2024
On an unseasonably chilly June day the Guild of Guides, guests and Cathedral Friends boarded the coach for an educational day in Cardiff. Refreshed and fuelled by coffee and Welsh Cakes, we were split into two groups for a two hour guided walk around the centre of the city, ably lead by Eugene and Remo of Fogo’s Cardiff Tours, who both entertained and informed in equal measure. After choosing our own lunch spots, the majority of participants seemed to end up in the National Museum to peruse the galleries and displays, and in particular the extraordinary collection of Impressionist and other paintings and sculptures (a delightful discovery for the author). An enlightening and enjoyable day was had by all.
A.E.
04.07.2024
Celebration of the Birthday of Sir Edward Elgar
To mark the date of Sir Edward's Elgar's birth, 2nd June, the Guild hosted a special event in partnership with The Green Dragon Hotel. The event began at 2pm with a guided walk of "Elgar's Hereford," starting from Jemma Pearson's handsome sculpture of the man himself in Cathedral Close. Lasting 90 minutes, it featured locations around the city centre that were important to him whilst living in Hereford, and was enhanced with relevant extracts of his music. The walk finished at the Green Dragon Hotel, of which Elgar was a regular patron, where the group of 12 sat down to a delicious afternoon tea whilst listening to The Enigma Variations. The event was much appreciated by all participants and is now planned to be a regular through the year. Watch out for another date to be announced soon. Booking via the Green Dragon.
AE
24.06.2024
Guides Refresher Day 2024
On a sunny Wednesday 8th May, as part of our ongoing training programme, the Guides attended a fascinating Refresher Day visiting locations in Hereford city centre not normally accessible to the public. Amongst these was the Masonic Hall in Kyrle Street, formerly Venn's Road. The building dates from 1851 when it was opened as a public bath house, funded by the Society for Aiding the Industrious, at the behest of the Reverend John Venn. The water was heated using excess steam from the flour mill next door, now Berrow's House. We were able to view the remains of the swimming pool that opened in 1870, the Reverend Venn again the driving force behind this public facility. We were also given a guided tour of the Masonic Hall, and a brief history and explanation of the Freemason movement, hosted by the Company Secretary, the Grand Master and the Deputy Grand Master, to whom we are grateful for their hospitality and this rare insight.
AE
12.05.2024