Events Blewbury Wallingford

Blewbury Blewbury is a compact ancient springline village nestling beneath the old Berkshire downs. It is a beautiful and vital village, with thatched walls and ducks on the mill stream, full of activity and community spirit. There are four pubs, The Blewbury Inn, The Red Lion, The Load of Mischief and The Barley Mow, offering between them a complete range of pub food. The Blewbury Inn and Red Lion both do B&B. There is a beautiful Saxon church, cobb (thatched) walls and interesting footpaths around the village. Contact: Stephen Gaymer Email: HomeAloners@BTInternet.com Tel: +44 (0)1235 851065 Fax: +44 (0)1235 851119

During 1998 we shall rotate the days of the monthly meetings from Monday through to Friday; there are always people who cannot make particular days, and so at least they will now be able to come to some of the lunches. In May back to the Red Lion for our SECOND ANNIVERSARY LUNCH. In June we will meet in the Blewbury Inn, and we shall alternate between the venues in future. Red Lion, Blewbury Chapel Lane, off Nottingham Fee; narrow turning northwards from A417 In winter you can roast chestnuts over the big open fire at this welcoming 18th-c Downland pub. Genuinely atmospheric and friendly, the engaging beamed bar has upholstered wall benches and armed seats on its scrubbed quarry tiles, cupboards and miniature cabinets filled with ornaments, foreign banknotes on the beams, and a steadily ticking station clock; a no-smoking bar is popular with families. Well kept Boddingtons and Brakspears Bitter on handpump, decent wines, and a good range of non-alcoholic drinks; dominoes, cards, backgammon. The extended garden has a terrace with quite a few seats and tables. The small saloon bar and the dining room have been recently redecorated to create more of a wine bar atmosphere. Brakspears - Licensees Roger & Caroline Smith - Real ale - Meals and snacks - Restaurant - (01235) 850403 - Children welcome in part of bar and restaurant till 9pm - Open 11-2.30, 6-11; Sun 12-3.00, 7-10.30. Date: Thursday 28 May 1998 Time: 12.30pm Event: Second Anniversary Lunch Price: £15 Venue: Red Lion, Blewbury Contact: Roger & Caroline Smith Tel: 01235 850403 Comments: HomeAloners second anniversary lunch Reserve your place at the Anniversary Lunch, 28 May: Contact: Stephen Gaymer Email: SGaymer@compuserve.com Tel: +44 (0)1235 851065 Fax: +44 (0)1235 851119 Blewbury Inn, Blewbury London Road (A417) The Blewbury Inn has a small, cosy and welcoming bar to the left of the front door, with beams and log fire, and to the right a separate six-table dining-room with understated décor and stencils on mustard-coloured walls. There are ensuite bedrooms available. Morells Oxford Mild and beers from the Hook Norton brewery are supplemented by a guest bitter. Wines by the glass or bottle. Free House - Licensees Maureen & Andy - Hook Norton Real Ales - Guest Ales - Restaurant - Ensuite Accommodation: 3 rooms, B&B £32 to £50 - Tel: (01235) 850496 - Fax: 850691 Children welcome in restaurant ¥ Car park ¥ Wheelchair access (also WC) ¥ No smoking in restaurant ¥ Background music ¥ Dogs welcome Open 11 to 2.30 (3 Sat), 6 to 11, Sun 12 to 3, 7 to 10.30; Bar food and Restaurant Tue to Sun L 12 to 2, Tue to Sat 7 to 9 (9.30 Sat) Date: Friday 19 June 1998 Time: 12.30pm Event: Lunch Price: £15 Venue: Blewbury Inn, Blewbury Contact: Andy & Maureen Tel: 01235 850496 Comments: Another lunch at the Blewbury Inn

Wallingford Wallingford received its first charter in 1155, making it one of the oldest boroughs in the country. A 900 foot bridge stands on the site of an ancient ford, giving access to this charming river side town. Wallingford is a crucial crossing point of the River Thames, and as such is of great strategic importance. William the Conqueror crossed the river here in 1067; there are remains of a Norman castle which was noted for the strength of its defences, tested for the last time when it was the last Royalist stronghold to surrender. There is a 17th century Town Hall, many timber framed buildings, lovely streets, houses and inns and a beautiful view over the bridge. The church in the market square has an impressive tower. Contact: Mike Lupton Tel./Fax: +44 (0)1491 834558 Home Sweet Home, Roke, Oxfordshire Village signposted off B4009 Benson--Watlington The low-walled garden at the front of this rather smart thatched and tiled old house looks out on to the quiet hamlet, and is ideal for an excellent lunch on a sunny day; there are lots of flowers around the tables out by the well. Inside, the two smallish, bare-boarded and stone-walled rooms of the bar have a good country atmosphere, as well as have heavy stripped beams, leather armed chairs, a few horsey or game pictures such as a nice Thorburn print of snipe, and big log fires - one with a great high-backed settle facing it across a hefty slab of a rustic table. On the right, a carpeted room with low settees and armchairs, and an attractive corner glass cupboard, leads through to the restaurant. Very good bar food, particularly good vegetables. Well kept Brakspears Bitter and Eldridge Pope Royal Oak on handpump, and a good choice of malt whiskies. Free house - Licensees Jill Madle, Peter and Irene Mountford - Real ale - Meals and snacks (till 10pm) - Restaurant - (01491) 838249 - Well behaved children welcome - Open 11-3, 5.30-11