Chairman's Newsletter - September 2024
Monday 9th September 2024
Newsletter from the Chairman September 2024
Dear Members,
The schools are back and there is certainly an Autumnal feel in the air.
I hope some of you were able to enjoy ‘All the Queen’s Horses’ at the end of August. It took place in a new area, that hadn’t been used for an event since the 1990s and it was a great success. Over the three days there were 6,112 visitors which was a good turnout considering that on the last day the organisers were battling against wind and rain.
We enjoyed our first event of the Autumn on Thursday, when Kevin Shaw gave a very interesting talk to over forty members about Queen Victoria’s early life. It was fascinating to have an insight into her childhood and see many wonderful drawings that she and Albert produced when they were very young. A talent which has continued through to King Charles who is a very gifted artist.
Our next event is The Quiz Night. This takes place on Friday 13th September. Over forty people have booked for this event which will be held in the Terrace Restaurant. It is always a very popular event and I look forward to hearing who the winning team is. Bookings are now closed for this event.
This month we are also having An Evening of Songs from Steve Love on Tuesday 24th September from 6:30 to 7:30. Please assemble at the green gate outside POQ at 6:10 where you will be met.
Cost £6 to include a glass of wine or soft drink. There will be no food provided but please feel free to bring some nibbles/snacks with you.
This will take place in the Education Suite where you can sit and enjoy a drink while Steve entertains you. Steve is a local resident of East Cowes and member of Friends of Osborne. He writes all his own songs which are full of humour and cover various aspects of Island life. Steve has kindly offered to do this event free of charge so all the money raised from this event will go to Friends of Osborne for us to support various projects at Osborne.
It is a wonderful opportunity for members, new and old, to meet each other. We now have 1,055 members with 281 new members joining this year.
Please click here for more details and booking form: Friends of Osborne | An evening of songs from Steve Love
We have three events in October.
An Autumn Walk with Toby Beasley on Wednesday 2nd October from 11:00 am to 12:30pm.
Toby will guide members around the grounds looking at the last of the summer bedding and herbaceous plants and trees starting to change colour. Cost: £12
Please click here for more details and booking forms: Friends of Osborne | Autumnal Walk with Head Gardener Toby Beasley
Christopher Warleigh-Lack has given us a date for Hidden Osborne on Friday 11th October.
Christopher will again take two groups of twenty members for a 45-minute tour. The first group will meet at 5:25 for a tour from 5:45 to 6:30. The second group will meet at 6:25 for a tour from 6:45 to 7:30.
For more details and booking forms click here: Friends of Osborne | 'Hidden Osborne' - Tour by Christopher Warleigh-Lack
We have our last talk for the year on Thursday 17th October. Sarah Lang is talking about ‘Princess Beatrice – Island Governor’. 11:00 to 12:00
Princess Beatrice was Queen Victoria’s youngest child and closest companion. She also had a special connection to the Isle of Wight. Join us to find out more about her life and her role as Island Governor for more than 40 years.
Cost: £5. Please click here for more details and booking forms: Friends of Osborne | 'Princess Beatrice - Island Governor' - Talk
Our Annual General Meeting will be held in The Terrace Restaurant on Thursday 21st November at 6:00 pm.
David Bailey will talk about Osborne over the last year and plans for the future. He will also judge the winning photographs from the last nine months and pick an overall winner. More details will follow shortly. The winning photo for August was ‘Floral Time’. Click here to see August’s entries: Friends of Osborne | August 2024 - Photo comp | Friends of Osborne
I hope you all enjoy some lovely Autumn days and that I see some of you at the upcoming events.
Best wishes
Allison Rogers