Although details are still subject to finalisation and confirmation, this year's Members Weekend incorporating the Annual General Meeting, will be centred on Portsmouth over the weekend of 30th May to 2nd June.
The hotel we will be using will be the Royal Maritime Hotel which is in walking distance of the Dockyard, the Hard, the bus terminal and Portsmouth Harbour railway station and pier, so it is very convenient for those who do not wish to bring a car. We expect to visit the Isle of Wight on a day trip on the Saturday and tour the Dockyard for most of Sunday. For those arriving during the daytime on Friday we may be able to arrange an afternoon boat tour viewing Portsmouth harbour and much of the Royal Navy’s fleet.
The AGM will be arranged for Saturday evening before the team dinner. A formal notice of the meeting should appear with the March Digest. Meanwhile watch out for a further announcement when hotel bookings open.
The next Red Wheel event has been timetabled to coincide with the weekend of the AGM in Portsmouth.
The Red Wheel plaque commemorates the oldest year-round public hovercraft ferry service in Europe, linking Southsea with the Isle of Wight. This route is particularly apt for hovercraft as the Solent sands are broad and shallow, the craft working equally well skimming over sand and sea.
The Red Wheel unveiling is scheduled for 3:00 pm at the Hover terminal near Clarence Pier in Southsea. If you are already coming to the Friday afternoon Solent Cruise, one way you can just about make both events is by catching the H1 bus from The Hard bus station stop M at 2:43 pm to the Hover terminal, and then the return journey leaving at 3:26 pm to Gunwharf Quays. Bus passes are accepted.
On Wednesday 18th June, we will be visiting North Wales for a guided tour of the Boston Lodge Works of the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways.
We will meet at Porthmadog Station at 1.45pm for a visit lasting about 2 hours which begins with a short train ride over The Cob to Boston Lodge Works where we will see locomotives and rolling stock for both the FR and WHR being maintained and of course there will be plenty of photo opportunities available. The Works are at the forefront of narrow gauge railway technology and they are responsible for building many of the railway carriages in use on this and other similar railways. At the end of the visit our train will take us back again to Porthmadog Station.
The charge for this visit is £30 per head (£35 for non-members) and payment details together with final joining instructions will be sent out later.
For those who require lunch beforehand, there are numerous places to eat locally, including on the station itself and for those who require overnight accommodation, the following are recommended:
• The Royal Sportsman Hotel, Porthmadog
• The Golden Fleece Inn, Tremadog
For those wishing to stay for a few days, there is an event the same week to mark the 70th anniversary of the re-commencement of services on the Ffestiniog Railway, although this does not form part of our organised visit. Click here for more information.
To book your place on the visit to Boston Lodge Works, please contactour Visits Organiser Alan Wallwork by email.