Each September the Friendly Society orgainises a mystery outing for the Senior Citizens, usually by coach including a cream tea and a supper in the village hall in the evening.

2008 Senior Citizen's Outing

This year the seniors were treated to a trip to Swindon.

MY BIG DAY.

One of the features of our village is the Annual Mystery Outing for its older residents. This traditional event is arranged by the Westbury Friendly Society. There is a strict programme:- the bus departs at 12.00 from the Village Hall and along the way is tea with scones, jam and clotted cream returning to the Hall at 7.00 pm followed by a supper of ham salad and sweet.  Finally raffle tickets are sold and drawn and the national anthem sung.  The latter is a recent innovation requested by loyal participants but otherwise the programme, like the laws of the Medes and Persians, ‘changeth not’.

The destination is a strict secret.  Perish the man or woman who would disclose the destination!

On Monday 22nd September, by midday, the bus was full and a small overflow went in a white van driven by Sue Reece. Some, like myself, being partly disabled, received assistance at strategic moments.  The bus then set off towards Bath, while Malcolm Mogford provided a running commentary.  Surely not the Roman baths?

We went to the railway station and were given tickets to Swindon.  All I knew about Swindon was that it was the former engineering centre for the old Great Western Railway.  Now we learnt that it was also a favourite location for decentralising administrative services from London, including the National Trust, where we were to go for our scone tea. The café being some way from the station Peter Bright once more had the unenviable task of pushing me round in my wheelchair.

We visited the Railway Museum where the first of the Castle class GWR locomotives was on view. The “Caerphilly Castle” was a real giant testifying to the capability of GWR’s mechanical engineers. Its great driving wheels were taller than I. Made in 1923, when I was 9, it had been one of the wonders of my childhood.  I had been given one of the company’s books about the railway in general, and the engines in particular, and had marvelled at their power and speed.  Now here it was and it was not a disappointment!

The lady who does most of my food shopping is a vegan and so not fond of buying ham, so I was looking forward to the delicious ham salad provided.   I have even been known to win something of the raffle but not this time!  When most of the people have gone, the Friendly Society helpers enact ‘the miracle of the tables and chairs’ and the hall is swept clean and returned to its pristine condition.  A special thank you to all.       

Bob Haward      September 2008