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Weekend Breaks

CFWI Weekend Break to Liverpool - 22-25 April

Seven ladies from Heydon and Great Chishill were among others driven by Ted of Kenzies to Liverpool. Leaving Shepreth at 8.00.am
and picking up from Quy and Bar Hill we stopped on the M6 for a late breakfast and then made our way to Arley Hall and Gardens.
The Hall was not open but we enjoyed walking around the beautiful gardens with many spring flowers in full bloom in glorious sunshine,
stopping at the Tudor Barn Restaurant for an al fresco lunch followed by some retail therapy in the Gift Shop. Ted then drove us to
the exceedingly comfortable Everglades Park Hotel in Widnes, our base for the next three nights. Following breakfast on Friday morning
we were driven into Liverpool where we were joined by Elaine our Blue Badge Guide who talked us through a most interesting City Centre
tour passing the statue of Queen Victoria, China Town, Rodney Street (Liverpool's eqivalent to London's Harley Street), Lewis's Department
store, which is sadly closing down, The Liver Building, the allotments where Freddie Bosworth used to meet Lilo Lil, the Beatles Hotel
the road where the Cavern Club is situated and stopping for a photo shoot at Penny Lane. We then went to Liverpool Cathedral and Elaine
gave us a guided walking tour of this imposing building. The foundation stone for Giles Gilbert Scott's design was laid in 1904 but the
building was not complete until 1978. On our return to Albert Dock we had the afternoon free to explore at leisure; some visited Museums
and Art Galleries, some partook of retail therapy and others took to the Land and Water on the 'Quacker Wacker I'. The guide on this
amphibious vehicle gave a totally different description of the sites we passed and once we took to the water ensured we got wet by spraying
us with a water pistol! After disembarking we found a nice venue for lunch and then boarded the Liverpool Wheel for a panoramic view of
the city. It was then time to return to the coach and our hotel. On Saturday we picked Elaine up in the city centre again and went via one
of the Mersey Tunnels to the Wirral and Port Sunlight, the 'model' village created by William Hesketh Lever in 1888 for his Sunlight soap
factory workers. The very picturesque houses and other buildings were all in pristine condition and the whole area very well cared for.
Following our drive around the village we stopped at the Lady Lever Art Gallery where we saw many fantastic collections of Paintings,
Furniture and Ceramics. It was then time to be taken to the ferry port for our 'Ferry Cross the Mersey' and the remainder of the day free.
Some of us went to the Metropolitan Cathedral where we met up with previous WI Member Lynn Doulton, who now lives in Warrington, for lunch
and a look at the Catholic Cathedral which was completed in 1967. We had to wait quite a while before going in as a Mass for 3,000 people
was in progress! We returned to our hotel for the final night and in the morning were driven to Trentham Estate, Stoke on Trent. We opted
to go in the gardens and did the 2 mile walk around the lake before having an al fresco lunch. It was then time to board the coach for our
journey home. Anne Bullman not only arranged a great trip, thank you Anne, but also warm and sunny weather to go with it.