Hosting the Group Study Exchange team from Sri Lanka

Group Study Exchange Team from Sri Lanka, Rotary District 3220

Visit to Woodchester Mansion  

The previous weekend had given us pouring rain and low temperatures. Tuesday came with a pleasant, almost balmy atmosphere, but come Wednesday, Oh Dear!! Rain, rain and more rain coupled with lashing winds. However Rotarians of Stonehouse, if they volunteer to a commitment they  always carry it through!!

Thus it was that five stalwarts assembled at the entrance gate to the Woodchester Mansion to rendezvous with the GSE Team at 9.30am.

The plan had been to meet up at the National Trust car park of the Woodchester Park and then to walk to the Mansion. A walk of some 15minutes. (In this Dreadful weather?)

By very good fortune one of our number, Jeremy Warner, also a volunteer Guide for the Mansion, was able to gain access to the main gate and thus facilitate us to convey our guests directly to the Mansion following swift introductions and a changeover of vehicles at the main gate,

Having arrived it was now down to Jeremy to conduct our guided tour of the complex.

It was of some relief that each of our guests was possessed of an excellent command of the English language, the various questions addressed to Jeremy being readily understood and responded to in a comprehensive manner.

Jeremy was unstinting in his highlighting many of the unique aspects of the Mansion, explaining in detail how it came to be built, how it was abandoned