Visit from Hamburg Haake

Most of our friends visiting from Hamburg Haake flew into London Heathrow on the afternoon of Friday 9th May and were picked up by their hosts for the weekend. That evening a few groups gathered for dinner at the homes of their hosts and one group went to the Heron on the Ford pub.

The following morning it was an early (?) start to meet at Fawley Hill near Henley to explore the collection of trains & railway memorabilia collected by Sir William McAlpine. This included train rides on a full-sized, diesel-powered, shunting train around the Fawley grounds, and an exploration of the railway memorabilia museum. There was also a carriage used as a nursery for the younger members of the royal family in the 1940s. Roaming around the grounds at Fawley Hill was a wide selection of wild deer, cats and peacocks which was totally at ease with the touring visitors. It was ‘British Eccentricity’ at its best! After a relaxed couple of hours at Fawley we went to the nearby café at Swiss Farm, for some light lunch, then individual groups spent the afternoon in and around Henley.

On Saturday evening there was a slightly more formal evening dinner at Sonning Golf Club. After dinner, the table groups were tested on their communication skills by remembering and reconstructing an abstract LEGO design.

On Sunday, there was a garden party that included BBQ, cold meats, salads, and desserts for approximately forty attendees. The event concluded with a few brief speeches.