On the societies `blog` page there are a couple of photos included in the report and placed there by Doug Carpenter.
One,is fairly explanatory-just a picture of me standing outside the Shrine at Walsingham-the other is inside the old courthouse.
This was indeed in use until the latter part of the last century.
Local criminals were tried and if convicted they receivd pretty stiff sentences by today`s standards!
We were given a conducted tour and asked, by the guide, to sit anywhere.
As it happened, the only place Keith Baines could find was in the Chairman of the Bench`s seat-he looked pretty regal there and very soon `fell in` to the part of the magistrate!
His wife,Brenda, could only find a place in the dock where the prisoners were brought to be tried!
So it was that a very informal `mock trial` ensued.
Keith was delighted(not so Brenda!)when the very heavy shackles were brought out
and she was told that for stealing corn she was to be bound and sent immediately (one way!)to Australia on a 4th class ticket!!?
The recorder(sitting below Keith)was society president-Janet Rodwell.
Great fun,but quite thought provoking to realise that people then were convicted of the most menial crimes -some stealing just to feed their families and survive!
Jennifer Kersey

Is it the heat-I ask myself-here goes-third time lucky?
`Walsingham`

I just had a look at my report and MEGA FAUX PAS-I spelt Walshingham incorrectly!
Ouch and double ouch-sorry!

On a day where,even at the very start of it,there was only a minute hint of movement within the air,we set off in our lovely air conditioned coach,for a town on the upper Norfolk coast-Wells.
After a short comfort stop at Bury St Edmunds,we were back on our way and arrived just before lunchtime at this quaint little village by the sea.
Janet,Brenda and Keith,who were in charge of this little `band` of miscreants(joke) and attendees of the `Arts and Lits` society(who were about to set themselves loose on the unsuspecting locals!?)quickly dis-appeared,after first giving instructions of time/place for coach re embarkation, into the nearest pub` and(I`m reliably informed?)tucked into local caught fish with chips, washed down with a cup of tea and a sticky bun each for `afters!!`
`Ah,such exstavagance-but,`hang the expense` we`re here to enjoy ourselves!`
I settled for a stroll along the seafront where I found a more `genteel` cafe and had a pot of tea for one and a scone(exciting or not?)
Our time in the village was soon up and we met at the pre arranged place where the coach would then take us to the famous small guage railway at Wells and then onward to Walsingham,where we were to see the religeous Shrine that pilgrims visit from all over the globe.
Our little train chugged steadily along it`s path with flora of all discription (including nettles,in abundance!)close on either side(Keith told us not to leave until we had reached our destination-I for one,was glad of that!?) Sometimes the track bobbed up above field level to reveal the beautiful Norfolk countryside, the panorama at this time showing arable land in rich colours of all shades of golds and greens-fields laden with barley,corn and other vegetables(there was even one field of `cultivated thistles!!?)
We eventualy reached Walsingham,where our guide pointed out all the important sights to see.
Another truly remarkable day-made possible by the auspicious intent of the officers of the society-well done again and thank you.
Jennifer Kersey

MV Pocahontas and Greenwich trip. - By Jennifer Kersey 22nd June 2010 - 11:09pm We set off `shining and shipshape` on time and were soon traversing the lovely Essex countryside on the A12 heading towards our destination-Gravesend (the original one had been changed at the last minute due to the captain informimg the society that extra mooring charges would be incurred if we met the boat at this departure point.) All was going well until we encountered a very large problem at Hemel Hempstead, where a large hole had appeared in a newly surfaced part of the carriagway, caused, aparently, by a water main bursting below-several cars had gone through the water, not realising there was a large hole in the middle of it and a huge backlog of traffic was the result as others collided! Our knowledgeable driver moved slowly in the queue until we got to the next slip road and soon we were on the `scenic route` to Grays, pausing only for a short `comfort stop` and to meet up with the other coach, before pressing on to our destination. Only slightly behind schedule,we were soon aboard-it was a lovely summer`s day, and the captain told us,via the PA system on board, all about the places we were passing along the Thames on board MV Pricess Pocahontas -very informative and `peppered` with amusing anectdotes. Apparently the Disney version of the Princess`s life was somewhat `glossy` and quite far removed from the true facts-although she did lead a very productive one, albeit short and achieved much-her final resting place is in a Thameside graveyard. We went under the magnificent Queen Elizabeth 11 bridge and through the majestic Thames Barriers and, finally, on to our destination. Time at Greenwhich was short, due to our late arrival, but some managed to have a quick look around the many things to see here. Our journey back along the Thames was swift and `en route` we were all treated to cream teas which we eagerly devoured! The trip home, aboard the coach, was very smooth-however, there were still huge queues on the other lane of the A12 heading in the opposite direction, no doubt caused by the problem earlier on-we were very relieved that we were travelling in the opposite direction! Another fabulous day-well organised(as usual) by the society and easily up to the high standards we have become to expect of it. Jennifer Kersey.

Bletchley Park – By Jennifer Kersey
22nd May 2009 – 3:20am
I have been trying to make some analogy with current affairs to the invaluable work done,over the years,at Bletchley Park-I cannot!
The sheer dedication of this small team that gradually expannded and yet maintained absolute secrecy about the events within,is truly breathtaking!
We hear of a husband and wife who both worked there,but throughout their marriage never discussed their own particular contribution.
When put into true context,what was achieved there,in solving the `Enigma codes`,is akin to clmbing Mount Everest without oxygen,or visiting the giant wreck of the Titanic in a scuba suit!
Others would have us believe that they originated the digital computer(amongst many other revolutionary things)-not so-`Colossos`,with it`s 2,500 valves, was painstakingly put together by `boffins` and developed long before we heard of Microsoft,Apple or others.
As with so many other inventions,the brainwave was initially had by a person living within these isles,but was developed somewhere else,and the credit often went there.
A fascinating place-a lovely day to visit-we had a stop off for lunch at the huge Milton Keynes shopping centre, then on to Bletchley.
A place that I could visit again and spend more time just looking and admiring the tenacity of the individuals who have gone down as pioneers in history,whilst living a very simplistic lifestyle-not for them were the comforts others sometimes had (that is,however,not to diminish in any way the horrendous events that had to be endured by many in the time when Gt. Britain stood alone and was the only opposition to the supposed invincible Nazi war machine.)
We are now regarded by some,as being `out of step` with Europe-I would like to remind those people that we were the saviours of Europe and much of it would not exist in it`s present form if it were not for the sacrifices of the peoples of this land.
An amazing(if exhausting)day out and another triumph for Clacton Arts and Literary Society-well done to all involved who contrubuted to this outing in any way.(