With Grateful Thanks to the Organiser, Margret McDermott and her assistants, Pat Gorey and Sue Harlin.
Friday 9 th September We assembled at our usual pick-up point on Alderdale Road, High Lane to meet our very amiable Driver, Keith, who conveyed us safely down to Portsmouth in Bullocks luxurious Scania Coach - - where we joined our Ferry, The Normandie, which departed for France at 2.30pm.
As we sailed from Portsmouth we passed a veritable grave-yard of moth-balled Navy ships including the recently withdrawn Aircraft Carrier HMS Ark Royal. It was late evening when we arrived at our hotel, the Mercure at Herouville, Caen, so we retired to bed in readiness for an early start on the morrow.
Saturday 10 th September On the Saturday morning we were driven to Rouen and visited the old Quarter. This photo shows the oldest clock in the World, Le Gros Horloge, which was originally completed in 1396. At that time it did not have a face but only tolled a bell on the hours. The first face, with a single hand indicating the time, was added in 1410.
New faces, now visible, were added in 1516 with a rotating globe at the top indicating the phases of the Moon and scenes indicating the days of the week between the arrows at the bottom. The single hand can just be seen showing the time was just after 11 o clock. The original mechanism, which is still in place, operated the clock until it was replaced by an electrical drive in 1928.
This is a view of Rouen Cathedral taken over the roof tops from the clock tower. On the Saturday afternoon, we were given a guided tour of the Pere Magloire Calvados Distillery with a tasting! Lovely!
The Calvados is aged in new Oak casks which weep a small percentage, known locally as the Angel s share, giving the warehouse a fantastic aroma! Calvados of increasing age 1 20 Years.
A group of U3A inebriates at the Distillery. On the return from the Distillery our driver, Keith, thoughtfully returned us to our hotel via the Pegasus Bridge made famous by the 6 th Airbourne Division, 5 th June 1944. The original bridge has been preserved by the French near to its replacement, but in a difficult place to photograph.
Sunday 11 th September Although we had had some showers on previous days, Sunday morning started with quite heavy rain, but it did not dampen our spirits for the visit to Monet s House and garden at Giverney.
Flowers in the Rain
Two of our jolly party peering down from Monet s bedroom window. The view of the garden from the window.
Part of the famous Lily Pond which feature in a number of Monet s pictures. Even in the rain it was magnificent!
From Giverney, on the Sunday afternoon the rain abated and we were taken to the old picturesque Port of Honfleur. This is a very popular Sunday outing for the French. The inner harbour entrance with an old Carousel that was giving rides.
A view of the inner harbour with the Quayside Cafes on the right hand side - which Margaret and Tony took advantage of!
The other side of the harbour. The back streets of Honfleur were full of quaint shops with lots of character. In all, a fantastic day out, in spite of the morning rain.
Monday 12 th September On Monday morning Margaret had arranged for us to visit the Caen Memorial Musem. Some of our party in the Foyer of the museum, which is dominated by a full size replica of a Hawker Typhoon ground attack aircraft. These RAF machines wreaked havoc in the German Army during the Allies advance through France.
At the Museum, Mildred Dooley surprised everyone by producing a medal presented to her husband and other surviving members of the British Army at a Ceremony marking the 50 th Anniversary of D-Day in 1994. She is seen here (left) with Steve, our Chairman, and his wife Ann. A photograph of British Soldiers at Caen in June 1944.
The whole Museum showed images from 1919 to the beginning of the Second World War and on to the end of Hostilities. Even though they were in black and white they were still extremely graphic, containing scenes of atrocities and others of a disturbing nature. Many of our party were extremely moved. A back lit pillar showing contemporary British papers announcing D-Day.
At 12.30 we left the museum to travel through the Normandie countryside to Bayeux. Fortunately we arrived a little early and we were able to visit the Cathedral.
The interior of the Cathedral. Memorial plaques in the Cathedral.
The old Mill Race, Bayeux. The Thorvald is a replica of a boat, at the Bayeux Museum, built using the same techniques as those of the Viking boat builders of the 10 th Century. With this type of vessel they sailed from Bergen (Norway) to Tours (France) in 50 days, where they subsequently captured and colonised an area now known as Normandie.
A life size model of a Norman mounted soldier of the 11 th Century inside the Museum. A typical section of the Tapestry showing the Battle of Hastings, and King Harold, on the right with an arrow in his eye. It is an amazing piece of work, embroidered in wool on a sheet of linen in the 11 th Century. The Tapestry is some 70 metres long (230 feet) by 0.5metres deep (20 inches) and was intended to stretch around the original interior of Bayeux Cathedral. Viewing it was an unforgettable experience.
After leaving Bayeux our Driver, Keith, took us along the Normandie beaches finishing with a surprise visit to the Ranville War Cemetery. Imperial War Grave Commission Headstones, row on row, including many Parachute Regiment soldiers and also three civilians from the Merchant Marine, all from June 1944. The terrain over which our soldiers fought after D-Day
Tuesday 13 th September Unfortunately all good things come to an end and at 7.15am we had to leave our hotel and drive to the ferry. After a pleasant crossing (the previous evenings crossing had apparently been horrendous) we returned to Portsmouth. Glimpsing HMS Victory between the waterfront buildings, to dock again next to the current Navy graveyard! We arrived back at High Lane at 7.15 pm and said good-bye to our excellent driver, Keith. We were all tired, but elated, with our Weekend Break in Normandie.