Splendid summer

Super Summer Farmers Club Summer events made the most of the exceptional weather – from regional shows to wonderful days in London. Charles Abel provides a roundup !

A quintessential English Summer outing – Club ‘brunch’ before coach and ferry to the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, with members enjoying afternoon tea in the Rose Pavilion (much needed with the mercury rising fast) and a superb dinner back at the Club afterwards.

Scorching weather greeted the year’s seventh Club to Country reception at the Royal Welsh Show, where Andrew Slade, Welsh Government Director of Agriculture, Food and Marine gave a masterclass. We also said farewell to RWAS Chief Executive, Steve Hughson, thanking him for all his support over the years, and welcomed his successor, Aled Jones.

Heading 33 metres below street level in Clapham to ‘Growing Underground’ brought a fascinating insight into producing low carbon, sustainable salads and herbs with ultra-violet light in disused Underground tunnels – before returning to the Thames-side calm of the Club for afternoon tea!

We were very privileged to have access to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) including the magnificent India room, Locarno rooms and Grand Staircase – and the Chapel Royal and Queen’s Chapel at St James’ Palace afterwards! Excellent visits full of interesting stories, with lunch at the Club between and afternoon tea after – all while London experienced its hottest day on record (40.2C).

An exclusive group enjoyed buffet lunch in the Club before visiting the top deck of Tower Bridge for stunning London views followed by some seriously unsavoury anecdotes about the River Thames during the boat ride back to the Club.

The vibrant Under 35s group enjoyed a fabulous Festival Dinner in the Club before heading out the following day for Superbloom and City-centre Croquet at Skylight, Tobacco Dock.

The Club’s Macmillan Coffee Morning drew a wonderful attendance to raise £588.50! Thanks to Claire for organising, the Kitchen team and other team members for providing cake, the F&B team for assisting with coffee and tea, and Liza and Xanthe for help on the day.

Created by sowing 20 million seeds in the moat of the Tower of London, this biodiverse habitat brought natural beauty and pollinators aplenty to a very urban space. Members had time to look around the Tower, Crown Jewels and Traitors Gate before returning to the Club.

Horseguards Parade echoed to the sound of Beating Retreat as part of July’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations – an unforgettable experience attended by Club members after a fine early supper in the Club.