"Oh we do like to be beside the seaside ... (again)"

Thursday 19 July: Thursday group trip to Wells Next the Sea

We rounded off our very first Thursday group trip to Walsingham on 31 March 2005 with a pit stop to take on board fish and chips at  Wells next the Sea. Since then we've been to Southend on Sea (before the pier burnt down), Peterborough cathedral, Anglesey Abbey and Wimpole Hall (aka Ely Cathedral). This latest trip was prompted by the generosity of Sarah Forde's father, who offered the group lunch at a hotel he owns in Wells. To our delight and amazement, the tide was in when we arrived.

Mikey B with Jim, Sarah, Norm, Nigel, Bruce and David went up to the beach. JQ in the company of Doc Watson, Denise Denise and Matt parked the car for £3 (ticket valid all day until 11 59 p.m.), peered into the buckets lining the quayside, some of which contained the crabs pictured above, and had a cup of frothy coffee at Nelson's. Of course Norfolk is Nelson's county. He was born at nearby Burnham and there is a column to his memory at Great Yarmouth, erected by public subscription before the one in Trafalgar Square. Over coffee at Nelson's, Doc Watson explained in some detail the tactics Nelson had used to defeat the French navy.

Shortly after 12 30, we all met up at our intended destination, the Crown Hotel, "a former coaching inn overlooking the quiet tree-lined green known as The Buttlands."

Centre photograph, back row from left to right Mikey B, Bruce, David Evans, captain for the day Sarah Forde, Nigel "Bingo" Bloomer and Doctor Watson wearing his Everton replica shirt  despite carrying a Tottenham Hotspur member's card in his wallet. Front row: Jim (whose interests include Birmingham City and disasters involving death and destruction), Norm, Denise Denise and Matt.

The hanging baskets outside the Crown were spectacular. Inside, we were privileged to enjoy a private dining room and made to feel extremely welcome by the attentive staff and our host Chris Coubrough. The service was excellent as was the food. For some mysterious reason, a majority of seven opted for the home-made fishcakes. The vicar, however, seduced by the gallic charm of the menu, opted for the "goujons of haddock".

We were all very hungry. We were looking forward to the food and it certainly didn't disappoint us. In fact such was its effect that one of our number, pictured centre, needed a well-earned nap to recover from the onslaught on his taste buds by the delicious combination of main course and strawberry pavlova.

We spent a good two hours over lunch in animated conversation with much laughter. To put it bluntly, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves with fabulous food in the company of friends. Our special thanks to Ken Forde who made it all possible and to Chris Coubrough and his delightful staff .