Early on Saturday July 6th a coach-full of members, including H.E. the Ambassador, set off from the Embassy arriving in lovely sunshine in time for elevenses with those who had travelled by car and were there already.

There to meet us was John Swanston wearing a wide hat and a smile to match.

Roger Potter welcomed everyone and made the introductions. We were then whisked off by our wonderful house guide Anna. Such was her skill as a guide that she presented us with sufficient information to make sense of our surroundings with enough gems to whet our appetites to tempt us back.

Even though Stowe School boasts fabulous dining rooms, we mostly ate our Nepali picnics on the steps of the looking at the wonderful view and enjoying the sunshine.

The Garden guides were spot-on too. Our group was lead by a Stoic. [Who knew, apart from Roger, that Old Boys of Stowe School were called Stoics?] He was as affable as he was authoritative and more than up to his task. When he pointed out, for example, the 13th century church which we wouldn’t be visiting, predictably, half our number shot off into the woods to check it out! Good humour and stoicism what a combination.

Weirdly, the return journey was much quicker maybe thanks to some tactful suggestions as to a better route.

Many thanks for all the work put into this exceptional day by Jenifer Evans, Maggie Solon and Roger Potter. They made it all happen.