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Master’s Outing – Normandy
As expected the Master’s Outing to Normandy was a resounding success.
Brian and Annette were familiar with Normandy, and Annette’s father had been part of the engineering team developing the Mulberry Harbours which had played a vital part in the Allied invasion of France in 1944. Hence the theme of the weekend was D-Day.
Our base was La Ferme de La Rançonnière, the oldest part dating back to the 15th century, although most of it was reconstructed in the early 17th century and fortunately has been updated to a 4-star hotel. The majority of the 36 members and guests travelled by coach on the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Caen and joined a few, already in France, for breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast the whole group joined the coach and met our guide, Ezzedine. An associate professor at the University of Caen, Ezzedine proved to be a very knowledgeable companion for the day and was able to relate every site we visited to the whole invasion strategy, and we all learned so much more than we had gathered in history lessons or war films! However even Ezzedrine recommended “The Longest Day” and “Saving Private Ryan” to get an impression of the horror that we could never have experienced.
Our first stop was La Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, where US Rangers stormed the cliffs to attack the gun battery and the GIs met fierce resistance on landing. After lunch in a local restaurant we made our way, via Gold Beach and the Longues German battery, to the British Normandy Memorial at Vers-sur-Mer. This memorial, opened in 2021, bears the names of over 22,000 British and other nationalities serving in British units, who died while taking part in D-Day and the Battle of Normandy until the 30th August 1944. More names are being commemorated as research continues. Here we paused for a solemn moment as the Master laid a wreath on behalf of The Furniture Makers Company.
On return to the hotel an informal dinner was enjoyed by all.
Next day we were so fortunate to be welcomed by liveryman, Tim Gosling, to La Commanderie de Baugy, a 57 room chateau 16 kilometre south west of Bayeux. On arrival over coffee we were able to congratulate Tim on his recent marriage to his partner, Steve.
Tim then outlined the history of the chateau, which he had rescued as a potential home on the point of collapse and subsequently uncovered a history of surprises from its construction in 1820 through family tragedy to occupation by German forces and it becoming Eisenhower’s headquarters following the Allied invasion of north western Europe.
Tim and Steve have set themselves a monumental task of restoration with only some of the building currently habitable. As they guided us around the chateaux and the grounds where they are about to acquire farm buildings and a Knights Templar chapel dating back to the 12th century monastic origins, we were struck by the passion they have for the estate and the meticulous regard to detail that they exhibit in the restoration, aided by many original artefacts and furniture being returned to their original home.
Tim had organised a magnificent buffet lunch in the chateaux and in thanking him for his hospitality we all hoped for a day sometime when we could visit again and see a project completed, but recognising it will always be “work in progress”
That evening in the hotel we enjoyed a champagne reception and a black tie dinner, during which past Masters Edward Tadros and Hugh Garforth-Bles thanked the Master and Annette for the organisation of the event.
Next morning after checking out of the hotel we travelled to Arromanches where we toured the newly re-opened museum “Musée du Débarquemant” which tells the complete story of the Allied Landings and the development and importance of the engineering triumph, the Mulberry Harbour, constructed on the South Coast of England and towed across the Channel in many sections, to facilitate the supply of personnel and supplies to the post D-Day theatre. There was also a chance at low tide to see close-up some of the remaining sections of the construction.
We then had an eventful journey back to the ferry port, detouring some closed roads, resulting in a hasty lunch at a restaurant, forewarned and well prepared, before meeting a tight check-in schedule for the return crossing.
Bidding farewell all agreed it had been a splendid weekend in excellent company and all thanks were due to the Master and Annette