Wickham Park Place June 2022
Today was our long awaited trip to Wickham and visit to Park Place Pastoral Centre near Wickham - suggested and booked by one of our group members, ‘Thank You’ Catherine!
As there were 20 of us, we set off on either the X5 or X4, making our ways variously to Wickham; those on the X5 taking an ‘interesting’ trip on the 20, over a very narrow bridge and retractable bollards via Knowle; luckily the X5 was running so late that the anticipated 30 minute wait at Fareham for the 69 was avoided!! There was still plenty of time in Wickham to get together for a coffee, a chat and a wander round the shops.
Set in 18 acres of beautiful and peaceful grounds on the edge of Wickham, Park Place is a fine old Georgian house, home to a small community of Indian Roman Catholic Franciscan nuns, who run it as a Retreat and Conference Centre, amongst other things. Knowing that it would be a bit of a trek up the hill for some of our members, group member Jennifer’s husband, David, came to the rescue - bringing his car along for the last leg of the journey, ‘Thank You’ David!
We were given a warm welcome by Sister Evelyn, before enjoying a traditional three course curry lunch cooked by the nuns - using many home grown produce, accompanied by homemade chutney and pickles and followed by homemade ice cream – it was all delicious! After lunch, Sister Evelyn gave us a talk about the origins of their Order – 150 years ago in France, and told us something of the work the nuns do in this country and the work they support in India. Interestingly, she told us that the work the sisters do in poorer countries, where communities tend to be more socially cohesive, is mostly about education; whereas the work they do in developed countries is related to social isolation and mental wellbeing. This led me to reflect directly on the value the u3a in this respect– which I know many people, including myself, joined for the ‘social side’.
I am rather disappointed to report that four reasonably able-bodied members of the group - hitched a lift back to Warsash from a rather strange man, instead of waiting for the bus – I would name and shame, but I understand that would contravene some law!!