Ian Quarrington, Club Vice President and a regular attender at our events has very kindly offered to arrange a tour for Tyne-Tees members and friends in the Cambridge area from Monday 12^th May to Friday 16^th May 2025.      

Based at The Lodge, Duxford, (thelodgeduxford.com) ideally situated for Cambridge and surrounding attractions, it is a 17 bedroom private hotel with individual en- suite rooms, a restaurant offering a range of menus and secure private parking. The cost per room for Dinner, Bed and Breakfast (2 people) would be £220 per night, (which includes a dinner allowance of £30pp) or £880 for the whole event plus an event fee as yet to be decided on a per person basis to cover costs such as entry to Duxford, coach into Cambridge etc.

Our suggested itinerary is:

Monday May 12^th:

Arrive in time for welcome drinks kindly hosted by Ian followed by Dinner.

Tuesday May13th.

Visit to the Imperial War Museum, Duxford about a 10 minute drive. This is the largest aviation museum in the UK on an airfield with a distinguished history in both World Wars utilising many of the historic buildings as well as impressive purpose-built exhibition spaces. Historic aircraft fly most days weather permitting and as well as viewing the static displays the workshops and restoration projects make for interesting viewing. An alternative for the non-aviation enthusiast is Wimpole Hall, a 17^th Century National Trust property about 20 minutes away with lavish interiors, fine gardens, parkland and a working home farm as well as cafe and shop (surprise!)

Wednesday May 14^th:

Touring the historic towns and villages of Suffolk. This is not a touring assembly, Ian will provide route maps and you tour on your own chosen routes. Suffice to say that this area was hugely prosperous in the later middle ages and that is reflected in the amazing range of medieval buildings in the quaint villages and market towns like Lavenham, Saffron Walden (yes they did grow saffron) and villages like Clare with its castle and church.

Thursday May 15^th.

Cambridge. It’s intended that we take a coach into Cambridge, I can personally vouch for the fact it’s not car friendly and parking is horrendous. Ian and Debbie will run two different walking tours taking in the sights including Kings College Chapel and the Fitzwilliam Museum. The attractions are too many to list with wonderful college buildings, the Backs, the river, quaint streets, shops and something interesting around every corner.

In the evening, we will hold our Event Dinner and Quiz.

Friday May 16^th Depart for wherever after breakfast.                                                                    We hope this will be of interest to a good number of you. Ideally we would like to book-out the entire hotel but more importantly, we need expressions of interest now in order to secure an option on the hotel for that week. We have agreed with the Hotel that rooms will be allocated on a first come first served basis, a deposit of £40 will be required with the balance due a fortnight before the event. As the rooms are quite individual it’s worth looking on the website and making your selection if you have a favourite. Ian is happy to answer any queries on the proposed event and venue, email ianquarrington999@btinternet.com.

PLEASE BOOK DIRECT WITH THE HOTEL mentioning the MGCC Tour AND CONFIRM NAMES OF ATTENDEES WITH ME at anthony@scrutonvillage.co.uk

Tony Wood