The Sunday before we went on holiday was sunny and warm. So Alison and I rode our bikes to the neighbouring village of Halton to visit their late summer Fete. The usual combination of stalls and games, straight out of Midsomer Murders. There was a large marquee with rows of seats, so we grabbed a drink and sat and listened to some music. Very nice.
To co-incide with the Fete, the RAF had their annual open day for Halton House. For many years I have passed near the mansion on walks up to Wendover Woods, and have always wanted to see inside. As we rode our bikes across the grass of the RAF playing fields, we were directed up the hill to where visitors cars were parked on the grass at the top. And what a huge number there were.
Originally built by Alfred de Rothschild, Halton Mansion, The War Office bought the house and the estate in 1919 for the newly formed RAF. It is now their Officer's Mess. The rooms are all pretty impressive, one particularly had been used extensively in the filming of "The King's Speech". But it is the staircase that is the highlight.
We noticed that there was a cafe open, and as it was late lunchtime, we hoped to find a sandwich and a cake. What we found was an enormous dining room full mainly of visitors having a full roast meal. We stuck to something lighter.
Alison had asked one of the officers on duty about the old lake she saw on one of the photographs on the walls. He pointed us in it's direction, and on leaving the house we headed across land where on another day we may have been shot at. We were almost at the Tring Road when we saw something through the treess. Sure enough, hidden in the undergrowth, we found the old concrete base of the lake. On the other side we could see the car park, so it was a short stroll to pick up our bikes. A very pleasant Sunday.
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