Sunday outing

 An unexpected surprise ~ Sunday outing

Barbara Thomas

A few Sundays ago we were all geared up to drive over to Shoeburyness in Essex. Me my husband step-son and his partner. 

Unfortunately at the last moment the outing was cancelled. We had intended to visit our granddaughter her partner and great grandaughter.

my granddaughters partner is involved with teaching children of school age football so it was agreed the visit would be put on hold. 

There we were all dressed up but nowhere to go, “as the saying goes”.

My husband asked his son what if we visited the old Hopfields in and around Tunbridge Kent.

Tom, my husband came from a large South London family, and in those days, my husband who is now 87, said that that was the only way families with limited amount of monies, (South London and East London) could afford holidays. Their parents put pennies away to pay train fares throughout the year (no cars then), the family would be met by the farmer at wherever the Hop fields were active and then he would put belongings on back of open lorry, in my husbands case, Tonbridge station, the family would also climb into the back with everything they would need for sometimes as long as three weeks.

Therefore firstly earning wages picking off the vines and secondly having a break from the big smoke i.e. London. 

All four of us agreed that would be a great idea, Nicky drove our car, my husband sat in the front with the two women seated at the back.

It was a beautiful day not to hot, Nicky, my step-son was being guided by his Dad. Who you can well imagine had no end of tales to tell us. Nicky followed his Dads instructions which read “walks to Hop fields”. But of course the Hop fields were long gone, in their place were rows and rows of orchard trees. That didn’t stop my husband in reveling in what had been there.

I noticed a break in the field advertising Kent Cherries, and Strawberries.  I am a sucker for juicy Kent soft fruits.

So Nicky pulled up in front of a little wooden hut.

Once punnets where ordered and distributed amongst us, my husband said to the man aged around 30, who had been serving, that in his day (70 odd years ago) how he still remembered the farmers name, a Mr. Earl who lived in the farm house further up the hill. The young man said, “how strange that’s my surname but I had never heard of the farmer or farm”. 

As it was lunch time my step-son asked could the man suggest where we could get some lunch.

We were directed along the narrow hedges to several pubs but as you can imagine on Sunday afternoon all the car-parks were full.

Nicky persisted and he pulled into a large public house, easy parking, we all went inside, lunch was ordered. It was decided to order a Roast Platter which worked out for 3 people at the grand price of £25.00

I unfortunately am a Celiac so I bring my lunch with me.

All the other dinners were priced at £25.00 extra for roast potatoes extra veg even gravy. That was well spotted by me, the platter!! Enough for small appetite’s

but with beef, chicken, pork baked potatoes plus veg.

Drinks of course were extra!!!!

Whilst we were sitting there, a whole assortment of people arrived, young, and old, babies, toddlers. The four of us were intrigued considering the prices, so Nicky went up to the bar after the crowd dispersed to be told that people paid £45.00 a head for a meal and a guide, to take them on local walks along the fields and, lanes etc.

My husband being an ex-publican was very interest what brewers it belong too and found out it was a family run free-house.

He was very impressed in this day and age, business looked like it was blooming.

The name of the pub was “THE POACHER AND THE PARTRIDGE”, in case you want to visit. 

Well we made our way happily to the car and Nicky brought us safely home. 

My husband talked about it for days, all in all it was a great day out.

 

 

Copyright Barbara Thomas