Photogroup 75th Anniversary Meet - Cottesmore 7th to 12th April 2011

We arrived in glorious sunshine to find the site well set up by Tony and Hazel Baxter most ably supported by Ray Milnthorpe and John Stevens.
Throughout the afternoon and early evening vans came in to pitch on the soccer field, which was to be our home for the next 5 days.
With quiet efficiency the gazebos went up and that evening at the get together John Stevens gave us a detailed summary of the places to visit in the area.

Friday dawned with promise encouraging some to catch the 115 to Stamford. 8 waited at the very smart bus shelter opposite the Sun Inn in the warming sun.
They waited and waited well beyond the scheduled time but the bus never arrived and slowly the hopeful passengers drifted away to look at the village and St Nicholas church with its splendid walled entrance path covered on aubrietia. Others enjoyed the sun at the morning coffee assembly. That afternoon Richard Adams gave us all a splendid talk with fine images entitled 'Rutland small but beautiful'.
We were all captivated and realised that 5 days would only be sufficient to scratch the surface of the many towns and villages let alone walk the 25 miles around Rutland Water.
Later we were able to use the hall to meet for our photographic social evening.

Saturday was to be the big day and with it continued fortune the sun shone. Whilst preparations went on during the day many too advantage of Richard's advice and visited sites in the area including venturing to Rutland Water to see and photograph the ospreys which had returned to their nesting sites of previous years. By evening over 20 vans had arrived and so it was that 56 of us assembled for the Anniversary group photograph which as ever caused much mirth.
Returning to the hall we were greeted by tables beautifully set out with white table cloths and a first dinner course of 'Rutland Salmon Mousse' prepared by Rosemary Perry. During that course we were introduced to subjects which we might like to discuss whilst eating the mousse and others for consideration in later courses.
Hazel Baxter prepared the main course of 'Cottesmore' chicken and sausage which was so well received that some behaved as Oliver Twist! Someone remarked at that stage; "and more to come"; Indeed there was, a magnificent range of puddings made by Ann Garritt.
How to choose was the problem - how tempting it was to ask for a little of each! And still there were biscuits and cheese (Stilton of course) and coffee and mints. But the celebration dinner was not over as Bill and Margaret Chambers ceremonially cut the fine Anniversary cake made by Lynn Hall.

WE then relaxed and watched pictures from the past shown by Jonathan of the Eyre family from their early camping days and pictures from other members past collections.
We did the anniversary justice and were honoured that the Chairman of the Camping and Caravanning Club Keith Jackson and his wife Janet, were able to be with us for the occasion.

A big "Thank You" to those who made the evening such a success.

Somehow the Sunday was quieter and still the sun shone from a clear blue sky. That evening we had a most memorable talk from paul Bloomer. a very experienced retired professional photographer based loosely around his mono 'A' panel. He intrigued many of us with his large format cameras and explanations of how he used them in his professional and RPS work. He was a very lively presenter with so many quips and tales that the evening sped along. It was good that by the evening we had acheived the full compliment of the 27 expected units.

Monday saw a number of departures in the ever present sun - how lucky we were! The remaining members met that evening in the 'Sun Inn' to complete a very convivial weekend.

Margaret and John Gowen