Bournemouth, Nostalgia & Family - September 2012

This is rather late entry but in September Colin had an anaesthetic conference in Bournemouth. We spent three balmy, late summer evenings in the company of our friend Anne; sipping cocktails, dining & chatting - suddenly we were all 25 years younger! Both Anne & I were delighted to discover the delights of the Russell Cotes Museum, which nestles into the East Cliff, revealing only it's conical turrets to the outside world. In side there is a feast...

http://www.russell-cotes.bournemouth.gov.uk/

"The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum was founded by Sir Merton (1835-1921) and Lady (1835-1920) Russell-Cotes on Bournemouth’s East Cliff at the turn of the twentieth century.  Apart from Sudley Art Gallery in Liverpool, the Russell-Cotes is a rare survivor as the residence of a Victorian private collector, which was purpose-designed and perpetuated as a permanent art museum."



The weather was beautiful and warm about 17 -19c. We stayed in a Best Western hotel on the West Cliff. Each morning we were greeted with this

Not quite a 'Turner'

 but Gulliver had certainly left his deck chair behind...

 

While Colin was at work I drifted through Bournemouth's Scots Pine clad streets in search of the junction between Derby Road & Knyverton Gardens...

Sadly only the low wall & Scots Pines remain where Wimbledon Hall Hotel once stood: 1970 -80s flats now prevail. Earliest memories of 1963 came to me. This was where we heard about JFK's assassination; gasps & disquiet among the dining guests. I remember brother Pete getting a scald on his big toe, when a teapot overturned in the lounge during afternoon tea; while I was fascinated by the perfect cubes of sugar. Pete has since told me that it is the pungent aroma of freshly brewed coffee which evokes thoughts of Wimbledon Hall for him!

I continued my musings while enjoying morning coffee opposite at 

The Langtry

(Edward VII & Lillie's love nest!)

I thought of Uncle Bill, Auntie Chrissie & our cousins.

I found this 1956 photo of Dad's -

Mum, Andy, John &

his Granny (?) at

St. Ledgers Road

I also went to Romsey in Hampshire to see Cousin Margaret Twentyman; whom I hadn't seen since Auntie Catherine's funeral in ~ 2001. I had never visited her before. Her home at Abbey Cottage is absolutely beautiful, clad with mature wisterias (they must be superb in May - please can I have a photo Margaret?)

It was lovely talking about our families 'now' & 'then'. Colin was delighted to receive photos & news for his ongoing research into our respective families. Here is a link to our Hutcheson roots - great grandparents, Andrew & Catherine (nee Soot) Hutcheson of Beechwood, Perth.

http://www.davidsoot.blogspot.co.uk