Based in Brockenhurst

Rhinefield Probus March News

MJ’s Lunch

To experience a gourmet meal prepared, cooked and served by enthusiastic sixth form students at a local college is to see the young people of this country at their very best.

The Rhinefield Probus Club had the pleasure of visiting MJ’s Restaurant at Brockenhurst College on March 6th where students studying to qualify in the Hospitality Industry man the kitchens, greet the guests  and serve in the restaurant and bar – all of course under the watchful eye of a senior tutor.

The standard of food and service were of the highest quality and the whole lunch experience was exceptional. So much so that a booking has already been made for a repeat visit in 2016 when once more a full house is expected.

March Meetings

The speaker at the March meeting of the Club was Mr Ron Kirby whose encyclopaedic knowledge of the local area and its people brought to life his talk on “Interesting People of the New Forest”. There is a local graveyard for instance where Jane Austen’s character D’Arcy is said to be buried with a headstone as proof and of course most people know that “Alice” the girl for whom Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland, is interred in the churchyard at Lyndhurst.

The ferry to the Isle of Wight provided inspiration for Alfred Lord Tennyson who in 1889 wrote his famous Crossing the Bar poem whilst on the ferry from Lymington – three years before his death.

Highcliffe Castle has a considerable history. In 1907 prior to the First World War Edward Wortley, the owner of the Castle invited Kaiser Bill as a guest and in later years Highcliffe Castle was leased to Harry Gordon Selfridge founder of the eponymous store in Oxford Street. Even though he did not own the Castle he installed modern lighting and heating throughout. Mr Selfridge is buried in St Marks churchyard in Highcliffe.

Rhinefield Probus meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at The Forest Park Hotel in Brockenhurst. The meetings comprise coffee on arrival, a short business meeting followed by a speaker and then lunch.

Details can be found on our website www.rhinefieldprobus.org.uk or telephone 01590 624527.

 

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