SWANLEY ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION

October has been a busy month for us, with out keep fit and ten pin bowling programmes continuing, and our walkers suffering some inclement weather. Other attractions have been available for the benefit of all our members.

On October 14, a party of members travelled to the Hastings College of Catering for a lunch, here the students prepare and serve the meal - a nice lunch in very good surroundings with a marvellous view of the Channel.

We had a young man, fast becoming a local celebrity (in the finer sense of the word) came to our monthly meeting on October 18. His name is Tom Hart-Dyke of Lullingstone Castle, Eynsford, and he told us of his plant and seed hunting travels in the Far East, Sumatra, Australia (Mainly in Tasmania) then on to the USA to see the giant Redwoods in California, down through Mexico to Central America to Panama and Colombia.

It was here that, together with his friend Paul Winder, he was ambushed, kidnapped and held captive by guerrillas from March until December 2000.

They were released and home in time for Christmas that year, whilst he was held, Tom designed his world garden which he is developing at his home. This was a talk which revealed Tom as an enthusiastic orchid hunter and grower.

The beautifully photographed slides conveyed much of his enthusiasm - he deserves any success which come his way.

On October 21 a group of members went to the Historic Dockyard at Chatham for a Trafalgar Night Party which was held not very far from the dock in which HMS Victory was built in the 18th century.

Lastly, singing of Rule Britannia' and Jerusalem' was the order of the day.