Haywards Heath members reports from the Autumn Conference 2011.
Arundel Cathedral
My main memory is of the wonderful brightness of the interior quite different to the usual dull grey of
old stone. The stone had all been washed with soap and water over a period of 3 years for the
Millennium. So it looked just as it must have looked when it was built about 125 years ago in the
Gothic style.
Annabel Moir HHWF
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust,
Having arrived in Arundel in the pink and purple coach and registered our presence at the Cathedral,
we boarded the "Conference Bus" and were taken to the Centre at the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust
which runs along the River Arun. For a couple of hours, we spent a peaceful, entertaining and
instructive time wandering among the varied lakes and marshes that house an amazing display of
birds and waterfowl - some native, some migratory and some part of reintroduction/breeding
programmes - all managed amongst chat! Sadly, the mist turned to drizzle, blanking out a lovely view
of the castle, so we took cover in the Centre's restaurant, enjoying a light lunch and more chat, all the
while still enjoying a marvellous vista of the swan lake and its inhabitants. Thank you to all the staff
for their welcome and interest in The Wives Fellowship - sorry we missed the bus sent to collect us at
2.30p.m. - we were in the loo!
Sue Starling HHWF
Arundel Castle.
We walked from the coach at the Cathedral to the castle despite an offer of a lift from a ‘helpful
husband’ driving a minibus around Arundel and a castle buggy to drive us up the hill to the castle
from the entrance.
The castle, the seat of The Dukes of Norfolk, is home to paintings, furniture, tapestries, stained glass,
china and clocks, sculpture and carving, heraldry and armour. It dates from the 11th century but much
of it was rebuilt in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Our WF organisers had ensured that we had ‘gold plus entry’ to the castle which gave us access to
the castle rooms, bedrooms, the keep, the Fitzalan Chapel, the gardens and grounds.
As it was a bit drizzly our group went straight in the castle where we refuelled with coffee/snacks in
the excellent tea room in in the original Castle Servants’ Hall and then started our self-guided tour.
For me my favourite part of the castle was the long dark atmospheric galleried library with red carpets
and wonderful old books, the major surviving interior of the castle from around 1800, and also
bumping into and chatting to wives all over the castle!
Claire George HHWF
WF Walk at Arundel
Two groups of us went on guided walks around the historic town of Arundel, starting outside the
Roman Catholic Cathedral then passing the 14th century parish church where we later had tea. We
looked up at the Castle then walked down through residential streets to the River Arun where
attractive riverside homes now replace the former busy wharves and seamen’s lodgings. We finished
in the High Street with its interesting variety of local shops and all felt we would like to return to
explore this lovely Sussex town.
Jean Firth HHWF
A supper party in Steyning
After an inspiring service in Arundel Cathedral and tea, those of us entertaining sped home with our
guests to put the finishing touches to the evening repast! In our party there were twelve Wives (four
of us from Haywards Heath) and two husbands who butlered, cleared and generally cheered us on.
The conversation was wide ranging and always constant! The food -and wine!-miraculously
disappeared and so did the time. We did indeed feel that true fellowship was amongst us.
Deborah Hanson HHWF