Cannock Soroptimists together with family and friends – 80 in total – enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at Mitton Manor, Penkridge, for their annual Summer Celebration. President June Bould wanted somewhere quintessentially English where people could walk, chat, enjoy their surroundings and have a delicious afternoon tea; she was delighted when Elizabeth Gooch MBE, owner of Mitton Manor, agreed that the event could be held there. The gardens are within a 7-acre country garden that was started in 2001 and has been developed from an overgrown wilderness. They are now absolutely beautiful and contain a range of different styles, with formal box and topiary, natural woodland bordered by a stream and wonderful flower gardens with a number of water features and sculptures.
The day of the Summer Celebration began with rain – the first we have had for weeks – but the day slowly cleared and everyone was able to enjoy the warmth of the sun as they wondered through the gardens before going into the open sided marquee which had been beautifully set up for afternoon tea. The china was ‘just like Grandma’s’, the jugs of flowers on the tables were so pretty and tea – what a fantastic array of finger sandwiches, scotch egg, pork pie, several other savouries, scones with cream and jam and tiny sweet treats with far too many varieties for anyone to sample them all! And the food just kept on coming, along with that truly traditional English drink, a good, hot cup of tea! Add to that the guitarist and singer Dom and all in all it was a perfect afternoon.
President June thanked everyone for going along to make the afternoon so successful and happy, in particular she thanked Soroptimist Jill Gooch [no relation to Elizabeth] who had done a lot of the organising for the event. She asked everyone to join her in thanking Elizabeth Gooch who had been so very accommodating and who had made the whole afternoon possible and presented her with flowers from the Club.
So many had never been to Mitton Manor Gardens before but will be sure to visit again in future, information can be found on their website www.mittonmanor.co.uk
Cannock Soroptimists’ next event is a Beetle Drive to be held at St Mary’s Church Hall on Friday August 17th. Tickets are available by calling 01543 502335, they cost £6.00 & include a fish and chip supper; monies raised will go to the Phoenix Project at St Giles Hospice. The next Club meeting is on 11th September at The Barns.
Photo attached: l to r: Soroptimist Jill Gooch; June Bould, President SI Cannock & District; Elizabeth Gooch MBE of Mitton Manor