Events
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Service to commemorate the 40th anniversary of John Betjeman’s death, 19th May 1984. ***Fully booked***
A Celebratory Mass on Saturday 18 May at the Convent of St Mary the Virgin, Denchworth Road, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 9AU
Pat Mattimore of the Wantage Branch writes: ‘It is a really lovely venue with strong links to John Betjeman – “Wantage Bells” mentions ‘the Nuns in their Chapel Gloom’. I will try to borrow the handwritten draft of the poem from the bellringers at SS Peter and Paul. It is a very old Convent which has had a considerable amount of updating in recent years and the new Wing is light, airy and welcoming with excellent facilities including good parking. The Convent is on the edge of the Town, easy to drive to, buses from Didcot Parkway to Wantage and from Oxford – details to be confirmed if anybody needs them.’
Our President The Venerable David Meara will lead the Service and there will also be a Eucharist service incorporated.
The programme in outline is:
10am – coffee/tea and biscuits to be served in the Nelson Mandela Room
10.45am all proceed into St Mary’s Chapel ready for the Service, lasting approximately one hour.
12.30 – 2pm – Move to the rooms reserved for our Lunch
2.00pm Poetry reading, discussion, with a short tour of the Convent. There is the Chapel we will use and another very beautiful Chapel with wonderful Stations of the Cross and various statues- one doesn’t need to be religious to appreciate beauty.
3.30 Tea/coffee and cake served prior to departure 4 – 4.30
The cost will be £30. If you are a Wantage Branch member please contact Pat Mattimore for further information, or to send your cheque payable to ‘Betjeman Society Wantage Branch’ to Mrs Pat Mattimore, Amity, 81 Dibleys, Blewbury, Oxon. OX11 9PU 01235 851088, Bernardmat@btinternet.com
Non Wantage Branch members can also send a cheque (details above). Please add a slip of paper with your name, address and a contact email or phone number and any dietary requirements in case of a query and Pat will acknowledge your booking.
To pay by bank transfer or cash on arrival please scroll to the bottom of the page for details.
***Fully booked***
Many events are organised by the Council of the Betjeman Society: to book a place for these events please use the booking form that is sent out with the Society Newsletter or choose one of the following options::
– By cheque payable to the ‘Betjeman Society’ and sent to:Betjeman Society Events, 38 Lapsley Drive, Banbury, OX16 1EW enclosing a SAE.
– By bank transfer to The Betjeman Society Sort Code 40-43-26 (HSBC) and Account Number 62338521. Pay the total amount required for your ticket/s and give as a reference your surname and the event date. Please email events@betjemansociety.com to advise your booking details.
– By cash on arrival but please email as above so we know to expect you.
– If you have a Paypal account or intend to open one then please use it quoting email address ‘betjsoc@gmail.com’