Preamble.

​

Although I had been a member of Sutton Coldfield Vesey Probus Club since 2007 it was only in 2015 that I decided to take part in the annual Probus Holiday. This was going to be my first experience of all paid guided coach holiday so there was a certain amount of doubt whether I will take to it and enjoy the coach trip. I need not have worried. This, my first coach holiday was to a place called ‘Huby’ (pronounced as Hooby according to our excellent organiser Mr. Barrie Smith; his joviality was contagious!) in Yorkshire not far from York. There were no worries about where we were heading next, no panic about the route etc – all done for you. All one had to think about was lunch and that was not difficult for wherever we got off for sight-seeing there were plenty of cafes, and outlets to get a light lunch. The lunch had to be light for there was a full dinner waiting for us at the hotel in Huby already paid for as part of the package. I was beginning to relax and slowly shedding my doubts, getting into the spirit of the trip in good and jolly company.

 

On Monday 14th September I met the coach along with some other members   on Jockey Road and after another stop at another pickup point, we were off to Yorkshire. It was cold and a touch wet. The weatherman had promised us clouds and rain and he was not wrong but it was not so bad. We stopped for lunch at East Riddlesden hall – a 17th century Manor House with lovely gardens. After lunch we toured the Manor House and the gardens. The slightly adventurous ones- me included – went for a short walk to see the local river but we had to return for the ground was muddy due to earlier rain and it had started to drizzle again! Besides, with a coach trip, as I discovered, one must get back to the coach at a pre-set time otherwise one could be left behind! It does not happen. The driver will wait even for the slowest passenger. And some of the folks with us were close to being octogenarians and inevitably slow to get to the coach. But we all managed. We headed to our hotel called Tulip Inn Burn Hall Hotel. We entered a very modern looking brick building, which was not the usual multi-storeyed affair and looked welcoming and pleasant. We were given the keys to our rooms with the promise that our cases will be delivered to the room. Later I discovered that the hotel was quite old with the newly built rooms had been added in the front. The old part housed the popular bar. Once we got our suitcases and freshened ourselves, we all met up for our dinner. There were six to a table and we all found our companions and friends and had a good enjoyable meal. Some generous person on the table ordered & paid for the wine which made the evening even better. This became an automatic routine each evening – after all we are creatures of habit. But to my mind it was the company through out the tour and in the evenings at the dinning table made it all very pleasant.

 

 

On Tuesday 15th September we travelled to a place called Pickering from where we travelled by the North Yorkshire Moors (steam) Railway to the well-known harbour of Whitby. The train journey was fabulous; unfortunately, it rained all the way and our view through the rain splattered windows of the picturesque valley was somewhat obscured but it was fun. The old-style carriages and the smell of coal and steam reminded me of my childhood travels in India. It was in Whitby that Bram Stoker (I didn’t know the name) wrote the famous book about ‘Dracula’.

 It was from here so I have been told, that Captain Cook sailed to discover New Zealand. Whitby’s fish and chips were talked about and one had to try and we did. We were all hungry and enjoyed the Whitby fish and chips – these were good. Unfortunately, this did not leave us with much time – had to meet the coach - to see the Whitby Abbey and the captain Cook Museum. Still, it was good. I managed to take some pictures both on and from the train and then later in Whitby.

On our way back to the hotel the coach stopped for a short while at a small village called ‘Goathland’. This village is better known as ‘Adensfield’ from the ITV drama “Heartbeat”, which my wife loved to watch.

 

Wednesday 16th September saw us in the historic city of York. It brought back memories of me and wife visiting York with my children’s school trip- the Boldmere Middle School and our own trip. We were taken round the city first by the coach and then on foot with the guide pointing out all the touristy bits, nooks, and corners. I took a walk on ‘the wall’, which gave a wonderful view of the York Minster and of course I took a few pictures. Most of us did not visit the Minster, only went round it on the outside. Somehow ‘Shambles’ (this is a street where the tops of the houses on the opposite side of the street almost seem to be touching each other) looked different to me from my previous visits – perceptions change and the memory plays tricks too. I didn’t want to visit the Railway-museum or the Jorvik Centre (this is the Viking-museum, which we as a family had seen before). It was a beautiful sunny day so it was best not to be indoors.

 

We spent Thursday 17th September morning in Ripon situated on the river Ure. This was my first visit to this town. It is market town that was founded 1300 years ago. Ripon has a magnificent Cathedral and when we went in, I had an extra bonus for that was the day artists from Ripon and nearby had displayed their paintings, sculptures, etc. Just lucky to have arrived then. There was fine art in various media; there was modern art, abstract, portraits, and some quite unusual media. We were not allowed to photograph. The Art exhibition made my (and Mr. Gosling’s – who was my companion for this trip, and is a wonderful water-colourist) visit to Ripon a perfect one. There is a 300-year Obelisk in the town with I am sure with some historical significance, which I seemed to have missed. There was a busy market in the square next to the Obelisk. It was fun just meandering through it doing virtual shopping.

In the afternoon we visited Newby Hall and Gardens. It is a living ‘family home’ of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Compton and is renowned as one of Robert Adam’s (I obviously missed finding out who Robert Adam was – probably an architect) houses. I guess that Mr. Adam was a rich industrialist – probably to do with cotton or coal, like so many others - and made a lot of money. We could view the house from the inside but by guided tour only. There is a lot of opulence and exceptional example of 18th century interior decorations. There were some fabulous portraits of past and present owners. It was apparently built in 1690s in the style of Christopher Wren.

 

On Friday 18th September the last day of our Probus holiday took us to another of these mansions/houses. . This was called Beningbrough Hall. Again, it was full of paintings, sculptures, furniture, and ceramics. There were excellent gardens and walks. But by now I must admit I was a bit bored of all this affluence, and ostentatious interiors.

The weather was kind to us and it was, all in all, a pleasant experience for me. Of course, it is the accompanying folks, their friendliness and togetherness that made the trip for me for there was a little bit of trepidation as to how will I fare with the coach trip and the company – I did not need to worry at all.

Not the least – the coach was comfortable and the driver was dextrous in the way he managed to manoeuvre the coach through difficult turns on narrow country roads and tight parking areas.

We were dropped off at our respective pick-up points in the evening of Friday. I had phoned for a Taxi and got home safely.

 

I am glad I tried The Probus Coach holiday.

It was good and I shall certainly join the next Probus holiday.   Ajai Kapur  2023

​