Sunday 13th May turned out to be a warm, sunny spring day. A coach had been laid on to collect Knights, their friends and families from Surbiton and Croydon Masonic centres and we were all duly delivered to the Helva restaurant of Kt Eddie Ertan, in the centre of Greenwich.

After the initial welcome from Kt Eddie, his wife and family, we were seated in a private part of the restaurant and treated to a lunch of a variety of delicious Turkish dishes, washed down with wine, all generously donated by Kt. Eddie.

Following the meal we were free to do whatever we liked for the rest of the afternoon. Greenwich is a World Heritage Site. Some of our party visited such famous landmarks as the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory with the Greenwich meridian, and Sir Christopher Wren’s Old Royal Naval College; yet others, the beautiful Chapel and the magnificent Painted Hall, where Nelson’s body lay in state after his death at the Battle of Trafalgar, while some opted for the newly restored Cutty Sark from which could be seen one of the Navy’s latest boats, HMS Ocean, which was to provide the security for the Queen’s Jubilee. Most of the party included the colourful street market with its hundreds of food and craft stalls in their tour, whilst others enjoyed a walk along the River Thames or in Greenwich Park or one of the boat rides from Greenwich pier to view the O2 arena and the Thames Barrier.

There was so much to do that our four hours ‘at leisure’ soon came to an end and we were back in Kt Eddie’s restaurant for a final cup of tea and a natter before returning on the coach to either Croydon or Surbiton.

A total of £230.00 was raised from the outing which will be donated to the Jerusalem Eye Hospital.