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The 2013 Gathering

The 2013 Gathering of The Friends of Tilling is to be held on Saturday 7th September. It will consist of a walk to Benson’s grave, a ploughman’s luncheon, an afternoon tribute and a dinner in the evening.

Those who wish to walk en masse (about twenty minutes each way, some of it uphill) to Benson’s grave at Rye Cemetery should meet at 10.00 am in front of Rye Station and we will congregate at the graveside at approximately 10.30 am.

Luncheon will be at the Mermaid Inn at 12.30 pm. It will consist of a ploughman’s lunch with dessert and tea or coffee. At lunch we are pleased to welcome again our good friend, the actor Nickolas Grace, noted for his portrayal of Anthony Blanche in Brideshead Revisited. He played Benson in the BBC Radio adaptations of the Mapp & Lucia novels and last year appeared in the West End in Chariots of Fire. Nickolas will read Aunt Georgie, which is one of twelve short stories written by E F Benson, published under the title The Freaks of Mayfair. Aunt Georgie tells the story of George, a bachelor with a penchant for embroidery and knick-knacks. This story was written some four years before the first Lucia novel Queen Lucia was published. George in Aunt Georgie, with many of the same characteristics and interests, obviously provided the model for the character Georgie Pillson in our beloved Lucia novels.

At 3.30 pm, as a tribute to one of our vice presidents Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, who died in December last year, we will air for the first time in public a recording made of him speaking and performing at our Tilling Gathering in 2005. At that event Sir Richard spoke about his long held fascination of the Lucia books and his research into the origins of the characters in the novels. He also speaks about and performs songs from his unpublished musical, Tilling, which he penned in the 1960s. His talk and performance that evening was truly superb and we are very pleased to share this unique and fascinating performance with others who were not fortunate to have been present that year. Tea and biscuits will be served just before the start of the tribute

Dinner will also be at the Mermaid Inn at 8 pm and will consist of a fixed three-course meal including wine, with coffee and petits fours. Dress is, of course, hitum. Please don’t feel shy about dressing up, whether ‘20s/30s flavour, or as a character from the novels. During the evening we will hold our annual “Mapp & Lucia” prize quiz (so we suggest a little revision) and there will be our usual raffle. We are delighted to announce that our president Gyles Brandreth and his wife Michele will be joining us for the day.

Schedule
 

10.00 am Meet at Rye Station, and walk to Benson’s Grave
12.30 pm Luncheon at The Mermaid Inn in Mermaid Street
3.30 pm Tribute to Sir Richard Rodney Bennett at The Mermaid Inn
7.15 pm Pre-prandial aperitifs at The Mermaid Inn (Drinks not included)
8.00 pm Dinner at The Mermaid Inn

A booking form and all booking details are available here.
 

The 12th Century Mermaid Inn

Benson's Home - Lamb House

Friends of Tilling in hitum - 2007