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The 2014 Gathering

The 2014 Gathering of The Friends of Tilling is to be held on Saturday 6th September.

The 2014 Gathering of The Friends of Tilling is to be held on Saturday 6th September. It will consist of a walk to Benson’s grave, a ploughman’s luncheon with a literary reading 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. After lunch will be a reading of a brand new Tilling story Humble Soup by Tom Holt. Tom has previously written two Tilling novels: Lucia Triumphant and Lucia in Wartime as well as two short stories: Diplomatic Incident and Great Minds. The new story, written specially for us will be read by 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 recently appeared in the West End in Chariots of Fire.

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 Gyles Brandreth will host our annual “Mapp & Lucia” prize quiz (so we suggest a little revision) and there will be our usual raffle.

Bookings must be received by 29th August.

The 12th Century Mermaid Inn

Benson's Home - Lamb House

Friends of Tilling in hitum - 2007