As usual the Heritage Group trip to Whalley Abbey was over-subscribed having been booked up within days of its announcement and as only 53 people could fit on the coach the remainder were making their
own way there.
The Abbey's St Bernard Chapel is small and friendly and it our group quite filled it. The Mass was uplifting and with Father’s homily and the carols it set the tone for the rest of the day.
After Mass there was time for a very
quick visit to the bar before a splendid traditional Christmas lunch was served. As usual at Whalley Abbey the food was excellent, -and enhanced by the wine donated by Fr. Lupton. The meal was a leisurely and
friendly affair allowing people to chat with other parishioners with whom, perhaps, they only usually exchanged a brief greeting after Sunday Mass.
After the meal we all took ourselves to the conference room where Daphne played the piano and we had carols and entertainment. Elizabeth took over as compere and, as is traditional, sang the Joyce
Grenfell favourite 'Stately as a Galleon' - as usual she sang it far better than Joyce Grenfell ever did.
