Dunwich
is a small village on the edge of Suffolk. It barely seems to hang on to
the land and yet it has a bishop of its own. This might imply a cathedral
but you are welcome to look for one and a small prize would be available
if you find one. Dunwich was once, in medieval times, one of the most important
ports on the east coast as well as being a fair sized town. The intervening
years have been harsh to Dunwich and most of its glory is beneath the waves
of the North Sea. Luckily it still has a pub which has a reputation for great
fish and chips and it was this that brought a number of Folkmoggers in a
slightly smaller number of Morgans descending on the unsuspecting hamlet.
Strictly speaking the pub was suspecting as they had reserved a room for
us but the rest of the town did not expect us.
So
at midday on Sunday 17th May we started to gather. I parked in the beach
car park as I new there was bags of room and I was early several others parked
on the road outside the pub and as always it then took us ages to get into
the pub owing to our joy at meeting and greeting. There were fourteen Morgans
and twenty seven people in attendance and poor old Dunwich must have thought
it was being invaded ( Just imagine the scene in the Marlon Brando film ‘The
Wild Ones’ when the all of the motor cyclists ride into towm – yes
I know we are not motor cyclists but extend the imagination). Actually there
were twenty nine as one Morgan (Chris Murrell's) turned up just to support
without staying for the lunch. How nice is that!?! Dave Ager joined us for
the first time. It is always good to welcome new members. In fact it turned
out he had been a member of the MSCC for a while but this was his first local
meeting. I hope it is the first of many.
The pub had reserved a conservatory area for us but we soon spilled over
into the garden, luckily it was a nice day. The fish and chips lived up to
reputation I am glad to say as Roger Tatton had put on some pressure when
he mentioned he had given up watching Le Mans for this meeting.
The possible after lunch activities were numerous and so we split up and went our various ways. Some went to the small but interesting museum, some went the beach and some had other visits to make. I chose to visit Minnsmere, the local RSPB bird reserve. I was rewarded with sight of a marsh harrier and a bittern. Someone in the hide also claimed we had also seen a hobby but I was not entirely convinced.
I should come clean and admit that I was the organiser of this event. I say I organised it but really the organisation consisted of Diana and I driving round south Norfolk and Suffolk on consecutive Saturdays having lunch in pubs. How hard is that? Then having decided on the Ship Inn we talked to the landlord and told him we were coming and that we would let him know how many of us would be attending a bit nearer the date. This is really not onerous. However, thanks ever so to all the people who said thank you for the effort. I can honestly say it was no trouble.
As usual the photographs are from Maurice. Thanks for coming everyone.
