THE 2026 GATHERING OF THE FRIENDS OF TILLING
The 2025 Gathering of The Friends of Tilling is to be held on Saturday 5th September. It will consist of a walk to Benson’s grave, a ploughman’s luncheon with a reading afterwards 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 10.20 am.
At 12.20 the Friends of Tilling will be officially welcomed to the town by the Town Crier of Rye (and honorary Town Crier of Tilling) Paul Goring outside The Mermaid Inn. Luncheon will follow at 12.30 pm. It will consist of a ploughman’s lunch with dessert and tea or coffee. Following lunch Ben Jackson (returning by popular demand) will, following a recently discovered set of diaries, throw some light on the background and early life of Poppy, Duchess of Sheffield. We are delighted to say that our president Gyles Brandreth will be joining us at lunch.
Lamb House (Mallards) will be fully open in the afternoon until 5 pm. The price for non-members of the National Trust is £10.00.
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. Our annual quiz takes place after dinner, this year to be hosted by Ben Jackson..
Schedule
10.00 am Meet at Rye Station, and walk to Benson’s Grave at Rye Cemetery
12.30 pm Luncheon at The Mermaid Inn in Mermaid Street
7.15 pm Pre-prandial aperitifs at The Mermaid Inn (Drinks not included)
8.00 pm Dinner at The Mermaid Inn
To avoid a scramble, seats will be allocated. You are therefore asked to name any persons in addition to those in your party with whom you wish to be seated. We will do our best to accommodate all requests.
Lunch is £33.00 and dinner is £67.00. Payment is preferred by cheque (in £ sterling) made payable to The Friends of Tilling. Alternative methods of paying are available if necessary (email for details).
Please download, print, complete and return the booking form with payment to the address below by Monday 24th August.
We regret that we are unable to offer refunds for cancellations made less than one week before the event.
The Friends of Tilling
Stone House, 43 Coleshill Street, Sutton Coldfiled, West Midlands B72 1SH