We have been very pleased to welcome a group of visitors from Graz, on holiday to London, six Malades with their helpers from Malteser Hospitaldienst Austria.
They arrived on Friday afternoon, and on Saturday a group of members of the Order from the Conventual Church and Companions, under the leadership of John Tabor, arranged a picnic in Greenwich.
Fra' Richard Cheffins, who lives in Greenwich, gave a guided tour of the town, the historic market and the Royal Naval College, and delivered a most learned talk, simultaneously translated with an enviable skill by Tina Andracher, the group leader.
It was disappointing that the fire of two years ago aboard the Cutty Sark has resulted in continued scaffolding on this glorious tea-clipper, with which some of our guests, well versed in British maritime history, were already familiar. The spire of Hawksoor's magnificent anglican church of St Alphege was also shrouded in scaffolding, the bane of every tourist's life! The glorious baroque interior and the organ console played for many years by Thomas Tallis (and also by the princesses Elizabeth and Mary Tudor), was however open to visitors. We were, nevertheless, blessed by the weather which although threatening to rain at any moment remained warm and fine.
After a lunch on the grass by the colonnade of the College Brewery the group visited the Painted Hall, the former dining hall, and Chapel, before repairing to the Trafalgar Tavern for a pint. An order of 18 pints at the bar caused no evident surprise!
Further reports of the visit will follow before our guests' return to Graz on Thursday. Click photos to enlarge.
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| Disembarking from the Riverboat |
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| In the Greenwich Hospital Market |
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| Fra' Richard's Morning Office |
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| In the Exhibition |
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| Lunchtime |
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| Fra Richard's talk |
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| The Painted Hall |
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| Photographers |
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| The College Chapel |
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| Group photograph outside the Chapel |
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| At the pub |
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