June 2024. Romsey. Hampshire.
Day 1 of Michael’s Big Birthday Bash.
Father-in-law wanted to return to Romsey to see the primary school he left in 1947, a simple request. If I never see anything from my youth ever again I’ll be delighted.
We turned up on what felt the first sunny day of the year, a sleepy market town as busy as I’ve seen it yet unable to deliver the promised ice creams.
It being Sunday, the tourist office was closed,
so we spent an hour wandering around looking for a school, the name and location long forgotten, and ending up at the Abbey.
Blimey, it’s massive.
Not one of our best known churches, but some classic stained glass,
this one dedicated to Florence.
Some much older art,
and a 10th century crucifix.
We finally stumbled across Michael’s school from 1947, next to this gem. He was delighted.
I would have celebrated with a pint in Bryan’s Taphouse,
but I seemed to have got the wrong end of the stick.
retiredmartin 