March News from No.fifty6 - Somme Spring Sunshine, Stories…..and Snow!!

March, that in between month, not the end of winter, not summer but the promise of beautiful Spring days. A favourite month of ours. And not without good reason this month – the weather dominated by warm, blue-sky days and very little rain. Our guests could not believe how lovely the weather has been, day after day of constant cheer. Don’t be fooled though, says Mother Nature, there is a chilly front over us at the end of March and even a fall of snow overnight to usher in April!  So glad we haven’t planted our tender garden plants just yet.  

Our friendly farmers have been toiling – ploughing, scarifying and finally seeding, judging it just right before the rain comes. The rolling landscape is turning from its winter brown to fuzzy green as the new growth pokes through and nature’s promise of new life continues its cycle.

 Farming the Fields of Pozieres.

Spring and nature have inspired us this March, but also the history and legacy of War always around us.  We are saddened that there continues to be so much suffering and uncertainty in the world around us today. Do we never learn as a human race?

So, a wistful poem caught our eye this month – Spring in War-Time by Edith Nesbit.

Now the sprinkled blackthorn snow 
Lies along the lover’s lane 
Where last year we used to go- 
Where we shall not go again. 

In the hedge the buds are new, 
By our wood the violets peer- 
Just like last year’s violets too, 
But they have no scent this year. 

Every bird has heart to sing 
Of its nest, warmed by its breast; 
We had heart to sing last spring, 
But we never built our nest. 

Presently red roses blown 
Will make all the garden gay.. 
Not yet have the daisies grown 
On your clay.

That cycle of nature never quite the same without a loved one to share it, lost to War, Nesbit writes beautifully. It seemed appropriate for March on The Somme.

Edith Nesbit was quite a character, born 1858, she was an English writer and poet, political activist and co-founder of the Fabian Society. Her most famous book is probably The Railway Children. She died in 1924, having lived quite a life. She is buried in St Mary in The Marsh Churchyard, New Romney, Kent.

 Edith Nesbit

Our Guests Exploring The Somme

It has been a busy month, lovely having guests back regularly who have enjoyed their Spring time on The Somme. They have field walked, discovered history, connected with ancestors and above all just enjoyed this unique landscape that we are lucky enough to call our home.

All the way from Cornwall, 2 friends, both called Chris just to confuse us,   spent a week at no.fifty6. Every day was filled with walks and exploring, discovering battlefield relics and taking in the history.

Scottie came on his own and took the opportunity to visit places he never usually has the time to as he is always showing people the Battlefields as a Guide himself. He came bearing March daffodils so will always be welcome !

Terry Whenham, a regular guest, came with 2 friends Steve and Dave and we had some wonderful chats around our table, including plans for his podcast series – more on that later.

Tony Kirk has been coming to the Somme for over 20 years, but it was his first time staying with us, travelling with his son Dan and Dan’s father-in-law  Paul. Every day they walked the land and enjoyed the lovely weather – wearing shorts in March! Tony left us a lovely Tripadvisor review and we really enjoyed their company.

Jim Chapman said (jokingly) he was only coming if the weather was good and we arranged a week of wall-to-wall sunshine for him. Jim escaped from London to spend a peaceful, reflective, visit to The Somme.  He brought his bike with him in the car and spent long days in the saddle taking in the landscape. Stopping to eat his packed lunch while taking in the history.  Returning for drinks, chats and welcome food every evening. A perfect week!

Mick and Jay made the journey from Wigan and walked and walked while they were here, clocking up 15 miles some days. Mick has a birthday this week and has just retired after a long career in the armed forces. He presented us with a plaque from his Battalion that he has served so dutifully – 4^th Para. The plaque will be a welcome addition to our Armed Services plaques on the wall and the 4^th Para motto – “Ready for Anything”, seems very fitting.  A happy retirement Mick and thank you for your service.  Mick and Jay have already booked for next year.

The month ended in the company of Ross, another regular visitor who also brings his bike. He concentrated on the August 1918 Somme battles and let the landscape soothe his soul after a taxing few weeks.

Everyone has their reason for coming to The Somme. We like to think we do our little bit to restore good spirits but really it is the Somme that is the star – its inexplicable essence of creating peace where once there was havoc and that peace  seeps into your soul.  

It’s been good to have our regulars and new guests who have become friends, to stay.

We will leave our Somme/guest reflections this month in the writing of Jim Condron who came with his friend Rich mid-month. Jim says:

I’ve just returned from an amazing weekend visiting the Somme battlefields. My friend Rich and I stayed at Number 56 B&B - the perfect base for anyone looking to explore the Somme.  It really does feel like your ‘home’ while you’re there. Julie and David could not be more welcoming. 

The main reason for our trip was to visit the grave of my Great Great Uncle, Herbert Guiver, along with Rich’s Great Uncle, Robert Bruce, who is buried in Boulogne. Herbert was in the 2nd Essex. He was killed on 17th February 1916 at what is now the Sheffield Memorial Park near Serre. He is buried at Sucrerie Military Cemetery.

Herbert was my Great Grandmother’s brother. I was five years old when she died so feel a very tangible link to him. I’ve spent the last 15 years finding out as much as I can about him, and a few years ago was lucky enough to inherit his medals and memorial plaque.

I brought the medals and plaque with me as I wanted to reunite Herbert with them. I also asked Alf and Peter, my 5 and 7 year olds sons, to write a short note each to leave on his grave. I think it’s so important that, as the two World Wars pass from living memory, children of today are brought up to understand their impact and remember the sacrifice of those generations. 

I had previously visited Sucrerie in 2016 in the week of the centenary of Herbert’s death. But I didn’t have the time then to explore the area properly. This time David and Julie were amazing at helping Rich and me understand the area and take us back a century to what was happening there then. 

It’s safe to say that I will definitely be back soon to explore further. 

Here are a few photos from my trip.  

Thanks Jim – Alf and Peter in their letters to Herbert say it all really don’t they?

Covid Update

There has been an easing of restrictions here in France from mid-March and for normal day-to-day things it is business as usual. There is no longer a requirement to show Vaccine Passes in cultural place, bars or restaurants. Masks, though recommended, are no longer obligatory in shops, museums, restaurants etc.,  with the exception of public transport and health and welfare settings. There is still a good uptake of mask wearing as Covid certainly has not gone away.

Travel to France is now very easy if you are vaccinated.  From the UK travel perspective, no testing is required in either direction of travel between the UK and France. Now all that remains is to carry proof of vaccination.  The sworn statement that previously was required was ceased on 31 March.

Returning to The UK, the Passenger Locator Form has also been dropped. The easiest it has been since Covid started 2 years ago!

Guests from further afield are also returning, we are so pleased we have future bookings from Canada, USA, South Africa and Australia as well as European friends in The Netherlands and Germany.

We are always happy to help if you need any help or advice about what is required to travel to France from wherever you are in the world. 

Thiepval

We have again hosted the Stonemasons in March  while they continue their work on Thiepval.  They come back tired after long days at the stone face. We understand from CWGC that it is now more likely to be late July, before the work to the Memorial is finished and public access is once again possible. Scaffolding has been removed from the South side of the Monument but the North side still requires a lot of work as it is more exposed to the elements, and remains shrouded in scaffolding. It has taken 13 months of work so far.

Thiepval progressing under March skies. 

A Good Night’s Sleep

We have begun a programme of replacing the guest beds here. We think it is really important we continue to improve what we do -  a good night’s sleep is a key element of what we want our guests to enjoy. Not that the existing beds are a problem, but our desire is to improve and invest in No.fifty6. In line with our belief to shop and source locally, we are supporting a local business for the beds. There is a family-run bed factory on the outskirts of Albert and the family live in Ovillers. A visit to the factory (amazing place) and being looked after personally by the owner, means that we can order bespoke, made to measure beds in all the colours and all the sizes! Hand made in Albert! Which is why we are not getting all the beds at once as they are bespoke orders and we also have to plan the bed changes and the upheaval it causes around our guest bookings.

First on the list is The Florentine Room where we have said goodbye to the bunk beds. Instead we have a lovely new large single bed in their place and a new king double in this room. This gives us more flexibility for guest stays and is more practical in many ways.  It nearly resulted in divorce, dismantling the old beds and getting them down the stairs but the results are worth all the hard work. Dormez bien! 

 The Florentine Room.

 New Podcast Series

Regular guest and friend Terry Whenham has started a new series of podcasts – Tales from The Battlefields. Last week Terry interviewed Richard Dunning, owner of Lochnagar Crater. A link to the podcast is attached and is well worth a listen.

Richard visited us this month with fellow Trustee and Vice Chair of The Lochnagar Crater Foundation, Iain Fry, and we discussed plans for renovating the Lochnagar pathway and general maintenance this year. There is always something going on to keep us busy…

https://audioboom.com/posts/8055513-richard-dunning-the-man-who-bought-a-crater?fbclid=IwAR3SGh_aNiOjLc4HFQ6jojdrkS8miebRJwHPDf3qwCBIPr5uXybLoSy5a6E

 Richard being interviewed by Terry (photo courtesy of Terry Whenham)

Animal Postscript

Birds are nesting, the dawn chorus is amazing and Marge is going to bed at 8.30pm now with the clocks springing forward. She is still plodding on, queen of the garden, producing a golden egg most days.

 Marge and her favourite treat. 

David’s March Jokes (don’t blame Julie):

Why is everyone so tired on April 1?
Because they've just finished a 31-day March!

What's Irish and comes out in Spring?
Paddy O'Furniture

All is well at no.fifty6. Stay safe and well and we hope to see you soon.

 Daffodils at Thiepval.