Thursday, 16th March 2023
Dear Member/Friend,
Historic Dockyard Chatham was one of the two leading day trip choices as voted for
by club members last year. Accordingly, a trip to the dockyard has now been
arranged for Thursday 16th March 2023.
Actions required
To secure you place(s) on this day trip please fill in the accompanying form
and make the appropriate payment to the club bank account by 31 January
2023.
The cost per person is £60. This includes:
• Coach (with toilet facility) from Cobham Fairmile Hotel to Historic Dockyard
Chatham and return
• Entrance fee to the dockyard - including access to the various exhibitions and
sights within the 65-acre dockyard site. (See also site map attached)
• Tea/coffee & pastries on arrival
• 45min Guided coach tour of the dockyard
• 30 min Guided walking tour of the Ropery
• Tour of the Submarine 1
• 2-course lunch 2
, including Tea/Coffee
There are also two optional tours (at additional cost) that can be arranged if there is
sufficient demand:
• “Women of the Dockyard Walking Tour”
• “Call the Midwife – Official Location Walking Tour”
(More information on these two tours is provided below)
For those not taking an additional tour, there will be time to explore the various ships,
buildings and exhibitions around the 65-acre site. These include: 3 historic ships;
“The Big Slip” – a covered slipway built in 1838; the Smithery; and the largest
collection of historic RNLI lifeboats; amongst many other interesting sights and
attractions.
The Dockyard
For over 400 years Chatham Dockyard and its people supported the Royal Navy by
building, repairing, and maintaining its warships. One of Britain’s most important
Royal Dockyards, it was associated with many great historical figures of their time –
great seamen like Sir Francis Drake and Lord Nelson as well as literary legends such
as Samuel Pepys and Charles Dickens. The dockyard’s role in supporting the fleet
linked it to many of the most significant events in history - from the Spanish Armada
to the Cold War. Events that shaped the world we live in today. Today The Historic
Dockyard Chatham is the most complete dockyard of the age of sail in the world and
offers us a fascinating, educational and informative day out.
See https://thedockyard.co.uk for more detailed information on the dockyard.