Gentlemen’s Lunch
The next lunch will be held at the usual venue
The Golden Pheasant,
Plumley Moor Lane,
Plumley,
0n
Thursday 19th November 2026
New members and visitors are always welcome to join our social lunches.
We meet every third Thursday of the month throughout the year.
For further information, please contact:
Ed Wakefield 01565 830127 or Derek Moorhouse 01565 830398
Gentlemen’s Lunch
Visit to
Holyhead Maritime Museum, Anglesey (Ynys Mon)
September 17th 2026
After leaving a rather wet Rostherne, weather conditions improved the further west we travelled. The
journey, via M56 and A55 Express route, was punctuated by traffic delays which seriously impacted our
agenda. However, to relieve the frustration we called Aber Falls distillery, for coffee and a gratuitous
tasting. This lifted morale immensely as we continued on to our destination, having renegotiated our
ETA with the venues.
On arrival at the Maritime Museum the Curator and staff were welcoming and attentive. The museum
is located in the former oldest Lifeboat Station in Wales, dating from 1828! A new Lifeboat Station
facility is evident nearby.
The artefacts and information in the museum highlight the regions perilous maritime history and the
bravery of the volunteers who man the Holyhead lifeboats. It is a testament to the town’s rich
seafaring heritage! Narratives featuring 49 RNLI gallantry medals is evidence of the journey through
captivating stories of shipwrecks and courageous heroic rescues. It is significant to mention that
there are five strategically located operational lighthouses on the island! The presentation and
collection also showcase sailing vessels to steam, motor ships and lifeboat models throughout the
ages. There is a dedicated exhibit of the 1939 HMS Thetis submarine disaster. The Thetis, built at
Cammel Laird, Birkenhead, was on a sea trial and sank in Liverpool Bay with 103 people aboard, only
four survived. The boat was salvaged, restored and sunk again during WW2! Another notable
shipwreck concerned the catastrophic disaster in 1859, of the Royal Charter. This was an iron hulled
Steam Clipper travelling from Melbourne to Liverpool, when a force 12 gale impaled it on to the rocks
off Anglesey. The ship’s manifest recorded 459 people aboard, of which only 41 survived. Another
interesting aspect of this tragedy was the ship carried a massive amount of gold bullion, belonging to
the miners returning from the Australian gold fields. A great deal of the gold was retrieved but the site
remains a magnet to this day.
Having surfaced from an overwhelming maritime experience the ‘captain’s’ table beckoned in the
Treardour Bay Hotel. A delightful lunch gracefully served by friendly efficient staff, was manna to the
equally appreciative patrons.
Derek