2019 – Silver Anniversary Gathering

New Place, Lingfield

The gathering, taking the form of an afternoon tea by kind invitation of Lord and Lady Lingfield, took place in their garden at New Place in Lingfield in Surrey, on  Sunday 8th September, a lovely warm day.

The tea (organised by Lady Lingfield, Dee Balchin, Tina Balchin and Rob Balchin) was scrumptious: sandwiches, scones and cakes, washed down with plentiful cups of tea.  Three generations of Lord Lingfield’s family were there helping serve the tea – the younger generations being their son, Tom, and his wife , Dee, and their children, Emilia (aged eight) and Alexander (aged six).  Then came Emilia and Alexander’s important duty with lighting the candles on the silver anniversary cake.

The A.G.M. followed.  The business included the news that Colin Balchin is standing down as treasurer.  Many thanks are due to Colin for all his hard work and efficiency over the last twenty-two years.  At the subsequent committee meeting Colin handed over the reins to Tina Balchin.

The Balchin Family Society A.G.M 2019

After the A.G.M. there was a guided tour round the house, which was fascinating.  New Place is in fact a very old building, lovingly restored.  We were treated to a history of the house, a discussion of the restoration and viewing a number of historical items.

We thanked our kind hosts for a lovely afternoon and returned home with our memories of a very successful twenty-fifth anniversary gathering.

Diana Beamish 

Note: More details on New Place can be found here.