Norfolk Figaro Day Out – Sunday 12th September 2021

Words & Pictures by Adam Woods – 12th September 2021

What a Summer it has been! The amazing 30th Birthday bash set the benchmark, followed by our Suffolk Day Trip in July, Helmingham Hall Classic Car Show in August, and then this the Norfolk Day Trip in September!

We had hoped to end our day trip across Norfolk at Cromer, parking up on the front, but after lots of inquiries there was no way we could persuade the local council to make it happen, so we needed to come up with a plan B that members could really enjoy!

Members numbering 16 cars and 37 humans met and parked up in the rear gardens of “Sea Marge” boutique hotel in Cromer where many had pre-ordered breakfast, ready for the day ahead! Fantastic to see some now-familiar faces along with some people we had not been lucky enough to meet before – always so wonderful to meet Figaro members who are always so fun and full of life!

So, we headed out from Overstrand, along through to Cromer, through the centre and round to the front in a fleet of Figaros beep-beeping our horns at everyone who waved and pointed and smiled. From Cromer we headed out across the country through Bodham, past Holt and through Letheringsett until we arrived at our stop at “Back to the Garden” a lovely converted barn with butchers, deli and shop and amazing organic food. The venue had kindly set an area aside for us so that we could park up our cars and get a bit to eat and do a bit of shopping.

Next was a journey across the country again through Glandford, Wiveton, Morston and Stiffkey, and then onto Wells-next-the-Sea where our convoy greeted locals and tourists with our beep-beeps, creating quite a spectacle as Figaro after Figaro passed through… and then finally onto our final destination Holkham Hall, an 18th Century Palladian style house set in a thriving 25,000 acre estate!

For Holkham we had arranged special access up their drive from the South, and my goodness what a long drive that was with so many Figaros out in the sun! Along the drive, past the famous obelisk, and sweeping round towards the front of the hall where we had arranged for our Figaros to park up in pride of place! So popular is this venue that there were already some vintage tractors booked to park up in the morning before us.

As we were a little early our cars and the tractors made for an interesting spectacle for all the hall’s visitors on what became a sunnier and sunnier day… they were soon gone though, and then followed quite a stream of visitors coming to have a look at our lovely collection of cars!

Members could then enjoy the rest of the day was they wished with the Hall, grounds and the discounted entry we had for the Walled Gardens which were quite a sight. Another amazing day with a lovely crowd of people, and the joy of enjoying the Norfolk countryside in a fleet of Figaros! What more can you ask? Here’s to the next day trip… a little shorter, but taking place on Hallowe’en and concluding at a once secret Nuclear Bunker!