Cambridgeshire Figaro Day Trip – Sunday 18th September 2022

Words, Pictures and Video Adam Woods

We started planning the Cambridgeshire Day Trip a few months ago, and not knowing that side of the region quite as well, I really struggled to find a nice venue where we could meet in a lovely setting with decent parking, while also finding a suitable destination around an hour away with some nice places to visit along the way. In the end, with 6 weeks to go, we found a lovely little venue in St Ives called Slepe Hall, some gorgeous countryside, towns and villages to drive through, and the historic house and grounds of Deene Park, just across the border in Northamptonshire.

Just 10 days before we all heard the sad news that HM The Queen had passed away, and with the funeral scheduled for the day after our day trip, I knew that the usual energy and enthusiasm from our Figgy fans would be a little muted compared to normal. So, we reviewed the route and tweaked it a little so that we could spend more time in the open countryside – it just seemed a little more appropriate for what would be a more reflective weekend.

Sadly a couple of members had car trouble in the days before the trip, and on the day itself, another car overheated on the way over – but most important was that everyone was safe.

With two cars joining us over at Deene Park, eight cars met at Slepe Hall … and after some breakfast and refreshments, we met in front of the grand exterior of the hotel, ready for our trip. Rather than the usual beeps, everyone waved, and we agreed that if anyone didn’t wish to beep as we went along, of course, they shouldn’t feel obliged to at all.

The weather was already a little changeable, but as we set out from St Ives the sun was peeping out between the clouds. After the necessary but not very thrilling route around the outskirts of Huntingdon, we headed out through the Stukeleys, on through Alconbury, over the bridge, and were then surprised to meet a vintage car convoy heading in the opposite direction. And so we headed out into beautiful rolling countryside, sweeping across fields so that drivers and passengers could enjoy the lovely scenery. We then dropped down towards the market town of Oundle, and drove through the centre with a few beeps and waves, complimenting the beautiful stone buildings. From here we headed out again, passing through the Benefields and on towards Deene Park.

We passed through the gatehouse, up the sweeping drive joined by two more members taking us up to the full complement of 10 cars. And so we arrived at our own Figgy Parking by the bridge in front of the house. From here some picnicked and chatted while others wandered the gardens, until the Tudor and Georgian Mansion opened at 2pm, greeted by our warm and generous host Charlotte Brundenell. She happily welcomed us to her beautiful home.

On what was a very unusual weekend with the Queen’s funeral the next day, the expanses of countryside and rolling fields certainly felt like the right environment to enjoy in the circumstances. With stretches of straight roads and the weather not only holding off, but providing decent periods of sunshine, this day trip set a relaxed and reflective tone for everyone to enjoy in our convoy of Figgys, glinting in the sun at the end of the Summer.

We look forward now to the next soon-to-be-announced Eastern Chapter trip on 30th October – hopefully over in Essex.

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