Our Spring 2017 Excursion will take place on Wednesday May 10. 
Fleet Air Arm Museum
Discover the Royal Navy’s historic Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton in Somerset. It provides close up access to aircraft used by British crews for over 100 years. View inside the Search and Rescue Sea King ZA298; or look around the Sopwith Baby (first to use air to air missiles in 1917). Learn about Pilot Rutland at the Battle of Jutland, May 1916.
You take a simulated helicopter ride to the flight deck of famous HMS Ark Royal, and be immersed in the Award-winning Aircraft Carrier experience. ‘Where museum meets theatre’. Watch dramatic take-offs and landings. Elsewhere, you go onboard the first supersonic British built Concord; and may view dozens of restored historic and more recent aircraft, and the history of WRNS through 1917-1986. There will be time to take refreshments in the Swordfish Restaurant. In 2017 HMS Queen Elizabeth, the navy’s newest carrier, commences sea and flight trials!
Burrow Farm Gardens
The tour continues through the town of Chard, to Dalwood on the Devon/Dorset border, where we visit Burrow Farm Gardens. Often called East Devon’s Secret Garden, these landscaped gardens extend to 13 acres, featuring superb views of the surrounding countryside, spacious lawns, a Woodland Garden, stunning Azaleas, mature Rhododendrons, Wisteria and Bluebells in May.
John and Mary Benger started planting here over 50 years ago, and the Anniversary Garden is a celebration of their efforts. Mary will give us a short talk on its history. There is a garden nursery for plants you may wish to take home. We will take a Devon cream tea here, before we return to Sidmouth.
Please note both sites have stairs or steps, but 95% of the museum is accessible via the wheel-chair entrance on the ground floor. At the Gardens, there is wheel-chair access to the tea-room, shop and Nursery.
Tour includes:
Coach, entrance fees, Fleet Air Arm Museum, Burrow Farm Gardens, Devon Cream tea, Driver. Cost £29.95.
A Booking Form and any further details for our Spring 2017 outing will be circulated by e-mail in January, to those who have already indicated an interest in receiving information. If you have not already done so, and wish to receive information, please send us your e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Those who do not use e-mail, but have given us their address or telephone number, will receive a printed communication.
We regret that the Association cannot accept responsibility for any loss, damage or injury that may be suffered by anyone taking part in this event. Tickets cannot be ‘reserved’. Refunds will only be given if tickets can be re-sold.
