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Twenty enthusiasts gathered in the dappled shade on 1st July to board David Powell’s grand old vintage Leyland double-decker. Our first destination was the mysterious Shell Grotto in a back street in Margate. Upper deck passenger gasped as David threaded his huge ‘green machine’ between lampposts and amazed car drivers to reach a convenient parking space.
 The Grotto was impressive: 2000 sq. ft. of local sea shells arranged in elaborate patterns on the walls of an underground system of passages and rooms. Prehistoric tomb? Knights Templars’ shrine? Eighteenth century ‘folly’? Our excellent guide could not say. English Heritage was apparently baffled. A well laid out shop and coffee facility added to the enjoyment of this puzzling, striking, place.
It was then on to the spacious Esplanade in Ramsgate for a picnic in the sunshine, before joining Catriona Blaker of the Pugin Society, for the story of the Pugin family and an informative tour of the St Augustine’s chapel.  This fine church was designed, and paid for, by Augustus Pugin, who had become famous for his internal designs at the Houses of Parliament. Augustus was a keen convert to Catholicism and initiated the nineteenth century Gothic Revival movement. The chapel displayed the subdued magnificence of early Victorian architecture and crafts, including fine building in knapped flint and limestone, elaborate ironwork and beautiful stained glass. Everything displayed the ‘art with function’ philosophy of this pioneer of the Arts and Crafts way of thinking. Catriona reminded us that his son Edward had designed our church in Kingsdown.
 By this time feet were beginning to throb, and the decision was made to omit the intended visit to the Spitfire and Hurricane Museum on this occasion, and head home. We arrived back in Lynsted, tired but happy, after a thoroughly enjoyable ‘day out’.
Bob Baxter
Chairman
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