February 2026 Lunch

After welcoming everyone to lunch Chairman Norman Rodda had the pleasant task of presenting our Deputy Treasurer Ian Newton with a bottle of claret to mark his joining the ranks of the octogenarians in the Club.

Lunch was an excellent Roast Swordfish steak with Caper Butter, New Potatoes and Fine Beans followed by a Chocolate Roulade with Vanilla Ice Cream.

Following lunch our Treasurer Phil Wilkins presented the Club Accounts for 2025. We suffered a manageable loss caused by the shortfall in numbers dining each month. He predicted a similar outcome in 2026 and confirmed that the Club had sufficient reserves for many years to come.

Bill Scott introduced our speaker, Alan Mortlock from the Gatton Park Trust to tell us about the history of this magnificent house and gardens situated to the east of Reigate Hill and now home to the Royal Alexandra and Albert School.

There has been a house at Gatton Park since 1086 when it was owned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, half-brother of William the Conquerer. As a ‘rotten borough’, Gatton was described by William Cobbett in 1830 as a “very rascally spot of earth” having two MP's.

The magnificent gardens were the idea of Sir James Colebrooke and designed by ‘Capability’ Brown in the late 1760's. The hall was built by Lord Monson in the 1830's.

Sir Jeremiah Colman, of mustard fame, the last outright owner developed the grounds adding the Japanese garden, the rock garden, the pleasure gardens and the parterre. These unusual gems continue to be restored and maintained by The Gatton Trust, whilst about half of the original estate has been transferred to The National Trust.

Following a fire in 1934 Colman rebuilt the house, now home to the Royal  Alexandra and Albert School.

The gardens of Gatton Park are open to visitors on the first Sunday of the month from February to December. Look out for the Fair! Many thanks Alan for a most informative talk, I'm sure some of us will be paying you a visit in 2026.