Dinner at Danesfield

Marlow in Buckingamshire was today's destination. I drove there in the late afternoon, through a heavy sleety snowfall along the Surrey section of the M25, which turned traffic to a crawl and a 90 minute trip into a three and a half hour journey. It was clear at home and at the destination, with just this weird band of messy winter weather in between.

The reason for the trip was the annual general meeting of the Fleet Street Motoring Group of national motoring writers. We had our meeting at Danesfield House, followed by a business briefing and dinner hosted by Honda.

Danesfield has an interesting history, over hundreds of years. It takes its name from the Danish adventurers who first made an encampment there. It is said to be haunted by a Grey Lady, wearing a nun's attire, who has been seen walking from the site of an old chapel and then disappearing.

During the Second World War the house was occupied by the RAF Intelligence Section. It is also known for the RAF's Hell Fire Club, whose members once piled up all the tables and chairs in the grand hall and left a footprint on the lofty ceiling. What tales the old building could tell!