THE OLD BARN ORCHESTRA
Friends

1. Carpark for coach:

Commuter car park, nr M2 junction 4

This is reached via the A278 and a couple of local roads from Junction 4 of the M2 (less than 5 minutes after exiting M2).

From Junction 4 on M2: turn off and drive north (A278) to first roundabout; turn right; immediately turn right again into Wigmore Road and travel south again; at next mini-roundabout (after 1/2 a mile) turn right again into Maidstone Road; drive under(?)A278 and Communer Car Park is on your left.

The easiest approach from Maidstone is via Penenden Heath and the villages of Boxley and Bredhurst, if you already know this route. Otherwise it is best to come from Bluebell Hill or Detling Hill if you are approaching from Maidstone and the Weald.

Medway players will probably know Hempstead Valley, and those coming from Gravesend and further west should approach on the A2/M2.

The car park is lit and has surveillance cameras (which doesn’t guarantee anything, but is better than most locations).

2. Timetable for the day

Coach departs 1.15
Rehearsal starts between 2.30/2.45 at Holy Trinity Cliftonville
Rehearsal finishes 5.30/5.45
Concert at 7.30
Coach leaves Cliftonville at 9.30 departure
Coach arrives Hempsted Valley at 10.30

That will leave an hour and three quarters from 5.45 to 7.30 start.
There is a pub restaurant opposite the church, The Wheatsheaf, and there is a cafeteria area (no food available) within the church where people are welcome to sit and eat sandwiches and drink their flasks full of coffee etc... Also plenty of room to change, though there will be 150 or more trying to do so!

3. Driving to Cliftonville

Follow A2/ M2and then A299 and continue past St Nicolas at Wade; The dual carriageway grinds to a halt at the roundabout, take the exit marked "BIRCHINGTON/ MARGATE"(Medway towns to here approx 35/40 mins). Here to destination probably 15 mins max. Follow said route through Birchington, and out towards WESTGATE/ MARGATE. Follow Canterbury road into MARGATE,....probably the simplest though not necessarily the shortest route from MARGATE to CLIFTONVILLE is as follows; Drive along sea front keeping sea on left and arcades on Right; Bear LEFT at lights keeping sea immediately to your left, and head up the hill, follow this winding road for about a mile. Landmarks are Winter Gardens, Lido,(1/2 mile) and then hotels and an Italian restaurant, all on our left. Eventually you arrive at a mini s bend in the road with a relatively modern brick built Catholic Church on your right; this is Devonshire Gardens. TURN RIGHT, and follow road to end.(500yds) TURN LEFT into NORTHDOWN RD And follow for about 400yards At PALM BAY (Renault) GARAGE TURN RIGHT Next landmark after 400 yds is Wheatsheaf pub, and church is immediately opposite on your right.

POSTCODE CT9 3TN

If lost ask for Palm Bay Garage or Wheatsheaf pub, as both are well known

The Church is really called HOLY TRINITY, NORTHDOWN, and is perversely
located on the junction of College Road/ Northdown Way/ St Mary's Rd

Clear...ish

If you would like to become a Friend of the Orchestra, or renew your subscription (minimum donation of £5.00 per annum), please contact Mrs C Pearson 01794 843228.