Lucknam Park Hotel http://www.lucknampark.co.uk/ is one of England's finest 5 star luxury Country House Hotels located within more than 500 acres near Bath. Lucknam Park is also a proud member of Relais & Chateaux and has been awarded a Michelin Star, AA 5 Red Stars and Visit Britain Gold Award.
Through the kind invitation and generosity of Chairman, Harry Murray MBE FIH, Managing Director, Claire Randall, and Resident Manager, Ute Van Amelsvoort-Stallmann, I have been treated to a week’s stay at the Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa as a base whilst I walk through Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The staff has been absolutely fantastic and each evening when I have returned to the hotel both shattered and achy, everyone here has gone out of their way to make me feel comfortable and relaxed.
 |
| The walled gardens at Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa |
I’ve also taken the opportunity to walk round the grounds of the hotel including the gardens, walled gardens and equestrian centre. The views are stunning, the estate calming and serene and I have been able to have some time to myself at the end of each day which is a rare treat.
Inspirational Chef, Hywel Jones
It’s a very small world and Hywel Jones, the Executive Chef for The Park (Lucknam Park’s Michelin-starred restaurant) started his career with David Nichols at The Royal Garden. Hywel earned his first Michelin Star at the Foliage restaurant at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park where he was Head Chef for five years, and his second at Lucknam park.
David is a great friend, an Advisor to BRIT and I am a Patron of David’s “Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation” http://nichollsfoundation.org.uk/.
Inspirational Chef, David Nicholls – Founder & Chief Executive of the Nicholls Spinal injury Foundation
The Nicholls Foundation was formed in 2005 by David Nicholls, following an accident in which his son, Daniel (then aged 19), dived into a wave on Bondi Beach in his gap year, hit an unseen sandbank and broke his neck. Daniel is now tetraplegic, with limited movement in his hands. David decided to do everything he could to see Daniel, and others in a similar position, walk again.
NSIF allocates money to scientists who are researching a cure for spinal cord injury. The charity works hard to keep it’s overheads as low as possible, maximising the amount of money that goes to the scientists.
2.5 million people worldwide live with spinal cord injury, with 130,000 new cases each year. The majority of new cases are a result of falls, traffic accidents and sports injuries, and young adults are particularly vulnerable – more than half of the injuries occur in the 16 to 30 age group.
The potential to make a difference to the lives of those with spinal cord injury and their friends and family is huge, and it is this that drives David and all those who support the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation.
I set off this morning for Stonehenge and met Giles Penfound http://www.gilespenfound.co.uk/ my great friend and our gifted BRIT photographer who has been photographing me since we met when I was undergoing rehabilitation at Headley Court. It was super to catch up with Giles and for Giles to have taken time away from family and work to come to take photographs at the iconic and historic Stonehenge site.
I was honoured to be given permission by Peter Carson of English Heritage to enter the Stonehenge Site and be permitted to walk right up to the Stones and share a very special moment with some of the young people from Stonehenge School who joined me this morning.
English Heritage is an extraordinary organisation with over 400 sites open to the public which attracts 11 million visitors each year. They undoubtedly attract economic support to local communities. English Heritage has just under 750,000 members and they offer over 445,000 free educational visits each year. They also give out over £24million in grants each year. To join or support English Heritage please click here; http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/join/ and for more information on visiting Stonehenge as a day out, please click here; http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/.
at+Stonehenge+Wiltshire.jpg) |
| Wearing the BRIT Fire Fighters Jacket (with Fire & Rescue Badges presented by every County I have walked in)at Stonehenge Wiltshire |
One of the reasons for visiting Stonehenge today is that the Stonehenge Environmental Improvement Project is finally coming to fruition and Stonehenge will return to a more tranquil and dignified environment and welcome visitors to world-class facilities.
In Autumn 2012, new galleries with museum-quality exhibits and much enhanced education space will be opened at Airman’s Corner, one and a half miles west of the stones. Restoration of the surrounding ancient landscape will start and the busy road running right past Stonehenge will be closed. Visitors will be taken to near the stones on a low impact transit system and will be able to enjoy Stonehenge with reduced interference of traffic and noise. The landscape restoration is due to be completed in summer 2014. To find out more about the project, you can go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge where you can view the video of the proposals; http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/our-plans/our-proposals/.
 |
| With young people from Stonehenge School at Stonehenge, Wiltshire |
I completed the day with 1562 miles to go.
Best wishes,
Phil