Tea for another two

Each year, Westminster tours the Cotswolds. The welcome is always warm, the weather is usually good and we always know that we will see Barbara and Bill Atkin.

Bill was a founder member of the team and it's always a delight to see him and Barbara. We had a little bonus on our 2000 tour which takes a now well trodden route. The penultimate spot on the Saturday is at Stow on the Wold and, once the dancing is done there, the team retreats to a local Tea Room for 'light refreshments'.

On our 2000 tour, Barbara and Bill were joined by friends of theirs and we were delighted to meet them. As the time approached for 'Tea and Crumpets' the feeling was that whilst Bill and Barbara would know that their friends would be welcome to join us, the team should extend the invitation to them to avoid any awkwardness.

David Seaborne (No 'U') strode confidently over to the couple chatting with Barbara and invited them to join us. They seemed most flattered and accepted. After that, we sent David over to where Barbara and Bills friends were to invite them too!

Poor old David had just invited two complete strangers who just happened to be up from London for the weekend and just happened to be chatting with Barbara at the time. Fortunately, they were as charming as our other guests and we were glad to have met them. There is, of course, the added bonus of being able to poke fun at Mr 'Two Teas' Seaborne (no 'U') which we do regularly and with glee.