Westminster Park

Spent the day working from home office today. It was lovely and sunny so went out for a quick spin round Westminster Park at lunch time.

In 1946 the land on which the park stands was leased by the Duke Of Westminster to Chester City Council for 999 years for a peppercorn rent of 5 shillings per annum.

Today it is a thriving and popular place that offers first class facilities to the locals. There are football and cricket clubs based there. Private and public tennis courts, 2 fine croquet lawns and top crown greens. A small nine hole golf course gives local youngsters affordable access to the game of golf.

The latest addition is this outdoor gym which opened last year. There was one chap using it while I was there. In this cold weather I wouldn't have liked to touch the metal equipment with my bare skin.

Meanwhile in the other Westminster it must have been a quiet day at the Ministry of Education because the Secretary of State had time to come up with the great idea that we should all chip in and buy the Queen a new yacht. I admire and respect our monarch and trust that she is more in touch with the mood in the country than Mr Gove and, if offered, would decline with her usual grace.

Later in the day it was suggested that it could be privately funded by businesses and charities. If any of the charities which I subscribe to decide that this is a good idea then I am afraid that I don't think that I could continue to support them.