Good Companions

The Good Companions came into existence in the year 2000. It is a socially active group for men with a membership which is mainly of retirement age. We arrange monthly lunches, outings and support two charities. Wives are always invited to our outings and special lunches (Christmas etc).

We encourage members who have expertise in any activity to organise and run our outings. In the past, over time, we have walked the Thames Path and The Ridgeway, We have had boat trips on the Thames, visited The Mansion House, The Law Courts, The Cavalry Museum, and the Garrick Club. This year we had lectures and guided walking visits to the Brentford Dock area of London.

New Members

We are always looking for new members. If you are interested in joining The Good Companions, please do get in touch with us via The St Marys Church Office.

Lunches

One or two members volunteer to organise and host a Lunch in a particular month either in their own home or in the Melvill Room at St Marys Church, usually for about 16 members. The host provides the basics for the lunch (such as french bread, salads, maybe potatoes and usually a pudding of some sort). The host asks members to bring a contribution to balance the meal (red or white wine, cheese, pies, cold meats, quiche etc). With 43 Good Companions it means that each member usually hosts one lunch every other year.

We have three special Lunches each year.

Mid Summer’s Day Lunch on or as near to 21 June (male only)
Trafalgar Day Lunch on the 21 October when we raise a glass to ‘The Immortal Memory’ (male only)
Christmas Lunch usually about the second week in December (mixed attendance).

In addition, thanks to one member’s association with the pub, we visit the White Swan, by the River Thames in Twickenham, once or twice a year.

Other Activities

Other Activities depend entirely upon what any Member can put forward and organise. A lawyer has taken us around Lincoln Inns Fields, an actor to the Garrick Club, a National Trust guide to Petworth House, a guide at Horse Guards Parade to the Cavalry Museum, a member of the City of London to the Mansion House and so on. This year we were very grateful to the wife of a member, an expert on the Brentford Dock area, who gave us a lecture and guided tour around the Brentford Dock Development area over two full days.

In the past we have walked the length of the River Thames and the Ridgeway. We have visited Oxford, cathedrals, churches, gardens, markets, museums, art galleries, theatres, concerts, historical houses, eaten out at number of local restaurants, had a number of boat trips and summer drinks parties.

Activities depend entirely on the knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm of a member of the Good Companions to organise and host the event.

Charity Work

The Good Companions raises money for two Charities.

Combat Stress: On the Saturday of the Remembrance Weekend in November the Good Companions holds a coffee morning to raise money for Combat Stress. This is coupled with money from the retiring collection buckets which we organise at the Remembrance Service on the Sunday. We aim always to raise £1000.00; this year we did extremely well and raised £1700.00. Over the past ten years or so we have raised about £12000.00 for Combat Stress. In 2023 The Good Companions were awarded, Combat Stress Community Group of the Year, at a ceremony in the Cavalry and Guards Club in Piccadilly in London. (Please see photograph above).

The River Thames Boat Project: The River Thames Boat Project has two boats. We have chartered and taken out one boat for the past five years. There are twelve passengers (us) on board and four crew. We just have a leisurely day, Tamesis Club in Teddington to Weybridge; Lunch; then return back along the river to Teddington. Normally the Boat Project takes disabled people, often in wheel chairs, for a day out on the River Thames. It is a charity and gives a day out to people who under normal circumstances could not possibly get out for a day like this. The Good Companions has a coffee morning for the River Thames Boat Project once a year usually in June or July to rise much needed money for this wonderful charity.