I will try to be as discreet, gallant and temperate as I can in my words, not only to spare my blushes and that of the reader but also the young lady concerned. Let me simply say that my teenage education was greatly assisted by the presence of the shelter in the scented gardens late on Friday nights in 1967. The street light on Somerhill Road was JUST enough to light the scene adequately and exquisitely...! More than that I will not say...

An idylic place
As a child in the 70s (during the summer) I remember my grandmother taking me to this wonderful oasis in my lunch breaks from Somerhill School across the road. We would sit and have our sandwiches and then an ice cream from the Café. On entry to the park I would rush over to the blind garden pretending to be able to read the brail (with my eyes closed) on the plaque outside the entrance. The wonderful scents that greeted us as we entered were pure pleasure. I would then proceed to take off my shoes and socks and dance over the cool and inviting lawn. [I remember] hiding in the recesses of the garden and then laying on my back to look up at the dovecotes that were located there - watching the doves going to and fro. This is my most favourite place in all the world - when I die I want my ashes scattered here in this little bit of paradise.