Fellow Narnians take in the splendor of Ely Cathedral
The sovereign nation of England met her match recently when a hardy band of knurly Narnians invaded her shores ( May 31-June 8 ) under the command of Dr. Tom Woodward. The adventure was affectionately dubbed the Normandy Invasion, nicknamed, as it was, after the Good Doctor’s wife and collegial cohort, the lovely Lady Normandy, who meticulously crafted what was officially termed the 2009 C.S. Lewis Tour.
The kinetic covey of Narnians swarmed the countryside, visiting cathedrals, pubs, courtyards and shoppes. And, of course, Stonehenge.Cameras of every size, shape and make captured treasured moments to create a very special Chronicle of Narnians — and no highlight was better appreciated than the visit to The Kilns, the cozy cottage of C.S. Lewis, where a generation ago much magic was lovingly brewed to stir the imaginations of children large and small; old and young. To stroll the narrow hallways of this humble abode of dreams and whimsy would have been pleasure enough for any Narnian, but to do so guided by that Great Prince of the Kingdom, Douglas Gresham, was — indeed — a Christmas treat in Spring, well worth its weight in Turkish Delights.
There are other memories. Here are but a few:
–Cobblestone streets, curbside treats and the humor of Ross Knox-Holmes, the Jay Leno of tour guides.
–Penelope and Carolyn’s excursions, Dudley’s economic dissertations and the elegant stature of Salisbury Cathedral.
–Dinner at the bizarrely uneven-floored Trout Inn, a delightful lunch with D. Gresham at the Eagle & Child in Oxford and Kathy Cutting’s marvelously cool mini-trike.
–The literary insight of Darren Jacobs, Mercy Lynn creatively eyeing potential photographic scenes and the endearing somber grace of Ely Cathedral.
–A touching, spirit-filled Sunday morning service at rain-drenched Holy Trinity Church, traipsing through the streets of Cambridge like curious children on an Easter Egg Hunt and listening to Jim & Jackie’s lively tale of Dick Van Dyke filming “Diagnosis Murder” at their home.
All that, and so much more.
But, like every fairly told fairytale, all good things must end — though the memories linger on, fondly, like smoky mists swirling slowly in the wake of a spectacularly splendid fireworks display. So we wait, like Children pondering the Ghosts and Gifts of Christmas Past, yearning for that next great Narnian adventure. May it come, and soon.
Jim Lamb is a retired journalist who resides with his lovely wife, Jo-Lynn, in West Central Florida. Jim is a Vietnam Veteran and father of four who accepted Christ as his personal Savior in Da Nang circa 1971. He is a firm believer in the fullness of the Grace of God and a humble fan of C.S. Lewis who provided one of the crucial crumbs leading him to accept Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah, Son of the Living God.
