Over 350 Visitors to Florence's Former Home

Over 350 people visited Hampshire Collegiate School for the Open House and Garden event which celebrated the life of Florence Nightingale in this, the centenary year of her death.
Visitors from as far afield as Buckinghamshire and the Isle of Wight (as well as a large party of Americans) enjoyed touring the house and gardens of Embley Park, now the home of Hampshire Collegiate School.

Special guest was author and broadcaster Anthony Sattin who was promoting his latest book about Florence's tour of Egypt, Winter on the Nile.

The day provided a rare opportunity for members of the public to see some of the rooms that were inhabited by the Nightingale family when they resided at Embley Park in the 1800s and the first chance to see a static exhibition with artefacts on loan from the Florence Nightingale Museum in London and Hampshire County Council.

One of the oldest visitors was Micheal Dennis, from Winchester who had attended the school in 1947 (which was then Romsey College). He recalled how, as an eight year old, he had been the youngest and smallest boy in the school and how he had to lead everyone into breakfast after the morning roll call and parade. He also remembers picking walnuts in the grounds and sawing wood.

Photograph: Author Anthonty Sattin promotes his latest book at Hampshire Collegiates School’s Open House and Garden