On Sunday 1 March I was excited to take part in the BBC Essex Quest show on BBC Essex radio, representing the John Ray Trust. The BBC Essex Quest is a radio ‘treasure hunt’ across the county of Essex. Liana and Barry, the shows two ‘out and about’ presenters, try and solve four clues to four mystery places in Essex, without maps or the internet, but with help from the audience. Listeners call the programme to help unravel the clues and give Barry and Liana directions to the places they are visiting.
The John Ray Garden, part of the Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens in Bocking End, was one of the mystery locations.
The clue Barry and Liana solved to find the garden, which they collected at Coggeshall Museum (their previous stop) was: “Enjoy an ice cream sundae with Prince William, to support a row of books. Beth Chatto would like it here”.
The answer to the clue is:
> One type of ice cream sundae is a knicker-BOC-ker glory.
> Prince William is second in line to the throne and as such would be crowned KING.
> You might support a row of books with a book END.
> Beth Chatto is a well-known GARDEN designer.
On their arrival I took Liana on a tour of the garden, and introduced her and listeners to John Ray’s remarkable story and the work of the Trust today.
With thanks to Mark Hardie at BBC Essex for arranging the interview and providing the clue details above.
Jennifer Rowland 