At around noon on Sunday 15 July 2001, the Whoovers’ second annual summer day-out, Wholiday II, looked in ruin. With an immobile minibus stranded on the hard shoulder of the M4, the chances of making it all the way to Wiltshire were looking slim. However, once the diesel had been bled (or whatever the proper mechanical terminology is), the 15-strong group were on their way again.

After 2000’s successful trip to North Wales, this year’s Wholiday had a lot to live up to. How would Longleat, Avebury and Aldbourne compare to Llangollen and Portmeirion? The Longleat grounds were reached at around 2:30pm, and after some much needed refreshment, the group met up at the Doctor Who Exhibition. It consisted of a short, indoor path with a small number of props from the programme behind glass accompanied by detail-less plaques. Some Whoovers blinked and missed the entire exhibition. Recently, there had been a fire with some exhibits damaged, including a K9 which now looks like a degree in engineering would be needed to reassemble him. The scorching and battering that the Cleaner from Paradise Towers had suffered was just what it deserved according to Whoovers member Gary Finney.

The first of many sets of group photos was taken with the group lined up, football team-style, next to the oversized TARDIS façade outside the exhibition. The other pleasures of Longleat were then sampled, including a mirror maze, one of those flight simulators that you sit in, and Pets’ Corner. A number of Whoovers made for the maze (the world’s longest apparently). After literally and predictably going round in circles for close on thirty minutes, most of those who attempted it reached the centre, where a wooden platform allows a view across the entire maze.

A party consisting of Mitch, Jez, Nigel, Kevin, Gary, Ben, Molly, Jonathon and Ian all realised that they had an hour until the minibus was scheduled to leave, and remembering horror stories of people being stuck in the maze for hours, decided to make a move. Kev made bold proclamations that he would get them all out easily, having surveyed the area and memorised a route out. The rest were sceptical, but had to eat their words six minutes later when they were all stood outside the exit.

Alas, too soon, it was time to move on. The next stop of Wholiday II was the stone circles at Avebury. Arriving at around 6:45pm, the group was greeted by a summer evening’s glow that enhanced the mystic feeling of tranquillity. The unreal feeling of stillness recalled Portmeirion. The village is built slap-bang in the middle of an inexplicable set of massive stones (most well over two metres tall) arranged in circles. The outer circle is itself surrounded by a deep ditch. Given the stark serenity and curiosity of the circles, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the area was used as a television location, for 70s drama The Children of The Stones. After a while strolling around, the group all converged. It took Steve Hatcher to point out that everyone had been naturally drawn to the dead centre of the circles.

More group photos were staged before the minibus pulled away taking the Whoovers up the road to Aldbourne. As all Doctor Who anal retentives will know, the village was used as the location in The Daemons. A delightfully picturesque place, Aldbourne looks like the kind of place Miss Marple might live. Everyone walked round the village green and churchyard. (Given that it was blown up in The Daemons, someone’s done a fantastic restoration job of the church.) Some photos were taken around the gates to the churchyard and on the green.

Despite fears that the staff would ask ‘Are you local?’ à la The League of Gentlemen everyone went to the Blue Boar pub and sat outside in the cool evening sun. As dusk approached, everybody reluctantly clambered back into the minibus. After a food stop at a motorway services, and drop-offs near Tamworth and in Ashbourne, the Whoovers got back to Derby after 1:00 a.m.

The day had begun with a hiccup, but the trip was – like last year – blessed with good weather, and everyone had a great time, as the multitude of photographs show.