If you're ever in the Eastwood/Moorgreen area of Nottinghamshire with an hour to spare, you could do far worse than pull off the road into this car park at Greasley. The building on the left is the Parish Hall but also houses Minton's Tea Room.

Seen from the churchyard, the building is not much to look at but an advertising flyer proclaims that the owners are the proud holders of the coveted "Best Afternoon Tea Award". Be warned though, they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

But if the weather is fine an afternoon tea on the lawn in the shadow of Greasley Church could be a rewarding and relaxing experience. And if the weather is not too good, the cream cakes may tempt you to add a few calories inside!

If on the other hand it is refreshment of the soul you are after, a look around St Mary's Church would fit the bill. Although situated in the heart of England, the church has several links with historical seafaring figures.

A church has stood on this site for over a thousand years although much of the main body of the present building dates from the nineteenth century. The parish records of 1603 however record the mariage of John Robinson, Pastor to the Pilgrim Fathers who gave a farewell address to the Fathers before they set sail on the Mayflower.

Among several interesting gravestones in the churchyard is this one for Benjamin Drawater who was ship's surgeon to Captain Cook. One of the two plaques contains a crude map of the world showing Cook's route and the other bears this inscription.

"Underneath lies the mortal remains of Benj. Drawater, gentleman of Mansfield, late of Eastwood who suddenly departed this life on the 2nd of June 1815 in the 88th year of his age. In his professional duty he had accompanied the great circumnavigator Cook in the years 1772-1776. His virtues were commendable and exemplary and were highly esteemed by his friends and relations and his surviving family. He was a pious and good Christian. He lived respected and died lamented"