The North Worcestershire Association of THE NATIONAL TRUST

Transcription

1 The North Worcestershire Association of THE NATIONAL TRUST A voluntary Association founded in 1994 to promote and prosper the work of the National Trust Chairman: John Webb NEWSLETTER September 2017

2 TALKS The forthcoming talks and events are listed for your at a glance reminder. Please make a note of these dates and support as many as possible. Meetings take place at the Tardebigge Community Hall, Tardebigge, at 7.30pm on the third Thursday of the month. Admission 2.00 EVENING MEETINGS - September 2017 to March 2018 September 21 st - Dennis Norton Setting up the Norton Museum in Bromsgrove A fascinating talk by the founder of the Norton Museum, from its beginnings to the present day. October 19 th Artist Richard Crabtree Painting a Picture - How to you transform a blank piece of artist s paper into a beautiful painting? Richard will show us how to do this and have a masterpiece completed in under an hour! November 16 th Mike Wiles Tanzanian Spectacular An illustrated talk on Mike s trips out to Tanzania to photograph the wildlife. December 21 st A Tudor Christmas From Time to Time. A costumed talk by two 16th century women, of middle and lower classes, on the celebration of Christmas in the Tudor period. January 18 th Roger Pennell of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust speaking about "My Wild Year" and showing us his pictures February 15 th Ron Gallivan speaking 0n "India to UK - overland by Land Rover" March 15 th AGM page 2

3 Welcome to the September 2017 Newsletter Dear Member, Well, where did the summer go? Several times I remember thinking that when the nice weather arrives, we will have lots of days out, and suddenly it is September, and the nights are drawing in! Is the National Trust getting too involved in politics? We have had the recent case where volunteers at Felbrigg Hall were told to wear rainbow coloured badges, and the NT are now considering banning all hunting on NT land. What do you think? Any contributions for the January 2018 Newsletter, preferably electronically, to be with me by 31 st December, please. Will Owens In This Issue Talks From the Chairman Raffles Outings Coach Trips Holiday 2018 Visit towordsworth House Booking Forms Walk Reports Annual Dinner Tea Rota Walks page 3

4 FROM THE CHAIRMAN I hope you have had a good summer as we resume our autumn and winter series of meetings, which include some interesting speakers. Elsewhere in this issue you will find a reminder and booking form about our final outing, together with details of the holiday arranged for As the less pleasant weather settles in at the turn of the year, one is less inclined to travel very far. However, we in our region are fortunate to have a wonderful selection of Trust properties within an hour s drive from home. It is very easy to recoup the cost of membership with probably just four or five visits to houses and gardens in a season, so if you feel you have not yet had your money s worth, you may want to go to one of the following for the first time or for a return visit. Most properties are open year-round nowadays. CROOME PARK, near Pershore; the delightful 15th century town house of GREYFRIARS, Worcester; The ROCK HOUSES AND KINVER EDGE, on the Wolverhampton road out of Kidderminster; the lovely moated property of BADDESLEY CLINTON, with PACK- WOOD HOUSE next door, just a couple of miles from Knowle; then there is CHARLECOTE PARK house and deer park, to combine with a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon, and UPTON HOUSE, on the Banbury Road, with its art collection and amazing garden. Still just about an hour away is BERRINGTON HALL and gardens and CROFT CASTLE and parkland, both in the vicinity of Ludlow & Leominster off the A49. There are other places too many to cover here. See your handbook or the Trust website. I hope this inspires you to get out and about in the coming months; I know we will! Perhaps one or other of these may feature in the arranged outings next year, especially for those who don t drive. page 4

5 Our next newsletter should include a report of the holiday to Barnstaple and surrounding area, taking place in early October. We on the committee would like to hear from you with your suggestions, or reports of places you have visited and enjoyed. Please let Will Owens our publicity officer have anything, including photos, for inclusion in the newsletter and the website. Meanwhile thanks for your continuing interest and support of both the Trust and your local Association. Best wishes, JOHN RAFFLES Many thanks to all who support the monthly raffle the money raised is extra cash for the Association. Raffles will resume in October. Please let me have your unwanted gifts and please be sure any chocolates or biscuits donated are in date. JEAN WEBB OUTINGS By the time you read this there will only be one more outing, on Wednesday OCTOBER 11 th, to Broadway and Snowshill Manor. I would like to thank all of you for supporting the outings this summer and making them a success. During October and November I shall be sorting out next year s days out information in next newsletter. JEAN WEBB page 5

6 DAYS OUT BY COACH DURING 2017 Outings are arranged for the spring and summer. Details follow and booking should be made through Robert TRIGGER, providing a separate cheque for each outing, and a s.a.e. for confirmation of your booking. These days out have been arranged by different people who each have a fondness for the destination chosen. If you would like to arrange a day out, please contact Robert and he will gladly obtain a price and book the coach. Please support these outings which are arranged for your benefit and enjoyment- without you and your friends, they will not happen. Bookings should be made by the closing dates, and, in addition to the coach fare non-trust members should expect to pay the requisite entry fee to a property. Please remember your membership cards for N.T. properties. Pick Up Points: Redditch - Bromsgrove - Droitwich - Community Centre, Easemore Road School Drive Victoria Square DETAILS OF OUTINGS. BROADWAY & SNOWSHILL MANOR. Wednesday October 11 th COST 12 each. NT property. Closing date September 27 th. Free time in Broadway, before heading to Snowshill Manor for lunch. The property houses an eclectic mix of collected items, including samurai armour. Visit the priest s house in the grounds where Charles Paget Wade lived in humble circumstances. There are also very attractive gardens. PICK-UP TIMES Droitwich 8.50; Bromsgrove 9.10; Redditch 9.30 page 6

7 SEVENTEENTH ASSOCIATION HOLIDAY 2018 I have had to make arrangements for next year s holiday, incredibly, before this year s has taken place; this is because of the difficulty in booking up to fifty people in a hotel at one time. As it is we only had the choice of ONE hotel. However, I am confident this is a good venue for our accommodation, and the following information is available at this time. HOLIDAY - HOTEL - DATES - SUSSEX BY THE SEA HYDRO HOTEL, EASTBOURNE SUNDAY 7 th to FRIDAY 12 th OCTOBER, 2018 PRICE PER PERSON No single supplement. The booking form and itinerary will be available towards end of October. To obtain your copy, please fill in the enquiry slip in the centre pages and return to me as soon as possible. I will then deal with the bookings in order of receiving your booking form together with deposit. As usual there will be a limited number of rooms for single occupancy. JOHN WEBB Holiday Organizer page 7

8 VISIT TO WORDSWORTH'S HOUSE, COCKERMOUTH, CUMBRIA We recently spent a holiday in our touring caravan near Keswick in the Lake District. As we had already visited Townend and Hill Top (home of Beatrix Potter) we decided to go over to Cockermouth to visit the birthplace of the poet William Wordsworth, of the "Daffodils" fame. Cockermouth was devastated by the severe floods of 2009 and the effects are very apparent today. There are high water marks visible on the walls of the shop fronts and many shops remain empty to this day. However, the beautiful Georgian house, where William Wordsworth was born in 1770, thankfully escaped any damage from the floods. What did suffer was the garden to the rear of the house, which was washed away. It has now been lovingly and faithfully restored to its former Georgian charm. The house is beautifully light and airy, with large rooms. There is a furnished bedroom where Wordsworth and his four siblings slept, and a rope bed to lie on! The study contains the desk used by his father and is strewn with his papers and notes. Perhaps the Georgian kitchen is the fun place to be, as costumed cooks prepare dishes for Supper, whilst chatting to kitchen maids. We sampled warm gingerbread which had been freshly cooked that afternoon. In the cellar there is a video show running, where the household's ghost shares her stories about the history of the house and the people who lived there. Wordsworth's childhood home is well worth visiting if you are in the Lake District. Should you need to visit the conveniences you will be in for a pleasant surprise for they are in the Victorian style with rich mahogany seats and a high chain-pull cistern! Carole and Robert Trigger. page 8

9 On the following two pages you will find Booking Forms for all of this year's day trips. You can also find these forms on our website - page 9

10 BROADWAY & SNOWSHILL MANOR Wednesday October 11 th. Closing date September 27 th. To: R. Trigger 64 Kidderminster Road, Bromsgrove B61 2JY Tel Please 12 each. Total... Cheque payable to N W A NT enclosed for total of... We wish to board at Droitwich/Bromsgrove/Redditch (delete as required) Name... Address Mobile... Tel page 10

11 ANNUAL HOLIDAY 2018 ENQUIRY SLIP To: Mr. J. Webb 12 Brueton Avenue, Bromsgrove B60 2AN (Tel ) Please send details of the 2018 Association Holiday. Enclosed is A5 size s.a.e. NAME/s Tel. No. ADDRESS page 11

12 Two pictures taken on our Himbleton Walk. Above is Hill Court, and below is The Galton Arms, where we had lunch. page 12

13 Fleece Inn Walk - Saturday 17 th June 2017 We met at The Fleece Inn in Bretforton with the temperature already in the low 20's and not a cloud in the sky. After ordering lunch, 8 walkers set off, passing a lovely thatched cottage with a model of two fighting(?) hares on the roof. The walk was featured in a 20 year old book of Pub Walks, which mentioned a problem with a path blocked by wire. On a trial walk a few days earlier, it was found that the route is still blocked! So another route was discovered. When taking the path that had been open, we found a rope across it, but decided to duck under it and continued. There was a man from Worcestershire County Council doing a traffic survey of pedestrians and horse riders on this quiet path, and he had also been there on the day of the trial walk. He had seen over 80 pedestrians on that earlier day, which seemed surprisingly high. Much of the walk was in the sun, so we were glad of some shelter when we stopped for a refreshing drink. When we got back to the Fleece Inn, a group of Morris Dancers were performing, so we watched them for a while before having lunch. Our thanks go to Penny Owens for leading the walk. page 13

14 Himbleton Walk - Saturday 15 th July 2017 The day started with some light rain, but by the time we met up at The Galton Arms in Himbleton, it had stopped, and stayed dry for the rest of the day. Twelve walkers set out for a walk towards Grafton Flyford. There was also a group from the Worcester Ramblers, who were doing an eleven mile walk. They set off in a different direction, but we met up again a short distance into our walk, then we diverged again. Despite the recent rain, the ground was firm, and no mud was encountered. Part of our route was along the Wychavon Way, before turning off into Grafton Wood. Three horses in one field came over to say Hello, but as there was an electric fence between us, they could not get too close. On Huddington Hill there is a wonderful old Elizabethan (?) house, Hill Court, which has views over Bredon Hill and the Malvern Hills. At the end of the walk, we settled into our reserved area in The Galton Arms for lunch. We were joined by Gloria and Steve Harper, and Roger Collins, for an excellent meal. Our thanks go to Peter Field for organising and leading the walk. Pictures from this walk are on page 12. page 14

15 Alvechurch Walk - Saturday 12 th August Although the weather forecast was for a fine day, it started to rain when we were in the car park in Alvechurch getting ready to go. However, it was only a short shower, and it was dry thereafter, with the clouds clearing and we had a nice sunny day. The ground was dry, with only one bridleway muddy in places. The walk was about 4.5 miles, but with some steep hills and several stiles, some of which were in rather poor condition. There were eleven walkers and we set off, walking through Alvechurch and under the A441, and then were in open country. We headed towards Rowney Green, and passed a farm where two horses were walking round and round in a horse exercise "roundabout". Later, we passed a paddock containing a number of Llamas, which were all white except for one, which was black. After the walk, we had a nice lunch at The Red Lion, where we were joined by three other NWANT members. Our thanks to David Georgeson for leading the walk. page 15

16 2017 ANNUAL DINNER Our Annual Dinner has been arranged for 2017 on Friday 13 th October at Bromsgrove Golf Club at 7.00 pm for 7.30pm. The cost of this year s meal is per person. The menu consists of three courses followed by tea or coffee. The menu choices are as follows: Starters: 1. Minestrone Soup with herb croutons and fresh baked granary roll 2. Chicken Liver Pâté with Orange and Cranberry Glaze mixed leaves, chutney and toasted baguette 3. Broccoli and Stilton Tartlet served with dressed leaves and red onion marmalade Mains: 1. Roast Loin of Pork with apple, sage & onion stuffing and sweet cider gravy 2. Mushroom Stroganoff Served with steamed white rice and warm pitta bread 3. Chicken Chasseur Chicken supreme in a tomato, mushroom and white wine sauce 4. Baked Fillet of Hake served with a three cheese mornay sauce Desserts: 1. Bramley Apple Pie Served with crème Anglaise 2. Toffee & Honeycomb Cheesecake with whipped double cream A donation for the raffle would be much appreciated. Please speak to Jean Webb. page 16

17 NWANT ANNUAL DINNER Friday 13 th October Please return form with cheque payable to NWANT for per person to: Jean Collins, 29 Impney Way, Droitwich Spa, WR9 7EJ. By 5 th October I enclose a cheque for.. made payable to NWANT. Please book the following menu choices for: Name.... Tel Number Address..... Name... S.... M.... D.... Name... S.... M.... D.... Name.. S.... M.... D.... Name.. S.... M.... D.... page 17

18 N.T. TEA ROTA Many thanks for the Volunteers who made tea/coffee last year. To avoid the same people volunteering, I would like people to let me know if they are willing to help in the future. The following have volunteered for st September Julie Bird 19 th October Carol Trigger and Irene Rhead 16 th November Janet Miller 21 st December Committee What s involved!! Arrive 20 minutes before meeting starts to set up cups and saucers, etc. Make tea/coffee as meeting finishes. Minimum of two people required each date. Wash up and clear away. I will be there to provide support, tea/coffee, milk, etc. and help with the washing up. Looking forward with eager anticipation of your help during Rosemarie Davies page 18

19 WALKS We meet at 09:45 for a 10:00am start to our walks. The following walks have been arranged for 2017/ Saturday 14 th October - Sally Ann Dale. Walk at Baddesley Clinton. Meet and lunch at the Navigation Inn, Lapworth B94 6NA. Saturday 11 th November - no details yet Saturday 9 th December - NO WALK Saturday 13 th January no details yet Please check the website for details of future walks, or late changes to those already advertised. Please contact the Walks Coordinator for further details- Steven Harper, page 19

20 ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS Role Name Tel. No. Chairman John Webb Vice Chair Janet Miller Secretary Carole Trigger Treasurer Robert Trigger Membership Betty & Ron Millward Newsletter & Publicity Will Owens Talks Carol Christian & Carole Trigger Outings Jean Webb Walks Steve Harper Refreshments Rosemarie Davies Raffles Jean Webb Catering Janet Miller Committee member Jean Collins Unforeseen Weather In the event of inclement weather conditions, and there is a likelihood a meeting may be cancelled, please call one of the above Committee Members. page 20