NEWS LETTER June 2017

Transcription

1 Established 2008 NEWS LETTER June 2017 WELCOME to our News Letter on the Web. If you would like to join us at our next meeting on the 2 nd Thursday of the month at Turner Hall, Mansfield Woodhouse, you will be most welcome.. MEETING FOR NEW MEMBERS There will be a meeting for new members and visitors at 10.30am on Thursday 15 th June upstairs in The Stables (attached to Turner Hall). Come along, have a coffee and chat with some of the Committee and other new members. This is a good chance to ask questions in a quieter environment and meet new friends. THIS MONTH S SPEAKER June 'Life begins at ?' Joan Ward Joan has given many talks to U3A groups in Derbyshire towns and they have been, without exception, well received. A light- hearted talk. July "Biometrics there will never be another you" Paul Newsham Paul Newsham is very entertaining. He talks about fingerprints and DNA and what makes us unique, interesting stuff. SHERWOOD U3A COMMITTEE MEMBERS June 2017 CHAIRMAN LYNDA BROTHERHOOD DEPUTY CHAIRMAN/REPORTS & GINA SMITH PUBLICITY CO-ORDINATOR BUSINESS SECRETARY JANE LOWE MINUTES SECRETARY ANN MADDEN TREASURER MARGARET TAYLOR GOVERNANCE OFFICER/GREETER & WENDY STERLAND REFRESHMENTS CO-ORDINATOR INTEREST GROUPS CO-ORDINATORS TERRY DILLON/LYNDA BROTHERHOOD MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY RITA FOULKES SOCIAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN PAT COLLINS SPEAKER SEEKER JUDY OPENSHAW VISITORS & NEW MEMBERS TERRY DILLON SECRETARY SECONDED MEMBERS DAVID BRADLEY/JEREMY LLOYD 1

2 MESSAGE FROM YOUR CHAIRMAN Lynda Brotherhood Thank you for welcoming me as the new Chair. I've had many good wishes and I really appreciate every one of them. At this point I am hoping the newsletter is being read by our usual full hall of members, and that you have remembered the meeting needed to be brought forward one week. I would like to welcome the new members that are joining us in June. We are very pleased to have you with us and I look forward to meeting you. So, the Beatle Bash has come and gone and I am sure it was a great success. All our events seem to reach a high standard for fun and frivolity, so I have no doubt this one was the same. Thank you to the Social Committee for all their hard work. A few reminders coming up. Please support you Group Leaders with ideas for depicting what activities your group gets up to, ready for the 19th Oct. coffee morning. I would also like to reinforce what I said at the meeting about needing volunteers. You don't have to be a Committee Member in order to help. We need volunteers for the following: Health & Safety, Welfare Support and Group Co-ordinator, please contact me if you can help with these. We also need helpers for the Social Committee, contact Pat Collins, and an Assistant Newsletter Editor, contact Sue Robb. If you fancy helping with refreshments or meeting and greeting our members please contact Wendy Sterland. Wendy always needs a list of helpers for these jobs. That way no one is expected to be on duty month after month. Last but not least, we are still looking for men! There are quite a few of you at the meetings but none, so far, on the Committee. Be brave, take that step. I promise it's fun. Thank you. Lynda Brotherhood Ps Ideas needed for our 10th Birthday celebration, thinking caps on please. 2

3 GROUP DATES NEW SHUFFLERS GROUP for those only able to walk a short distance is the new group proposal. Please sign the sheet by the blue boards, names still being taken. NEW CARD GAME GROUP 20 th June at Sherwood Welfare pm. It will be held monthly on the 3 rd Tuesday of the month at this venue. The first successful meeting has already been held. Please add your name to the list if interested in joining this new group. NEW PETANQUE 28 th June Carr Bank Park at 11.00am Sherwood and Forest Town U3A Petanquers are now going to play together every 4 th Wednesday each month. This is for U3A members only. Please sign sheet if interested in attending. LUNCH CLUB 1 The next lunch will be 26 th July at Ciao Bella, Nottingham Road. The group has decided that in future the venue each month will be arranged by different volunteers. More details next month. LUNCH CLUB 2 21 st June The Fillets Restaurant, Sandilands way, Forest Town Start 1.30pm INTERNATIONAL DINING 4 th July Kelham House, Kelham (French/European) 5 deposit payable at meeting. ORIENTAL AND CONTINENTAL DINING 30 th June Il Rosso (Italian) 7.00 for 7.30pm. STROLLING 6 th July Burntstump. Meet in car park for 10.30am start. RAMBLING (Meet Morrison s car park 10am for car share) Wed 14 th June (Colin s Walk) Cromford Canal to Cromford (5miles) Easy. Return by Train - Cromford Wharf Tea Rooms Start Ambergate Railway Station Car Park (Pay and Display) DE56 2 EN Wed 19 th July Rutland Water and Stamford (5 miles) Easy. The George in Stamford. Start Upper Hambleton by Church LE15 8TL WALKING June 27 th Greasley Church. Meet in church layby for start HERITAGE Wed 21 st June Nottingham Arboretum Guided Walk 11/2 miles 2hours. Start 11am. 2. This is now open to non heritage group members. THEATRE Wednesday 18 th October Beautiful Please pay for the tickets before or no later than the June meeting, if all 20 seats are paid for there is a discount from 47 to Cheques to Mansfield U3A. DAYS OUT 27 th June Pickering to Whitby by rail 28. Coach to Pickering. Train for Whitby at 12, 00. (Iceland 7.45, Morrison s 8.00am) 3

4 NATIONAL TRUST 10 th June Coughton Court, Warwicks & Hanbury Hall, Worcs 18 Pick up Iceland, Mansfield 9.15, Morrisons, W hse 9.30am Please pay by May meeting. LONDON THEATRE Tue10 th -11 th October 42nd Street A Smash hit show from Broadway B&B at St Giles Hotel, Audio tour of Westminster Abbey, Boat ride from Westminster to Greenwich. Twin Sharing 239, Single 274 (includes supplement) Single supplement is ( 46 last year) Without show deduct 35 Cheques to Mansfield U3A HOLIDAYS COTSWOLDS (WALKING AND SIGHTSEEING) 21 st 24 th July Half Board (contact Brenda Berresford) RAIL JOURNEYS THROUGH SCOTLAND 10 th -15 th September 529- half board 1 twin room still available. Balance due June/July. The final figure will be confirmed at the June meeting. Cheques to be payable to Just for Groups (contact Pat Magness) INNER LONDON 6 th -8 th October B&B- 185 Copthorne Hotel, Kensington. (Contact Sue Cox) INFORMATION ABOUT YORK VISIT 12 TH JULY The coaches have now been booked. Please do not be late on the day as the coaches will leave promptly at the time quoted on your tickets and will not wait for stragglers. If anyone is unable to come please advise Margaret Taylor, as soon as possible. If you have a problem on the day you will need to contact the mobile number/s of your coach hosts which are detailed on your tickets. As there are 3 buses picking up at Mansfield Woodhouse will members please note the following information and where possible please do not obstruct members of the public:- Bus 1 is leaving at 8.45am. Members please wait on the road side outside Morrisons with Rita Foulkes and Liz Wilson. Bus 2 is leaving at 9.00am. Members please wait at the top end of Morrisons Car Park until either Jean Baker or Jean Jones ask you to walk to the road outside of the car park. Bus 3 is leaving Mansfield at 9.00am and Mansfield Woodhouse at 9.15am. Members please wait in Morrisons Car Park until Jeremy Lloyd or Lynda Brotherhood ask you to walk to the road outside of the car park. You will be picked up at 4pm from the same place you were dropped off. 4

5 NATIONAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND AGM Tuesday 29th to Thursday 31st August 2017 at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham. Anyone interested in going to the AGM only, which is usually on the last day, please contact Margaret Taylor or Lynda Brotherhood. The U3A Science Network will hold its 15th Annual Meeting at the Jubilee campus, Nottingham University a new venue for us 7 th -10 th August The program starts at 2pm on Monday 7th August and finishes after a buffet lunch on Thursday 10th August. The meeting aims to appeal to anyone with a general interest in science and the world around them and includes a mixture of talks and demonstrations on a wide range of topics, a visit to a place of scientific interest and the opportunity to socialize with U3A members from around the country. Speakers and demonstrators are from among the delegates, volunteer experts and enthusiasts from within the U3A. The talk program is complete and we already several offers of demonstrations but would appreciate more offers of demonstrations from U3A members. Delegates can choose between a visit to the Crich Tramway Village or the British Geological survey, Keyworth, on the Tuesday. Details of the program can be viewed at There are a small number of residential places left, at a cost of 270. There are 3 non-residential options for day visitors: a) Full meeting, including the visit on the Tuesday and lunch on Wednesday (only; no other meals). Cost 105. b) Full meeting, including the visit on the Tuesday, lunch on the Wednesday (only) and conference dinner on the Wednesday. Cost 125. c) Wednesday only, including lunch and conference dinner. Cost eventbrite.co.uk for Information and Booking form. Canons Ashby Another good day out with the National Trust team. The weather could not have been better. The ladies could not decide whose turn it was to wear the hat!! 5

6 GARDEN INTEREST LEA GARDENS We set out on a beautiful sunny morning for our trip to Lea Gardens in Derbyshire. We had a clear blue sky so visibility was excellent and we saw lots of tiny lambs and calves in the fields. On arrival at Lea Gardens most of the group headed to the café as usual for coffee or tea. We then went into the gardens to see an amazing display of different coloured rhododendrons and azaleas. Winding paths took us down the hill in many different directions. I joined a group walking in single file hoping that our leader, Margaret, knew how to get back to the entrance. We found a small play area where Colin gave us a tune on a string of chiming tubes. Then it was back uphill and I was really grateful that Les gave a helping hand to all who needed it at one steep part. Two hours later we left to go to Matlock Garden Centre. Marilyn had reserved tables in the restaurant for our group at 1.30 and we enjoyed a lovely lunch - plenty of choices. Then most of the group went spending on a variety of plants before returning to the minibus at 3.30 where the driver managed to get all our plants in the back. Sue arrived with new edging shears a present for Chris! Well done Marilyn for organising such a wonderful trip!! Beryl Guest 6

7 HERITAGE Newstead Abbey Kings visited the monastery at Newstead and were extravagantly entertained by the monks, but it was Henry V111 who caused the monks to flee and the abbey to be abandoned. Eventually the Byrons took over the building, using stone from the abbey to build the house. Tudor fireplaces were brought from Colwick Hall, which they also owned. In parts of the house it is possible to see revealed doorways, a mural, and other features from the original abbey. The cloisters have been enclosed and the twelfth century chapter house is now a chapel. All this can be seen by looking round the house but it was our guide Diane who brought the history of the house to life. We heard stories of ghosts including that of the Black Canon who put a curse on Newstead after refusing to flee with the other monks. We looked at family portraits from the generations that lived in the house and heard stories relating to individual Byrons such as wicked Lord William who staged mock battles on the lake with his servants in boats, acting as soldiers, being shot at. His extravagant lifestyle left many debts and he stripped the house of everything with monetary value leaving it a leaking ruin. The poet, aged ten, and his mother came to Newstead at this time. When he grew up it became a party house with one room for pistol practise and the drawing room for fencing and boxing. Animals guarded the entrance, a wolf dog, a rescued bear and Bo sun the famous dog whose portrait is in the house and grave in the garden. The study still has his original furniture and decoupage screen, and his bed has hangings reproduced from the original design. Newstead was sold to Wildman who rescued the building, renovated it as it is today and lived there for forty years. The next owner was Webb who loved hunting in Africa as the animal heads that adorn the house prove. His life was saved by Dr Livingstone who remained a friend and visited Newstead regularly. In 1931 Julian Khan gave the house to Nottingham City Corporation. Its history since then has been much more mundane but you and I are able to visit and retrace the steps of all those who inhabit its past and learn about our very local historic house. Sue Robb 7

8 WALKING.Through the bluebells The walking group had a very good day out at Rutland water. We were very lucky with the weather, sunny and cold just right for walking. In the woods the bluebells were out and in the sun they looked brilliant. After our walk we went to Oakham for the afternoon. Everyone had a good lunch then a look around the town. On behalf of us all I want to thank Colin and Ann for organising the day. Steve Edis 8