Long Walks

by WebmasterLong WalksPosted on Comments are Disabled

Thank you to everyone who went on the long walk to Calke Abbey. We all enjoyed a beautiful walk on 7th May, it was a pleasant day, just right for walking, with stunning views.

We walked to Staunton Harald, which incidentally carrying on from our talk on charities, was once owned by Sue Ryder. We walked on through Calke Abbey where we stopped for a well-earned cup of tea. Not only were the views magnificent, but the woods were carpeted with a sea of Bluebells, which looked amazing. There were new born lambs and calves in the fields giving the walk a real Spring feel to it. We also saw a lot of bird life, including Sparrow Hawk and Buzzard. Let’s hope it continues and we get a long, hot Summer.

Fun with Languages

by WebmasterFun with LanguagesPosted on Comments are Disabled

Our meeting in May was on a lovely, sunny, warm day at last!

We continued with our present studies in German and listened to an audio practice of ordering food and drink. We looked at the breakdown of two verbs and had an anagram game finding out the German word presented and the meaning in English. Lots of brainwork to disturb the old grey matter around, but lots of laughter too!

Our next meeting will be on Thursday 13th June, 10.30 – 12 noon in JGC Byron Suite. We shall continue with German for two more sessions at present. Let’s hope the good weather continues!!

Best wishes, Ann Murray and Liz Attenborough.

History Group

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The History Group always welcomes all u3a members and especially new ones, we have plenty of room. Indoor meetings take place at Central Methodist Church on Baker Street. Time 2pm – 4pm, always on the third Wednesday of the month.

Our visit in April was to Pleasley Pit. Although it has been a visitor attraction open for years our coach full of members was the first they had ever had. It proved to be a learning experience for the volunteers and especially the kitchen staff although the food they served was good. I think we all enjoyed the guided tour and learned a lot about the different jobs coal miners did. In a way it was a shame we were unable to walk around the country park, but we did see images of the wildlife to be seen on the site. The weather played its part as the rain kept off until we were getting back on the coach. Thank you very much for those members who took photographs.

The next meeting is on the 15th May when we have David Amos coming to show us images and give details of ‘A Brief History of Annesley’. David worked at Annesley Colliery, lived in the village and has been researching Annesley for years so I think we are in for a good afternoon.

At that meeting on 15th May Kathy and Sue will be taking names and money for the visit to Wellow on 19th June. Coach leaving Ogle Street at 11am; leaving Wellow at 3.30pm, the cost is £10.

Maureen Newton

National Trust

by WebmasterNational TrustPosted on Comments are Disabled

Unusually the group had two visits in April firstly to;  

Kedleston Hall

 We set off for Kedleston Hall on Monday 15th April on a morning which saw some rain and a cold wind blowing. Fortunately, the rainfall reduced to showers over the day although the cold wind never really abated.  The short journey into Derbyshire saw us arrive a Kedleston for 10.30 am.

Coffee or tea was the order of the day for most members on arrival followed by a slow and comprehensive tour of the impressive Hall. The large rooms beautifully decorated ranged from dining rooms, libraries, bedrooms through to kitchens.

A look round the gardens followed for many and a visit to the various shops on the estate. The usual waterside walks were very much curtailed on this visit by the wet ground and cold wind.

A 4.00 pm departure saw us arrive back in Hucknall shortly after 5.00pm.

Snowshill

The second visit in April saw over 70 members visiting the beautiful setting of Snowshill in the Cotswolds. Here the house is much smaller than the usual NT property but was full of over twenty two thousand objects collected by the owner, Charles Wade, around a hundred years ago. A truly fascinating collection. Charles Wade also extended his property out into his lovely gardens with many buildings adorned by beautiful models often hand built by Wade himself. A truly unique collection which included a Cornish fishing village. Using the knowledge from the very keen volunteers on site we learned so much about the venue and its contents.

Some members also found their way into the nearby church and picturesque village of Snowshill.

After last minute refreshments we gathered for the journey back up to Hucknall after a really pleasant day in generally nice weather.

May’s visit sees the group venture towards the east coast of Lincolnshire to visit the Gunby Estate.