March Short Walks
The February walk was cancelled due to heavy rain.
The next walk is on Thursday 19th March.
It will be the planned February walk from Bestwood Country Park Car Park
Following the rain the photograph shows the mud and flooding on the path round Mill Lakes last week.
Details will be sent to the group nearer the time.
David Rose
Games Afternoon Friday March 27th
Let the Games Begin: An Afternoon of Friendly Fun
Doors Open 1.00pm Finish time 3.30/45pm
Games start 1.30pm, end 2.30pm.
Teams of 4 competing for prestige and prizes
2.30pm to 3.00pm Plated afternoon buffet
Silent Quiz during the food break.
Sticky Thirteen 3pm. Event ends 3.30/45pm, doors close 4pm.
Tickets are £8.00 each and will be on sale at the March 11th monthly meeting.
Social Sub Committee
At the February meeting John Tedstone described the history and development of Battersea Power Station, an Art Deco landmark on the Thames.
It once powered a fifth of London. Its iconic chimneys made it a cultural symbol, appearing in films and album covers. After decades of dereliction, it’s now a vibrant hub of homes, shops, leisure, and restored industrial heritage, blending past and present. John then concluded by comparing electrical energy sources between the 1950s and today.
We then went back in time to Shropshire, Coalbrookdale and the Iron Bridge which sit at the heart of the Industrial Revolution. Coalbrookdale’s pioneering ironworks powered new technologies, while the Iron Bridge, opened in 1779, became the world’s first cast‑iron bridge. Together they transformed engineering, reshaped global industry, and remain striking symbols of human ingenuity in the Severn Gorge.
Finally, we thank the 5 members who gave their ‘3-minute talks’ about the invention of:
Smoke alarms, pacemakers, wheelie bins, credit cards and the tin opener.
20th March Meeting
Jolanta has prepared a very interesting presentation about the discovery and development of radioactivity with a focus on the work and life of Marie Curie.
There will be time for more ‘3-minute’talks after the interval and contributions from willing volunteers will be most welcome.
David Rose
The February walk which started from The Nabb Inn was ably led by Angela Francis.
To avoid waterlogged fields and muddy footpaths we began an urban route to a footpath next to Eelhole Farm. From there the route was mainly through woodland and eventually returned via The Misk Hills and ‘Grannie’s Steps’.
Tuesday 3rd March
Steve Evans will be leading a walk which starts at Calton Lees car park at the Chatsworth Estate Garden Centre
DE4 2NX
28 miles from Hucknall, about 50 minutes driving.
Meet at 9.45 for a 10.00am start
The walking distance is just over 8 miles, and the car park should be free (until Easter)
David Rose (on behalf of Mark Thornley Group Leader)
Treize vieux grincheux jouent à la pétanque.
So we assembled with not a beret or Gauloise between us, (well Tony had a Woodbine!) in the early morning mist at Ravenshead Petanque Club ready to learn the finer points of the game we’ve probably all played on the beach.
On the specially prepared gravel terrain were marked out several pistes or lanes. We played in pairs, each player having three boules. The starting player stands in a small cercle, laid on the ground, feet close together. Indeed this is where the game gets its name from pieds tanqués, “feet planted” (on the ground), a name that eventually evolved into the game’s current name, pétanque. The jack or cochonnet is thrown between four and six metres and the thrower then throws their boule attempting to nestle close by. The opposition then have a turn and if they fail to get closer continue to throw their boules until they are nearest. Then the turn changes. When all twelve boules have been thrown the score is agreed and added to the team score. Mènes, or ends continue until one team has scored thirteen points. Time allowed for all of us to play several completed games. Indeed, the success of the visit could be judged by the fact that the last four had to be dragged from the piste, before they went into overtime.
Thanks need to be accorded to the good folks at Ravenshead Petanque Club for making us so welcome and to our organiser and coach Monsieur Christophe le Garnier.
Bob McEwen