Category: History Group

On Wednesday 15th October 42 members of the History Group visited the National Justice Museum.

We split into two groups each group having a guided tour with ‘a prison warden’ who made it a very informative but fun visit. From being shut into cells to experience the reality and depravation, to finding out what crimes had been committed, to the sentences handed down. Flogging, branding, imprisonment, transportation and execution.

After looking around the prison, we were invited to take part in a court case, several members acting out parts, credit must go to our membership secretary Greg for the wonderful portrayal of the defendant he really threw himself into the part.

At our meeting on Wednesday 19th November at Central Methodist Church 2pm; we have one of our favourite speakers, Trevor Lee. Trevor has been several times before. If you remember last time he told us about 100 Years of the BBC; this time he has been researching entertainers who were ‘Born in Ashfield’. It is an illustrated selection of musicians, actors, singers, composers and stage set designers from 1842 – 1928. How many can you think of?

Maureen Newton and Kathy Williams

At our last meeting David Skillen  came to talk to us about the history of Belper the title was Nailers, Knitters and Traitors.  

From his images we understood about nailers their buildings and work.  He talked about knitters telling us about the textile industry in Belper and that the wonderful museum had closed.  Jedediah Strutt’s Mill has survived though and can still be seen as you use the car park by the River Gardens where there is a tea room.  Strutt is quite famous for inventing a new way to knit the beginnings for garments called the Derby Rib.  Traitors were those who went over to America to explain how the knitting was done which took some of the work from Belper.  

David told us he is retiring from presenting the talks this year: it is such a shame that we won’t see him again.

Our next meeting on the 15th October is a visit to the National Justice Museum.  We are meeting at Weekday Cross at 1.45pm having walked down from the Lace Market tram stop.

At the November  meeting we are back at Central Methodist Church 2 – 4pm when Trevor Lee is coming back as our speaker.

Maureen Newton

For the benefit of new members let me explain that for our indoor meetings the History Group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at Central Methodist Church.  It means the next one is on the 17th September starting at 2pm but please be there a little earlier.  The cost is £2 per person.  David Skillen is our speaker who is excellent at giving entertaining information of historical subjects and his topic this time is Belper in the Industrial Revolution with the talk called ‘Knitters, Nailers and Traitors’.  We have seen him before when he entertained our main U3a meeting at John Godber Centre telling us about ‘The Gretna Girls and the Devils Porridge’ so I’m looking forward to hearing about Belper.  

At this meeting members will be able to collect a flyer containing information about dates, speakers and visits for 2026.

Our next meeting is a visit to The National Justice Museum on 15th October.  I was told that they have had major changes since lockdown which means that if anyone had been before they would find a great difference for the better especially because I booked us a guided tour this time.  Travel arrangements will be making our own way by tram (alighting at Lace Market), train or Trent bus, meeting at the cross near Nottingham Contemporary building at 15 minutes to 2pm.   Myself, Kathy and Sue will start taking names for booking the visit at our main meeting at John Godber on the 10th September.

See you all soon so bye for now,

Maureen Newton

July has been an interesting month!  Members elected to visit The Flight Test Museum which was recently opened on a site off Watnall Road.  It is totally staffed by volunteers some of whom are Hucknall U3a members.  It was a good day weather wise and we filled a car park without realising there was one slightly nearer.  

We were treated to a short talk some video film and then let loose to wander round the site by ourselves, although there were volunteer helpers around to explain how things worked.  All the land on what was Rolls Royce site has been sold and it seemed strange after all the years to discover we need to call the area by a different name. The volunteers on the museum site were Am-A-Zing and we thank them all for an interesting visit.  

Next month, August, we are going to Nottingham University Museum.  Please be there by 10 minutes to 1pm for us to get settled before the talk by Dr. Pickersgill.  If you would like to go earlier there are other things to do such as exhibitions and decent cafe’s for refreshments and of course the tram stop for Nottingham University is ideal.  If you are not sure that your name is on the list please check at the main meeting at John Godber.

For the September meeting we are back inside at Central Methodist Church when David Skillen will be telling us about Belper.

TTFN Maureen Newton

Our group had a fantastic visit to Lincoln on 18th June when Vallances Coaches did us proud again.  (I have booked Vallances Coaches again for our outings next year).  The weather was very nice, warm without being scorching for us to wander around the city.  What everyone else did I’m not sure but I saw members enjoying the outdoor café culture for food and drinks whilst I decided to go to the Jail inside the castle grounds. The jail had a special room inside which was the Magna Carta parchment document dating back to 1215 and there were other charters of the forest dating back to 1217.  This made me think of King John who signed Magna Carta at Runnymede and died at Newark Castle where the group went a few years ago. How did the scribes manage to write so much so small on these documents when you consider they were writing with quill pens – and no blots of ink?  

At the next John Godber meeting I will be taking names for the visit to Nottingham University on 20th August where we will be going to the museum and have a ‘hands on’ look at some of the artifacts.  It seems that the visit to the Flight Test Museum on 16th July is full but if there is enough interest we can ask for another date.

17th September is the date for our next indoor meeting at Central Methodist Church.  David Skillen is coming to tell us about ‘Knitters, Nailors and Traitors’ which he says is about Belper in the Industrial Revolution.  David is a good speaker who did an excellent job when he came to John Godber Centre and spoke to Hucknall u3a main meeting.

Maureen Newton