Category: History Group

Ann Featherstone was our speaker last month telling us about ‘Rose Bruckner and her Post-war World of Home Baking’.  It was an amazing presentation.  Apparently Rose was the second most famous British woman in the U.S.A. after Elizabeth who became our Queen.  The words combined with the images Ann used had most of us nodding, checking with neighbours and remembering so much of our childhood.  What a performance Ann gave to all of us.  Even the following day in Tesco members were still chatting about the talk.  Thank you Ann.

On the 21st October, the last visit this year is to the Newark Air Museum so if members fancy the trip (at the time of writing this report a few seats are available) come for a chat at the next main meeting at John Godber on the 14th October.

Looking ahead to the next indoor meeting at Central Methodist Church on the 18th November Ian Morgan is coming to tell us about ‘Pestilence, Intrigue and Murder’.  This talk was scheduled for last February but Ian had a hospital appointment and the talk rescheduled.

Bye for now,  

Maureen

The Autumn season begins at 2pm on 16th September at Central Methodist Church.  Ann Featherstone is our speaker this month to tell us all about “Mashed Potato Sandwiches, Bottle Top Tinsel: Rose Bruckner’s Postwar World of Home Baking”.  This will be a time for some of us to remember many items including clothes and groceries being on ‘coupons’.  As History Group members know I have been working on 2027 meetings and visits and hope to have flyers ready for members at this meeting.

October is the month for us to visit Newark Air Museum so Kathy and Sue will be taking your names and money £23 at the September u3a  meeting at John Godber.

Looking forward to seeing members again, bye for now,

Maureen

It’s that time again to let group members know what is happening.

I know some of you will be disappointed that we have no meeting in August but I am using the time ‘off’ productively.  Hopefully by the time of our meeting in September I will have a flyer for you full of details of our speakers for meetings and visits organised for next year 2027.  It does take quite a time to get all the information together.  

The next indoor meeting at Central Methodist is on 16th September at 2pm.  Ann Featherstone one of our favourite speakers is coming to tell us about “Mashed Potato Sandwiches, Bottle Top Tinsel; Rose Bruckners Postwar World of Home Baking.”  We still had rationing at the time and I can’t help but think how well our mums and grandmas did to put on such tasty meals.  

Kathy and Sue will be taking names and money at the meeting in September for the visit to Newark Air Museum.

See you in September,  

Maureen  

This month we were on a visit to Matlock Bath and Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mill which is the water powered cotton spinning mill on the river Derwent.

The mill was built in 1783 and is part of the World Heritage Site. It was originally powered by a water wheel but turbines were installed in 1928 until hydroelectric generators in 1995.

Masson Mill is now a museum. Members were split into group to be taken round the museum on guided tours. The guides were amazing, full of knowledge about Arkwright, machinery, mill workers and helped us understand the building.

One of our best visits, I thought.

Maureen Newton

Our group meets at Central Methodist Church on Baker Street on the third Wednesday of the month when we are indoors.  The time is 2pm – 4pm and the venue is handy for car parks, bus stops and drop offs.

 Last month our speaker was David Speed who told us all about ‘Beauvale Priory – Between two Worlds.’  We learned about what life was like in Medieval times for the monks who lived at the Priory in the ‘beautiful valley’ and how money was donated to the cause.  Eventually of course during the reign of Henry Vlll it was dissolved; the monks sent away and the priory lands sold.  I think most of us felt it would be good to do a site visit. Something to think about for the future.

On 17th June we are to visit Matlock Bath and Masson Mill; leaving Hucknall Market at 10.30am on a Vallences coach.  After lunch at Matlock Bath we are back on the coach at 1.45 to Masson Mill for a guided tour; leaving at 4pm for the journey back to Hucknall.

What a shame that the three of us; Kathy, Sue and I decided to cancel the visit to the Observatory.  There seemed to be so many rules that our group would have to follow such as: times, number of visitors, no refreshments, costs, and others with which we felt unable to comply.  (How on earth would we manage without the refreshment break?)  Maybe a review of the rules for larger groups would be in order and we can think about a visit later.  We will be in the refreshment room at the main meeting in John Godber on 10th June if you need to ask questions

Our next indoor meeting is Wednesday 16th September when one of our favourite speakers, Ann Featherstone, is coming to tell us about the history of post war baking.  Might we get some samples?

Bye for now,  Maureen Newton