Category: History Group

The group always meets at Central Methodist Church on Baker Street from 2pm to 4pm.  The next meeting (Note the different date) is on Wednesday 8th January which is the second Wednesday of the month.  The change is necessary due to other meetings having to change dates as well.  The speaker is Tony Robinson who is to tell us about ‘Robin Hood – Fact or Fiction’.  It sounds very intriguing.  I wonder what you believe – do you think he will change your mind either way?  

Last month, November, our speaker was Bob Massey explaining about ‘The Gunpowder Plot.  There was so much more information, researched by Bob, along with short videos and screen shots which were included in the presentation making it very unusual. I bet searches of the rooms below Parliament were increased from then onwards.

Christmas greetings to all members.  

Maureen

Last month our trip was to Derby to visit the Museum and Art Gallery.  I think everyone enjoyed the trip because everything worked out well.  The new coach firm, Vallances, superb, the driver very helpful, even the traffic seemed to co-operate.  

I wonder what was your favourite part of the building or the room you liked best?  There were several things I will remember particularly, the Egypt exhibition, the room of Joseph Wrights paintings and that amazing log boat.  

Our November meeting is at Central Methodist Church on 20th November at 2pm when the speaker is Bob Massey.  His topic is Remember, Remember the 5th of November Gunpowder, Treason and Plot and Guy Fawkes.  Bob has been to talk to us before on several occasions and is a very good speaker.

If you remember we are having to change a couple of dates next year which means the January meeting date is  January 8th and February 12th .  The second Wednesdays in the month.  Sue, Kathy and I are trying to get this settled which will enable us to get new flyers ready for the November meeting.

It was so unfortunate that Robert Mee, the booked speaker for the group contracted Covid. It meant that the talk about History on the Erewash Valley trail didn’t happen. We had looked forward to seeing Robert again – however I have already asked him to come another time.

There was not enough time to ask anyone else. What did happen then I hear you ask? I guess like a lot of historians I have accrued a lot of history based books – so – I brought a pile and read out to the members snippets of interesting items. I will note a couple of them for you.

From ‘The Butcher, The Baker, the Candlestick Maker’ by Roger Hutchinson (it is about census returns) comes details of Charlotte Bronte who lived at Parsonage House, Haworth with her 74 year old father. In 1851 Charlotte had already been outed as the author of Jane Eyre and Shirley but in the return, she had no occupation listed. Judith Flanders wrote the book ‘The Victorian House’ and wrote of Beatrix Potter (writer of Peter Rabbit) who had gone on holiday to Torquay. Beatrix noted “I sniffed my bedroom on arrival and for a few hours felt a certain grim satisfaction when my forebodings were maintained. It is possible to have too much natural history in a bed”. She said she did not undress but had to lay on the bed and it was uncomfortable to sleep with Keatings (bug) powder in her hair. A few members borrowed books for home reading.

Our next meeting is a visit to Derby, meet on Ogle Street at 11am on 16th October. There is time for Lunch then meet at the museum at 1.30pm; we leave Derby at 4pm.

Our next indoor meeting for the Hucknall & District u3a History Group is as usual at Central Methodist Church on Wednesday 18th September at 2pm.

Robert Mee is the speaker and he is coming to tell us all about ‘The History Along the Erewash Valley Trail. The river Erewash starts in the Robin Hood Hills, runs towards Kirkby and eventually joins the river Trent.

Kathy and Sandra will be collecting money for the visit to Derby Museum & Art Gallery on 16th October where they have a special exhibition about Egypt. We leave Ogle Street in our new coach company vehicle at 11am with the return journey from Derby at 4pm. The cost is £12.50p. The Museum has some wonderful collections with a whole room full of paintings by Joseph Wright the famous artist.

I have some bad news for members of our group. A message from the Holocaust Centre where we were going in October, explained they were having major alterations and didn’t really think we would enjoy being there. I’m so sorry because I know lots of you wanted to go, however, the better news is that I have re-booked for us to go in April next year.

The good news is that we will go to Derby to the Museum and Art Gallery where they have a special exhibition on display about Egypt. Watch for more information about prices and times. The venue has some wonderful collections with a whole room dedicated to the famous artist Joseph Wrights paintings.

Our next indoor meeting is at Central Methodist Church on Wednesday 18th September at 2pm. Robert Mee, who is a speaker we have had several times before, is coming to tell us all about ‘The History along the Erewash Valley Trail’. The Erewash River starts in the Robin Hood Hills, as does our River Leen, and runs towards Kirkby eventually joining the River Trent.