Category: Not So Grumpy Old Men

Visit to the Sherwood Observatory and Planetarium

In late October a group of twenty-two ‘Grumpies’ were allowed out later than usual to visit the new Planetarium at Coxmoor Road, Sutton in Ashfield. In 1969 an advert in the Mansfield Chad brought together a group interested in astronomy and a few years later an observatory, with a 24” reflecting telescope was constructed on the present site. The planetarium and science centre itself is a much newer addition, opening in November 2024 after being funded by the local council and the Levelling Up Fund, to the tune of £5.3 million. The planetarium is built on top of a disused Victorian reservoir next to the original observatory. 

Our first stop was to view the moon through the main telescope – it was almost within touching distance! It’s an impressive building and piece of kit, built and maintained by volunteers. Indeed, the whole enterprise is staffed by volunteers who give freely of their time to explain their interest and enthusiasm for studying the night sky to less educated folks, like the Grumpies.

Next stop was the planetarium for a film show about the amazing sights to be seen through telescopes and from space exploration. An overhead half-dome screen 30’+ across immerses the viewer in space. Added to very comfy tilting chairs the whole experience is quite awe inspiring and calming. So much so that the Grumpies set a record for having a whole row of viewers fast asleep!

Sherwood is the first observatory to be built for ten years in this country and one of very few with public access. It is an amazing asset to have on our doorstep, and a visit is highly recommended.

Thanks go to John Berrill for organising.

Bob McEwen

In early October seventeen Not So Grumpy Old Men visited the Newark Air Museum, probably the most impressive private aviation museum in the UK.

The static display outside includes the iconic Vulcan bomber, the Hastings transport aircraft, crucial to the Berlin airlift and the maritime reconnaissance giant, the Shackleton – shown in the picture. There are two indoor exhibition halls, containing a variety of jet and piston engined airframes, with a special emphasis on RAF training types over the years, used to train fast jet and multi engined pilots, navigators, bomb aimers et al. In addition there are numerous airframes from the US, French, Polish and Swedish air forces.

By special dispensation Grumpies had the opportunity to get in the cockpits of numerous aircraft types, both large and small (I’m talking airframes not Grumpies!)

The museum is open all year and has a plethora of aviation related material, both historical and contemporary. If you haven’t visited, it’s well worth considering making the effort. I’m sure you will not be disappointed.

Bob McEwen

In September, following the cheering up of some Grumpy Old Men, 26 of the combined Not So Grumpy Old Men Group visited the Hucknall Flight Test Museum, a venue many of them visited under its Rolls Royce Heritage banner 6 years before, but now expanded and improved.

Rolls Royce transformed aviation by innovative engineering solutions and designs and shaped the path of the modern jet engine, claiming many world firsts along the way.

After an introductory talk about the origins of the museum and how acquiring grade II listed status ensured at least a small part of the Rolls Royce site was not “developed” into housing, we were treated to guided talks on the world-leading testing facilities, the evolution (over a surprisingly short timeframe) of aero engine design and manufacture and an incredible collection of hand-built scale models of over 30 aircraft.

Many of the group were ex-Rolls Royce employees and the museum volunteers were keen to try to get them back to work!

Enthralled by the talks and exhibits, it was difficult to drag ourselves away for the post-visit lunch at the Nabb Inn.

Mark Jackson

August saw the now combined groups of Grumpy Old Men and Not So Grumpy Old Men meet up together for the first time at Titchfield Park for a session of Lawn Bowls.

Meeting up at 1.00 pm the group had a session of instruction and practice helped by members of the bowls club. Breaking after an hour for refreshments the group then returned to the greens for a further session of bowling.

A big thank you to everybody at the bowls club for their support and tuition.

A meal at the Broomhill Restaurant followed to complete a lovely afternoon.

September takes the group on a visit to the Flight Museum at Rolls Royce and then on to visits to the Newark Air Museum and the Sherwood Observatory in Sutton.

Barrie

Our July visit took the group across to Arnold town centre and specifically to the Robin Hood and Little John pub to play alley skittles.

Starting just after 1.00 pm and with glasses fully charged the group took some time to grasp the rules of the game and its scoring system. However, several members soon revealed their previous experience of playing and started to romp ahead in the scoring, leaving a big gap in the scores achieved!!

After a break to top up the glasses we ventured on to the roof top garden area for a break and chat. Play then resumed before we all ventured across the road for the now customary meal and chance to put the world to rights.

After that it was a return journey to Hucknall to complete a very good afternoon.

A special thank you to Terry Moult for organising the afternoon.