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Many of the group have been suffering from withdrawal symptoms and as the annual ‘Great Notts Cycle Ride ‘was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 we decided to plan our own 50 mile route.

John Saunders and Terry Hill both veterans of many cycle tours mulled over various options and came up with the suggestion to ride to Alvaston Park which is just outside Derby. The outward route via Eastwood followed the Erewash canal towards Trent Lock and then onto Alvaston .The return route was via national cycle route 6 which runs from London to the Lake District. Locally the route passes through Clumber Park, Sherwood Forest, Sherwood Pines, Old Clipstone, Mansfield, Rainworth, Blidworth, Ravenshead, Newstead Abbey Hucknall, Bulwell and Nottingham. In total we covered 52 miles in humid conditions.

One of our popular local refreshment stops is Rumbletums Café in Kimberley. This is both a Community Café and a supported training project for young people with a learning disability, some of whom may also have an additional physical disability. The u3a crisp packet collection is for Rumbletums and for this ride we agreed to donate a minimum of £5 each to help to support their projects. (To date £120 with more to come)

We were joined on the ride by some family and friends and at the end of the day after hours in the saddle we really did appreciate why cowboys walk this way….

Half way there at the lunch stop in Alvaston Park

David Rose and John Saunders

At long last the Library has re-opened – recently I’ve had to re-read my old books – not much fun when you remember whodunit from the first time you read it! We had a garden meet up in June but we did not meet up in July but compared notes about what we had read via our newsletter.

We plan to meet indoors in August. Once again Lowdham Bookshop has been in touch to kindly offer the Group free copies of books which we hope to have in time for the August meeting.

On behalf of our choir members I send many thanks and all good wishes to our accompanist and musical director, who has decided now is a suitable time to retire from her much-appreciated roles with us. Most choir members will be aware that Margaret Craig has been our excellent accompanist since the choir’s inception, and following our MDs retirement also recently took on that additional role. All of our members will want to express their thanks, Margaret will be sorely missed, but has earned her retirement, and she leaves with all our good wishes for her future adventures.

This creates, of course, a super opportunity for anyone with musical experience interested in becoming involved with a small but enthusiastic harmonic choir. We need an accompanist, and a musical director, with sufficient musical knowledge, willing to give us four hours per month (two x two-hourly meetings).

Do you think you may have the skills required, and could enjoy extending your interest in music, perhaps in a new direction? Margaret has indicated a willingness to continue to help, including giving guidance if required, perhaps for someone considering taking on one of the roles for the first time. Unless you prefer it, you will not be left to cope alone. We need you, so that we can resume our happy meetings, so please consider it if you would like to have a go, think you could do it, or know someone else who may be suitable. Thank you.

To contact Christine, the group leader, please use the form below:-

It is difficult to join an established group, especially when, as with the choir, the group is given knowledge which is needed at future meetings.

Last month, I suggested that we could hopefully look forward to returning to choir meetings, and that the break caused by the pandemic had created a wonderful opportunity to make it easier for anyone interested in singing, to join in. It’s such a rare opportunity that I thought I would repeat it. I have received some responses, but the more members who decide to try it, the easier it will be for everyone, including established members who will no doubt enjoy a refresher, (and who may even gain a greater understanding than they did the first time round). It’s a tiny benefit from the pandemic, and if you’ve ever been tempted to join us it would be a pity to miss what hopefully will be a unique opportunity. Who knows how well you’ll do?

When I joined the choir I hadn’t sung with others since my primary school days, but a few years ago was able to perform with the Halle Choir at their Christmas Concert at the Royal Concert Hall. It was a challenge, I didn’t know the standard required, and went into the first rehearsal prepared for rejection and disappointment, but I was accepted and didn’t have any difficulties. Not a tremendous achievement, but an unexpected and happy memory for someone with my limited training and experience, singing, facing an audience of 2000, with a prestigious orchestra at the Royal Concert Hall. If you’ve ever been tempted to join a choir, do give yourself a chance to see where it could take you, or just be happy to have fun with us.

I’d like to thank choir members for their good wishes whilst I have been incapacitated in recent weeks, I appreciated your kind thoughts. I’m sorry I couldn’t respond to each of you, but typing continues to be extremely painful, and remains for some time afterward. (Obviously, I didn’t type this!)

Enjoy the Summer, everyone, and keep safe.

To contact Christine, the group leader, please use the form below:

A Reading Group meet-up in Margaret White’s garden took place in early June, when the weather was excellent. We had a full house or should I say garden and it was great to meet up again to discuss our books and do a book swap – and of course enjoy Margaret’s banana bread.