We met for the first time in over 21 months on August 4th when we enjoyed discussing the books we had read and also swapping books. The Group received free copies of a book from The Book Case at Lowdham for which we thank them.
Hopefully we shall be able to obtain a new set book from the library in time for the September meeting.
We haven’t had a speedy response to our request for either a volunteer musical director or accompanist, and can’t meet again until we do, so we have therefore spread our net wider. Siobhan is making enquiries, but there is also a request on the u3a Facebook page, and those choir members on Facebook have been asked to include the information on their own pages.
Would you bear our need in mind, and think of mentioning it on your own pages, please? Your help would be appreciated, volunteers could come from anywhere, and obviously the more we spread the word, the better our chance of recruiting someone. It entails a commitment of four, enjoyable, hours each month, with a little forward planning. If you know of anyone who may be interested please let them know, they can contact me, via the form below, for any information they need to help them decide if they’d like to join us. No pressure!
Thank you,
Christine
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:-