Mid-length Walking Group

by WebmasterMedium WalksPosted on Comments are Disabled

Ticknall and Calke 15th May 2023

By following the RAW MILK signs, or otherwise, fourteen members arrived at the starting point for the walk. Encouraged by the sunny weather and fantastic views over the Staunton Harold reservoir we set off in a southerly direction towards Dimminsdale, proceeding with caution as we passed the 200 pound crocodile!

Dimminsdale Nature Reserve is an SSSI; in it’s heyday during the 18th and 19th century it was a quarry yielding limestone and lead. The path led us to a high point where we could look at a quarry face and only visualise the ores being extracted using picks and shovels.

Moving on through the woodland and emerging near Staunton Harold Hall we learnt about Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers, the last earl to be executed, for murdering his steward; method of execution- hanged, using a rope made of silk.

Proceeding north through Calke Park, lunch was taken at the café area. Continuing through the Park towards Ticknall, but we had to stop off to greet, ‘The Old Man of Calke’. A pedunculate oak; a quick calculation of the sum of all the ages of the group was made- conclusion: – at 1000 years old, the oak tree only just won! Once through the Anglo- Saxon village of Tichenhalle we turned south to pass through naturally reclaimed woodland that again once housed limekilns returning to our starting point via boardwalks around part of the reservoir. A pleasant and varied walk of 6.5 miles in good company.

Dave and Kevin

National Trust Visit to Hanbury Hall

by WebmasterNational TrustPosted on Comments are Disabled

On a beautifully sunny and warm day the National Trust group left Hucknall for the journey down to Hanbury Hall in Worcestershire.

The Hall itself was built on two storeys in the early eighteenth century as a country retreat for the wealthy Vernon family.

Timed guided tours of the Hall were available to our group but members could also tour the Hall independently at any time.

The well maintained Hall gave an insight to the life of the wealthy at the turn of the eighteenth century.

The grounds covered over 400 acres of beautiful Worcestershire countryside and many members enjoyed walking one or more of the well marked routes.

Some members also took time to visit the beautiful church situated in the village of Hanbury.

The cafe proved to be a popular venue over the day with the outside seating being well used.

The extensive gardens were also  popular with some members enjoying a guided tour around.

After a lovely day in which we were bathed in sunshine throughout we returned to the coach in time for a 4.00pm departure back to Hucknall.

After travelling along some narrow country lanes and then the very busy motorway network around Birmingham we arrived back in Hucknall at 6.15 pm.

History Group

by WebmasterHistory GroupPosted on Comments are Disabled

The History Group always welcomes all U3A members especially new ones. Our indoor meeting place is Central Methodist Church on Baker Street: time 2pm – 4pm ish.

The most traumatic year in English history was what Mike Kelly was telling us about on May 17th.  Of course history was written by the Normans who were victorious and apparently bent the facts to fit their story including ethnic cleansing of the Saxon/Viking people especially those living in the north.

Kathy and Sue will be at the main meeting on June 14th to take bookings for our visit to Ashby de la Zouch town and Museum on June 21st.

Kathy Sue and I will be having a break during July and August when there are no meetings. The three of us will look forward to seeing members on 20th September when Robert Mee will be with us with an illustrated talk about Nottinghamshire Castles – Eleven sites and more besides. How many do you know of?

Maureen

Meetings and visits 2023

June 21st 2023

Visit to Ashby de la Zouch Museum where there is a Dolly Shepherd Display. Do you remember the talk we had about the lady parachutist?  Leave Hucknall 11am – leave Ashby 4pm  Cost of visit £10

JULY & AUGUST = HOLIDAYS

September 20th 2023

Robert Mee, whom we have enjoyed listening to before, will talk about Nottinghamshire Castles. He says – Eleven sites and more besides

October 18th 2023

Potteries Museum & Art Gallery Staffordshire Hoard on display.

Leave Hucknall 10.30am – leave Stoke 4pm Cost of visit £12.50

November 15th 2023

Michael Cooke, is another of our previous speakers, who usually tells us about European history, this time I think it might be around England.

December 21st No meeting too close to Christmas

Fun With Languages

by WebmasterFun with LanguagesPosted on Comments are Disabled

We had a jolly meeting in May with a video clip on wine tasting and relevant vocabulary. Also a session to reinforce numbers in French by playing Bingo. Thank you to Sue and John Tedstone for using their Bingo game and John did a great job reading all the numbers in French.

In June we continue in French doing more on eating out, ordering food etc and various activities.

We meet in JGC at 10.30 in the Byron Suite on Thursday 8th June. New comers are welcome. We hope to see you then.                                                                     

Ann and Liz.

Long Walks

by WebmasterLong WalksPosted on Comments are Disabled

We had a wonderful walk in the Peak District, always a joy.  This particular walk is one of my favourites.  We walked the length of Wolfcotes Dale along the side of the River Dove hemmed in by cliffs, all the way to the village of Milldale, where we had lunch and a wonderful cherry bakewell ice cream.

The weather was overcast, but dry and quite warm, a pleasant day.  We then walked up to Alstonefield, another picturesque  village. We went past Narrowdale hill and into Beresford Dale again picking up the River Dove, along the way we saw Peregrine Falcons and Mandarin Ducks.

The walk was 9.30 miles after which we had a well earned pint outside the pub back at Hartington.