The Hucknall U3A Drama Group has now started meeting again and are actively looking for new members. We are a small, friendly, informal group that meet from 10am – 12 on the 4th Friday of each month.
The October meeting is on Friday 22nd and we are holding it at the home of one of our members, Julie Kujawinski. If you would like to join us please contact me, Janet Stevenson or Julie for details via the form below:-
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We aren’t able to return to Sherwood House yet, apparently the rules regarding Covid preclude it, but they have indicated they look forward to our returning as the residents enjoy our meetings. That’s cheering, as the search for our musical director and accompanist goes on.
I have submitted a request for musical assistance to both my local Ravenshead Newsletter and the NG15 magazine, which should appear in their next editions. Hopefully, someone will respond, and we will find someone willing to help who will enjoy the choir as much as we do. In the meantime, please consider whether you can help in any way, I’m happy to follow up any useful suggestions.
To contact Christine, the group leader, please use the form below:-
It was great to see so many singalongers at our first meeting since COVID stopped our monthly get togethers. Folk and Country music was the theme.
Our next meeting is 19th October, 2021, at 10.30 am.
Do let us know if you have any requests or ideas for a theme.
New members are always welcome.
To contact Liz and Philip, please use the form below:-
u3a Growing the Future
To mark the u3a movement’s 40th Anniversary in 2022, the Trust are creating a u3a anniversary woodland situated in the Brecon Beacons.
u3a member’s contribution to the u3a woodland will help benefit the environment, wildlife and climate for future generations. The movement’s target is for 5,000 trees to be planted between October 2021 and March 2022.
This project is launched in members’ magazine, Third Age Matters. u3a members can buy individual trees or a copse of trees and u3as are also encouraged to plant trees within their own communities.
The money for the trees goes towards establishing the trees and part of the cost for each tree is reserved as future payments for maintenance. Once they are fully established, they will be looked after as part of routine woodland management. We are fortunate to have secured the Woodland in an area of outstanding natural beauty and the trees will be expertly looked after by skilled arborists.
To buy u3a woodland trees, go to the u3abrandcentre.
The History Group always welcomes all U3A members. Our usual meeting place which is Central Methodist Church should be fully open, including kitchen, for our next indoor meeting on December 15th.
On October 20th, we have a visit booked with Sharpes Pottery and the Magic Attic leaving Hucknall Ogle Street at 12.15 pm; returning 5.30(ish). A full list of meeting dates for the group with details of speakers and visits is available below and copies can be picked up at meetings.
The Public Hall on Watnall Road is to be called Lovelace Court. I had hoped that Horriben might have been chosen. At last it seems that the developer has permission to move the railings which will enable lorries to clear the remains of the building that was last called Romans on Annesley Road. A block of apartments are to rise on the site.
At the last meeting a question was asked about the area of land now covered by the police station on Watnall Road. Some of the land was used for temporary structures, like theatres, for entertainment but it was also partially covered by a very narrow roadway called Gilbert Street. A Baptist Church with a small burial ground in front was located on the street with an 1835 datestone on the building which is now in the ‘new’ Baptist Church on Watnall Road. The old building was used as a Sunday school and by other religious congregations until it was bought by the Salvation Army and used prior to their move to High Street.
A Slum Clearance order flattened the site in the 30’s and after World War ll prefabs appeared but the church building was left standing. Afterwards the police station was built with new shops fronting Watnall Road.
The original church is still there hiding in the background used as a garage but it has been turned around and now fronts on to Derbyshire Lane. I’ll see if I can find a map to bring to the next meeting which will make things clearer.
Bye for now, Maureen
MEETING DATES – 2021
Meeting dates: 3rd Wednesday of the month: for this year only we include December. Usual venue for indoor meetings: Central Methodist Church.
Time: 2pm prompt.
October 20th, 2021 Visit to Sharpes Pottery and The Magic Attic. Leave Hucknall 12.15pm: Leave Sharpes 4.30pm, Return Hucknall 5.30pm (ish) Cost £11.
November 17th, 2021 Visit to Richard lll & Leicester Cathedral. Leave Hucknall 10.30am. Leave Leicester 4.00pm. Return Hucknall 5.30pm (ish)
December 15th, 2021 Friends of Bennerley Viaduct. (Kieran Lee) Coming to talk about this historic monument past and future.
MEETING DATES 2022
January 19th, 2022 John Tedstone coming to tell us about the U3A High Street project. Plus a member’s Hucknall High Street project.
February 16th, 2022 Malcolm Darroch is coming to talk about ‘When the Balloon went up’. (He says it is a fascinating story.)
March 16th, 2022 Peter Godley from the Nottingham Historical & Archaeology Society is coming to tell us about ‘Archaeology in Nottingham’. Images, maps, etc on slides and artefacts from some of the digs will be on show.
April 20th, 2022 Visit to Cromford mill. We will have a guided tour of the buildings. Plus the Arkwright Experience. Leave Hucknall 12 noon. Leave Cromford 4.30 pm. Arrive Hucknall 5.30 pm (ish) Cost £16.
May 18th, 2022 Stephen Flinders is coming to tell us about ‘My Kind of Paris’. He says it is: What you may or may not know about Paris and what Paris has to do with Nottingham born dancer Dorothy Frettingham.
June 15th, 2022 Much delayed visit to Doddington Hall & Gardens. Leave Hucknall 9.30 am: Leave Doddington 4.00 pm. Return Hucknall 5.30 pm (ish) Cost £20 Price cut to the bone.
No meeting July or August – Holidays
September 21st, 2022 Denis Hill is coming to talk about Victorian Housing Conditions which is a century or so before most of the bureaucracy and health and safety rules came into being. It would cover the lifetimes of our great grandparents.
October 19th, 2022 Visit to Derby Museum and Art Gallery. We will have a talk about Joseph Wright of Derby (Famous artist) then a self guided tour of the museum. Leave Hucknall 1.00 pm. Leave Derby 5.00 pm. Arrive Hucknall 5.45 pm (ish) Cost £10
November 16th, 2022 Trevor Lee is coming to talk to us. He usually provides us with mind pictures of entertainers; sometimes even their voices. Lots of reminiscing at this meeting.