Science

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At our March meeting group member Jolanta Adamczewska gave a very interesting presentation about the life and work of Marie Curie who was a pioneering physicist and chemist.
Marie was renowned for her groundbreaking research in radioactivity. Born in Poland, she moved to France where she became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize—and the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields. Her discoveries, including polonium and radium, greatly advanced medical science and nuclear physics. Her dedication to research and education left a legacy, inspiring generations of scientists.

Jolanta also clearly explained the complexities of atomic structure, the types of radioactivity and their properties.

After the break Sue Tedstone described how she and her grandson assembled a lizard robot from a challenging electronic model kit. The robot had a stroll around the room cleverly avoiding obstructions along the way.

John Tedstone then gave a short history of the invention and development of model making and our finale was a 3-minute video created and narrated by Christine Vincent about the invention of tarmacadam (tarmac) with some additional information about current research aimed at solutions to make it better (at repairing potholes!)

Next month Friday 17th April

We have a guest speaker Sandra Hart who is a Notts u3a member with a talk entitled

‘City of Bees’.

After the break we will continue with the 3-minute talks about inventions.

David Rose

National Trust

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Visit to Dunham Massey on Monday 23rd March

Seventy members of the National Trust group started out from Hucknall Market at 8.30 am to travel across to Cheshire to visit the Dunham Massey Estate.

Traffic was relatively light on the journey and we arrived within two hours. Both coaches arrived together and NT cards were soon checked and maps and general information given out.

First point of call for many was the café for a midmorning drink.

The Estate is one of the jewels in the National Trust portfolio and seeing everything in a day was a challenge!!!

The House itself reflected four hundred years in the life of the Booth and Grey families demonstrated over two floors. The parkland is extensive with a wide range of walks ranging from two miles and longer. Fallow deer roamed the grounds and the extensive gardens were a real highlight for many members.

Sadly, the Mill was closed but the roomy restaurants, ice cream parlour, extensive garden shop and gift shop were all open and popular.

Although the group had previously visited in September 2023 the group verdict was that this was one of the best estates visited.

As usual everyone was back on the coach by 4.00 pm and another good journey saw us back in Hucknall by 6.00 pm.

A lovely day to start this year’s visits.

Next month’s visit takes us to Upton House across in the West Midlands.

Medium Walks

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Mid-length walking group, 16th March 2026

After two amazing walks based within Nottingham City, our third walk of the year was centred within the Hidden Valleys area in the countryside north of Hucknall. Despite wind chill temperatures of 5 degrees and the prospect of muddy conditions 21 walkers assembled at Brinsley Lodge Inn.

As promised, we were soon presented with mud; tractor ruts compounding the issue. Ascending the path to the top of the rise we turned East and were again confronted with boggy conditions; (“How can it be so wet up at the top of a hill?”. “A lot of rain!!!”.

Proceeding through fields, along gravel tracks and farm tracks we accessed the mineral line that used to serve the Brinsley colliery, eventually arriving at the infamous Yew Tree pub. (closed in 2010, converted to an Indian restaurant, derelict, a cannabis farm 2017; now a private dwelling). Taking a path North we arrived at our coffee stop at Underwood Hill. At this elevated point we were amazed at the number of landmarks that could be identified on the horizon; – Radcliffe power station, Eastwood church and the Jessop monument to mention a few. Many such vista were appreciated along the walk as we continued through Westwood and Jacksdale. We also had horse’ encounters, inquisitive steers and the ever-present mud.

After 6 miles several walkers had a well-earned pub lunch; all took home two souvenirs – muddy boots and mucky trousers.

An enjoyable rural walk.

YOU DANCIN?  WE’RE ASKIN!!

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If you enjoy dancing to Soul or Motown music with maybe a bit of Northern Soul thrown into the mix, then let us know.

Chris Eagle and David Wright would like to hear from anyone who is interested in joining a new u3a Interest Group. The aim of the group is for good nights out, reminiscing with a group of like-minded u3a Boppers.

Some venues host DJs who play vinyl records on old style turntables.

They have a few possible venues in mind, including The British Legion on the 1st Friday of the month (Free Admission).

The Liberal Club are trialling the 3rd Friday of the month (£1 for the evening or £10 for annual membership). The 20th March is a definite date there.

Other possible venues are The Central Club (TBC) and other venues not far from Hucknall.

Please email Chris Eagle if you are interested and would like more information.

c.eagle_49@hotmail.co.uk

Long Walks

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Our March walk began at Calton Lees, near the magnificent Chatsworth House, on a crisp spring morning. From the car park we set off along a quiet lane towards the small hamlet of Calton, passing Calton Houses and the charming Russian Cottage as the countryside gradually opened around us. The route then led us into the picturesque village of Edensor, where we paused to visit St Peter’s Church. In the peaceful churchyard are the graves of Kathleen Cavendish, Marchioness of Hartington and sister of President John F. Kennedy, whose life was tragically cut short in 1948, and also at the resting place of Deborah Cavendish, one of the Mitford sisters, who married Andrew Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire.

Leaving the village, we walked back past the sweeping parkland surrounding Chatsworth House before tackling the steady climb of 163 steps to the Hunting Tower. The effort was rewarded with fine views over the estate, where we stopped for a well-earned lunch. Refreshed, we continued our route past the tranquil Emperor Lake, and then crossed the open landscape of Beeley Moor with its ancient Neolithic stone circle. Finally, the path curved back through rolling fields to Calton Lees, completing a memorable and varied countryside walk.

Mark Thornley