We will be running National Trust coach trips from March to October in 2026. We depart at 8.30 am from Hucknall Market and start our return journey at 4.00 pm
We travel with Vallance coaches.
Dates and venues
Monday 23rd March to Dunham Massey, Warrington area. T.B.C.
Tuesday 21st April to Upton House, Worcester
Wednesday 27th May to Croome. Worcestershire
Thursday 25th June to Ickworth, Suffolk
Monday 20th July to Dudmaston Estate, Shropshire
Tuesday 25th August to Chirk Castle, Wrexham
Wednesday 23rd September Shrugborough Estate, Stoke on Trent
Thursday 22nd October to Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire
These visits include five venues new to our group.
Coach fares to follow.
We will also be visiting a Christmas Market in December.
At our meeting in October, group member Dr Jolanta Adamczewska gave a presentation about lubricants with a specific focus on petrochemicals.
She explained that petrochemicals are chemical products derived primarily from oil, petroleum and, to a lesser extent, from natural gas.
Petrochemicals are predominantly organic compounds, meaning they are composed mainly of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms. The simplest petrochemicals are hydrocarbons, which can be classified into three main categories based on their structural features.
Jolanta demonstrated the structure using atomic models first starting with
Methane (CH4): The simplest alkane, consisting of one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms in a tetrahedral geometry.
She then explained how Lubricants are made for combustion engines and how the resulting lubricant undergoes rigorous testing for properties like viscosity, thermal stability, and cleanliness before marketing. This production process ensures that the lubricant can effectively reduce friction, prevent wear, and operate reliably under demanding engine conditions.
Much of the testing is done using actual engines that are removed from production model cars- not all science investigations only use test tubes!
She concluded with a reference to electric powered vehicles and how the motor lubricants are different from those in petrol and diesel vehicles basically because they are not subject to explosions and high temperatures in the engine cylinders.
After the break we considered some significant medical advances since 2015.
Our next meeting is 21st November at JGC, and we are also meeting on 19th December.
On our October walk we had a very informative guided tour around the Bennerley Viaduct which was led by volunteers from ‘Friends of the Viaduct’.
We learnt a lot about its history and that of the surrounding area.
The Bennerley Viaduct is an iconic iron railway structure spanning the Erewash Valley near Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Built in 1877, it is celebrated for its elegant lattice girder design and remarkable engineering, being one of only two surviving wrought-iron viaducts in Britain.
Stretching over 400 metres, the viaduct was originally constructed to carry coal trains between Nottingham and Derby. Today, it stands as a testament to Victorian ingenuity and resilience, having survived both natural challenges and threats of demolition. Now restored, Bennerley Viaduct offers a scenic walkway for cyclists and pedestrians, whilst preserving local heritage.
Currently the Nottinghamshire end is closed off whilst the easy access route and visitors centre are being completed, and we have been invited back for a longer walk next year.
Our next walk is on 20th November
We are starting form the parking area at the bottom of Felley Lane South for a walk in the area which was a favourite of D H Lawrence.
Last month the group welcomed Camilla Anderson who talked about Edwardian Gardens and the Arts and Craft movement.
A smaller group than usual saw images of lots of gardens influenced by Arts and Crafts and enjoyed an interesting and informative explanation of this style of gardening. Many of these gardens are in the south of the country and quite a lot of the halls and large houses are no longer standing, but the gardens are still there and well-tended.
Camilla brought items from her online shop and members were able to browse through books and garden-related gifts, including soaps, hand creams and twines.
It was a very enjoyable meeting, just a shame that there were reduced numbers to hear about this history of our gardens.
The next meeting, on 3rd November, will be a talk from Karen Gimson, a writer for the Garden News.
On Wednesday 15th October 42 members of the History Group visited the National Justice Museum.
We split into two groups each group having a guided tour with ‘a prison warden’ who made it a very informative but fun visit. From being shut into cells to experience the reality and depravation, to finding out what crimes had been committed, to the sentences handed down. Flogging, branding, imprisonment, transportation and execution.
After looking around the prison, we were invited to take part in a court case, several members acting out parts, credit must go to our membership secretary Greg for the wonderful portrayal of the defendant he really threw himself into the part.
At our meeting on Wednesday 19th November at Central Methodist Church 2pm; we have one of our favourite speakers, Trevor Lee. Trevor has been several times before. If you remember last time he told us about 100 Years of the BBC; this time he has been researching entertainers who were ‘Born in Ashfield’. It is an illustrated selection of musicians, actors, singers, composers and stage set designers from 1842 – 1928. How many can you think of?
