On Friday 26 June the Social Sub Committee organised a hog roast and 1960/70s disco which combined with delicious food, lively music and dancing made it an enjoyable occasion for everyone.
The traditional cooking method produced tender, flavoursome meat with crispy crackling and apple sauce. Everyone enjoyed the meal and then it was disco time. We all knew the 60/70s music singing and dancing to classic hits played by Tony the DJ. The atmosphere was fun and friendly, brought people together which ensured a fantastic atmosphere.
Ten enthusiastic members of Hucknall u3a showed real dedication by turning out to play pickleball at Hucknall Leisure Centre on 9th July despite the soaring 32°C temperatures.
While many people were seeking shade or staying indoors, our players were keen to enjoy a friendly afternoon of exercise, laughter and good company. Although the indoor courts at the leisure centre are incredibly warm everyone could keep active while avoiding the full force of the summer heat. The session was filled with enjoyable rallies, plenty of smiles and a healthy dose of friendly competition. Regular water breaks ensured everyone stayed hydrated, and the supportive atmosphere meant players of all abilities were able to join in and have fun.
Pickleball continues to grow in popularity within Hucknall u3a, offering an excellent way to improve fitness, coordination and balance while making new friends. The game is easy to learn, making it ideal for anyone looking to try a new activity in a welcoming and relaxed setting. If the impressive turnout on one of the hottest days of the year is anything to go by, the enthusiasm of our members is stronger than ever.
We look forward to welcoming new players to future sessions and enjoying many more games together – whatever the weather!
On June 18th our walk started from the car park at Burntstump.(Approx. 4.5 miles)
From the car park we made a full circuit of the cricket pitch. From the far side we followed the path out to Rigg Lane, then continued downhill to join the broad track of the old railway line. This straight, level section led to Sansom Woods following the main path through the trees.
To return we picked up the Robin Hood Way as it wound back through mixed woodland, returning past the Rugby Ground before neatly arriving back at the car park.
July 16th Walk
This will be an urban walk taking the tram into Nottingham to walk to the new made in Hucknall ‘Briton Bridge’ over the River Trent.
We had an eclectic mix at the meeting on June 19th.
The first half of the meeting was Bob McKewen who revealed ‘The Science of Golf.’
He explained that golf is a game built on elegant physics. Every shot begins with energy transfer: the club accelerates, storing kinetic energy that is released into the ball at impact.
The sweet spot maximises this transfer, giving higher ball speed with less vibration. Launch angle and spin then determine the ball’s flight. Backspin creates lift, helping the ball rise and stay stable in the air.
Dimples reduce drag by creating a thin, turbulent layer that lets the ball travel farther. On the green, friction, slope, and grass grain control how a putt breaks and slows. Even small changes in force or angle produce big differences in outcome, making golf a precise blend of biomechanics and physics.
Bob concluded by describing that many technical advances have filtered down from the professional game to grass roots level.
Cross section of an average quality golf ball.
After the break John Tedstone recounted the lives and scientific interests of:
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu born in 1689, at Holme Pierrepont Hall.
She was an early adopter of inoculation against smallpox and helped bring the practice to England, influencing others to adopt it too.
and Joseph Bramma who was born near Barnsley in 1749.
At 23, he walked to London to seek his fortune. Now called Joseph Bramah, he became a prolific inventor best known for his flushing water closet, ‘unpickable’ lock and hydraulic press.
To conclude David Vincent recounted some interesting and humorous aspects of Gypsum mining in Nottinghamshire and we had 3-minute invention talks from David Naylor with the safety pin and Sue Naylor with the electric kettle complete with her family heirloom of a shiny copper example.
Our next meeting is Friday July 17th at JGC at 10.00am.
Nineteen members of the NSGOM group recently attached blues and twos to their cars and went up to Mansfield to learn about the history of the Nottinghamshire Fire Service. Located at the front of the former Notts Fire Service training school in Mansfield, the site also houses the present Mansfield Fire Station. The Museum is run by a Trust and relies heavily on volunteers.
The aim of the Trust is to collect and preserve fire service items from as far back as the Great Fire of London but also showing many local items, for example from Thoresby and Welbeck Estates.
Assembling together inside the museum we were given a very informative history of the fire service, which included being shown, a leather bucket and “squirter” used in the 17th century. We then went on a comprehensive tour of the museum seeing fire fighting equipment, uniforms, helmets and various fire engines themselves,
We are lucky to have one of the few such museums in the country on the doorstep and we enjoyed a couple of hours learning so much about the history of the fire service. Huge thanks go to group member Dave Robbins for planning the day and also to volunteers, Richard and Paul, who led the visit and were a fountain of knowledge.
The visit was completed with a meal and drink at the Rushley restaurant in Mansfield, before returning back to Hucknall.
