In May, the Not So Grumpy Old Men visited the Great British Car Journey.
This hidden gem of an attraction, in the old wireworks at Ambergate, chronicles the history of the British car industry, with 120 vehicles on display. Audio visual tablets guided us from Austin and Morris through the troubled British Leyland years to McLaren.
Worn out by all that reminiscing, the group retired to the on-site Pit Stop Café for lunch.
Welbeck Estate and Belph
Twenty-one walkers assembled at the meeting point; several went off to avail themselves of the facilities, worryingly by 10 o’clock they had not returned; it was a long walk!
All present, introductions and formalities complete, we set off, heading north to pick up the Robin Hood Way east, (our route for the first three miles). The path skirts the Welbeck Abbey/House, which in the main is masked by greenery; we were given snippets of information about the eccentric 5th Duke of Portland and a brief history of the abbey/house. Open fields and oak/beech woodland are the main features of the area but what can go unnoticed, along a straight section, is a raised ridge running parallel to the path. A submerged gas lit tunnel, wide enough for two carriages to pass one another, begins at the house and emerges after 1.5 miles, above ground, through a set of doors at the South Lodge.
Continuing east along Drinking Pit Lane we arrived at the Busaco Ridge, a fine example of a ‘Holloway’ carved through Nottinghamshire sandstone. Returning to South Lodge for a coffee stop there were reminders of how Hucknall had benefitted from contributions made by the 6th Duke.
Refreshed, the walk continued NW along Broad Lane before turning west towards the hamlet of Belph. After a lunch stop, we continued south, returning to the start. A very pleasant walk. 6.8 miles for most, 7+ miles for some! Many retired to the Greendale Oak in Cuckney, others were tempted by the garden centre.
Our thanks go to Dave Kay and Ian Raynor for leading the walk.
Last meeting we had brain ache with some grammar on nouns, gender and agreements of singular and plural. Also a peep into pronouns. However, despite the grammar, enjoyment was had in the role-play groups as we practised asking directions and finding places in a town.
Our next meeting will be Thursday, 9th June, 2022 at John Godber Centre, Byron Suite, at 10.30 till 12 noon. We shall be highlighting food and eating out. And to follow up on this we hope to have a drinks and nibbles session which will be hosted this time by Liz. This may go on a bit longer than 12 noon. Further details in due course.
As always, if new members wish to come and join us you are welcome.
Ann Murray & Liz Attenborough
Advance Notice for all Elvis fans that the new film called simply ELVIS is to be released on June 24th, 2022 and will be shown at various cinemas in and around Nottingham including The ARC in Hucknall.
Elvis is played by Austin Butler, well known as the best Elvis impersonator. It covers Elvis in the 50’s and 60’s and features his relationship with his manager Colonel Tom Parker.
In order to receive details of dates and times and also details of other films in our area
contact the Group Leader, Alan Snape, using the form below and ask to be added to the circulation list.
The Singalong group celebrated the Queens jubilee at our last meeting, we were lower in numbers than normal( due to other groups meetings) but nevertheless we enjoyed a morning of patriotic songs.
I’m sure her Majesty wouldn’t have mind Sandra staying seated during the National Anthem!
Thanks go to Liz & Phil Attenborough and Chris Vincent for a very enjoyable Platinum Jubilee Singalonga session this morning. A wide choice of songs to sing covering the last 70 years, together with a lovely Jubilee cake etc baked by Liz.
Chris Vincent also provided a film documenting the Queen’s various visits to Nottingham during the last 70 years accompanied by music of that era. Many thanks.