The History Group always welcomes all U3A members. Our usual meeting place which is Central Methodist Church is fully open, including kitchen, for our meeting on December 15th, 2021.

It was a surprise to those of us organising the visit to Richard lll and Leicester Cathedral that everything went so well after almost two years of waiting. Downstairs at the centre is the very well done historical part with archaeology on the floor above. A volunteer explained about the shallow grave and that there is to be a film about the discovery, excavation, etc. next year which will be something to look out for. The Cathedral was marvellous, the stained glass spectacular but the building none of us had seen before was the Guildhall dating back to the 1300s – brilliant.

The next meeting of the History Group is on 15th December,2021, when we have speaker Keiran Lee to tell us about the Bennerley Viaduct. I had a nice surprise last week when somehow on T.V. I caught a re-run of a railway buildings programme with beautiful Bennerley included.

HOT NEWS The 1921 Census will be available exclusively on FindMyPast from the 6th January 2022. Apparently there will be a charge of £2.50 for a transcript of the record and £3.50 if you want to see the original image – however for all 12 month subscribers there is a 10% discount on any 1921 census purchase. This will be the last census for anyone to see for 30 years. To remind those unaware; the 1931 census data was lost due to enemy action in World War ll and there wasn’t one in 1941 (it would have been impossible in wartime) meaning that the next census available will be the 1951; 30 years from now. Of course we do have the 1939 Register but it does not have quite as much information.

Seasons greetings to all members.
Bye for now,
Maureen

Meeting dates: 3rd Wednesday of the month – for this year only we include December.
Usual venue for indoor meetings: Central Methodist Church.
Time: 2.00 pm prompt.

Meeting Dates 2021/22
December 15th 2021 Friends of Bennerley Viaduct (Kieran Lee) coming to talk about this historic monument past and future.
January 19th, 2022 We hoped John Tedstone would come to tell us about the U3A High Street project but he has been called for jury service. It does depend on him being needed on the day but there is also a members’ 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 4.30pm. Arrive Hucknall 5.30pm (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 4.00pm. 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 1.00pm. Leave Derby 5.00pm. 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.