The John Godber Centre Open Day

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The event took place on 22nd August, 2021 from 11am to 2pm. It coincided with the first Ashfield Food and Drink Festival in the town centre which helped to draw in more visitors especially later in the afternoon.

The photos show the display created by our volunteers that drew the attention of those visitors who were prompted to ask questions about the organisation and take away some information about membership.

Maureen, Sue and Barbara – incognito

Water Colour Group display: a credit to Rose and the talented group.

A view of our display and stand

Can you name this local mystery Historian?

National Trust Group

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VISIT TO FOUNTAINS ABBEY – Thursday 26th of August.
Well, after a delay of over five hundred days, members were all assembled on Hucknall Market Place at 8.20 am. ready to leave at 8.30 am. After a check of names and numbers and a greeting to everyone from our driver (Paul) we were ready for our drive up to North Yorkshire.

On arrival everyone was soon checked in and ready to begin exploring and walking the beautiful grounds. At this point some members booked on various organised tours that were available, while others headed for an early hot drink and cake before starting their exploring. The weather was good for walking with the cloud eventually giving way to periods of sunshine by early afternoon.

On our walk round Studley Royal Park we had the opportunity to explore two main areas; The Abbey site – which includes a large monastic ruin from the 12th century, Fountains Hall (a Country House dating back to the Elizabethan era) and Fountains Mill which was still in use at the beginning of the last century.

In contrast to these buildings, in the second area, we saw Studley Royal Water Gardens which featured large scale contemporary artworks designed by British artist, Steve Messam and entitled ‘These Passing Things’. All of this plus the Victorian St Marys Church, the Studley Medieval Deer Park and the cafes, shops and tea rooms made for a busy but very enjoyable day.
Our return journey saw us arrive safely back in Hucknall just after six o’clock after a thoroughly enjoyable day.

NATIONAL TRUST PLANS FOR SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER 2021

Please note that there will NOT be a National Trust table at the September Members’ meeting as Sue and I are unable to attend.

However, by mid September we will email or write to all NT group members with our plans for two more visits before the end of the year, Covid permitting!!!!
Firstly, we are planning to book a day in October to visit a fairly local venue.. Secondly, we will try to book a visit in late November or early December to Belton House to see the House decorated for Christmas and then stay as darkness falls to enjoy the Light Trail round the grounds.

We will get dates and other details out, as stated above, to all members by mid September.

Mid-length Walking Group

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We have now settled back into our routine of actually walking, and the most recent Monday found us starting off by the banks of a quiet River Trent. We set off towards Gunthorpe, then headed over the fields to Hoveringham village, coming back to the river at the site of the old Hazelford ferry. After a couple of stops to hear about some of the history of the area, we returned along the river bank. In the past, at times when the river was low, it was possible to cross with a horse and cart, although probably not recommended now.

Many thanks to Paul and Steph Haigh for organizing this walk, and for researching the history of the area.

Our next walk will be led by Philip & Liz Attenborough and will be near Ilkeston, taking in parts of the Erewash canal.

To contact John and Sue, the group leaders, please use the form below:-

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History Group

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The History Group always welcomes all U3A members. Our usual meeting place which is Central Methodist Church is not open at present for group meetings due to Covid. I am in contact with Kim at the John Godber Centre hoping that she can manage to include our group there on the 15th September from 2 to 4.00 pm. Watch for information either by email or telephone.

A list of meeting dates for the group with details of speakers and visits is available here on the website and copies can be picked up at meetings.

I have had an enquiry about the Public Hall which was built 1875; the date is set in stone on the building. Often a query means something bad is likely to happen. I am crossing everything I can hoping this does not mean that it will be demolished. Sometimes it seems that if any building in Hucknall is over 100 years old it needs to be flattened!

This week through the post I have received a book from a man called Peter Watts which is an account of his and his wife’s families. Peter is linked with a lot of local families by the surnames of Watts, Coupe, Count, Barke, Rhodes and Smith of Broomhill; the most famous of whom was Elizabeth, housekeeper to Queen Victoria, at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. The book has been well researched and written, illustrated with maps, documents, photographs, etc. with quite a good part covering Hucknall and the local area. I am to take it to Hucknall Library after reading it myself.

Bye for now, Maureen

MEETING DATES 2021

Meeting dates: the third Wednesday of the month: for this year only we include December.
Usual venue for indoor meetings: Central Methodist Church.
Time: 2.00 pm prompt but watch for other alternative venues.

September 15th 2021 Robert Mee is coming to talk to us on Bradshaws and an early railway Tour. (He says it is the famous railway timetable and a mystery tour.)

October 20th 2021 Visit to Sharpes Pottery and The Magic Attic. Leave Hucknall 12.15pm: Leave Sharpes 4.30pm, Return Hucknall 5.30pm (ish) Cost £11.

November 17th 2021 Visit to Richard lll & Leicester Cathedral. Leave Hucknall at 10.30am. Leave Leicester 4.00pm. Return Hucknall 5.30pm (ish)

December 15th 2021 Friends of Bennerley Viaduct. (Kieran Lee) Coming to talk about this historic monument past and future.

MEETING DATES 2022

January 19th 2022 John Tedstone coming to tell us about the U3A High Street project. Plus 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 5.30pm (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 5.45pm (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.

Choir Group

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We haven’t had a speedy response to our request for either a volunteer musical director or accompanist, and can’t meet again until we do, so we have therefore spread our net wider. Siobhan is making enquiries, but there is also a request on the u3a Facebook page, and those choir members on Facebook have been asked to include the information on their own pages.

Would you bear our need in mind, and think of mentioning it on your own pages, please? Your help would be appreciated, volunteers could come from anywhere, and obviously the more we spread the word, the better our chance of recruiting someone. It entails a commitment of four, enjoyable, hours each month, with a little forward planning. If you know of anyone who may be interested please let them know, they can contact me, via the form below, for any information they need to help them decide if they’d like to join us. No pressure!

Thank you,
Christine

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