Science Group

by Lynda SmeathersScience GroupPosted on Comments are Disabled

At our July meeting members of the group arrived with their homework which was to create an image using an early photographic technique called Cyanotype.

The image is formed on light sensitive thin card and the results varied due to differing qualities of the cards purchased for the activity.

More of the better quality was made available at the meeting for members to try again and some of the results are shown below.

Creating more images was only part of a practical session to discover things about magnets, mirrors, lenses, gyroscopes and diffraction spectrum by looking through diffraction spectacles.

We finished with an end of term quiz won by the ‘Berrill Catering’ team.

There is no meeting in August our next meeting is on Friday 20th September. 

Invitation from the Science Group

by Lynda SmeathersAnnouncementsPosted on Comments are Disabled

An opportunity for all members: A presentation about aspects of Dementia

Dementia is a syndrome of brain decline that affects memory, thinking, language, mood and behaviour.

Different types of dementia can affect people differently, and everyone will experience symptoms in their own way.

Many of us have experienced it to some degree through its effect on family and friends.

This is an open invitation to come along to  the Science group meeting on Friday 20th September from 10am to approx 11.15am in the main hall at JGC.

We are delighted to host a presentation from Dr Alison Cowley and Dr Collins about their current research and clinical work around aspects of Dementia.

Grumpy Old Men

by Lynda SmeathersGrumpy Old MenPosted on Comments are Disabled

Our Grumpies have been in the Peak District again, this time at Wirksworth. The visit was in three parts, at the headquarters of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, where they first visited the LMS 10000 workshop. This ambitious project is reconstructing one of the prototype diesel locomotives which were built by the LMS railway in 1947, just before nationalization of the railways.

Next, we visited the workshops of the railway, where a number of overhaul and restoration projects were underway, including several carriages. Everything looks very large when viewed from below!

We then walked into Wirksworth, to the Heritage Centre, where we heard a very interesting talk about the history of the town. The town was effectively covered in a layer of dust until the last of the limestone quarries closed in 1989. This meant that no-one had any interest in redeveloping (or ruining) the buildings until that time, and what survives today makes a very interesting and quirky, if quite hilly, Peak District town.

The morning was then rounded off by our customary lunch, in the Centre’s Webster’s café. More Grumpy members are always welcome to join us on future visits.

Medium Walks

by Lynda SmeathersMedium WalksPosted on Comments are Disabled

After their aquatic adventure at Aslockton earlier this year, our walkers have been on drier ground recently. Firstly, they enjoyed a walk starting from Farnsfield, and including the memorial site for the Halifax bomber which came down in 1944. Then, in July, we set off from Edwinstowe for a circular walk around Sherwood Forest. We first stopped at the railway crossing, now a test track; in 1953, a day excursion by train to Chesterfield was 2/3d return, but only on Market days!

The photos show our group, being well-behaved, evading the old ‘lock-up’ in Farnsfield, then at the very recognizable Major Oak at Edwinstowe.

Thanks to firstly Kevin and Keith, then Steve and Anne for organizing these two walks. Our walks continue on the third Monday of each month, except for December. We can always welcome new members – to join us, just use the contact details in the Newsletter.

Gardening Group

by Lynda SmeathersGarden GroupPosted on Comments are Disabled

Our July meeting was a trip to East Riddlesden Hall with two coaches making the journey. On arrival the group was met and welcomed by the staff. The weather was not quite so kind to us being a mixture of sun and showers.

As the Hall is quite small, we were split into groups, with some starting in the restaurant, others in the gardens, and another group in the Hall.

The Hall is stone built and has a lovely façade with the walk to it going past a lake full of ducks.

The original owners of the Hall made their fortune from wool and agriculture. The grounds consist of formal gardens, Lavender and Herb areas and a wild garden.

Despite the weather everyone enjoyed the day.