1

Established 2008

NEWS LETTER July 2016

WELCOME to our News Letter on the Web.

If you would like to join us at our next meeting on the 2nd Thursday of the month at

Turner Hall, Mansfield Woodhouse, you will be most welcome.

MEETING FOR NEW MEMBERS There will be a meeting for all new members at 10.30am on Thursday 21st July upstairs in ‘The Stables’ (attached to Turner Hall). Come along, have a coffee and chat with some of the Committee and other

new members. This is a good chance to ask questions in a quieter environment and meet new friends.

THIS MONTH’S SPEAKER July - Ian Morgan – Footpads, Kings and Highwaymen. Ian lives locally and has spoken to many U3As in the area as well as other organisations. Be prepared to be entertained, shocked and amazed as he relates events such as murders, battles, Highwaymen and much more along a

34-mile stretch of the A1, what was The Old North Road, in Nottinghamshire. August - Chas Wood – From Manet to Monet Chas is co-proprietor of Patchings Art Centre and himself a water-colourist. His presentation compares and contrasts the work of the two artists Manet and Monet. The talk is professional, informative and beautifully illustrated.

Please Contact Margaret Taylor (see below) with any definite dates for an event or information for

the website. Members speak on Fund Raising Events, Interest Group Activities and Outings, etc. If

you wish to speak to the members you can book in a slot by contacting – The Chairman

Upcoming Social Events:

Skittles Saturday 23rd July 7.00pm Sherwood Ranger,

Ravenshead Tickets £9 In c. buffet

Afternoon Tea with Entertainment Wednesday 21st September at The Hostess, Sookholme.

Open to all members. A contribution of £5 (non-refundable) will need to be paid when booking.

2

MESSAGE FROM YOUR CHAIRMAN – Liz Wilson

In my last report I mentioned getting ready for the Treasure Hunt which has since happened and, as I know Ann Madden has written a report for this newsletter, I will say no more than --- I thoroughly enjoyed it and the weather was reasonably good to us (it didn’t rain)! We have also had two more meetings of the holiday sub-committee and had a meeting with Irene re. a National Trust holiday. As a result we have a programme of holidays for 2017/2018/2019. I am in the process of creating a sheet telling you all about 2017/2018 holidays and at our July Meeting we will be asking you to show your interest in them. It is no good organising a holiday if nobody wants to go on it. We will also be ascertaining the interest at Forest Town U3A and at Bolsover as some members of our committee are also members of these U3As. We celebrated the Queen’s actual Birthday but the North Notts. Neighbourhood Group celebrated her official Birthday at the John Fretwell Centre with “Royal Revelry”. The weather was again kind to the U3A activity and I am sure all who attended enjoyed it as much as I did. “Rave On”, in which Chris Robb plays, was a particular hit and you will be pleased to know that they are booked for our Festive Frolics (Christmas Dinner at Portland). By the time of July’s Meeting I will have given three NHS Pre Retirement Course talks about the U3A, one at Duncan Macmillan House, one at the Head Quarters, Notts. City Campus and one ---- wait for it --- at Rampton! I hasten to add that it was to the staff not the inmates!! I have also represented Nottinghamshire U3As at two Regional Meetings about the East Midland Conference to be held on Monday 19th September at Eastwood Hall. The Lavender Fields’ Trip, organised by Denim Co. Ltd. is also before our next meeting so I am looking forward to that and again hope the weather is kind. I will also have taken two Rambles and done two reckies ready for the next two – U3A certainly keeps me fit --- fit to drop sometimes!

3

GROUP DATES

LUNCH CLUB Thursday 28th July Refined, West Notts College 12.30 for 1.00pm LUNCH CLUB 2 20th July The Railway Inn, Mansfield. 1.00 for1.30pm

INTERNATIONAL DINING 2nd August The Lion, Farnsfield (English/European) 6.30 for 7.00pm £5 deposit. ORIENTAL DINING 29th July Chungs Cantonese, Mapperley Top, Nottm. 7.30pm 24th August Princess Boat, Trent Bridge 7.30pm for 3 hours. £22 including buffet + drinks vouchers. £3 deposit. STROLLING 7

th July Edwinstowe meet in car park by craft centre for 10.30am start

RAMBLING

(meet Morrison’s car park 10am for car share) Thurs 28th July Duffield and Derwent Valley 7miles (Moderate) Godfrey’s Cafe Start – Duffield near Station Wednesday 10th August Beresford and Wolfscote Dales 8.5miles (Moderate)Tea Room in Hartington (Mid Walk) Start – Hartington Car Park (9am at Morrison’s) WALKING

26th July Worksop. Meet 10am The Lock keeper, S80 1TJ BIRD WATCHING Due to holidays etc. there is no birdwatching in July and August GOLF 29th July Ramsdale Golf Course 9.30 am for a 10am tee off. You will need a full variety of clubs as this is a long par 3 course. The cost for 18 holes is £7- £9. HERITAGE Monday 18th July Revolution House, Chesterfield 11.00am £2 Max.30.

3rd September Oxburgh pick up Mansfield Iceland 8.15am. Woodhouse Morrison’s 8.30am

London 5th and 6th October - Update The musical ‘Beautiful’ is a musical show not a one woman play. It is the life story of Carol King who wrote many hit songs made famous by various artists , Oh Carol- Neil Sedaka, The Drifters, Aretha Franklin, The Monkees, The Shirelles. It is music you will remember, Will you love me tomorrow, Take good care of my baby, It might as well rain until

September, Happy days are here again and many more. Members of Mansfield U3A went to see it last year and said it was very good. I am looking forward to hearing songs with a melody. We have good seats in the stalls at a discount price of £35. There are still seats available balance to be paid by the 28th July cheques to Mansfield and district U3A

4

Mallorca September 26th - 3rd October 2016 All balances now received and acknowledged by the Travel Company- thank you for your prompt payment. Just to remind you about the meeting at the Cardinal /Junction on Saturday 10th Sept. starting at 11am promptly. The side door will be open 15 minutes before. Drinks can be bought from the restaurant bar to bring into the meeting if you so wish. We will be discussing airport arrangements and any other issues which may have arisen after reading through your itineraries. You are welcome to stay for a meal after the meeting. Christmas away from home Four of us have booked for a five day holiday break between 23rd- 27th December in Cheshire at the 4* Hallmark hotel. To bring down the overall transport cost we would like to invite four more people either to share two twin rooms or take four singles (£60 single supplement added on to the £484 price includes an excursion and pantomime.) If we can get those 4 extra passengers, the transport cost will be no more than £25. Please see me for details of deposit and insurance payments. Let's give our families a break for once! Margaret Burlinson THEATRE URGENT The Full Monty the tickets have to be paid for no later than the 19th July, The Warhorse tickets have to be paid for no later than the 31st of JULY 2016 this show will be a sell-out, if when the time comes you cannot go I will advertise the tickets to sell to someone else for you . Payment by cheque to S J Whalley Wed 14th Sept 2 pm The Glen Miller Story. Stall. Pay by 12th July. .PROPOSED SNOOKER Snooker sessions at ‘Spot-on’, Debdale Lane has been suggested. If

interested please sign the sheet by blue boards.

NEW COMMITTEE MEMBER PROFILE - Frances

McLaughlin

Minutes Secretary

I have not been a member of the U3A for very long and so I have limited experience of the wealth of activities on offer. However, I have attended several monthly meetings and particularly enjoyed Sue Leydon’s talk about the successful ascent of Everest and its ongoing legacy. I also had a lot of fun at the Coffee Morning to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday and the Bowling evening. My husband and I are keen on walking and plan to join some of the rambles in the future. Since finishing paid employment, I have been very busy with

voluntary activities. These are mainly linked to Warsop Parish Church because my Christian faith is very important to me. Travel also takes up a lot of my time because we have four sons living in Vancouver, Montreal, Geneva and Stevenage. We have two grand-daughters

5

in Geneva and are expecting additions in Vancouver and Stevenage during the year. You can imagine that we clock up a fair few air miles. I believe that the U3A is a wonderful organisation that opens up many new opportunities for people in such a special time of our lives and so I was keen to contribute in some way. At a recent meeting a request was made for someone to take on the role of minutes secretary and I felt this was something I would be able to do. I look forward to joining some of the interest groups and getting to know many of you.

What’s been going on? ARCHAEOLOGY AND LOCAL HISTORY Armed only with a local map & heads full of knowledge the idea was to pound the streets of

Pleasley looking for the whereabouts of Antony Bek's fortified manor house where he entertained King Edward I, the influence he had in St Michael's church, looking round the 'Dam' chapel and mill and other interesting buildings Pleasley has to offer. Instead because of the foul weather all we could do was look around the outside of St Michael's and take shelter in Pleasley colliery cafeteria, where Robert and Eileen made a marvellous discovery, the bacon butties are 'great’! Roger Wood

STROLLING

On a beautiful Spring day on the first Thursday of the month in May Elaine, our leader, led us around the Teversal Trail. Throwing all our coats into the car boot (even our four legged member didn’t have a coat on!) we set off and made our way towards Silverdale Hill mine, passing through the beautiful tree lined paths with the bluebells and out towards the lake where the swans had made a nest on an island in the middle. Seats here to take a rest but the swans were aggressive towards us. About eight of us walked up the hill to see the wonderful bronze sculpture of the miner while the rest strolled back to the visitors centre. From the top there is a magnificent view of Crich Stand, two power stations on the River Trent, and nearer, Pleasley Pit chimney and Hardwick Hall. Did anyone see Lincoln Cathedral? Maybe next time!! After our beautiful morning stroll we all met up for tea, bacon cobs etc. at the visitor centre. A very happy morning spent by all, thank you Elaine. Looking forward to the next one, and the one after that!! Eileen Plumb

6

WALKING

On Tuesday 28th June, with a wary eye on the weather 16 of us set off for Buxton. After a scenic tour through the Derbyshire countryside we arrived and dropped off four of our party to sample the delights of Buxton including the Pavilion Gardens, the very grand domed former riding stables of the Duke of Devonshire (now a part of the University of Derby) Waitrose and Wetherspoons!!!! Starting at Poole's Cavern the rest of us climbed steadily up to Solomon’s Temple, a Victorian fortified hill marker standing on a Bronze Age barrow 440m high above Buxton where we had our picnic lunch. The walk continued across Stanley Moor taking in extensive views before descending again into Buxton, the promised rain arriving just as we finished the 5 mile walk. All timed to perfection of course! After a leisurely couple of hours doing our own thing we happily settled back onto the bus for our return journey with assurances that a good time was had by all. Ann Wood

Theatre Royal, Nottingham Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

I can understand why this performance has broken all records in the West End. It held us all spellbound throughout, despite the fact there were hundreds of children in the audience whom I have to admit were a credit to their schools and staff. Behind us was a young teenager, obviously disabled, who was so

enthusiastic that she consistently predicted and sang the popular songs. Rather than be a distraction she added to our enjoyment and

I felt as proud of her as I am sure were her parents. The projections on stage were magnificent as was the recreated car taking centre stage. It was not only the children who were thrilled to see it moving through water - how they made it fly through the air was a production design magical moment. With excellent performances from Lee Mead as Caractacus Potts, Michelle Collins as Baroness Bombard, Shaun Williamson as her husband, Matt Gillet as the evil Child Catcher and Carrie Hope Fletcher as Truly Scrumptious, no wonder it was a huge success. What a cast and such a pity that so many members missed this show. for there was only Sheila and myself there! Thanks Sheila for the opportunity - I am so pleased I was in that audience. Margaret Burlinson

7

Treasure Hunt

Saturday 4th June turned out to be the ideal evening (warm and dry!) for our Treasure Hunt around Mansfield Woodhouse. About sixty intrepid explorers set off in search of answers … all eventually returned! Some clues caused a bit of debate but it was great fun. The winner of the Treasure Hunt was Sue Cox from Forest Town U3A. Well done, Sue. The Treasure Hunt itself was followed by a delicious al fresco

buffet

and

games

on the

field

outside Turner Hall. It is fair to say that there

were some very competitive participants

determined to win the egg and spoon, wellie

wanging (I’m not sure that everyone adhered to

the rules!). The eventual winners were:

Egg and Spoon: Roger Wood, David Bradley and Des Collins Boules: Alistair McFarlane, Gladys Brocklehurst Wellie Wanging: Claire Wilkie, Bernard Hill The children’s prize went to Marilyn Stubbs’ granddaughter. The atmosphere was fantastic and it was lovely to see families and grandchildren enjoying themselves. A huge thank you to everyone involved for organising this superb, social soiree! Ann Madden

8

ROYAL REVELRY 7th JUNE 2016

This event was held at The John Fretwell Sports Centre to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. It was a fine day and there was a good attendance. NNNG U3A's contributed to the event which started at 10am finishing with an afternoon cream tea at 4pm in the Function Room. During the day there were performances in the Function Room by 'Rave On' a trio from Forest Town & District U3A, which included our own Chris Robb on bass guitar. They gave a great

performance, including 60's music. Also in the Function Room we were entertained by Ashfield U3A Ukulele & Guitar Group which included another of our members Sean Farrell. There were competitions during the day which included an outdoor bowls competition which was won by our own David Bradley winning a bottle of whisky. There were stalls with exhibitions and displays of members art work, photography, crafts and memorabilia with a royal flavour.

Many photographs were taken during the day including a group photo outside taken by a member of Dukeries U3A. At the afternoon tea, prizes were presented to the winners of the competitions, and Rita Turner chairperson for NNNG offered her thanks to everyone concerned in the organisation of the event, and hoped that we had all enjoyed ourselves. It was a very pleasant day. Pat Tomsett and Sue Timmons

Web site: sherwoodu3a-mansfieldwoodhouse.org.uk