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COMMITTEE MATTERS

SHERWOOD U3A COMMITTEE MEMBERS

CHAIRMAN

Rita Foulkes

VICE CHAIRPERSON Liz Wilson

BUSINESS & MINUTES SECRETARY Liz Wilson

TREASURER

ADMINISTRATOR

Margaret Taylor

David Bradley

GROUP CO-ORDINATOR Sue Robb

EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR Marilyn Dillon

GREETER & REFRESHMENTSCO-ORDINATOR Wendy Sterland

TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT OFFICER

WELFARE OFFICER (1)

WELFARE OFFICER (2)

Chris Robb

Jeremy Lloyd

Margaret Minto-Smith

VISITORS’ & NEW MEMBERS’ SECRETARY Lynda Brotherhood

COMMITTEE MEMBER Pat Collins

MESSAGE FROM YOUR CHAIRMAN -

Rita Foulkes In my role as Membership Secretary, I’m pleased to report that all members on

the Potential Members List have been offered places. 14 members have

already signed up and, hopefully, the rest will join on 8th August. A new

potential member list will then be started.

In my role as Chairman, The New Members Coffee Morning on 19th September will be changed to a Members

Social Coffee Morning to be held in The Turner Hall starting at 10am. This will give members a chance to chat

with other members, find out more about the website, discover different groups and give you all a chance to

have a say in how you would like Sherwood U3A to go forward.

I would also like to send congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their son.

Local U3A’s that are actively seeking members are:

SUTTON IN ASHFIELD U3A www.sutton-in-ashfieldu3a.org.ukMansfield Hosiery Mills Sports & Social Club,

Huthwaite Rd. Sutton-in-Ashfield Contact: Susan Harrison 01623 472493

DUKERIES U3A www.dukeriesu3a.org.uk Jubilee Hall, Wellow Rd, New Ollerton. Contact: Tricia Leaver

01777 87240

WELFARE OFFICER NOTICES

On behalf of Sherwood U3A a card of condolence has been sent to Member Susan McGuigan following the

death of her Husband. The following Members have recently been in hospital and we wish them a speedy

recovery :- Jeremy Lloyd and Margaret Burlinson. Thank you to those Members who kindly informed us of the

above enabling your Welfare Officers to act accordingly

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WELFARE OFFICERS

We are still requesting volunteers for transporting and/or visiting members. If any member becomes aware of

any other Member who may be ill, either in hospital or at home, OR who may need assistance to get to a

meeting OR in the event of a death of a member, please contact MARGARET MINTO-SMITH 01623 423095

(home phone with answer phone facility).

.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Hi there! Just a few reminders about ‘elf’ & safety matters from your new ‘Chief Gnome’. (You can tell I’ve

just been promoted to the job of H & S Officer – I’m still keen!)

I would like to remind all Interest Group Leaders that you have a responsibility to ensure your members are

aware of the basic housekeeping and safety issues; ie. Fire exits and report points, location of loos etc.

If you organise any trips please ensure all members have your, (or your deputy’s) mobile tel. no. I know we are

all adults and can take responsibility for ourselves, but if the group disperses and someone has a problem they

need to be able to let you know.

I would also like to remind everyone that the U3A is obliged to keep records of any accidents/incidents that

may occur. I have appropriate forms for such details and if you need any for your group please contact me.

The main point I would like to make is that H & S is a SHARED responsibility. We must all take care of ourselves

and others. Please take a few moments at any U3A gathering to review any potential problems or risks, and

do all you can to minimize them. After all, we can all become lax and complacent about such things, but new

members can be nervous or unsure, and may need such information to help them settle in and enjoy their

interests.

Having reminded all you grandparents the art of egg-sucking, thank you for reading this.

Lynda Brotherhood H & S Officer (also Visitor Sec. at back of hall)

Sherwood U3A Members Coffee Morning

19th September - start 10.00am. A chance for ALL members to:-

Have more time to chat with your friends and meet other members.

Find out how to access information on the website.

Ask about existing and new interest groups and sign up.

Enjoy a free bacon or sausage buttie and drink!

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Report from your Interest Groups’ Co-ordinator,

Sue Robb

NEW PROPOSED GROUPS

The following groups have been suggested. There will be lists to sign at the meeting to register interest.

Members will be needed to help organise any group that is established:

Sunday Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Bird watching, Photography, Writing for Fun, Language

Conversation, Archaeology.

Just a reminder that the voluntary contribution to car drivers is: up to a 20 mile round trip £2, up to 30 miles

£3, up to 40miles £4, 50-60 miles £5, longer journeys at driver’s discretion.

STROLLERS

5th September Flood Dykes, Mansfield Woodhouse. Park in the little car park on Old Mill Lane

passed the garage on the left if going from Woodhouse end.

WALKERS

Unfortunately our walk for July had to be cancelled at the last minute due to extreme weather conditions my

apologies to all those looking forward to our outing. We have decided that our walk next walk on the 27th

August will be the Mansfield Woodhouse Heritage walk. As so many were disappointed that the last walk

had to be cancelled we have decided to try again in August.

Meeting at Mansfield Woodhouse Station at 9.45 for a 10am start please.

We are a growing group of sociable walkers who are looking for new members to join us for our two hour

walk and if you wish, stay for an optional drink or lunch.

RAMBLE

22nd

August Edale and Jacob’s Ladder (steep gradients) 8miles

29th August Macclesfield Forest and Mini Matterhorn of Shutlingsloe (steep gradients) 7miles.

Meet 10.00am Morrisons. Car share

LUNCH CLUB

Wednesday 28th August and will take place at The Hostess Restaurant, Sookholme

Road, Sookholme, Mansfield, Notts. NG19 8LL. Tel. 01623 843728.

Meet 12.30 for 1.00pm start. Pre-order from menu at meeting. £5 deposit, deducted

from the bills on the day at the restaurant.

GARDEN INTEREST

Our meeting on 3rd September is cancelled. The group will re- commence on Friday 4th October at 10 a.m. at

the Park Road Resource Centre. Sandra Evans

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Saturday 21st September, Woolsthorpe Manor & Belton House £15: Our visit to Woolsthorpe will be from

about 11am until 12.45. There is only a small coffee shop here and no food available. We will then go on to

Belton House, approximately 20minutes away, where a café and a restaurant await to provide sustenance as

required. Pick up times: Iceland, Mansfield 9.35am, Morrisons, Woodhouse 9.50am Please pay for this outing

by August meeting

Saturday 19th October: Wightwick Manor & Gardens, Wolverhampton £18. Please pay for this outing by

September meeting

Ashgate Hospice Midnight Walk 22/23 June: The final figure was £311.50. My sincere thanks to everyone

who was kind enough to sponsor me. Irene

Latest news from

Margaret Burlinson

. Thursford Christmas Spectacular 4th - 6th December -The balances of £194

for singles and £168 pp for those sharing must be paid no later than the September meeting. Cheques will not

be cashed until the last week in September so you can start paying now especially if you know you may be

absent at any of the meetings before then. Cheques payable to Mansfield & District U3A.

Just a reminder that the voluntary contribution to car drivers is: up to a 20 mile round trip £2, up to 30 miles

£3, up to 40miles £4, 50-60 miles £5, longer journeys at driver’s discretion

ART GROUP (2)

If like me you have waited until you "have more time to have a go at painting", wait

no longer! I eventually plucked up courage to join the painting group and can

honestly say it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Yes I was a bit

anxious as I cannot paint or draw but as they say, I wanted to give it a try. I was

made to feel welcome straight away, with talk of brushes, acrylics and paper. A

whole new world to me! But my heart starts to pound now as I remember Lynda asking me to draw this

picture, upside down! It took me ages to make my first mark on the white paper but eventually I produced this

drawing! And yes, it was not bad according to my very supportive, but dare I say, very kind fellow artists!

When I was asked to write about what happens at our art sessions, all I could think of was the new friends I

have made, the skills I am beginning to acquire and the challenges faced when trying out these skills for

myself. More than that though is having the opportunity to witness someone who within a short space of time

can produce a wonderful work of art! But more than that, every person at our group is eager and willing to

share their skills with true beginners like me and I thank them for that.

More than anything though we have fun, a natter, a cup of tea and a

biscuit! Come and join us. There is a seat with your name on it.

Someone will give you a piece of paper, a brush and some paint. The rest

is up to you. See you soon.

Pat Collins

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NATIONAL TRUST

The black clouds looked threatening as we boarded the bus. However, the rain held

off and we arrived at the Wimpole Estate near Cambridge to bright sunlight. The

first stop was the coffee shop and then we decided to see the gardens whilst the

weather was fine. The walled garden was impressive with quite a lot of colourful flowers even though most

plants were not in full bloom. There was also a parterre at the back of the hall displaying flowers coming into

bloom.

Some of our group visited the home farm which had a wide range of rare breed sheep, goats, cattle, pigs and

horses. A litter of twelve piglets had been born at the end of May. There were also parkland walks to be

discovered.

After lunch in the restaurant it was time to visit the hall. On the way, we stopped to look at the beautiful

estate church which is not owned by the National Trust. The hall was built for Sir Thomas Chicheley in the

1640s and has been rebuilt and added to over the years. Looking at the list of owners, we were able to pick up

on a local connection. Henrietta Holles Cavendish, daughter of the Duke of Newcastle of Welbeck Abbey,

married Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford at Wimpole Hall in 1713.

Captain George and Mrs Elsie Bambridge bought the hall in 1938 and furnished and decorated it over the next

forty years. The purchase included the Earl of Hardwicke’s library of 10,000 books. The Hardwickes owned the

estate from 1740 until 1894. Elsie Bambridge was the daughter of Rudyard Kipling and the library includes

some of her father’s books.

Some of the ground floor rooms were comfortably furnished and we were able to wander around and examine

the china and paintings closely. The Yellow Drawing Room however, was very formal. It was made by

combining seven rooms, four from the ground floor and three from the first floor. It was a circular room with a

glass domed ceiling. The sofas around the walls were also circular to fit the room. Upstairs, the bedrooms

included that of Mrs Bambridge and of her companion. There was also a plunge bath which looked like a small

swimming pool. One of our group said that she was disappointed in the bedrooms. We have yet to find out

why!

In the formal dining room, we spoke extensively to one of the guides. He told us that Captain Bambridge died

quite young and his widow had no other family so she lived on the estate with a small staff. She partitioned

the dining room into several small rooms, one of which

became a kitchen and the rest of the hall was never

used. There had originally been a wing on either side of

the house, one a conservatory and the other the

kitchens. These were demolished in the 1950s so there

are no kitchens to be seen. However, there is a butler’s

pantry and the housekeeper’s sitting room in the

basement. Mrs Bambridge was a wealthy woman as she

had inherited money from her father. In the 1960s

when Disney filmed ‘The Jungle Book’, she would have

had substantial royalties. Far from being a recluse, she

travelled extensively. In the basement are Louis Vitton

cabin trunks with Cunard Whitestar labels for voyages to New York and Canada . Cunard were able to confirm

that she was on their passenger lists and on the Canada voyage her stateroom was next to the one of Noel

Coward. The estate passed to the NT in 1976.

It had been pouring down all afternoon but as we left the hall, the rain stopped. There was just time to look at

the shop and, of course, to have tea and cakes before it was time to get back on the bus. Thanks to Irene and

Julie for another fantastic day out. Pat Perry

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HERITAGE Norwood Park 18th June

Our journey after lunch to Norwood Park began with a

pleasant drive through the gentle green countryside of

Nottinghamshire. The destination was Norwood Park on the

outskirts of Southwell to have a guided tour of the house and

grounds by Sir John Starkey who was waiting to greet us at the

very impressive rear of the large Georgian house where we gathered on a flight of garden steps to listen to a

history of the Park. From Saxon times Southwell was in the See of York and the Archbishop owned the Park.

Sir John’s family connection began with a family by the name of Bacon who purchased the property around

1860 and they put their stamp on the house by creating a large entrance hall which gave a view from front to

back and included three fireplaces. A pair of white climbing roses framed the “back” door which was

surmounted by an elegant fanlight. The cool hall with many family portraits was very welcome after the hot

sun outside. Stone slabs set in a diagonal pattern covered the floor of both halls and our tour began. The

drawing room with its classical fireplace came next and documents from the many periods in the history of the

house. Many were from the Second World War when the main house was used for convalescent soldiers who

looked as though they enjoyed their stay.

We then went onto the terraced lawn to view the front of the house. This was built to impress with fine stone

surrounds to the door and sash windows. Stone stringing courses gave emphasis to the warm red brickwork.

We were assured that the stone came from Mansfield and had weathered very well over nearly 250 years. The

pavilions adjoining either side of the main house gave a typical

balance to the whole building. All was order and symmetry with

windows decreasing in height from the ground floor to the upper

storey. The bricks were made on site with clay found two hundred

yards from the house and the resulting excavation became a lake.

An elegant solution typical of our sensible ancestors. We viewed

the wedding venue in the stable block with its large dining room

and trompe d’oeil pilasters and ceiling painted blue with fleecy

clouds all done by a painter of theatrical scenery.

Then a short trip to the experimental home orchard with various

fruit trees including a large Bramley apple which was an attempt to restore the old flavour of the original

apple.

“We haven’t been upstairs yet” announced Sir John and we returned via Ginger the lawnmower pony’s stylish

painted stable with unusual oval windows. Into the house again and up the winding cantilevered staircase

where wide treads and low risers made the climb easy and undemanding. Paintings everywhere with

seventeenth, eighteenth century and later faces looking at us with all the assurance which wealth and elegant

clothing can give. Large bedrooms on the first floor and slightly smaller rooms on the second floor affording

views across the well wooded park to the distant pepper pots of the west towers of Southwell minster.

(Pronounced Suth’l by our host.)

Downstairs again by the servant’s staircase and into the dining room where large dishes of Starkey

strawberries and cream awaited us. Tea, coffee and shortbread biscuits and as many strawberries as we could

eat ended our visit. Desley proposed a round of applause for our kind and genial host and then it was time to

go. Altogether a day to remember with perfect weather, a beautiful venue

and excellent refreshments. Thank you Sue for another well chosen

destination. Roger Eastgate

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GARDEN INTEREST York and Manor Garden, Heslington

The Garden Interests Group had an outing to York for our June meeting, and after spending the morning in

York City centre we progressed to our garden The Manor House, Heslington, which is the home of Mr George

Smith internationally famous flower arranger and artist.

We were welcomed on a warm sunny day by our host who gave us a short talk on the history and

development of the garden. This was a day for wandering and enjoying, so I began in the old orchard with its

colourful borders and blossom on both shrubs and trees, pretty flag Irises and several Paeonies in various

forms, from single to double ,were in full flower, all interplanted with tall Allium aflatulense.

Passing into the dry garden with its dappled shade

was quite a contrast, lots of pebbles, and rocks a

variety of unusual plants, not all in flower, but giving

interest with textures and shapes. Once again the

Allium was around, 2 - 3ft high with pale lilac purple

'fluffy heads accompanied by Nectaroscordum

siculum, a plant closely related to the allium,

appearing on leafless stems with bell shaped

flowers hanging down the thin stalks, which, when

they make the seed case, turn upwards into a

shuttlecock shape ready to shoot out seeds, and I

would think they have worked wonders as these are

everywhere in the garden. The intermingling of

many different plant colours, greys, shades of green,

limes, gold, rust, yellow, all add interest and the huge group of Verbascum thapsus giving promise of a golden

summer. In the centre, a 'throne' made from driftwood.

There are two pools in this garden with some unusual and brightly coloured plants surrounding them, again

one could imagine how they would look when the flowers are out. I strolled around the back of the pool and

the planting of some of my favourite ferns and soft green foliages were backed with huge Rhododendrons and

delicious apricot coloured Azaleas, it was peaceful and serene so I just sat and soaked up the atmosphere. This

is where I was when George found me to say time for tea followed by a slide show of the development of the

garden.

Mr George Smith is famous for his fantastic floral

designs and we were lucky enough to be invited into

the house which was decorated with some amazing

arrangements, what a treat for all of us to have the

opportunity to see them and also the interior of this

beautiful home.

This garden is something unusual, it is a plantsman's

garden and even the greenhouse was full of colourful

plants and flowers including an enormous Amaryllis

with velvety burgundy flowers the size of tea plates,

stunning. I have seen this garden several times, but

each time I see something different, I never tire of it,

there are many little resting spots to sit and

contemplate and I managed to try most of them, was I in plant heaven?, of course.

Sandra Evans Group Leader

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PUB-ROOM SKITTLES

For a first time player, this was quite an experience.

There was a good turnout and everyone was in high spirits. It was a lovely evening and some members sat

outside to enjoy the late sun. The event was held in a converted building

to the side of the Little John Pub, which was equipped with a mini bar,

and the young lady serving was extremely helpful and would fetch

anything from the pub itself, if it wasn’t available in the skittles room.

The teams were decided by whatever colour sweet you drew from the bag.

Some not realising the significance just ate their sweet without looking

at the colour!!

There were nine old wooden skittles, placed on marks at the end of

the room and there was a long metal strip a little way to the front of them

(very significant was this strip), and three large wooden balls. Each player

had three goes when it was their turn.

Once play began, there was quite a variation in the scores, ranging from

nil to one man who scored NINE. I played my first ball which bounced before the metal strip so was then told

it had to bounce behind it to count. So I tried again but only got a measly score of one. At least I didn’t clatter

the metal strip. When the balls caught it there was an almighty din and whatever the score, it didn’t count. I

had expected to play either table skittles or a type of nine-pins where you bowled the ball, however, the whole

evening turned out to be good fun

Later an excellent buffet was served which we all tucked into with gusto before resuming the last part of the

game. Orange team won and they chose from a selection of sweets (no dieting here). Altogether it was an

excellent night and I will definitely go again next time.

Thank you Helen Blythe, for organising a very successful evening. Eileen Wass

Website: sherwoodu3a-mansfieldwoodhouse.org.uk