The AGM was chaired by Jane Clark, and the new officers and committee members duly elected. There were changes to the constitution, which are detailed in the minutes. Nigel then spoke about the variety of groups currently available and welcomed the formation of new groups if there is someone willing to co-ordinate them. There was then a wonderful photographic presentation of the interest groups prepared by Mick Curtis with Nigel Bones providing some of the photos. The images were moved around to a very effective musical accompaniment, making it all very interesting to watch.
Christine Sidey
Group Reports (in alphabetical order)
ART APPRECIATION Co-ordinator: Ursula Kanetis 01455 553563
The subject of our March - Meeting was “IMPRESSIONISM”. Our lecturer guided us brilliantly into this very wide topic through the work of Claude Monet. He rejected the classical approach to landscape painting; the canvas exhibits none of the detail and finish that until that time were considered non-negotiable elements of a painting. Instead, the unblended colours, gestural brushwork and sometimes muddy details are just as Monet described them: an impression. He observed variations in colour and light, caused by the daily and seasonal changes in his " plein - air" landscape paintings, sometimes to the point of an almost abstract art. We are now looking forward to more works of art, a lot better equipped in the “ways of seeing”. Next meeting: 8/4/2016 14.00 - 16.00 New Walk Museum, Leicester OPEN ART EXHIBITION
BOOK CHAT Co-ordinator: Mick Curtis 01455 554504
Our book this month was Our Land at War: A Portrait of Rural Britain 1939 - 1945 by Duff Hart-Davis. We were a smaller than usual group this month so we were very pleased to welcome a new member. Of those present most really enjoyed this book and found it evoked rural memories for those that either lived though those times or had lived in a countryside that no longer exists. However, some felt that although a great deal of research had obviously gone into this book, it's layout and style was very much a list of anecdotes rather than the author 'knitting' the stories of others into a more cohesive whole. Overall we enjoyed the book and all felt they had learned something from it.
ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY GROUP Co-ordinator: Chris Ridley 01455 209920
Morgan Cars Visit
This was the visit that I had personally been looking forward to for some time and my enthusiasm was obviously shared, as a total of 19 E.S.T.G. members attended the factory site in Malvern.
Our day started with a lecture on the history of the Morgan Car Co, then on through the different factory areas with an overview by our guide of the various stages of manufacture, right up to the final inspection before despatch. Our 2.5 hour tour finished off with an excellent buffet in the cafe, rounding off the day nicely.
The Morgan Car Co has been producing cars since 1909, commencing with 3 wheelers, followed by a 4-wheel version in 1936. Through clever designing, today's cars currently comply with modern legislation both in emissions and health/safety requirements, which allows for the now familiar "Morgan" shape to remain virtually unchanged.
There are three basic 4-wheel models available with engines ranging from a 1.6ltr (Ford) up to a monster 4.8lt BMW engine in the Plus 8 and Aero models. Not all components are made in house; the company out-sources the tubular, hi-strength aluminium bonded chassis and the complex wings, which incorporate the signature running boards and headlights. These are now Super Plastic Formed (SPF) where aluminium sheet is heated to 600 deg C, stretched and "pressure blown"onto mouldings, producing 3 dimensional shapes without mechanical intervention.
Each car is built by hand throughout the 8 stages of manufacture, with the 3 wheelers completed with just a single craftsperson from start to finish. Customisation of a clients car is positively encouraged and with 40,000 paint shades to choose from and hundreds of trim and accessory options, it is easy to make each car unique. However, this all comes at a price that starts at £34,000, rising to £136,000 for the 4 wheelers and around £35,000 for the 2.0 litre V twin 3 wheeler.
If you want one the waiting time is down to about 3 months for the basic model, but it can be up to 12 months depending on options. Today the company has some milestones to celebrate. It is still family owned; it is the longest running UK owned motor manufacturer and all cars are still coach built. Although some of the manufacturing processes are now hi tech, a lot of the basic skills are still retained, identical to those used in manufacturing the original cars made when the company was formed by H.F.S Morgan.
Subject to interest, we may run another trip next year. A big thanks go to Howard G for the use of his car on the trip.
CMBR
ETHNIC DINING Co-ordinator: Jill Graham 01455 557117 email: grahjill@hotmail.com
Thursday 31st March 2016 – “Jazz in the Attic” at “The Attic Restaurant” at Kilworth Springs Golf Course. Not a cheap option but definitely Fine Dining.
There were only 4 of us on our table and the Menu on offer gave us 4 options for each of the 3 courses. We all chose the "Beetroot" option which was beautifully presented and was called "Goats Cheese Bon-Bon – Beetroot Puree, Confit Golden & Rose Beetroot, Sherry Dressing" - should have taken a photo! The curled shavings of Beetroot looked like very finely shaved Parma Ham as it was once of those "fancy" striped ones. For the Main Course, one chose the Lamb, one the Chicken and two of us the Plaice - although I requested mine with the sauce "on the side". Again, beautifully presented and lovely flavours. Nothing was wasted, the other person having Plaice finishing off my sauce for me.
Without consultation, we all chose the same Dessert -"White Chocolate Crème Brûlée" - absolutely delicious! and served with 2 rounds of Shortbread. After that we gave up and just continued listening to the jazz which was provided by a duo from Market Harborough Jazz Group. This is a large and enthusiastic Group which hosts top jazz musician from all over the country. To find out more, either pick up one of the leaflets I brought back or google them to get details from their website. As space is limited, early booking is essential'
All in all, a very enjoyable night out - we can always eat baked beans on toast at home for a few nights to balance out!!
Wednesday 25th May 2016 – Rossini at its new Venue - The Crescent, Hinckley
Wednesday 22nd June 2016 – HaiTian Chinese Restaurant, Church Street, Lutterworth
FRENCH CONVERSATION Co-ordinator: Sue Hicks 01858 880273
Several people were away for various reasons, so we were a smaller group than usual. After a general discussion, ranging from opera in Vienna to lambing, we watched a beautiful slide show of Cynthia's trip to Barbados. We then continued with the EU referendum translation. The next meeting will be on Thursday, 28 April, when we shall start by talking about what we did at Easter.
GARDEN GROUP Co-ordinator: Sue Creeden 01455 557888
Numbers were down for the March meeting. However, Ann Bird, who until recently was Vice President of the World Federation of Rose Societies for Northern Europe, came to tell us about her experiences over more than forty years since she planted her first rose. She gave us her full proof tips and advice on planting, growing and pruning before telling some stories of her time in office at the National Rose Society and her travels around the world. Her talk was illustrated with some beautiful slides.
Our next meeting will be an all day trip to Winterbourne Gardens in Edgbaston on Tuesday 26th April. The minibus will leave Lutterworth at 10.00 a.m. and there will be an opportunity to tour the house before a guided tour of the gardens at 2.00 p.m. Space on the minibus is limited but if you are interested in joining us, please contact me as soon as possible on 01455 447888 or email sueandpeter.creeden@talktalk.net for more details.
GARDEN LUNCHES Co-ordinator: Jill Graham 01455 557117 email: grahjill@hotmail.com
Tuesday 15th March – Farndon Fields Farm Shop, Market Harborough.
Since they don’t take bookings, I always try to get across there for coffee and acquire a table. Well I didn’t succeed on the 15th – I can’t remember what held me up but the others had gone ahead and got a table so we were OK. The two people who were new to Farndon Fields enjoyed the food on offer and the shopping experience afterwards. I was sorely tempted but remembered in time that my freezer walls are not elastic! Always a good place to eat but sensible to go early rather than late. They were very busy by the time we left.
The Dates and Venues for the next 3 Garden Lunches are as follows – provided I can make all the bookings and don’t mislay my Master Sheet!!
Tuesday 19th April – Caffe Crema, Alma Park, Woodyway Lane, Claybrooke Parva, LE17 5BH Tuesday 17th May – Nemo’s at Stoney Stanton Cove Tuesday 21 June – The Malt Kiln Farm Shop, Stretton-under-Fosse
HISTORY GROUP Co-ordinator: Viv Weller 01455 557136 email (preferred method of contact) vwellerz@aol.com
The Weaker Vessel? In the week of International Women’s Day, the group started to examine some aspects of Gender History in Britain, a key theme in modern Historical studies. The theme will continue into the first part of the April meeting to enable group members to follow up the topic for themselves if they wish. Viv introduced the theme with a presentation reviewing the role of women in the Medieval and Early Modern period, posing the question ‘Why did women have a subordinate role in Western society in those periods?’ Religion had a massive influence, especially after the English Reformation when knowledge of the actual words in the Bible, as opposed to stories told to the illiterate in church services, became more widespread. Strict religious doctrines seemed to ‘prove’ that women were created to be the ‘Weaker Vessel’ and their subordinate role was part of a natural order of things ordained by God. It was a notion that was virtually impossible to challenge although a few brave women dared to raise their objections at times. Women had a domestic role in society although their skills were certainly many and varied, as we saw when we examined the tasks set out for them in a 17thC Housewives’ manual. Equal Rights? Equal Roles? Gender and Equality in Modern History -Part 1 Sheila Eggleton led the latter part of the meeting examining aspects of gender history after 1750 and also relating the issues to more recent times. The old cottage industry where families worked together was swept aside by the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th Century and women began to go out to work in new factories such as Cromford Mill in Derbyshire for the first time. This offered a measure of independence and it was perhaps one of the first small steps along the long road towards equality for women. Women were employed to work the new powered machines because they had nimble fingers and could work fast while men, whose traditional crafts like handloom weaving swiftly collapsed as new machines replaced them, then also entered the factories. However men enjoyed a higher status and were always paid much more. Only men could have a supervisory role. Sheila gave us a lot of interesting information about the textile industry in the Midlands including the fact the Leicester became known as the ‘women’s city’, because of the very high numbers of women employed in the local factories. We also looked at some wage structures for different jobs in Courtaulds from the mid 19th century. The data graphically illustrated the inequalities in the workplace and the limited opportunities for women. This generated several reminiscences of working in industry in the 1960s and 1970s and even later! We noted that although campaigns for equality were gathering strength in the 20th century, there was still a common acceptance of the unequal situation by both women and men, just as those living 500 years ago had accepted their lot. Sheila offered some suggestions of women pioneers we could research, including the well known Leicester Suffragette, Alice Hawkins. We will conclude this theme in the April meeting when the group will be focusing on the campaigns for equality in modern times, from the Suffragettes to Women’s Lib. We will also be considering the situation today in the 21st Century, for both men and women. Many thanks to Sheila for her hard work preparing this topic for us. The topics of the meetings for the rest of 2016 are as follows May NO MEETING DUE TO THE BANK HOLIDAY June 6thTrip to Geddington to see the Eleanor Cross and then on to see Lyveden New Bield, Northamptonshire. 11.30 – 4pm July 4thThe Bloomsbury Set. ( Dot Barnard) Details to follow. August 1stA stroll round Bosworth Field. Guided walk (led by Viv) with an optional visit to the Battlefield museum. September 5th (i) A discussion on our own family histories. Sharing anecdotes about our forbears. (ii) Aspects of the motor industry. (Derek Eastwood). Derek will be showing us his classic car. October 3rd - To follow up Derek’s talk, we will visit to Coventry Motor Museum. November 7th Historic military matters (John Grieg and Mike Bates). Details to follow. December 5th Jane Austin and the Regency period (Mandy Cutler). Details to follow. Many thanks to everyone who has offered to lead a session. Viv
ALL THAT JAZZ – Please note that there isn’t a Jazz Group with a Co-ordinator as such, but below are venues that U3A Members have found.
The Piano Room – just up the road from Lutterworth - £10 for the Jazz and then buy your drinks at the Bar and – if you wish to eat – it costs £5 for a generous “Grazing Board”. Keep your eyes out for their adverts in “The Swift Flash” or google the site.
Friday 29th April 2016 –The Julian Stringle Quintet, Jazz Club in Market Bosworth Parish Hall (Julian Stringle, Ben Holder, Jez Cook, Malcolm Garrett, Paul Jefferies) Starts 8 pm, £10 in advance, £12 on the door. steppelli@yahoo.co.uk 07515 275655
Ben Holder at Dunchurch Village Hall If you google “Ben Holder and Jazz” – you should get his Website and what is on and also links to other Jazz Groups,
There is also a regular First Friday Jazz Night in the Village Hall, Newbold Verdun.
Friday Lunchtime Jazz at Foxton Locks over the winter – ring them to find out when they go back to having Jazz one evening a week.
Cafe Espanol, The Atkins Building, Hinckley. Five of us went on Friday night (26th) and found the Venue interesting. The Proprietors have been open just a year and they are obviously doing all they can to extend what they have to offer (as well as Tapas).
They host Museum Talks (The Atkins Building is opposite the Museum and a “Pay and Display” Car Park which is free after late afternoon).
What we went to was originally billed as a “Jazz Evening” but I think the Group changed at the last minute and the Vocalist was more into Frank Sinatra songs than Jazz. His mike was amplified to such an extent that when he sang, he tended to drown out the 4-man group. When he stopped for a break, the group leaned much more to traditional jazz although what they played could still be called “easy listening”.
I think they are intending to book a couple of Flamenco Guitarists for April, and the Group listed for their next Jazz Nights is different from the one we heard.
Harborough Jazz – meets on the 2nd Sunday of each month, door open 12 noon for 12.30 start. Booking essential. www.harboroughjazz.com
Are there any U3A Members out there interested in forming a Jazz Group where people meet with their CD’s to explore/listen to particular performers?
Is the NHS sustainable? At what point should patients be asked to pay?
This discussion was very well informed as one member worked as a physiotherapist for the NHS for 30 years and another chaired a local health authority for 20 years and also studied medicine for a time. All agreed that all governments had meddled with the NHS at tremendous cost in monetary and morale terms. In a 20 year period there had only been about 12 months free from interference and all new systems introduced by successive governments were not given time to be implemented properly before another was introduced. In addition local services were constantly being joined with different NHS organisations in different neighbouring areas. Every time this happens new paperwork and methods are set up causing huge waste of money, paper and systems. Added to this was an IT system which was abandoned wasting £5.5m. The staff suffers from change fatigue and low morale and does not trust the government or management. The Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs) introduced by the Blair government were complete stupidity and have left many hospitals with a financial millstone because they will always have to pay the private developers and never own their buildings and facilities. Some health trusts have gone bust as a result of this. Now junior doctors appear to be being held responsible for the lack of a 7 day NHS when all services including consultants, blood services, scans, laboratories, pharmacies etc. need to be available at all times.
The group felt that the NHS would be sustainable if all political parties joined together, forgot their differences and set up a long term plan for 40 years ahead at least. GP funding didn’t work before, so why do it again? All these changes have required redundancies and then people are often re-employed elsewhere in the NHS. The changes in stationery and IT are colossal also bringing unnecessary cost. Recently a news item showed that the NHS is lax in reclaiming money from the EU for treatment given to EU citizens, and some overseas patients from outside the EU are never charged at all. Apart from political interference the biggest threat to a sustainable NHS are hospital rentals previously mentioned; type 2 diabetes which could largely be prevented through ‘sugar legislation’ and other methods; the cost of agency staff - £35k pa for a nurse vs £23k NHS nurse; and the ageing population where bed blocking is a problem as local authorities are so short of funds that there is nowhere for people to go when they could be discharged from hospital. Life expectancy in 1948 was men 66 and women 71. In 2012 this rose to 71 and 81 respectively.
We all support the NHS being free at the point of use, but it hasn’t been entirely free since 4 years after it was set up in 1948. Prescription and dental charges were introduced in 1952. The national deficit was £843m in 2014/15 and rose to £2.3bn in 2015/16. The country has been lucky to have so many good charities which support the NHS. Some suggested solutions are to adopt ideas used in France and Germany, where you pay 12 to 15 euros to make an appointment which you can reclaim if you attend. This could save money and solve missed appointments. Some of us would be prepared to see 1p on income tax if it was ring fenced for the NHS, but we are not holding our breath! We need to see the end to stupid practices such as sending an ambulance from Grantham to take a patient from Leire to LRI and sending a taxi to Coventry on a Saturday to collect medicine so that a patient could be discharged in Leicester since that pharmacy wasn’t open at the weekend! Patients need to take responsibility for their own health too. So many procedures and treatments are available that everyone thinks they should have everything, when it may not be sensible or possible.
Obviously not all changes have been bad. Here are some of the changes good and bad: 1950s DNA structure discovered; link established between smoking and cancer; daily parental hospital visits, previously only allowed on Saturday & Sunday; polio & diphtheria vaccinations launched; 1960s First kidney transplant; contraceptive pill; Enoch Powell’s hospital plan linking hospitals, GPs and local health authorities; first total hip replacement; Salmon report – nursing staff structure and professional status; the Abortion Act; first heart transplant in Britain; 1970s CT scans; endorphins discovered; first IVF baby – Louise Brown; first successful bone marrow transplant; 1980s MRI scans; keyhole surgery; Black Report investigating inequality in health care – gaps between social classes, infant mortality & life expectancy; liver transplant youngest patient 2 years old; AIDS campaign; first heart, lung & liver transplant; breast screening introduced; 1990s Community Care Act – health authorities manage their own budgets – internal market; NHS Trusts established; Organ Donor register set up; NHS Direct launched; 2000s NHS Walk In centres introduced; Primary Care trusts set up; gene therapy trialled, pilot scheme for free choice – if you wait more than 6 months for an appointment you can choose provider; 4 hour wait time target in A & E; national IT programme launched – abandon in 2011; Foundation Trusts launched – free from Government control; extended patient choice; bowel cancer screening; Pneumococcal meningitis vaccinations introduced; NHS Choice website launched; smoking ban introduced; robotic arm used for heart operations; human papilloma virus vaccine introduced; target set to halve MRSA; Change 4 Life healthy eating attempt to slow/halt obesity; F.A.S.T. stroke campaign; 18 week waiting time; NHS health checks by GP 40 - 70 year olds; 2010s Mid Staffs Public Enquiry; cochlear implants; NHS 111 launch; Social Care bill; artificial pancreas trial; plastic heart operation; DNA mapping; hand transplant; E-cigarettes and lots & lots of legislation!!
Looking at this list it seems the trouble began in 1990s with the Community Care Act, and was compounded by discontinuing good introductions such as NHS Direct and Walk-In Centres.
Future topics:
April: Is the BBC operating with licence payers’ interests at heart? May: Should the Communications Data Bill (Snoopers’ Charter) pass Into law?
There was no theme for March, participants were invited to pick any poets or poems that particularly appealed to them, and not surprisingly this led to an eclectic mix of subjects.
Nostalgia and emotion were represented by Gillian Clarke's wonderfully poignant "Miracle on St David's Day", Auden's "Stop The Clocks", Rupert Brooke's "The Old Vicarage" and Kipling's "In Springtime" amongst others. Themes of sex and relationships were expressed in Can Connell's "Love in a Cold Climate", Mehetabel Wright's satirical "Wedlock", an anonymous limerick, a folk musician's poem "A Morris Man's Complaint", and Larkin's "Annus Mirabilis" and again there were several others. Comedy was taken care of not just by the poems but also by a DVD of Pam Ayres which hilariously covered the etiquette of social kissing and views from a hospital patient.
There were several poems which I would describe as hard, descriptive but largely unsentimental, such as Fanthorpe's "The List", Duffy's "Making Money", Larkin's "Homage to a Government" and Cope's "Engineer's Corner", and we thought we could have this type of poem as a theme for May's meeting.
April's themes are Sex and Religion May's themes are Science, Politics, Industry etc
Wednesday 2nd March – Lutterworth Golf Club –A very popular venue, they did us proud – real white tablecloths and napkins. As well as the Specials Menu (Two Courses for £9) we could order from the Day Menu at the Bar. It is popular with a lot of local groups - pleasant location, friendly welcome and service and good value for money.
Wednesday 6th April – The Shires, Peatling Parva – report next month
Wednesday 4th May – The Shambles, Lutterworth
Wednesday 1st June – The Wharf at Welford
QUIZ GROUP Co-ordinator: Joan Coiley 01455 558658
This month’s quiz, led by Sylvie, threw up some difficult and testing questions , as usual. Quite a few on very recent events. What short memories we have! A group of five attended the Dunton Bassett quiz night on February 20th. The entrance fee included a ‘ploughman’s’ followed by a squidgy cream dessert. Much appreciated. The quiz result? Well, we weren’t among the most successful groups but neither did we take the Booby Prize. Altogether, a very enjoyable evening.
SNAILS PACE GROUP Co-ordinator: Sheila Eggleton 01455 554397
Snail’s Walk Friday 15th April 2016 – FOXTON VILLAGE This walk will take us around Foxton Village and we will meet at the Black Horse pub. (A walk around Foxton Locks & Gumley is planned for July). DIRECTIONS: Follow A4303 from Lutterworth towards Market Harborough until you reach Lubenham. In Lubenham take 3rd turning on the left signposted Foxton, Gumley and Laughton. Follow this road to the end and turn left at the T junction signposted Foxton and Gumley. Once you have turned left IGNORE LEFT TURN FOR FOXTON LOCKS and stay on the road as it bears right into Foxton Village. The Black Horse Pub, Main Street, is on your left before the canal bridge. Turn left into the car park immediately before the pub itself. FOOD: Arrive at the pub between 11 and 11.15 to order and pay for your food before the walk. It will be ready when we get back. Please note that we will have two leaders for this walk so can take a large group of walkers. However it is important that you let Sheila know you are going on the walk by the 8th April. March Walk
Jenny led us on a lovely walk, following the Blaby Village Heritage Diamond Jubilee Trail. Part of the walk was through Bouskell Park. We all admired Blaby Hall built in1837 where Jenny pointed out the ha-ha, built to give the owners of the hall uninterrupted views across the park whilst at the same time keeping out livestock. The Ice House which served the hall can still be seen. Our walk took us past The Baker's Arms, an architectural gem from 1485. We spent some time looking around the lovely Parish Church with its unique spire. Once again a delightful walk for which we owe thanks to Jenny.
Future planned walks:-
May Kenilworth Viv June Clifton on Dunsmore Sheila E July Foxton Locks/Gumley Mandy August Bruntingthorpe Anne Sept Leicester Blue Badge Dot Oct Crick Sheila M Nov Yelvertoft Sheila E
Aimed at walkers but open to all if you want to do your own thing
I have negotiated a 4-night break with hf holidays. This is a full board holiday with packed lunches when walking. To keep costs down, we would make our own way to the hotel and organise our own group walks or if you are not walking, you can do your own thing. The venues on offer subject to availability are:- YORKSHIRE DALES –Newfield Hall Malhamdale, with indoor swimming pool. SHROPSHIRE HILLS – The Longmynd at Church Stretton. DOVEDALE – Peveril of the Peak in Thorpe village. All are 3 or 4 star hotels and are geared for walkers with boot and drying rooms. There is single room supplement of £8.00 per night. The cost per person £196.00. This is less than half the price of the brochure holiday! This could be further reduced if numbers are sufficient. I need a minimum of 12 to make it viable.
I need a fairly speedy response. If you are interested let me know with a first and second choice of venue. When I have secured a booking I shall need a £75 deposit per person.
1st WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP Co-ordinators: Roger Watmore 01455 552431 Julian Hargreaves 01455 557704
Date of Walk: 4th May 2016. Walk Organiser: Peter & Irene Moore. Tel- 01455 552594 Meeting Point and Time: Lutterworth Recreation Ground car park at 9.10am to leave at 9.15am. NOTE EARLIER TIME. A little further than normal, we’re on the lookout for Bluebells. Return driving distance approx. 24 Miles Directions to Start :- At Magna Park A5 island, take 2nd exit to Pailton, on into Brinklow then Bretford, over the River and turn right onto the B4455 Fosse Way, turn right after Rail bridge into Wolston go through and continue straight on at A45 island onto A445,over A423 island, after passing Ryton Pools next right into Bubbenhall (Spring Hill). Pub on right at bottom of hill. Start Point: Three Horseshoes Inn, Spring Hill, Bubbenhall. Post Code CV8 3BD. Leave 10.00am. Toilets available. Good choice of Food on the *Lite Bites Menu* at £11.00 2- 4- 1. Gluten Free Food available. Very nice pub and good food. Joseph Morris Meat, Fresh vegetables and *proper pies*. What could be better? Enjoy! Order lunch before starting walk. Route and Distance: - Starting from the Inn at 10.00am, cross the main road and through the Sand Quarry and into Bubbenhall Wood. Look out for *Bluebells*. Through pastures into Wappenbury and return via more woodland to the pub.5.5 miles in total. Only 1 Stile.
March Walk Report: 18 Walkers and 3 dogs set off from Cropston on a rather cold winter’s day towards Bradgate Park. Unfortunately the weather was rather unpredictable and we encountered wind, rain and sleet along the way. On the top of Bradgate by Old John the snow decided to show an appearance with approximately 40 mile an hour winds, but thankfully not for too long; on our descent the sun actually came out. Everyone agreed what a lovely invigorating walk it had been and were glad they had made the effort and not stayed in their warm homes. 13 of us enjoyed our well-earned lunch at the Bradgate Arms in Cropston. Gill Watmore.
2nd WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP Co-ordinators: Julian Hargreaves 01455 557704 Mike Chapman 01455 209972
May Walk Date of Walk – Wednesday 11th May 2016 Walk Organisers – Mike & Lesley Chapman 01455 209972 Meeting Point - Lutterworth Recreation Ground Car Park. 9:15 to leave at 9:20. Start Point and Time - Cheney Lane Picnic Area (on left between Sutton Cheney and Battlefield Visitor Centre) to leave at 10.00am. Directions to Start – take A5 towards Atherstone. Past M69 to Dodwells Roundabout. Turn right on A47 and continue to traffic lights at junction with Ashby Road (A447). Turn left and go through Stapleton. One mile past Woodlands Nursery turn left to Sutton Cheney. In centre of village, turn right (SP Battlefield). After leaving village and before the visitor centre, look for "Cheney Lane Picnic Area" on the left, by a footpath sign. Free parking. Round trip 36 miles. Route and Distance – Field paths, tracks and canal towpath via Sutton Cheney Wharf and village. Approx. 8 stiles. Distance 4.3miles
March Walk Report Unfortunately it was decided to cancel this walk due to heavy rain and flooded route. Apologies to anyone who made the effort (like me) to travel to Shenton only to find the road flooded and impassable. We are hoping to revisit this walk later in the year. Vicki Davis.
4th WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP Co-ordinators: Sue & Peter Creeden 01455 557888
Wednesday 27 April 2016 Walk Organisers:- Gill & Roger Watmore Tel: 01455 55243 Meeting Point and Time:- Lutterworth Recreation Ground car park at 9.20am to leave at 9.25am Start Point and Time:- The Old Crown, Fleckney ((LE8 8AJ). Directions to the Start:- Leave Lutterworth by the Gilmorton Road and go through Kimcote and Walton continuing on to turn right at the ‘T’ junction, SP Shearsby & Arnesby. Go straight over A5199 SP Saddington & Fleckney. Follow the signs for Fleckney and carry on through village until The Old Crown pub on the right. There is limited parking at the pub, but a free car park just before it. Route and Distance : A walk of 5½ miles along foot paths, bridleway & towpath passing Wistow back to Fleckney Lunch Arrangements:- Lunch to be ordered before we start the walk.
March 2016 Walk Report
Peter and Mary Rolleston lead us on an interesting walk from the Glen Parva Manor public house. We parked our cars adjacent to the historic moat and hut circle ancient monument and 32 of us set off for the Grand Union Canal. The weather was overcast but not cold. Once on the towpath we could see the significant amount of work that has gone on repairing the hedge running alongside and also enjoy peeping into the gardens of the houses on the opposite bank of the canal. Turning away from the canal we used field footpaths and tracks, and crossing the River Sence on the way to reach Countesthorpe. We then skirted Blaby before returning back to the start.
Peter Creeden
Joint WYCLIFFE LUTTERWORTH and LUTTERWORTH U3A GROUPS
TUESDAY WALKING GROUP Co-ordinator: Gordon Jones (Lutterworth U3A) 01455 556192
April Walk
Date of Walk: Tuesday 19th April 2016 Co-ordinator: Gordon Jones Tel. 01455 556192 Walk Organiser: Reg Tattersall, 01455 209126 Meeting Point: Meet at the car park by the Leisure Centre Meeting Time: 09.20 to leave at 09.25. Route and distance: Starting from the Bulls Head in Stoney Stanton at 10:00 am the walk (approx. 5.6 miles) is on a mixture of field paths, metalled roads and bridleways. The walk takes us towards Earl Shilton and then on Potters Marston and the edge of Croft returning to Stoney Stanton. Lunch will be taken at The Bulls Head where a wide selection of meals is available. We will pre-order our food before starting the walk. Directions to the Starting Point: From Lutterworth go down the A426 towards Leicester. Turn left at the Dunton Bassett traffic lights and go through Broughton Astley to the B4114. Turn left at the lights on the B4114 and then right and on into Stoney Stanton. Turn left at the mini-roundabout by the Co-op and The Bulls Head is on the left just past the Post Office (sharp turn into car park). If the car park is full there is a large car park just down the hill at Stoney Cove. Please park at the far end of the car park. Return Mileage from Lutterworth: 18.4 miles
GOLF GROUP (with Lutterworth U3A) Co-ordinator and Organiser:- Peter Moore Tel :- 01455 552594 e-mail:- peter79moore@gmail.com
The next Golf Day will be at Lutterworth Golf Club on Thursday 28th April 2016. competing for the Hartopp Trophy and Prizes, inc. Ladies Prize. Meet at 12.10 Hrs in Clubhouse for Bacon Roll and Coffee / Tea.
Draw for partners at 12.30 Hrs for 13.00 Hrs 1st Tee
To confirm your attendance or for full itinerary, including Meal choices, please contact Peter Moore by Thursday 14th April 2016.
Cost each approx. £32.00 To include Coffee and Bacon Roll, Green Fee, Prizes and Dinner. (Dependant upon numbers) Don't forget to invite your Wives/Partners/Husbands for 3 course Dinner at 18.30 Hrs in the Golf Clubhouse Restaurant. Cost £12.00p. per person. Coffee and Mints included.
*Please reserve these dates for all forthcoming events*
June 9th 2016 :- Ullesthorpe G.C. July 28th 2016 :- Hinckley G.C. September 8th 2016 :- Whetstone G.C. November 4th 2016 :- Sandwell Park G.C. *away day*
*We need your full support for Hinckley, otherwise it’s not viable due to cost.*
