February 2014 Month bulletin
Report on the January Meeting A Tour of some of Britain`s Best Gardens
Steve Lovell, who is qualified in Garden Design and Landscaping, gave us a very interesting and informative talk on a selection of gardens in Britain. He comes from the Lincoln area and runs his own business there constructing eco and wildlife friendly gardens.
His collection of cameos took us through some underrated, and some overrated, gardens with a heavy bias on eco friendliness using local and recycled materials. He especially favoured gardens which have plenty of foliage, a sympathy with the local architecture and also a sense of humour. He was, surprisingly, critical of some gardens where practicalities had not been considered in the design.
His talk, accompanied by excellent slides, first looked at some show gardens, including one of his own, but quickly embarked on a round Britain tour visiting both private gardens and those open to the public. Many were well known to us all including Burton Agnes Hall, Powis Castle, Hidcote, The Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Clivenden and Saville Gardens to name but a few.
He punctuated his talk with anecdotes. One in particular was very amusing where he recalled a lady delivering a talk on flowers and their colours making the statement that “yellow is the last colour we see before we die”. The audience was taken aback but the lady quickly explained that apparently yellow is one of the last colours we lose as our eyesight deteriorates with age.
His knowledge on the history of the gardens, their owners and designers, together with his plant knowledge was exemplary and made for an enjoyable talk.
Sue and Peter Creeden
*********************STOP PRESS************************
Following organisation of very successful treasure hunts at the Garden Party and an evening round Leire, Nigel Bones has agreed to co-ordinate a new group as detailed below:
SOCIAL EVENTS GROUP
Co-ordinator
Nigel Bones 01455 209756; email, nigel.bones50@btinternet.com
The next event will be an indoor skittles at the Wycliffe Bowls Club which is now confirmed for Friday 7th March.(see below)
Could everyone who has put down their name on the list please let me have their money (£10 per head) as soon as possible as the food has to be ordered. If anyone has put their name down and now realises they can’t attend, please let me know so I can cross their name off the list before I confirm the food order. There are still a few available places left if anyone is interested and hasn’t yet put down their name.
The Wycliife Bowls Club is located on the corner of the A426 and Hall Lane (the football ground). Turn immediately left on entering the ground off Hall Lane, and the Bowls Club is on the left, in the corner with its own car park. Starting time is 7:15 pm for 7:30 start.
Nigel
GROUP REPORTS
(in alphabetical order)
BOOK CHAT
Co-ordinator
Mick Curtis
01455 554504
"A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian" by Marina Lewycka. A winner of the Bollinger Everyman prize for comic fiction, as one of our group pointed out you have to take with a pinch of salt works of literature that become prize winners. This month’s read prompted a variety of opinions, from complete disdain to being a well-liked and moving story of family conflict generated by somewhat over the top characters. Whilst the information about the tractors and their history was accurate and fascinating to some, others completely ignored this aspect of the story. However no one found it very comical. Our next read is a story in complete contrast “A Street Cat Named Bob" by James Bowen. Although not a prize winner this true story has featured on breakfast television and "The One Show."
ETHNIC EATING
Co-ordinator
Jill Graham
01455 557117
Well – the last week of January was out of the ordinary – no snow for a start! The Burns Night Supper – on Saturday 25th January - all those kilts(!), the piper, the address to the haggis etc etc - not to mention the food, was excellent. Everybody agreed that it had been a splendid evening and we have asked Rebecca (the Caterer at Lutterworth Golf Club) to pencil our Group in for January 2015! We were joined by 4 members of Lutterworth U3A and hope that they will meet with us again in the future. One of them was a “dual” member and the other three were past and present organizers of the Lutterworth U3A Ethnic Dining Group. They said that this 2014 Burns Supper was far better than the one they attended last year in another part of the county. “Carriages” came at 11.30 pm so we all managed to get home before the last stroke of midnight.
The Cock-a-Leekie, the Haggis, the Roast Beef, the Cranachan and the Coffee and Mints barely had time to settle before we were out dining again!
On Wednesday 29 January, 18 of us went to Hai Tian in Church Street where we received a terrific welcome. As we were a large party, we negotiated a special price per person and chose a particular menu. However, the two extremely pleasant young ladies who looked after us, were quite happy to change items to suit individual preferences. It was difficult to keep track of what we were eating. Prawn crackers to nibble on, followed by soup and then by the “Starters”! After that came the Main Course – 2 or 3 different dishes served with rice. At each stage the young ladies checked that we had enough time between courses before they served the next one. When we finished our Main Course we enquired about “Desserts” and as a special concession (not to be repeated they stressed) they served us with a complimentary dessert – ice cream or banana or pineapple fritters!
Although we generally meet at 6.30 pm for 7 pm, everyone was seated by 6.45 pm and raring to go! The fact that we eventually broke up at about 9.45 pm (much later than usual) shows you how much everyone enjoyed the evening. I am sure that we will be going back to Hai Tian before very long as they were so pleasant and so welcoming and we all enjoyed the food served to us.
For our next Ethnic Meal, we are going to an Italian Restaurant – Rossini, Ristorante Italiano, Coventry Road, Hinckley on Wednesday 26 February 2014 – 6.30 pm for 7 pm
Two-Course Party Menu - £18 – (Three Courses - £21-90) Menu to be pre-booked – so make sure that you indicated your choices on the Broadsheet I put out and that you have taken away a slip reminding you of when we are going and where the Restaurant is and that you have also recorded your menu choices on that slip.
FRENCH CONVERSATION
Co-ordinator
Sue Hicks
01858 880273
23 January 2014
Ten members made it this time, and we started with a small maths problem with a French text. We translated articles on New Year resolutions and Sales in France, followed by a discussion about hobbies.
The next meeting will be on 27 February.
GARDEN GROUP
Co-ordinator
Sue Creeden
01455 557888
The Group met at Palmers Garden Centre, Ullesthorpe in January where the Plant Managers of Ullesthorpe and Enderby spoke on a wide range of plants from primroses and snowdrops to Rhododendrons, Azaleas and hydrangeas. Matt and Ola had extensive gardening knowledge and experience and Members had lots of questions for which they gave helpful tips and advice.
Weather permitting, the next meeting will be a visit to Coton Manor Gardens, Ravensthorpe Northamptonshire NN6 8RQ on Tuesday 25th February. The gardens are open for a limited period for the snowdrops and hellebores. We shall meet at the Lutterworth Recreation Ground at 10.30 a.m.to arrange lift sharing. The entrance charge is £3.50; this is not a guided visit. The café will be open serving both hot and cold refreshments. If you would like to join us please let me know on 01455 557888 or email sueandpeter.creeden@talktalk.net as soon as possible. If the weather is really inclement, the visit will be cancelled. (Let’s keep our fingers crossed!)
Lutterworth U3A are organising a trip to Deene Park near Corby on Tuesday afternoon 29th April to see the daffodils. The coach leaves the Wycliffe Rooms, Lutterworth at 1.00 pm. The cost is £21 per person which includes coach, house tour, garden plus tea and cake.
Also, the Lutterworth U3A group have a couple of double rooms left for their gardens holiday in June. (There are no single rooms available.) They will be staying at the Best Western Royale Hotel, Bournemouth from Wednesday 25th June to Saturday 28th June and will be visiting Longstock Water Park, Leckford, Compton Acres, Mapperton House and Gardens, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Knoll Gardens and Greys Court, Henley on Thames. The cost is £270 per person to include Dinner, Bed and Breakfast, coach travel and entry to gardens (except National Trust).
If you would like to join them on either of these trips, please let me know (contact details above)
Sue Creeden
GARDEN LUNCHES
Co-ordinator
Jill Graham
01455 557117
email grahjill@hotmail.com
Tuesday 18 February 2014 – Palmers of Ullesthorpe. Ten of us went there in January and enjoyed a varied choice of meals. Several of us opted for the “Soup and Sandwich” Offer while a few went for the Quiche, Salad and Chips and one hearty soul had the Crusty Pie which looked very substantial.
In February, Palmers have a Special Offer on Coffee & Cake (if you have a Palmers Card) – buy one, get one free with a coupon. You can either print off the coupon or make a note of the Serial Number and let them have that when you order.
We will go to Palmers again in March and then venture further afield in April
Don’t forget your Reminder Slip.
LIVELY DISCUSSION
Co-ordinator
Dot Barnard
01455 208190
dot.barnard@uwclub.net
13th January 2014
Operation Yewtree – has it become a witch hunt?
This is an investigation by the Metropolitan Police and the NSPCC into Jimmy Savile’s behaviour. Of 589 accusations 450 relate to Savile. Around 20 people have been arrested or spoken to by the police as a result of Yewtree, although some of them are separate investigations. At the time of our discussion only Stuart Hall and Michael Le Vell had been to court. Hall pleaded guilty and, after a sentence perceived as lenient, had his time increased to 3 years. Le Vell was acquitted, but is suffering from damage to his life and career, in addition to having spent £200,000 on legal fees. A BBC driver has been found dead after being charged by the police. Chris Tarrant has labelled the inquiry as a witch hunt. Group members felt sure that Savile is guilty but were worried about some of the defendants as it’s possible that people are hoping to get compensation by naming famous people.
Everyone felt that the BBC and NHS had abdicated their responsibility to protect people in their care. They could have been an audience member at Top of the Pops or a vulnerable and/or sick person in the care of the NHS.
We talked about the difference in attitudes in the 60s and 70s and that children in particular were not listened to or believed. One member had had problems with an employer in 1968, but there was no protective law then, and she was threatened that she would be prevented from working elsewhere when she resigned. It was felt that teenage girls idolised pop stars, DJs etc. and were naïve, often not realising what was happening or knowing how to deal with it. It appears that only men have not been ‘groped’ at some point in their lives.
There was concern about the media frenzy which may be designed to sell papers rather than report the facts objectively. It should be remembered that under British law suspects are innocent until proven guilty. Since the CPS decides whether there is enough evidence for a court case some people may not be brought to justice. However, there was sympathy for those who may have been accused for personal gain.
March Topic – The “pinkification” of little girls and does it matter?
POETRY GROUP
NEW CO-ORDINATOR
Sylvia Hitchen
0116 247 8353
Sylvia.hitchen@btinternet.com
The theme of January’s session was “people and occupations” and a variety of poems were read aloud and discussed. Several of these were comic, but we also included some romantic, nostalgic, dark and serious treatments of the theme. The poets chosen included Carol Ann Duffy, John Betjeman, Lewis Carroll and Owen Shears along with some lesser known names and this gave us a very interesting mix.
We also discussed the future format of these sessions and decided that while we would like to continue having monthly themes, group members would also be welcome to bring any other poems they enjoy and would like to read, so that there can be a mixture of themed and non themed within each session. Additionally, those participants who would like to cover a specific poet in more depth by giving a short talk on their life and work, are invited to do so, as we thought this would be a lovely way to introduce different poets to the rest of the group.
February’s meeting will be on February 27th at 2.00pm (Please note the earlier time)
Themes: Winter, Valentine’s Day, or just any poems you enjoy
As this group is now being coordinated by Sylvia Hitchen, please find below contact details and directions :-
Sylvia Hitchen, 8 Church Farm Lane, Willoughby Waterleys, LE8 6 UD, 0116 247 8353, Sylvia.hitchen@btinternet.com
Coming from Lutterworth, turn right at the Dunton Bassett crossroads, follow the road as it bends left through Ashby Magna and carry on for a couple of miles until you enter Willoughby Waterleys. Church Farm Lane is on the right before the General Eliott pub.
Go into the village and just before the General Elliott pub, on your right hand side will be Church Farm Lane
PUB LUNCHES
Co-ordinator
Jill Graham
01455 557117
email grahjill@hotmail.com
Wednesday 8 January saw us tucking into the Carvery at Ullesthorpe Court along with a variety of people and two different Walking Groups (they left their muddy boots outside and either changed into trainers or sat in their socks!
Wednesday 5 February –we are due at The Elms –(another Carvery) – they do seem popular and are always good value for money. I go early for a Coffee and take my current book so that I can get them to set up a table for us.
Wednesday 5 March – I have made a provisional booking at The Brewery, Wood Farm Visitor Centre. It will be interesting to see if things are any different there since it has changed ownership. Sign up today and remember your Reminder Slip.
SUNDAY LUNCHES It has been suggested that I start an occasional Sunday Lunch Group and I would be grateful to receive information about any value-for-money Sunday Lunches around. SO – check the table for a sheet giving details of our first Occasional Sunday Lunch.
SCRABBLE
Co-ordinator
June Hartopp
01455 553418
The Scrabble Group is restarting on 12th March .
SNAIL’S PACE WALKING GROUP
Co-ordinator
Sheila Eggleton
01455 554387
sheilaeggleton@yahoo.co.uk
Friday February 21st
Our next walk will begin and end at the “Coach and Horses” Inn at Kibworth Harcourt. The walk, if we do the whole of it, will take approx 90minutes and will follow a historic trail. Most of the walk will be on hard standing, but there is a section along a footpath/grassland. The Inn is at 2 Leicester Road, Kibworth Harcourt , LE8 0NN Telephone 0116 279 2247. It is off the A6 the main Leicester/Market Harborough road. The Inn is situated on the corner of Leicester Road/Church Road. We will leave the car park at 11.30a.m. to begin our walk.
January Walk
Our walk took place on a cold and somewhat dank day, however this did not deter the 24 walkers who strolled along an historic trail around a small section of Rugby Town Centre, concluding with a fascinating tour of Rugby School. Did you know for instance that a descendant of “Good King Wencelas” started one of the town’s well known solicitors or that “Woodbine Willie”, awarded the M.C. in the First World War, was once a curate in the town? These were some of the facts the walk unveiled. At Rugby School we saw paintings of some of their old boys and the graffiti of others! We soaked up the atmosphere of Dr Thomas Arnold’s classics room and the beauty of the chapel. We passed by the “Birching Tower” and saw first -hand the birch and birching stool in the Museum. It was a very interesting tour and should you be interested in booking one you can do so via the school bookshop on Barby Road or via their website.
Sheila
THEATRE
Co-ordinator
Eddie Hemsley 01455 554564 (edwardhemsley@btinternet.com )
RSC Shakespeare plays 2014.
Tickets have been provisionally booked for 2 plays as follows:
Henry IV part 1 Thursday April 17 at 7.15 pm in the main theatre.
Henry IV part 2 Thursday May 1 at 7.15 pm in the main theatre.
Cost of tickets £33 each.
Please let myself or Eddie Hemsley know if you would like tickets for one or both plays by Wednesday March 12 as the provisional booking period ends on March 13. I can be contacted as follows: email ea.smalley@virgin.net/telephone 01455 556031.
The third Shakespeare play for 2014 will be Two Gentlemen of Verona. Performances run from July 12-September 4. Ticket bookings will be made nearer the time.
Anne Smalley
TRIPS
Co-ordinator
George Robertson
01455 559725 email:george9high@hotmail.com
TRIP TO GLOUCESTER.
A bit of advanced notice, I am planning a day trip to Gloucester on Friday May 9th 2014. The Docks, museums and the Cathedral are worth a visit and there are boat trips on the river. A Designer Outlet shopping centre is near the docks for the bargain hunters. At this stage I envisage everyone doing their own thing, but I can arrange a group tour of the Cathedral but that will depend on numbers. It may be possible to have a couple of drop off points but those joining the trip should be prepared to make their own way between points of interest, the docks and cathedral are about half a mile apart.
I will put out a signing up sheet with costs, timings and local pick-up details at the February meeting.
Any queries contact me on 01455 559725 or e-mail : george9high@hotmail.com George Robertson.
1st WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP
WYCLIFFE U3A Joint Co-ordinators:
Roger Watmore 01455 552431 and
Julian Hargreaves 01455b 557704
Date of walk: Wednesday, 5th March 2014
Walk Organisers: George Robertson & Jane Clark 07986827270
Meeting Point and Time: - Lutterworth Recreational Ground Car Park 9.20am for 9.30am departure.
Directions to the Start:-Drive to Rugby and go through the town following the A426 to Dunchurch. In Dunchurch as you approach the traffic lights at the A426, B4429 crossroad, take the left slip road to join Daventry Rd. The Green Man is almost immediately on the right with the car park entrance just past the pub, CV226NS. Round trip distance 20 miles. Lunch at The Green Man which had an offer of 2 meals for £8.00 at the time of writing this (Dec 2013).
Route and Distance: The walk starts by crossing The Square and the turning left to join a footpath to Thurlaston. We then continue across field paths through Whitefields Golf Course. We then head for the north shore of Draycote Water and follow it back to Dunchurch via Toft House and the Alpaca farm. The 6.5 mile walk is mostly dry under foot with some undulating hills and 3 stiles.
January Walk.
21 walkers boarded the 58A bus at Claybrooke Magna alighting at Burbage where another walker joined us. We inspected blue discs on some of the buildings, including where a Prime Minister, a discoverer of Isinglass and the regional first female TV presenter had lived. The walk shortly joined the Leicestershire Round to Aston Flamville, Sharnford, Fosse Meadows and down the Fosse Way returning to Claybrook Magna where we had a very good and well deserved lunch at The Pig in Muck. We were lucky that it didn’t rain on the walk but there was a lot of water under foot from the heavy rain over the last few weeks.
Gill and Roger Watmore
4th WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP Co-ordinators:
Sue & Peter Creeden
01455 557888 553341
Wednesday 26 February 2014
Walk Organisers:- Sue and Peter Creeden Tel: 01455 557888
Meeting Point and Time:- Lutterworth Recreation Ground car park at 9.20am to leave at 9.30am.
Start Point: The Hollybush, Ashby Parva setting off at 10:00am promptly
Directions to the Start:-. To Bitteswell then turn right (at the green) onto Ashby Lane. Take third right into Ashby Parva. The Hollybush is on the left as you drive through the village.
Route and Distance:- The walk will head off to Dunton Lane to pick up the footpath across the fields to Cauldwell Lane, then we pass through the Slip Inn Quarry to reach Dunton Basset. We will then pick up the Leicestershire Round to Stemborough Mill leaving Stemborough Lane halfway along to pick up Dunton Road. Heading back towards Dutton Basset for approximately 0.5 miles we take the second footpath on the right to pick up Dunton Lane at Dunton Mill. The stiles and mud will then be over as we take this quiet lane back to Ashby Parva. The walk is approximately 6.5 miles with approximately 20 stiles (we lost count). There will be muddy sections but there will also be some respite with sections of quiet lanes.
Lunch arrangements:- Lunches will be available at The Hollybush (Two for £12 at the time of going to press).
January 2014 Walk Report
The January weather was exceedingly kind to the 14 walkers (and 2 dogs) who set off from The White Horse in Leire. The sun was shining and it was not very cold. The walk terrain was varied and although muddy, as you might expect after the recent weather, it was not too bad. It headed first to Ullesthorpe, and then Claybrooke Parva stopping at the church for the coffee break. Picking up the Leicestershire Round we walked to Claybrooke Mill where we left it to head up to the Ullesthorpe Scout Camp and then across the fields back to Leire.
Lunch was enjoyed at The White Horse who had put themselves out to provide a special “walkers” menu.
Sue and Peter Creeden
JOINT WYCLIFFE LUTTERWORTH
And LUTTERWORTH U3A GROUPS
And groups open to WLU3A members
TUESDAY WALKING GROUP Co-ordinator:
Gordon Jones (Lutterworth U3A)
01455 556192
Date of Walk: Tuesday 18th February
Co-ordinator: Gordon Jones. Tel. 01455 556192
Walk Organizers: Gordon Jones. Tel. 01455 556192
Meeting Point: Meet at the Coventry Road recreation ground car park.
Meeting Time: 09.20 to leave at 09.30.
Start Point: The Pytchley, West Haddon, NN6 7AP
Directions: Lutterworth, M1 to J18 and take the A428 past Crick to West Haddon. The Pytchley is in the village on the left at the road junction where the A428 turns right. Please park at the back of the car park.
Lunch: At the Pytchley, order before we leave on the walk.
Route and distance: 5 to 6 miles of field footpaths and a country lane at the end.
Return Mileage from Lutterworth: 25 miles.
PRELIMINARY NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
On THURSDAY 13TH MARCH 2014
At the AGM we need to elect a new committee.
The committee will consist of a maximum of 10 members of which 6 will be Honorary Officers as follows:
Chairman Vice Chairman
Secretary Treasurer
Membership Secretary Interest Group Liaison
Written nominations for the committee shall be proposed and seconded on the form on the next page, which should be delivered to the Chairman, using any of the methods listed at the bottom of the nomination form by 28th February 2014. Consent of the Nominee MUST be obtained in advance of submission of this form.
In the event of excess nominations a vote will be taken.
If insufficient written nominations are received, the members present will be asked for nominations from the floor. A vote will be taken on all nominations.
In accordance with the Constitution a member elected Chairman can hold office for a maximum period of 3 years. As Eddie will have been Chairman for 3 years , we will need to appoint a new Chairman.
At the time of going to press committee members Bob Howes, Ann Ashworth, Bernard Poile, Chris Brady, Christine Sidey, Barbara Ewen, and Nigel Bones are willing to stand again. February 2014
Steve Lovell, who is qualified in Garden Design and Landscaping, gave us a very interesting and informative talk on a selection of gardens in Britain. He comes from the Lincoln area and runs his own business there constructing eco and wildlife friendly gardens.
His collection of cameos took us through some underrated, and some overrated, gardens with a heavy bias on eco friendliness using local and recycled materials. He especially favoured gardens which have plenty of foliage, a sympathy with the local architecture and also a sense of humour. He was, surprisingly, critical of some gardens where practicalities had not been considered in the design.
His talk, accompanied by excellent slides, first looked at some show gardens, including one of his own, but quickly embarked on a round Britain tour visiting both private gardens and those open to the public. Many were well known to us all including Burton Agnes Hall, Powis Castle, Hidcote, The Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Clivenden and Saville Gardens to name but a few.
He punctuated his talk with anecdotes. One in particular was very amusing where he recalled a lady delivering a talk on flowers and their colours making the statement that “yellow is the last colour we see before we die”. The audience was taken aback but the lady quickly explained that apparently yellow is one of the last colours we lose as our eyesight deteriorates with age.
His knowledge on the history of the gardens, their owners and designers, together with his plant knowledge was exemplary and made for an enjoyable talk.
Sue and Peter Creeden
*********************STOP PRESS************************
Following organisation of very successful treasure hunts at the Garden Party and an evening round Leire, Nigel Bones has agreed to co-ordinate a new group as detailed below:
SOCIAL EVENTS GROUP
Co-ordinator
Nigel Bones 01455 209756; email, nigel.bones50@btinternet.com
The next event will be an indoor skittles at the Wycliffe Bowls Club which is now confirmed for Friday 7th March.(see below)
Could everyone who has put down their name on the list please let me have their money (£10 per head) as soon as possible as the food has to be ordered. If anyone has put their name down and now realises they can’t attend, please let me know so I can cross their name off the list before I confirm the food order. There are still a few available places left if anyone is interested and hasn’t yet put down their name.
The Wycliife Bowls Club is located on the corner of the A426 and Hall Lane (the football ground). Turn immediately left on entering the ground off Hall Lane, and the Bowls Club is on the left, in the corner with its own car park. Starting time is 7:15 pm for 7:30 start.
Nigel
GROUP REPORTS
(in alphabetical order)
BOOK CHAT
Co-ordinator
Mick Curtis
01455 554504
"A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian" by Marina Lewycka. A winner of the Bollinger Everyman prize for comic fiction, as one of our group pointed out you have to take with a pinch of salt works of literature that become prize winners. This month’s read prompted a variety of opinions, from complete disdain to being a well-liked and moving story of family conflict generated by somewhat over the top characters. Whilst the information about the tractors and their history was accurate and fascinating to some, others completely ignored this aspect of the story. However no one found it very comical. Our next read is a story in complete contrast “A Street Cat Named Bob" by James Bowen. Although not a prize winner this true story has featured on breakfast television and "The One Show."
ETHNIC EATING
Co-ordinator
Jill Graham
01455 557117
Well – the last week of January was out of the ordinary – no snow for a start! The Burns Night Supper – on Saturday 25th January - all those kilts(!), the piper, the address to the haggis etc etc - not to mention the food, was excellent. Everybody agreed that it had been a splendid evening and we have asked Rebecca (the Caterer at Lutterworth Golf Club) to pencil our Group in for January 2015! We were joined by 4 members of Lutterworth U3A and hope that they will meet with us again in the future. One of them was a “dual” member and the other three were past and present organizers of the Lutterworth U3A Ethnic Dining Group. They said that this 2014 Burns Supper was far better than the one they attended last year in another part of the county. “Carriages” came at 11.30 pm so we all managed to get home before the last stroke of midnight.
The Cock-a-Leekie, the Haggis, the Roast Beef, the Cranachan and the Coffee and Mints barely had time to settle before we were out dining again!
On Wednesday 29 January, 18 of us went to Hai Tian in Church Street where we received a terrific welcome. As we were a large party, we negotiated a special price per person and chose a particular menu. However, the two extremely pleasant young ladies who looked after us, were quite happy to change items to suit individual preferences. It was difficult to keep track of what we were eating. Prawn crackers to nibble on, followed by soup and then by the “Starters”! After that came the Main Course – 2 or 3 different dishes served with rice. At each stage the young ladies checked that we had enough time between courses before they served the next one. When we finished our Main Course we enquired about “Desserts” and as a special concession (not to be repeated they stressed) they served us with a complimentary dessert – ice cream or banana or pineapple fritters!
Although we generally meet at 6.30 pm for 7 pm, everyone was seated by 6.45 pm and raring to go! The fact that we eventually broke up at about 9.45 pm (much later than usual) shows you how much everyone enjoyed the evening. I am sure that we will be going back to Hai Tian before very long as they were so pleasant and so welcoming and we all enjoyed the food served to us.
For our next Ethnic Meal, we are going to an Italian Restaurant – Rossini, Ristorante Italiano, Coventry Road, Hinckley on Wednesday 26 February 2014 – 6.30 pm for 7 pm
Two-Course Party Menu - £18 – (Three Courses - £21-90) Menu to be pre-booked – so make sure that you indicated your choices on the Broadsheet I put out and that you have taken away a slip reminding you of when we are going and where the Restaurant is and that you have also recorded your menu choices on that slip.
FRENCH CONVERSATION
Co-ordinator
Sue Hicks
01858 880273
23 January 2014
Ten members made it this time, and we started with a small maths problem with a French text. We translated articles on New Year resolutions and Sales in France, followed by a discussion about hobbies.
The next meeting will be on 27 February.
GARDEN GROUP
Co-ordinator
Sue Creeden
01455 557888
The Group met at Palmers Garden Centre, Ullesthorpe in January where the Plant Managers of Ullesthorpe and Enderby spoke on a wide range of plants from primroses and snowdrops to Rhododendrons, Azaleas and hydrangeas. Matt and Ola had extensive gardening knowledge and experience and Members had lots of questions for which they gave helpful tips and advice.
Weather permitting, the next meeting will be a visit to Coton Manor Gardens, Ravensthorpe Northamptonshire NN6 8RQ on Tuesday 25th February. The gardens are open for a limited period for the snowdrops and hellebores. We shall meet at the Lutterworth Recreation Ground at 10.30 a.m.to arrange lift sharing. The entrance charge is £3.50; this is not a guided visit. The café will be open serving both hot and cold refreshments. If you would like to join us please let me know on 01455 557888 or email sueandpeter.creeden@talktalk.net as soon as possible. If the weather is really inclement, the visit will be cancelled. (Let’s keep our fingers crossed!)
Lutterworth U3A are organising a trip to Deene Park near Corby on Tuesday afternoon 29th April to see the daffodils. The coach leaves the Wycliffe Rooms, Lutterworth at 1.00 pm. The cost is £21 per person which includes coach, house tour, garden plus tea and cake.
Also, the Lutterworth U3A group have a couple of double rooms left for their gardens holiday in June. (There are no single rooms available.) They will be staying at the Best Western Royale Hotel, Bournemouth from Wednesday 25th June to Saturday 28th June and will be visiting Longstock Water Park, Leckford, Compton Acres, Mapperton House and Gardens, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Knoll Gardens and Greys Court, Henley on Thames. The cost is £270 per person to include Dinner, Bed and Breakfast, coach travel and entry to gardens (except National Trust).
If you would like to join them on either of these trips, please let me know (contact details above)
Sue Creeden
GARDEN LUNCHES
Co-ordinator
Jill Graham
01455 557117
email grahjill@hotmail.com
Tuesday 18 February 2014 – Palmers of Ullesthorpe. Ten of us went there in January and enjoyed a varied choice of meals. Several of us opted for the “Soup and Sandwich” Offer while a few went for the Quiche, Salad and Chips and one hearty soul had the Crusty Pie which looked very substantial.
In February, Palmers have a Special Offer on Coffee & Cake (if you have a Palmers Card) – buy one, get one free with a coupon. You can either print off the coupon or make a note of the Serial Number and let them have that when you order.
We will go to Palmers again in March and then venture further afield in April
Don’t forget your Reminder Slip.
LIVELY DISCUSSION
Co-ordinator
Dot Barnard
01455 208190
dot.barnard@uwclub.net
13th January 2014
Operation Yewtree – has it become a witch hunt?
This is an investigation by the Metropolitan Police and the NSPCC into Jimmy Savile’s behaviour. Of 589 accusations 450 relate to Savile. Around 20 people have been arrested or spoken to by the police as a result of Yewtree, although some of them are separate investigations. At the time of our discussion only Stuart Hall and Michael Le Vell had been to court. Hall pleaded guilty and, after a sentence perceived as lenient, had his time increased to 3 years. Le Vell was acquitted, but is suffering from damage to his life and career, in addition to having spent £200,000 on legal fees. A BBC driver has been found dead after being charged by the police. Chris Tarrant has labelled the inquiry as a witch hunt. Group members felt sure that Savile is guilty but were worried about some of the defendants as it’s possible that people are hoping to get compensation by naming famous people.
Everyone felt that the BBC and NHS had abdicated their responsibility to protect people in their care. They could have been an audience member at Top of the Pops or a vulnerable and/or sick person in the care of the NHS.
We talked about the difference in attitudes in the 60s and 70s and that children in particular were not listened to or believed. One member had had problems with an employer in 1968, but there was no protective law then, and she was threatened that she would be prevented from working elsewhere when she resigned. It was felt that teenage girls idolised pop stars, DJs etc. and were naïve, often not realising what was happening or knowing how to deal with it. It appears that only men have not been ‘groped’ at some point in their lives.
There was concern about the media frenzy which may be designed to sell papers rather than report the facts objectively. It should be remembered that under British law suspects are innocent until proven guilty. Since the CPS decides whether there is enough evidence for a court case some people may not be brought to justice. However, there was sympathy for those who may have been accused for personal gain.
March Topic – The “pinkification” of little girls and does it matter?
POETRY GROUP
NEW CO-ORDINATOR
Sylvia Hitchen
0116 247 8353
Sylvia.hitchen@btinternet.com
The theme of January’s session was “people and occupations” and a variety of poems were read aloud and discussed. Several of these were comic, but we also included some romantic, nostalgic, dark and serious treatments of the theme. The poets chosen included Carol Ann Duffy, John Betjeman, Lewis Carroll and Owen Shears along with some lesser known names and this gave us a very interesting mix.
We also discussed the future format of these sessions and decided that while we would like to continue having monthly themes, group members would also be welcome to bring any other poems they enjoy and would like to read, so that there can be a mixture of themed and non themed within each session. Additionally, those participants who would like to cover a specific poet in more depth by giving a short talk on their life and work, are invited to do so, as we thought this would be a lovely way to introduce different poets to the rest of the group.
February’s meeting will be on February 27th at 2.00pm (Please note the earlier time)
Themes: Winter, Valentine’s Day, or just any poems you enjoy
As this group is now being coordinated by Sylvia Hitchen, please find below contact details and directions :-
Sylvia Hitchen, 8 Church Farm Lane, Willoughby Waterleys, LE8 6 UD, 0116 247 8353, Sylvia.hitchen@btinternet.com
Coming from Lutterworth, turn right at the Dunton Bassett crossroads, follow the road as it bends left through Ashby Magna and carry on for a couple of miles until you enter Willoughby Waterleys. Church Farm Lane is on the right before the General Eliott pub.
Go into the village and just before the General Elliott pub, on your right hand side will be Church Farm Lane
PUB LUNCHES
Co-ordinator
Jill Graham
01455 557117
email grahjill@hotmail.com
Wednesday 8 January saw us tucking into the Carvery at Ullesthorpe Court along with a variety of people and two different Walking Groups (they left their muddy boots outside and either changed into trainers or sat in their socks!
Wednesday 5 February –we are due at The Elms –(another Carvery) – they do seem popular and are always good value for money. I go early for a Coffee and take my current book so that I can get them to set up a table for us.
Wednesday 5 March – I have made a provisional booking at The Brewery, Wood Farm Visitor Centre. It will be interesting to see if things are any different there since it has changed ownership. Sign up today and remember your Reminder Slip.
SUNDAY LUNCHES It has been suggested that I start an occasional Sunday Lunch Group and I would be grateful to receive information about any value-for-money Sunday Lunches around. SO – check the table for a sheet giving details of our first Occasional Sunday Lunch.
SCRABBLE
Co-ordinator
June Hartopp
01455 553418
The Scrabble Group is restarting on 12th March .
SNAIL’S PACE WALKING GROUP
Co-ordinator
Sheila Eggleton
01455 554387
sheilaeggleton@yahoo.co.uk
Friday February 21st
Our next walk will begin and end at the “Coach and Horses” Inn at Kibworth Harcourt. The walk, if we do the whole of it, will take approx 90minutes and will follow a historic trail. Most of the walk will be on hard standing, but there is a section along a footpath/grassland. The Inn is at 2 Leicester Road, Kibworth Harcourt , LE8 0NN Telephone 0116 279 2247. It is off the A6 the main Leicester/Market Harborough road. The Inn is situated on the corner of Leicester Road/Church Road. We will leave the car park at 11.30a.m. to begin our walk.
January Walk
Our walk took place on a cold and somewhat dank day, however this did not deter the 24 walkers who strolled along an historic trail around a small section of Rugby Town Centre, concluding with a fascinating tour of Rugby School. Did you know for instance that a descendant of “Good King Wencelas” started one of the town’s well known solicitors or that “Woodbine Willie”, awarded the M.C. in the First World War, was once a curate in the town? These were some of the facts the walk unveiled. At Rugby School we saw paintings of some of their old boys and the graffiti of others! We soaked up the atmosphere of Dr Thomas Arnold’s classics room and the beauty of the chapel. We passed by the “Birching Tower” and saw first -hand the birch and birching stool in the Museum. It was a very interesting tour and should you be interested in booking one you can do so via the school bookshop on Barby Road or via their website.
Sheila
THEATRE
Co-ordinator
Eddie Hemsley 01455 554564 (edwardhemsley@btinternet.com )
RSC Shakespeare plays 2014.
Tickets have been provisionally booked for 2 plays as follows:
Henry IV part 1 Thursday April 17 at 7.15 pm in the main theatre.
Henry IV part 2 Thursday May 1 at 7.15 pm in the main theatre.
Cost of tickets £33 each.
Please let myself or Eddie Hemsley know if you would like tickets for one or both plays by Wednesday March 12 as the provisional booking period ends on March 13. I can be contacted as follows: email ea.smalley@virgin.net/telephone 01455 556031.
The third Shakespeare play for 2014 will be Two Gentlemen of Verona. Performances run from July 12-September 4. Ticket bookings will be made nearer the time.
Anne Smalley
TRIPS
Co-ordinator
George Robertson
01455 559725 email:george9high@hotmail.com
TRIP TO GLOUCESTER.
A bit of advanced notice, I am planning a day trip to Gloucester on Friday May 9th 2014. The Docks, museums and the Cathedral are worth a visit and there are boat trips on the river. A Designer Outlet shopping centre is near the docks for the bargain hunters. At this stage I envisage everyone doing their own thing, but I can arrange a group tour of the Cathedral but that will depend on numbers. It may be possible to have a couple of drop off points but those joining the trip should be prepared to make their own way between points of interest, the docks and cathedral are about half a mile apart.
I will put out a signing up sheet with costs, timings and local pick-up details at the February meeting.
Any queries contact me on 01455 559725 or e-mail : george9high@hotmail.com George Robertson.
1st WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP
WYCLIFFE U3A Joint Co-ordinators:
Roger Watmore 01455 552431 and
Julian Hargreaves 01455b 557704
Date of walk: Wednesday, 5th March 2014
Walk Organisers: George Robertson & Jane Clark 07986827270
Meeting Point and Time: - Lutterworth Recreational Ground Car Park 9.20am for 9.30am departure.
Directions to the Start:-Drive to Rugby and go through the town following the A426 to Dunchurch. In Dunchurch as you approach the traffic lights at the A426, B4429 crossroad, take the left slip road to join Daventry Rd. The Green Man is almost immediately on the right with the car park entrance just past the pub, CV226NS. Round trip distance 20 miles. Lunch at The Green Man which had an offer of 2 meals for £8.00 at the time of writing this (Dec 2013).
Route and Distance: The walk starts by crossing The Square and the turning left to join a footpath to Thurlaston. We then continue across field paths through Whitefields Golf Course. We then head for the north shore of Draycote Water and follow it back to Dunchurch via Toft House and the Alpaca farm. The 6.5 mile walk is mostly dry under foot with some undulating hills and 3 stiles.
January Walk.
21 walkers boarded the 58A bus at Claybrooke Magna alighting at Burbage where another walker joined us. We inspected blue discs on some of the buildings, including where a Prime Minister, a discoverer of Isinglass and the regional first female TV presenter had lived. The walk shortly joined the Leicestershire Round to Aston Flamville, Sharnford, Fosse Meadows and down the Fosse Way returning to Claybrook Magna where we had a very good and well deserved lunch at The Pig in Muck. We were lucky that it didn’t rain on the walk but there was a lot of water under foot from the heavy rain over the last few weeks.
Gill and Roger Watmore
4th WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP Co-ordinators:
Sue & Peter Creeden
01455 557888 553341
Wednesday 26 February 2014
Walk Organisers:- Sue and Peter Creeden Tel: 01455 557888
Meeting Point and Time:- Lutterworth Recreation Ground car park at 9.20am to leave at 9.30am.
Start Point: The Hollybush, Ashby Parva setting off at 10:00am promptly
Directions to the Start:-. To Bitteswell then turn right (at the green) onto Ashby Lane. Take third right into Ashby Parva. The Hollybush is on the left as you drive through the village.
Route and Distance:- The walk will head off to Dunton Lane to pick up the footpath across the fields to Cauldwell Lane, then we pass through the Slip Inn Quarry to reach Dunton Basset. We will then pick up the Leicestershire Round to Stemborough Mill leaving Stemborough Lane halfway along to pick up Dunton Road. Heading back towards Dutton Basset for approximately 0.5 miles we take the second footpath on the right to pick up Dunton Lane at Dunton Mill. The stiles and mud will then be over as we take this quiet lane back to Ashby Parva. The walk is approximately 6.5 miles with approximately 20 stiles (we lost count). There will be muddy sections but there will also be some respite with sections of quiet lanes.
Lunch arrangements:- Lunches will be available at The Hollybush (Two for £12 at the time of going to press).
January 2014 Walk Report
The January weather was exceedingly kind to the 14 walkers (and 2 dogs) who set off from The White Horse in Leire. The sun was shining and it was not very cold. The walk terrain was varied and although muddy, as you might expect after the recent weather, it was not too bad. It headed first to Ullesthorpe, and then Claybrooke Parva stopping at the church for the coffee break. Picking up the Leicestershire Round we walked to Claybrooke Mill where we left it to head up to the Ullesthorpe Scout Camp and then across the fields back to Leire.
Lunch was enjoyed at The White Horse who had put themselves out to provide a special “walkers” menu.
Sue and Peter Creeden
JOINT WYCLIFFE LUTTERWORTH
And LUTTERWORTH U3A GROUPS
And groups open to WLU3A members
TUESDAY WALKING GROUP Co-ordinator:
Gordon Jones (Lutterworth U3A)
01455 556192
Date of Walk: Tuesday 18th February
Co-ordinator: Gordon Jones. Tel. 01455 556192
Walk Organizers: Gordon Jones. Tel. 01455 556192
Meeting Point: Meet at the Coventry Road recreation ground car park.
Meeting Time: 09.20 to leave at 09.30.
Start Point: The Pytchley, West Haddon, NN6 7AP
Directions: Lutterworth, M1 to J18 and take the A428 past Crick to West Haddon. The Pytchley is in the village on the left at the road junction where the A428 turns right. Please park at the back of the car park.
Lunch: At the Pytchley, order before we leave on the walk.
Route and distance: 5 to 6 miles of field footpaths and a country lane at the end.
Return Mileage from Lutterworth: 25 miles.
PRELIMINARY NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
On THURSDAY 13TH MARCH 2014
At the AGM we need to elect a new committee.
The committee will consist of a maximum of 10 members of which 6 will be Honorary Officers as follows:
Chairman Vice Chairman
Secretary Treasurer
Membership Secretary Interest Group Liaison
Written nominations for the committee shall be proposed and seconded on the form on the next page, which should be delivered to the Chairman, using any of the methods listed at the bottom of the nomination form by 28th February 2014. Consent of the Nominee MUST be obtained in advance of submission of this form.
In the event of excess nominations a vote will be taken.
If insufficient written nominations are received, the members present will be asked for nominations from the floor. A vote will be taken on all nominations.
In accordance with the Constitution a member elected Chairman can hold office for a maximum period of 3 years. As Eddie will have been Chairman for 3 years , we will need to appoint a new Chairman.
At the time of going to press committee members Bob Howes, Ann Ashworth, Bernard Poile, Chris Brady, Christine Sidey, Barbara Ewen, and Nigel Bones are willing to stand again. February 2014