October 2012
Report on the September meeting
The September meeting of the Wycliffe U3A had an interesting history talk from Rosemary Gandy about the life and works of her father, Douglas Gandy. He started his business just before WW II in South Kilworth and sent out his first catalogue of Rose Trees in 1939. During the war, although he did grow vegetables, for the war effort, he did manage to hide many rose varieties from the inspectors. After the war, he moved to North Kilworth where he lived for the rest of his life. He had three daughters and an adopted son. Roses became important after the war but there was a limited choice. Many of his workers were Italians as most of the local lads worked in Coventry. He exhibited his roses at many shows in Leicester, at Timken and also at Chelsea with many prizes. He travelled extensively around Europe seeking out new varieties of roses to sell.
Eventually he started to breed his own roses and at the height, there were over ¾ of a millions roses in the fields at North Kilworth by the Lutterworth Road in 1965. In addition to innovations in breeding roses, he was the first to introduce herbicides into the UK that allowed him to reduce significantly the labour required. Many of the roses he bred were named after famous personalities. He did secure the contract to supply every Butlins holiday camp but Billy Butlin insisted that the rose named after him was to be called Sir William Butlin. Betty Driver, of hot pot fame in Coronation Street, had a rose named after her. Many others have had their own roses, including Jimmy Greaves and David Whitfield. There was, however, a disastrous frost in 1982 that caused a significant down-sizing. Even so, Gardeners World paid 5 visits during 1996 before a program on Gandy’s Roses was broadcast. The business itself closed its doors in 2009 although Rosemary is still very active in the rose growing world.
Christmas Lunch
Friday 7th December at Kilworth Springs Golf Club. Could you please ensure that all monies are paid in full by the November 8th monthly meeting ( £18 per head). Cheques preferred( made payable to Wycliffe Lutterworth U3A) or correct money Ann Ashworth
TRIPS
Joint Co-ordinators
George Robertson
01455 559725 email:george9high@hotmail.com
Rose Coltman
01455-209830 (ex/d. )
LINCOLN CATHEDRAL COACH TRIP
THURS 18th OCTOBER 2012 COST £18.00
The trip to Lincoln Cathedral includes entry fees and private guided tour. It departs from The Leisure Centre Coach park at 8.45am (cars can be parked free of charge in the adjacent
Recreational Ground car park).
We aim to arrive at The Cathedral around 11am with time for a loo visit and perhaps a cuppa in the Refectory before the 1hr guided tour begins at 11.30am. You are then free to make your own arrangements for lunch and the rest of the day until the coach departs at 4pm. You may wish to visit The Castle Museum (entry £4.00) which is near the cathedral or you can walk down Steep Hill through the 'old town' towards the city centre. A Walk & Ride bus service operates between the City Centre and the Cathedral Quarter. Copies of The Lincoln Guide and Map will be distributed on the coach.
Please pay promptly preferably by cheque made out to Wycliffe Lutterworth U3A
Places still available. Please contact George asap to book
Sulgrave Manor Trip
Following an excellent talk at our U3A Thursday meeting about George Washington and Sulgrave Manor a group visit was arranged for Thursday 27th September. 47 of us visited on a thankfully warm sunny September day. Sulgrave Manor is home to George Washington’s ancestors. It is a beautiful stone Manor house built at the time of Henry V111. It has changed over the years and an 18th century extension provided an interesting contrast.
Our guides were friendly and very informative. We had a gentle stroll through three centuries of history. We sat in the great hall at ‘The Board’, an oak table that could be turned over from its polished side to the rough side. The rough side was used to play games, these were called board games. Lawrence Washington, Sulgrave’s founder, would have sat in the chair at the head of the table – hence ‘Chairman of the Board’. We learnt where some of our every day vocabulary originates. The great bed had five mattresses. The ‘Doss’ was the straw one, so to lay down on this was to ‘Doss’! Candles were lit round the bed when someone was very ill and ‘Snuffed’ out when they died. A cupboard on the wall was for the leftover food and called the ‘Dole’. If a poor person came to the door they were handed food from the ‘Dole’.
We saw what looked like a wooden block with Chinese characters thereon. We were told this was a genuine block of pressed tea leaves which would be grated into a cup, for boiling water to be added.
The Sulgrave embroideries were of great interest as was the George Washington exhibition.
The manor is owned by a trust for the peoples of the UK and USA. Both flags fly outside the Manor entrance. Lawrence Washington used his family coat of arms to embellish his home. The arms contain 3 stars above two red horizontal stripes. This could have been the origin of the USA flag.
Some of us had a picnic in the sunshine, others went to the Star Inn for lunch. A walk round the gardens and into the village to the church completed the day.
Thanks to Viv for providing an information sheet and brief talk on the coach setting out the historical context and to Eddie who assisted me with the organising.
Rose Coltman
THEATRE Co-ordinator
Eddie Hemsley 01455 554564
16 of us went to see The Tempest at the RSC theatre, a production many of us enjoyed for a variety of reasons.
In the programme notes the director David Farr tells us that he wanted a prison-camp-feel to the island where Prospero, Duke of Milan, and his motherless 3 year old daughter Miranda, had been confined for 12 years since his brother Antonio took away his dukedom. The only other inhabitants on the island are Caliban, son of Sycorax, a deceased witch, and Ariel, a spirit in human form. A prison-like feel to life on the island was enhanced in several ways. Clothes worn by the actors resembled worn prison-like uniforms. The ripped-up plank edges to the stage exposed a sub-structure with holes. During the play human shapes would emerge and silently carry out tasks before returning. Later on more colourful beings emerged as the prospect of a happier ending appeared likely. Caliban's punishment meant he was forced to live underground.
Confinement can reveal the best in people, and the worst. Prospero, fuelled by his intense anger at being unjustly deprived of his dukedom, has acquired complete control of island life. He has used his beloved books, secretly given to him by his good friend Gonzalo before he left Milan, and a deep knowledge of the island's secrets proudly shown to him by Caliban, to develop special powers which he trains Ariel to use for him. But both have to accept that they are now under his control which leaves Caliban bitter at losing what he regards as his island, and Ariel can no longer live as a free spirit.
The play opens with a storm ordered by Prospero and set in motion by Ariel. A mirror-like cube set centre-stage acts as a ship, being deliberately caught in the storm so it is driven onto the island's shores. Inside crew and passengers struggle to survive, the latter including Alonso, king of Naples, and his court, returning to Naples after the wedding of Alonso's daughter to the king of Tunis. Also on board are Antonio and Gonzalo. The storm dies down, the ship is beached with its crew, and the passengers scatter to different parts of the island. However, Ferdinand, Alonso's son, is missing, feared dead.
Stripped of their power and position, all are now at the mercy of Prospero, and at the mercy of their true selves. Gonzalo remains the good man he has always been, and Alonso in his desperate search for his son, shows that parental love for him now matters far more than being king. But his brother Sebastian and Antonio together plot their deaths.
In another part of the island Trinculo, a jester, and Stephano, a butler, come across Caliban hiding under his cloak. What follows next is hilarious, pure pantomime comedy which had us, the audience, in stitches. Waving bottles of wine discovered in a box washed up on a beach, they drunkenly entice Caliban to emerge and join them. As he drinks with gusto, he tells them he will show them the delights of his island. As he drinks more, he promises to make Stephano king of the island, with Miranda as his queen. Then his bitterness against Prospero surfaces and in their drunken stupor they plot to kill him. It is only much later on in the play that Caliban, now sober, realises what they had plotted under the influence of drink was wrong.
Prospero finally achieves all he had planned to do with his special powers. Above all, Prospero, like Alonso, has realised that parental love matters to him above all else. It was 3 year old Miranda's cherubic smiles that first gave him the strength to survive being confined on the island .It was her needs as she grew up, isolated from human contact, other than that of her father and Caliban, that Prospero watched over, and now at 15 it is her future as a young woman that he cares about more than anything else. Ferdinand has proved worthy of her love, and so Prospero gives them both his blessing, as does Alonso on finding that his son is alive after all. Watching, Antonio can do little else but restore the dukedom to his brother. He is forgiven, as is Caliban. Suddenly, the prison-like feel to island life is lifted and real life once again is revealed to all. In Miranda's words, as she realises that there are many more people out there than she had thought, "O wonder!.. O, brave new world that has such people in't! ", the play comes to an end, leaving Ariel free at last and Caliban master of his beloved island. The ship is ready to resume its interrupted voyage to Naples and everyone looks forward to celebrating Ferdinand and Miranda's wedding.
But there is an unexpected epilogue. Prospero steps forward to address us, the audience. He tells us that what strength he now has left is 'most faint', but it is his own. He now longer needs, or wants, the special powers that confinement had demanded of him. He asks us if 'your indulgence' will 'set me free' to be himself again, to enjoy his library of books at home in Milan and to live as a loving father should, with his family in private. He pauses and waits...then with our applause Prospero knows he is finally free to be himself.
The Tempest was the last play Shakespeare wrote. Over 25 years his unique creativity had written 37 plays, sonnets and poems. He left London to return to Stratford and family life.Like Prospero, perhaps he,too, was asking his 1611 audience to set him free from his creative powers, to let him return to being a family man and a private citizen again. He died in 1616.
Anne Smalley
TABLE TENNIS
Co-ordinator
Nigel Bones
01455 209756
The newly formed table tennis group has got off to a good start. We were all a bit nervous at first, not having played since youth club days some 40 odd years ago, but it was amazing how the old skills and memories came flooding back, and we were soon playing to a very creditable standard. There were one or two examples of rather shameless “gamesmanship” where the score was “modified” when the opportunity arose, or a point claimed when the ball clearly bounced on the wrong side of the table, but we’ll draw a veil over that Eddie. Everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves – having a good laugh at the same time as a bit of a workout.
If anyone would like to join us, you will be very welcome. So get up in the loft, dust off the bat you last used when a teenager, and get down to Walcote Village Hall on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month.
CANASTA 1
Co-ordinator
June Hartopp
01455 553418 (ex /d.)
The December meeting of his group will be on 14th December, usual time. The move is caused by the Christmas Lunch being held on it’s usual day.
The November meeting will be on 2nd as usual.
PUB LUNCH
NEW Co-ordinator
Jill Graham
01455 557117
email grahjill@hotmail.com
We had a good lunch on Wednesday 3rd October at Wood Farm (The Microbrewery) and decided to go to The Red Lion at Gilmorton on Wednesday 7 November.
POETRY
Co-ordinator
Angela &Stuart Rhodes
01455 554553
A virtually unknown world of Thomas Hardy's poetry was read and enjoyed (thanks partly to a dictionary published about a hundred years ago) by the small number of members present. It became obvious as time progressed that the themes and style of his poetry altered following the death of his estranged first wife and his subsequent second marriage. His poetry which certainly extended beyond the boundaries of nineteenth century Wessex was not always easy to understand but nevertheless gave everyone much food for thought.
The next meeting which will be devoted to "Childrens Poertry" will be on Thursday 25 October next.
BIRD WATCHING
Co-ordinators
Mary & Peter Rolleston
01455 209156
For our September birdwatching we went to Upton Warren reserve in Worcestershire. There were several pools at the reserve and although we didn't see a large number of birds, we had a very pleasant day there We observed snipe, curlew, several lapwings and ducks. Our next outing is on Friday, 26th October and we will be going either to Attenborough Reserve near Nottingham or Brandon Marsh, near Brinklow.
New members always welcome.
BOOK CHAT
Co-ordinator
Mick Curtis
01455 554504
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, our book choice for September, is an intriguing story about stolen identities,corruption, deceit, money and social anxiety. Soon after Walter Hartright helps a mysterious woman, dressed all in white, on a dark road in the middle of the night, he is disturbed to learn that she may have escaped from an asylum. Following this encounter he gains the position of art teacher to half sisters, Laura Fairlie and Marion Halcombe. He falls madly in love with Laura, who is betrothed to a much older man whom she does not love. Hartright discovers that the woman in white could be connected to these young women and so begins a story of intrigue and danger for Laura. This book was written in 1861 and the style of writing and the social mores portrayed in the book certainly match this date. Many members found the book heavy going, but all agreed that the book stood the test of time and that the story was good. However we felt that the book could do with editing for a modern audience.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Co-ordinator
Mick Curtis
01455 554504
We finally caught up with our efforts from our trip to Shugborough and proved that even though we were all visiting the same venue our efforts were quite diverse. We all managed to produce images that would not look out of place on publicity material for the late Lord Litchfield's home.
With the onset of more unfavourable weather our group have now decided to meet bi-monthly And our next topic will be "Flight" which we will present and discuss on November the 23rd.
GERMAN CONVERSATION
Co-ordinator
Sue Hicks
01858 880273
September Meeting
We continued with our CD course and then tried a new approach, with some members talking about a topic of their choice for a few minutes, leading to discussion. This seemed to work well.
The next meeting will be on 23 October at Alan’s. Please note, we have changed the date.
FRENCH CONVERSATION
Co-ordinator
Sue Hicks
01858 880273
September Meeting
We were treated to a performance of the play we looked at last time, and then tried to guess various well-known personalities. We also welcomed a new member to our group.
On October 25 we plan to see “The Well-digger’s Daughter” in French with sub-titles at Pearl and Tony’s house.
QUIZ GROUP
Co-ordinator
Sylvie Curtis
01455 554504
A small band of stalwarts met this month to answer questions set by Jackie and Dot. The questions were as difficult as ever and our brains had an enjoyable workout to start the week.
LIVELY DISCUSSION
Co-ordinator
Dot Barnard
01455 208190
September Meeting : What makes a community?
A community is a group with a common interest – a neighbourhood, parents meeting outside the school, faith communities, shared values and a desire to be together etc. Any community needs 3 things to ensure community spirit: People to make it happen, publicity so that others will join and an overlap with other groups. Within Lutterworth many groups overlap as members belong to more than one e.g. U3A, carnival, Jubilee arrangements and organising Xmas lights. The council is not responsible for these local happenings and by working together groups are successful.
A parish councillor, for 12 years, noted the difference when the Parish Council changed from being useless to useful which happened when individuals stood for election and the same people were not re-elected every time.
Leicester’s multi-cultural success was seen as a good example of a community with very diverse interests. It was felt to be important to welcome newcomers and to prevent cliques forming otherwise a community degenerates into a private club.
Members also stated that the community depends on you joining in and welcoming others, if only by speaking to those you meet in the street. Someone must enable and facilitate the setting up and functioning of any organisation. There was concern that many volunteers are retirees, which is good because they have the time, but younger people are required too, for only with continuity can a community flourish, it exists before you join and will continue after you.
All appreciated the community spirit which they experienced in Wycliffe Lutterworth U3A, Lutterworth itself, Dunton Bassett and Broughton Astley.
November Topic:( very seasonally!)
What would life be like if Guy Faulkes had succeeded?
TUESDAY WALKING GROUP Co-ordinator:
Gordon Jones (Lutterworth U3A)
01455 556192
NOTE THE EARLIER TIMING
Tuesday, 16th October 2012
Walk Organiser: Barbara and Peter, 01455 553254
Meeting Point: Meet at the Coventry Road recreation ground Car Park.
Meeting Time: Meet at 09.10 to leave at 09.15.
Route and distance: 6 miles. Circular walk via Lowesby, Cold Newton and Quenby Park and the sites of three deserted medieval villages, using field paths, tracks and quiet country roads.
Directions to the Starting Point: A4304 to Market Harborough. B6047 from Market Harborough to the A47 at Billesden. Turn left on A47 to Houghton-on-the-Hill. Turn right at Houghton -on-the-Hill, signposted to Hungerton. Drive through the village and park at the Black Boy public house on the left.
Sat Nav: LE7 9JR
Lunch: At the Black Boy. Order before the walk.
Return Journey from Lutterworth Mileage: 64 miles. The mileage is less if you are familiar with the cross country route via Kibworth to the A47
Wednesday Walking Group Advance Notice
The Christmas Lunch will be held at Lutterworth Golf Club on 5th December 2012.
There will be a 5 mile Walk prior to the Lunch.
Menus will be available in October.
Full itinerary and cost will be included in the November Bulletin. We expect an increase from 2011.
Look forward to seeing you all again after last years great success.
Peter and Irene Moore Walk Organisers (01455 552594)
1st WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP Joint Co-ordinators:
Roger Watmore 01455 552431 and
Julian Hargreaves 01455 557704
WEDNESDAY, 7th November 2012
Walk Organisers: Peter and Jill Betts tel. 01455 554110
Meeting Point and Time – Lutterworth Recreation Ground car park at 09.25 to leave at 09.30am
Directions to the Start:- From Lutterworth take the A4304 to North Kilworth and then as you leave the village bear right after the canal. At the T junction turn right onto the A5199 (A50) and on entering Welford The Wharf Inn is on the right.
Route and Distance:- The walk is about 5 miles along the Welford arm to the Grand Union canal and back over the fields where there are magnificent views to the top end of Welford. It is fairly easy walking and reasonable under foot.
September Walk: On a beautiful sunny morning 28 walkers set off from The Admiral Nelson pub in Braunston and immediately found ourselves climbing quite a steep hill but it was well worth it for the wonderful views. Following part of the Jurassic Way and over some ploughed fields we came to the abandoned medieval village of Wolfhampcote where we stopped for a break in the churchyard around the now closed church apart from the occasional music concert. The rest of the walk was mainly along the canal via the Marina and back to the pub for lunch. Thanks to George and Jane for organising and particularly the weather!
4th WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP Co-ordinators:
Sue & Peter Creeden
01455 557888
WEDNESDAY 24 October 2012
Walk Organisers: Keith and June Whiting: Tel: 01455 209066
Meeting Point and Time:
Coventry Road recreation ground car park at 9.20am to leave at 9.30am. The start of the walk is at 10:00am from The Golden Shield Pub, Fleckney.
Directions to the Start: Leave Lutterworth on the Gilmorton Road. In Gilmorton turn right and then left to pass Peatling Parva and on towards Bruntingthorpe. At the T junction turn right towards Shearsby. Pass the Shearsby Bath and cross the A5199.to Fleckney. Take the first turning on the left. Just after entering Fleckney you will find The Golden Shield Pub on the right. If you reach the parish church, you`ve missed it!
The Walk: is approximately 6 miles along paths to Wistow Rural Centre and then returning via the canal towpath and paths to Fleckney
Lunch:The Golden Shield pub
September Walk
Only 12 of us set off in the rain from Harborough Magna. Fortunately, after about 15 minutes, the rain stopped and we were able to enjoy a very pleasant walk. We headed towards the tiny village of Cosford and then on to Churchover where we stopped for a break. The seating was a splendid wrought iron structure wrapped around the trunk of a large Horse Chestnut Tree. Shortly after the restart we were intrigued when we were led through a gated arch between two terraced houses and then, carefully avoiding tripping over the children`s toys, on through the back garden of one of the houses. The walk then headed back to Harborough Magna passing the old maternity home which is now a nursing home. A few stayed to enjoy lunch at the recently refurbished Old Lion. They laid out a large round table for us, with linen napkins, and served a delicious rich beef casserole.
JOINT GOLF GROUP (with Lutterworth U3A)
Co-ordinator (Lutterworth U3A)
Peter Moore
01455 552594
Please find listed below the details for our forthcoming tournament, to which you are cordially invited.
You may invite Guests along to enjoy this Superb Day Out. Let’s hope for reasonable WEATHER.!!!!!!
DATE: Friday 2nd November 2012
VENUE: Sandwell Park Golf Club, Birmingham Road, West Bromwich. B71 4JJ. M5 Junction 1
DIRECTIONS : M6 North, exit at junction 8 onto M5 South West and exit at Junction 1, onto A41 and turn left towards Birmingham. Golf Club entrance on left approx. 400 yards.
COMPETITION: Seasons End away day . Individual Stableford Full Handicap Allowance.
TEE TIMES: From 09.30 am.
ITINERARY:From 8.30 a.m
Coffee / Tea & Bacon Roll upon Arrival
18 holes Singles Stableford. Full Handicap Allowance
Hot Lunch Approx. 3.00 p.m –
Steak Pie or Battered Fish with Vegetables & Chips.
or vegetarian. Puddings available at extra cost.
Jackets & Ties NOT required.
Presentation of Seasons Finale Trophy and other prizes to 5th Place. 4.00pm Nearest the Pin: 7th Hole.
Total cost is £36.50p per player (includes Coffee /Tea & Bacon Roll, Green Fee, Prize Fund, & Hot Lunch)
To Book your place, send your details ASAP with a payment of £36.50p
(Cheques made payable to :- P. Moore, to the above address)
First class course and facilities. Really, Really Good , Brilliant, can’t praise it enough. Guaranteed enjoyment.
Joint U3A Annual Christmas Quiz
The Quiz night will be Wednesday 12th December 2012
at Lutterworth URC church rooms at 7.15 pm.
Teams of 4 Maximum @ £12.00p per team.
Full Details in November Magazine.
Peter and Irene Moore. Quiz Masters.
The September meeting of the Wycliffe U3A had an interesting history talk from Rosemary Gandy about the life and works of her father, Douglas Gandy. He started his business just before WW II in South Kilworth and sent out his first catalogue of Rose Trees in 1939. During the war, although he did grow vegetables, for the war effort, he did manage to hide many rose varieties from the inspectors. After the war, he moved to North Kilworth where he lived for the rest of his life. He had three daughters and an adopted son. Roses became important after the war but there was a limited choice. Many of his workers were Italians as most of the local lads worked in Coventry. He exhibited his roses at many shows in Leicester, at Timken and also at Chelsea with many prizes. He travelled extensively around Europe seeking out new varieties of roses to sell.
Eventually he started to breed his own roses and at the height, there were over ¾ of a millions roses in the fields at North Kilworth by the Lutterworth Road in 1965. In addition to innovations in breeding roses, he was the first to introduce herbicides into the UK that allowed him to reduce significantly the labour required. Many of the roses he bred were named after famous personalities. He did secure the contract to supply every Butlins holiday camp but Billy Butlin insisted that the rose named after him was to be called Sir William Butlin. Betty Driver, of hot pot fame in Coronation Street, had a rose named after her. Many others have had their own roses, including Jimmy Greaves and David Whitfield. There was, however, a disastrous frost in 1982 that caused a significant down-sizing. Even so, Gardeners World paid 5 visits during 1996 before a program on Gandy’s Roses was broadcast. The business itself closed its doors in 2009 although Rosemary is still very active in the rose growing world.
Christmas Lunch
Friday 7th December at Kilworth Springs Golf Club. Could you please ensure that all monies are paid in full by the November 8th monthly meeting ( £18 per head). Cheques preferred( made payable to Wycliffe Lutterworth U3A) or correct money Ann Ashworth
TRIPS
Joint Co-ordinators
George Robertson
01455 559725 email:george9high@hotmail.com
Rose Coltman
01455-209830 (ex/d. )
LINCOLN CATHEDRAL COACH TRIP
THURS 18th OCTOBER 2012 COST £18.00
The trip to Lincoln Cathedral includes entry fees and private guided tour. It departs from The Leisure Centre Coach park at 8.45am (cars can be parked free of charge in the adjacent
Recreational Ground car park).
We aim to arrive at The Cathedral around 11am with time for a loo visit and perhaps a cuppa in the Refectory before the 1hr guided tour begins at 11.30am. You are then free to make your own arrangements for lunch and the rest of the day until the coach departs at 4pm. You may wish to visit The Castle Museum (entry £4.00) which is near the cathedral or you can walk down Steep Hill through the 'old town' towards the city centre. A Walk & Ride bus service operates between the City Centre and the Cathedral Quarter. Copies of The Lincoln Guide and Map will be distributed on the coach.
Please pay promptly preferably by cheque made out to Wycliffe Lutterworth U3A
Places still available. Please contact George asap to book
Sulgrave Manor Trip
Following an excellent talk at our U3A Thursday meeting about George Washington and Sulgrave Manor a group visit was arranged for Thursday 27th September. 47 of us visited on a thankfully warm sunny September day. Sulgrave Manor is home to George Washington’s ancestors. It is a beautiful stone Manor house built at the time of Henry V111. It has changed over the years and an 18th century extension provided an interesting contrast.
Our guides were friendly and very informative. We had a gentle stroll through three centuries of history. We sat in the great hall at ‘The Board’, an oak table that could be turned over from its polished side to the rough side. The rough side was used to play games, these were called board games. Lawrence Washington, Sulgrave’s founder, would have sat in the chair at the head of the table – hence ‘Chairman of the Board’. We learnt where some of our every day vocabulary originates. The great bed had five mattresses. The ‘Doss’ was the straw one, so to lay down on this was to ‘Doss’! Candles were lit round the bed when someone was very ill and ‘Snuffed’ out when they died. A cupboard on the wall was for the leftover food and called the ‘Dole’. If a poor person came to the door they were handed food from the ‘Dole’.
We saw what looked like a wooden block with Chinese characters thereon. We were told this was a genuine block of pressed tea leaves which would be grated into a cup, for boiling water to be added.
The Sulgrave embroideries were of great interest as was the George Washington exhibition.
The manor is owned by a trust for the peoples of the UK and USA. Both flags fly outside the Manor entrance. Lawrence Washington used his family coat of arms to embellish his home. The arms contain 3 stars above two red horizontal stripes. This could have been the origin of the USA flag.
Some of us had a picnic in the sunshine, others went to the Star Inn for lunch. A walk round the gardens and into the village to the church completed the day.
Thanks to Viv for providing an information sheet and brief talk on the coach setting out the historical context and to Eddie who assisted me with the organising.
Rose Coltman
THEATRE Co-ordinator
Eddie Hemsley 01455 554564
16 of us went to see The Tempest at the RSC theatre, a production many of us enjoyed for a variety of reasons.
In the programme notes the director David Farr tells us that he wanted a prison-camp-feel to the island where Prospero, Duke of Milan, and his motherless 3 year old daughter Miranda, had been confined for 12 years since his brother Antonio took away his dukedom. The only other inhabitants on the island are Caliban, son of Sycorax, a deceased witch, and Ariel, a spirit in human form. A prison-like feel to life on the island was enhanced in several ways. Clothes worn by the actors resembled worn prison-like uniforms. The ripped-up plank edges to the stage exposed a sub-structure with holes. During the play human shapes would emerge and silently carry out tasks before returning. Later on more colourful beings emerged as the prospect of a happier ending appeared likely. Caliban's punishment meant he was forced to live underground.
Confinement can reveal the best in people, and the worst. Prospero, fuelled by his intense anger at being unjustly deprived of his dukedom, has acquired complete control of island life. He has used his beloved books, secretly given to him by his good friend Gonzalo before he left Milan, and a deep knowledge of the island's secrets proudly shown to him by Caliban, to develop special powers which he trains Ariel to use for him. But both have to accept that they are now under his control which leaves Caliban bitter at losing what he regards as his island, and Ariel can no longer live as a free spirit.
The play opens with a storm ordered by Prospero and set in motion by Ariel. A mirror-like cube set centre-stage acts as a ship, being deliberately caught in the storm so it is driven onto the island's shores. Inside crew and passengers struggle to survive, the latter including Alonso, king of Naples, and his court, returning to Naples after the wedding of Alonso's daughter to the king of Tunis. Also on board are Antonio and Gonzalo. The storm dies down, the ship is beached with its crew, and the passengers scatter to different parts of the island. However, Ferdinand, Alonso's son, is missing, feared dead.
Stripped of their power and position, all are now at the mercy of Prospero, and at the mercy of their true selves. Gonzalo remains the good man he has always been, and Alonso in his desperate search for his son, shows that parental love for him now matters far more than being king. But his brother Sebastian and Antonio together plot their deaths.
In another part of the island Trinculo, a jester, and Stephano, a butler, come across Caliban hiding under his cloak. What follows next is hilarious, pure pantomime comedy which had us, the audience, in stitches. Waving bottles of wine discovered in a box washed up on a beach, they drunkenly entice Caliban to emerge and join them. As he drinks with gusto, he tells them he will show them the delights of his island. As he drinks more, he promises to make Stephano king of the island, with Miranda as his queen. Then his bitterness against Prospero surfaces and in their drunken stupor they plot to kill him. It is only much later on in the play that Caliban, now sober, realises what they had plotted under the influence of drink was wrong.
Prospero finally achieves all he had planned to do with his special powers. Above all, Prospero, like Alonso, has realised that parental love matters to him above all else. It was 3 year old Miranda's cherubic smiles that first gave him the strength to survive being confined on the island .It was her needs as she grew up, isolated from human contact, other than that of her father and Caliban, that Prospero watched over, and now at 15 it is her future as a young woman that he cares about more than anything else. Ferdinand has proved worthy of her love, and so Prospero gives them both his blessing, as does Alonso on finding that his son is alive after all. Watching, Antonio can do little else but restore the dukedom to his brother. He is forgiven, as is Caliban. Suddenly, the prison-like feel to island life is lifted and real life once again is revealed to all. In Miranda's words, as she realises that there are many more people out there than she had thought, "O wonder!.. O, brave new world that has such people in't! ", the play comes to an end, leaving Ariel free at last and Caliban master of his beloved island. The ship is ready to resume its interrupted voyage to Naples and everyone looks forward to celebrating Ferdinand and Miranda's wedding.
But there is an unexpected epilogue. Prospero steps forward to address us, the audience. He tells us that what strength he now has left is 'most faint', but it is his own. He now longer needs, or wants, the special powers that confinement had demanded of him. He asks us if 'your indulgence' will 'set me free' to be himself again, to enjoy his library of books at home in Milan and to live as a loving father should, with his family in private. He pauses and waits...then with our applause Prospero knows he is finally free to be himself.
The Tempest was the last play Shakespeare wrote. Over 25 years his unique creativity had written 37 plays, sonnets and poems. He left London to return to Stratford and family life.Like Prospero, perhaps he,too, was asking his 1611 audience to set him free from his creative powers, to let him return to being a family man and a private citizen again. He died in 1616.
Anne Smalley
TABLE TENNIS
Co-ordinator
Nigel Bones
01455 209756
The newly formed table tennis group has got off to a good start. We were all a bit nervous at first, not having played since youth club days some 40 odd years ago, but it was amazing how the old skills and memories came flooding back, and we were soon playing to a very creditable standard. There were one or two examples of rather shameless “gamesmanship” where the score was “modified” when the opportunity arose, or a point claimed when the ball clearly bounced on the wrong side of the table, but we’ll draw a veil over that Eddie. Everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves – having a good laugh at the same time as a bit of a workout.
If anyone would like to join us, you will be very welcome. So get up in the loft, dust off the bat you last used when a teenager, and get down to Walcote Village Hall on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month.
CANASTA 1
Co-ordinator
June Hartopp
01455 553418 (ex /d.)
The December meeting of his group will be on 14th December, usual time. The move is caused by the Christmas Lunch being held on it’s usual day.
The November meeting will be on 2nd as usual.
PUB LUNCH
NEW Co-ordinator
Jill Graham
01455 557117
email grahjill@hotmail.com
We had a good lunch on Wednesday 3rd October at Wood Farm (The Microbrewery) and decided to go to The Red Lion at Gilmorton on Wednesday 7 November.
POETRY
Co-ordinator
Angela &Stuart Rhodes
01455 554553
A virtually unknown world of Thomas Hardy's poetry was read and enjoyed (thanks partly to a dictionary published about a hundred years ago) by the small number of members present. It became obvious as time progressed that the themes and style of his poetry altered following the death of his estranged first wife and his subsequent second marriage. His poetry which certainly extended beyond the boundaries of nineteenth century Wessex was not always easy to understand but nevertheless gave everyone much food for thought.
The next meeting which will be devoted to "Childrens Poertry" will be on Thursday 25 October next.
BIRD WATCHING
Co-ordinators
Mary & Peter Rolleston
01455 209156
For our September birdwatching we went to Upton Warren reserve in Worcestershire. There were several pools at the reserve and although we didn't see a large number of birds, we had a very pleasant day there We observed snipe, curlew, several lapwings and ducks. Our next outing is on Friday, 26th October and we will be going either to Attenborough Reserve near Nottingham or Brandon Marsh, near Brinklow.
New members always welcome.
BOOK CHAT
Co-ordinator
Mick Curtis
01455 554504
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, our book choice for September, is an intriguing story about stolen identities,corruption, deceit, money and social anxiety. Soon after Walter Hartright helps a mysterious woman, dressed all in white, on a dark road in the middle of the night, he is disturbed to learn that she may have escaped from an asylum. Following this encounter he gains the position of art teacher to half sisters, Laura Fairlie and Marion Halcombe. He falls madly in love with Laura, who is betrothed to a much older man whom she does not love. Hartright discovers that the woman in white could be connected to these young women and so begins a story of intrigue and danger for Laura. This book was written in 1861 and the style of writing and the social mores portrayed in the book certainly match this date. Many members found the book heavy going, but all agreed that the book stood the test of time and that the story was good. However we felt that the book could do with editing for a modern audience.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Co-ordinator
Mick Curtis
01455 554504
We finally caught up with our efforts from our trip to Shugborough and proved that even though we were all visiting the same venue our efforts were quite diverse. We all managed to produce images that would not look out of place on publicity material for the late Lord Litchfield's home.
With the onset of more unfavourable weather our group have now decided to meet bi-monthly And our next topic will be "Flight" which we will present and discuss on November the 23rd.
GERMAN CONVERSATION
Co-ordinator
Sue Hicks
01858 880273
September Meeting
We continued with our CD course and then tried a new approach, with some members talking about a topic of their choice for a few minutes, leading to discussion. This seemed to work well.
The next meeting will be on 23 October at Alan’s. Please note, we have changed the date.
FRENCH CONVERSATION
Co-ordinator
Sue Hicks
01858 880273
September Meeting
We were treated to a performance of the play we looked at last time, and then tried to guess various well-known personalities. We also welcomed a new member to our group.
On October 25 we plan to see “The Well-digger’s Daughter” in French with sub-titles at Pearl and Tony’s house.
QUIZ GROUP
Co-ordinator
Sylvie Curtis
01455 554504
A small band of stalwarts met this month to answer questions set by Jackie and Dot. The questions were as difficult as ever and our brains had an enjoyable workout to start the week.
LIVELY DISCUSSION
Co-ordinator
Dot Barnard
01455 208190
September Meeting : What makes a community?
A community is a group with a common interest – a neighbourhood, parents meeting outside the school, faith communities, shared values and a desire to be together etc. Any community needs 3 things to ensure community spirit: People to make it happen, publicity so that others will join and an overlap with other groups. Within Lutterworth many groups overlap as members belong to more than one e.g. U3A, carnival, Jubilee arrangements and organising Xmas lights. The council is not responsible for these local happenings and by working together groups are successful.
A parish councillor, for 12 years, noted the difference when the Parish Council changed from being useless to useful which happened when individuals stood for election and the same people were not re-elected every time.
Leicester’s multi-cultural success was seen as a good example of a community with very diverse interests. It was felt to be important to welcome newcomers and to prevent cliques forming otherwise a community degenerates into a private club.
Members also stated that the community depends on you joining in and welcoming others, if only by speaking to those you meet in the street. Someone must enable and facilitate the setting up and functioning of any organisation. There was concern that many volunteers are retirees, which is good because they have the time, but younger people are required too, for only with continuity can a community flourish, it exists before you join and will continue after you.
All appreciated the community spirit which they experienced in Wycliffe Lutterworth U3A, Lutterworth itself, Dunton Bassett and Broughton Astley.
November Topic:( very seasonally!)
What would life be like if Guy Faulkes had succeeded?
TUESDAY WALKING GROUP Co-ordinator:
Gordon Jones (Lutterworth U3A)
01455 556192
NOTE THE EARLIER TIMING
Tuesday, 16th October 2012
Walk Organiser: Barbara and Peter, 01455 553254
Meeting Point: Meet at the Coventry Road recreation ground Car Park.
Meeting Time: Meet at 09.10 to leave at 09.15.
Route and distance: 6 miles. Circular walk via Lowesby, Cold Newton and Quenby Park and the sites of three deserted medieval villages, using field paths, tracks and quiet country roads.
Directions to the Starting Point: A4304 to Market Harborough. B6047 from Market Harborough to the A47 at Billesden. Turn left on A47 to Houghton-on-the-Hill. Turn right at Houghton -on-the-Hill, signposted to Hungerton. Drive through the village and park at the Black Boy public house on the left.
Sat Nav: LE7 9JR
Lunch: At the Black Boy. Order before the walk.
Return Journey from Lutterworth Mileage: 64 miles. The mileage is less if you are familiar with the cross country route via Kibworth to the A47
Wednesday Walking Group Advance Notice
The Christmas Lunch will be held at Lutterworth Golf Club on 5th December 2012.
There will be a 5 mile Walk prior to the Lunch.
Menus will be available in October.
Full itinerary and cost will be included in the November Bulletin. We expect an increase from 2011.
Look forward to seeing you all again after last years great success.
Peter and Irene Moore Walk Organisers (01455 552594)
1st WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP Joint Co-ordinators:
Roger Watmore 01455 552431 and
Julian Hargreaves 01455 557704
WEDNESDAY, 7th November 2012
Walk Organisers: Peter and Jill Betts tel. 01455 554110
Meeting Point and Time – Lutterworth Recreation Ground car park at 09.25 to leave at 09.30am
Directions to the Start:- From Lutterworth take the A4304 to North Kilworth and then as you leave the village bear right after the canal. At the T junction turn right onto the A5199 (A50) and on entering Welford The Wharf Inn is on the right.
Route and Distance:- The walk is about 5 miles along the Welford arm to the Grand Union canal and back over the fields where there are magnificent views to the top end of Welford. It is fairly easy walking and reasonable under foot.
September Walk: On a beautiful sunny morning 28 walkers set off from The Admiral Nelson pub in Braunston and immediately found ourselves climbing quite a steep hill but it was well worth it for the wonderful views. Following part of the Jurassic Way and over some ploughed fields we came to the abandoned medieval village of Wolfhampcote where we stopped for a break in the churchyard around the now closed church apart from the occasional music concert. The rest of the walk was mainly along the canal via the Marina and back to the pub for lunch. Thanks to George and Jane for organising and particularly the weather!
4th WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP Co-ordinators:
Sue & Peter Creeden
01455 557888
WEDNESDAY 24 October 2012
Walk Organisers: Keith and June Whiting: Tel: 01455 209066
Meeting Point and Time:
Coventry Road recreation ground car park at 9.20am to leave at 9.30am. The start of the walk is at 10:00am from The Golden Shield Pub, Fleckney.
Directions to the Start: Leave Lutterworth on the Gilmorton Road. In Gilmorton turn right and then left to pass Peatling Parva and on towards Bruntingthorpe. At the T junction turn right towards Shearsby. Pass the Shearsby Bath and cross the A5199.to Fleckney. Take the first turning on the left. Just after entering Fleckney you will find The Golden Shield Pub on the right. If you reach the parish church, you`ve missed it!
The Walk: is approximately 6 miles along paths to Wistow Rural Centre and then returning via the canal towpath and paths to Fleckney
Lunch:The Golden Shield pub
September Walk
Only 12 of us set off in the rain from Harborough Magna. Fortunately, after about 15 minutes, the rain stopped and we were able to enjoy a very pleasant walk. We headed towards the tiny village of Cosford and then on to Churchover where we stopped for a break. The seating was a splendid wrought iron structure wrapped around the trunk of a large Horse Chestnut Tree. Shortly after the restart we were intrigued when we were led through a gated arch between two terraced houses and then, carefully avoiding tripping over the children`s toys, on through the back garden of one of the houses. The walk then headed back to Harborough Magna passing the old maternity home which is now a nursing home. A few stayed to enjoy lunch at the recently refurbished Old Lion. They laid out a large round table for us, with linen napkins, and served a delicious rich beef casserole.
JOINT GOLF GROUP (with Lutterworth U3A)
Co-ordinator (Lutterworth U3A)
Peter Moore
01455 552594
Please find listed below the details for our forthcoming tournament, to which you are cordially invited.
You may invite Guests along to enjoy this Superb Day Out. Let’s hope for reasonable WEATHER.!!!!!!
DATE: Friday 2nd November 2012
VENUE: Sandwell Park Golf Club, Birmingham Road, West Bromwich. B71 4JJ. M5 Junction 1
DIRECTIONS : M6 North, exit at junction 8 onto M5 South West and exit at Junction 1, onto A41 and turn left towards Birmingham. Golf Club entrance on left approx. 400 yards.
COMPETITION: Seasons End away day . Individual Stableford Full Handicap Allowance.
TEE TIMES: From 09.30 am.
ITINERARY:From 8.30 a.m
Coffee / Tea & Bacon Roll upon Arrival
18 holes Singles Stableford. Full Handicap Allowance
Hot Lunch Approx. 3.00 p.m –
Steak Pie or Battered Fish with Vegetables & Chips.
or vegetarian. Puddings available at extra cost.
Jackets & Ties NOT required.
Presentation of Seasons Finale Trophy and other prizes to 5th Place. 4.00pm Nearest the Pin: 7th Hole.
Total cost is £36.50p per player (includes Coffee /Tea & Bacon Roll, Green Fee, Prize Fund, & Hot Lunch)
To Book your place, send your details ASAP with a payment of £36.50p
(Cheques made payable to :- P. Moore, to the above address)
First class course and facilities. Really, Really Good , Brilliant, can’t praise it enough. Guaranteed enjoyment.
Joint U3A Annual Christmas Quiz
The Quiz night will be Wednesday 12th December 2012
at Lutterworth URC church rooms at 7.15 pm.
Teams of 4 Maximum @ £12.00p per team.
Full Details in November Magazine.
Peter and Irene Moore. Quiz Masters.
