York Association Newsletter

An Association of National Trust Members and Supporters

December 2019 Number 191 Contents Page Chair’s Letter 3 Membership 4 AGM and lunch 5 Talks 6 Social and Fundraising Events 7 Holidays 8 Country walks and quiz night 8 Day Trip Review s 11 Holiday reviews 14 Dates for your Diary Back cover

Enclosed with this Newsletter are two booking forms for the AGM Lunch and Quiz Night. Please contact the Newsletter editor if any of these are missing.

Chair: Catherine Brophy [email protected] 01904 331273 Secretary: Jean Haywood [email protected] 01904 702402 Treasurer: Valerie Laud [email protected] 01904 704600 Membership: Elinor Bailey [email protected] 01347 821262 Day Trips: Colin Sherwood [email protected] 01904 640915 Walks: Alison Rutter [email protected] 01904 703430 Holidays: Peter Drew [email protected] 01904 702285 Events: Christine Truman [email protected] 01937 541163 Website: Mike Morrow [email protected] 01904 654546

Newsletter: Catherine Brophy [email protected] 07947 854923

Talks: Roger King [email protected] 01904 761274

Publicity: Mererid Hunt [email protected] 01653 690992

Cover: Carol singing visitors at Fountains Abbey ©National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

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Chair's Letter

As you read the newsletter, I hope you will join with me in thanking all the organisers and committee members who provide such a varied and interesting programme of activities for YANT members. These range from a summer Garden party to Christmas lunches, holidays and both short and full day walks. On the last Wednesday of every month, except September and December, we have a get-together over lunch at “Walmgate Ale House & Bistro”. This is a good opportunity to meet fellow members to find out more about supporting the organising of activities. We really do need some new committee members, particularly for the Programme Committee, to help with organising day trips as, at present, none are planned for 2020. Help and support will be provided but you are really needed and will be warmly welcomed by each committee. The committee chair’s details are on page 2 or contact myself; we are happy to have an informal discussion with you without any obligation. As we went to press we had the very sad news of the death of Mrs Celia Rutt who, amongst her many activities, was a mainstay of both the Walks and Programme committees and will be much missed. We send our condolences to her family and friends. The new number for day trips, mystery tour, etc. is 07852 163013 In November 2020 the York Association will be 50 years old and we are planning a special reception and talk for members on Saturday 28th November 2020, so do save the date. We are also planning a celebratory issue of this newsletter so please let me have any special memories that I can include, space permitting. We are delighted that Andrew Morrison, new CEO of York Civic Trust, and recently a Curator at the National Trust, has agreed to be our guest speaker on Saturday 28th March at the AGM. Details are on page 5 and the booking form is enclosed. I look forward to meeting you at many YANT events throughout December and into the spring. With my best wishes for Christmas and 2020.

Catherine Brophy Chair 3

Membership

At the end of October 2019 we had 586 members, and are pleased to have welcomed the following to membership over the past three months. I hope very much that you will enjoy the events that YANT committees organize.

Bridget Johnson Norma Thompson Rosemary Balchin David and Patricia West

As this is the last Newsletter in 2019, I would like to remind those members who still pay by cheque that subscriptions for next year are due on 4th January 2020. Unless this is paid by the end of February 2020 your name(s) will be deleted from the membership list. Please send your cheque to me at 24 Stillington Oaks, Easingwold, York, YO61 3GP as soon as possible.

If you pay by standing order the Treasurer would be grateful if you could please check that the amount you are paying reflects your current family situation.

Annual Membership is £8 single and £14 for family membership (at the same address).

If you do change your standing order, or add a new one, please check that you are only making one payment annually to YANT.

Thank you.

Elinor Bailey, Membership Secretary

Website Reminder

www.yant.org.uk

User Name is: member Password is: yantmember

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Book the date: Saturday 28th March 2020 49th AGM and Lunch at the York Hilton Hotel, Tower Street, York

Andrew Morrison, CEO of York Civic Trust, will be our guest speaker. Andrew was until recently Lead Curator, North Region, for the National Trust. Previously Andrew worked for York Museums Trust and the Leeds Library. We will have an entertaining and informative talk about his fascinating and varied work.

Do join us for the short formal AGM at 11am, followed by the talk and lunch. A menu and booking form are enclosed for the lunch. Tea and coffee are available for everyone from 10.30am and at 12pm the Conservatory Bar will open and remain available throughout lunch. Lunch is served at 1pm and the event concludes at 2.30pm.

Everyone welcome, particularly for an excellent talk and to meet fellow members and guests, over a very good lunch.

2020 Holidays Wednesday 26th February at 10am

“Walmgate Ale House and Bistro”, 25 Walmgate, York

Andrew Sharples from Brightwater Holidays and Peter Drew, YANT tours organiser, will discuss and show slides of the holidays planned for 2020.

Whether you have already booked or are thinking about booking do come along and find out more about the holidays.

Space is limited to 40 members so please let Peter Drew know if you are coming.

Phone 01904 702285 / 07510 673599 Email: [email protected]

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Talks

Talks are held at the Friends’ Meeting House in Friargate on Saturdays. Starting at 2.30pm. They last for about 45 minutes, with time for questions afterwards. Below are the synopses of the October and November talks. Remember non- members of YANT are welcome to attend so please bring relatives, friends and neighbours. The charge of £4 is to cover room and equipment hire.

Roger King, Talks Organiser

18th January 2020, Glennis Whyte “The Determined Ladies of Minster Yard”

From the numerous Treasurer's House residents over the centuries, visitors tend only to hear about the last owner, Frank Green. However, other residents acquired international fame and respect. This talk unveils the lives of Jane Squire, Sarah Scott and Anne Morritt who, connected by the property, were determined to overcome 18th century restrictions imposed on women in science, literature and art.

15th February, 2020, Colin Alderson “Entertaining at Sandringham”

Following his very entertaining talk earlier this year on life in the kitchens at Buckingham Palace, Colin Alderson is returning to tell us about preparing food for Christmas and state visits at Sandringham and how the staff received their presents from the Royal Family and their participation in the festivities.

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Social and Fundraising Events

On November 1st we welcomed back the History Wardrobe with their presentation on “All Writers Great and Small”. This was Lucy’s last show on this theme. At this celebration of Yorkshire authors we welcomed over 60 people and had a very enjoyable evening - including exciting news from Lucy Adlington that her new book on “Women’s Lives and Clothes in WW2” had just been published and another title has been optioned for a film.

The committee has decided that we won’t organise an early Spring event, but concentrate on May onwards - when the nights are lighter and hopefully the weather is better. In the last couple of years we have had to cancel March and April events. However, if you have a suggestion for a social and/or fundraising event, do please let me know.

We do hope to see many of you at future events.

Christine Truman, Chairman Projects Group

Lucy presenting “All Writers Great and Small” ©Mike Morrow

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Holidays

Rooms available for 2020 holidays.

Holidays are filling up nicely following the October meeting, so If you are still considering any type of room on any of the holidays, view the full itineraries with photographs and prices in the holidays section of the YANT website or your YANT brochure, before contacting Brightwater holidays on 01334 657155 to book. Peter Drew, YANT Tours Organiser

Walks Group

Social Evening and Quiz Night on Friday 20th March

Our annual quiz night and social evening will be held at New Earswick Bowls Club, Huntington Road, York starting at 7.30pm. A cash bar will open at 7pm.

There will be the usual quiz, with Roger King and Alison Rutter asking the questions. Participants will be placed in teams of four. Those booking together will be placed in the same team; otherwise please enter your preferences on the booking form and we shall do our best to accommodate them.

The Bowls Club will again provide a buffet supper with a variety of savoury items plus scones with jam and cream, cakes and tea and coffee. There will also be an optional raffle. The evening usually ends around 10pm.

Tickets cost £12.50, to include supper. To reserve a place/places please complete the enclosed booking form and return it by 13th March.

If you wish your application to be acknowledged by email there is no need to include an SAE, but please enter your email details on the form.

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Country Walks Circular half day walks using own transport.

Monday 30th December An easy walk beside the Ouse in York. 3.5 miles. Starting at Tower Gardens, opposite Clifford’s Tower at 10.30 am, the walk will follow the River Ouse towards Fulford, crossing at the Millenium Bridge. Continuing a short distance along the river towards Bishopthorpe, we will cross fields, and Bishopthorpe Road, towards the Knavesmire. The route will take us back through Rowntree Park, then return along the riverside to the start point near Skeldergate Bridge. Paths could be muddy in places after rain and there is one stile. There are numerous places to eat along Bishopthorpe Road or in York city centre after the walk. Please note: if the paths beside the river are flooded, the walk will be cancelled. Walk leaders: Alison and Nigel Rutter: Tel 07523 94406

Monday 13th January A 4-5 mile easy walk around New Earswick, Huntington and Earswick, (route variable depending on the height of the River Foss). Meet at the Folk Hall, New Earswick where there is parking and toilets, for a 10.30 am start. The route follows paths through meadows, established footpaths and some pavements. There are good lunch facilities in the refurbished Folk Hall or at the Blacksmith’s Arms Walk leader: Jenny Nicholson: Tel 07709 526 254

Tuesday 11th February. A 4.5 mile easy walk around Sheriff Hutton starting at 10am. The walk is through mainly flat farmland, with several stiles and may be muddy in places. There may be cows in the fields so please contact the walk leader if you are thinking of bringing your dog on the walk. Parking: turn left at the Highwayman Pub at Sheriff Hutton, if travelling from Strensall, and continue past the school to the end of the road where there is limited road-side parking.

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Refreshments are available after the walk at the Highwayman Pub or café in the village. Walk Leader: Sally Mayo: Tel 01904 49037

Tuesday 10th March. A 4.2 mile easy walk from Heslington. May be muddy after rain. Meet at 10am at the Sports Centre at the Outgang, Heslington. There are frequent No. 66 buses from town to Heslington. If arriving by bus, get off at Heslington Hall and with the hall on your right walk straight ahead over the road down Main Street, Heslington village. At the end there is the Manor House on your left and some small bungalows on your right. Bear right past the bungalows and you will shortly reach The Outgang and the Sports Centre. If arriving by car, follow the same route through the village and there is ample parking at the Sports Centre. The walk follows the Outgang, crosses the A64 via a footbridge and then various tracks past the northern edge of the Tillmire, which is a SSSI, across the golf course and Germany Beck before skirting the University sports field and back to the start. There are pubs serving meals in Heslington, or a short drive will take you to Fulford. Walk leader Sue Pearson: Tel 01904 412059

Please park with consideration where roadside/village parking is involved. NB. Walkers participate at their own risk and must be capable of completing the distance in open countryside, over uneven ground with some hill ascents, in a variety of weather conditions. Suitable clothing and footwear must be worn and light refreshments carried.

An administration charge of £1 will be collected on each walk.

Full-day walks with bus transport and tea. May – a walk to be led by Dorothy Pope along the Leeds-Liverpool canal at Gargrave (postponed from September 2019)

June – a walk from Masham to Hackfall Woods, led by Alison and Nigel Rutter.

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July – Tony Brook will lead a walk on Saturday, 18th July. Details in the March Newsletter.

We still need offers to lead short, circular walks from May and full-day walks in April and September. Please contact Alison or any member of the walks committee if you are willing to help.

If you can help, please contact Alison Rutter on 01904 703430 or 07523 944065 or e-mail at [email protected] if you would like to know more about what is involved. Many thanks in anticipation.

Brenda Batty (Secretary, Walks Committee)

Reviews

Mystery Tour 10th September A bright sunny morning, a comfortable coach, a pleasant driver (Andrew) and company - what could be a better start to our annual mystery tour, but where are we going? Tadcaster was our first point of interest where two brothers, John and William, started brewing. However, when William built a bigger brewery next door, John left his to Sam. Hence Sam Smith's was founded in 1895 and John's is now Heineken.

Onward via Boston Spa, Collingham etc, passing Harewood House, the home of the Lascelles and of the late Princess Royal (Mary). This is popular now for its bird garden and grounds, as well as the house, which replaced a castle. Then a lovely country drive to Otley, being the birthplace of Chippendale (famous for his furniture) in 1718 and where the Archbishops of York were Lords of the Manor. We travelled 'off piste', as it were, with Andrew negotiating the coach along really narrow roads and through lovely scenery to Ilkley which has the remains of a Druid Circle and a Roman fort. The town is now popular with retirees from Leeds and Bradford. Here we had a break for coffee at Craiglands Hotel - originally a private home and spa, which was extended by the son to offer treatments to foreign visitors, notably Russians.

Suitably refreshed we headed to the moor and passed the Cow and Calf rocks standing proudly on the hillside. Originally, the tale goes, the calf had split from 11 the cow when a giant, Rombald, stamped on the rock when he fled from his wife! The onward road not being suitable for a coach, we turned left down Moor Lane and then via Burley-in-Wharfedale to Menston, whose residents include retired footballers from Bradford City. The local primary school had been the meeting place for three of the Kaiser Chiefs. Onward past the Dick Hudson pub, which, for anyone feeling really fit, is famously on the 7-mile running route up to the Cow and Calf. We journeyed via Bingley of the 5-rise lock staircase on the Leeds/Liverpool Canal fame. They have been there since 1774 and it takes 1hr 45mins to go up the steepest staircase lock in the country. It is the Waterways’ most listed feature, by both English Heritage and the NT and was built by many Irish immigrants in order for Leeds merchants to export via Liverpool when access to the Yorkshire coal industry was required. It stretches for 134 miles and runs through a clearing in the forest. Famous (or infamous) people include the astronomer, Fred Hoyle, and the multi- murderer, Peter Sutcliffe.

Travelling via Harden and Cullingworth, settled by the Romans around AD150 who are famous for building the roads on the moor. We came to Denholme, - a name of Viking origin - flat among hillsides - (Holme - meaning reclaimed marshland) and on to the Roman road from Manchester to Ilkley. Monks from Byland Abbey had land here and probably a grange. At 850 feet Denholme was the highest station on the GNR system before closure in 1961. Because of the hills and tunnels, is dubbed the Alpine Line. On through Oxenhope, the home of over twenty cloth and wool mills in the 1850s and now the end of the Worth Valley railway line, to our final destination, Haworth, for a welcome lunch. Haworth, of course, was the home of the Brontë family. The Reverend Patrick and Maria Brontë arrived in 1820 and Patrick was the minister until 1861. Their famous daughters, Emily, Anne and Charlotte, left their mark in the literary world having produced some remarkable novels. Anne is buried in the graveyard of St Mary's Church, Scarborough. Replete after lunch and a short time for some fresh air, we boarded the coach one last time for our journey home after a really enjoyable day and with many thanks to those concerned in the very time-consuming fact finding and organising of the day and to Andrew for a pleasant, safe drive. Judith Carlton

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Day Trips Review

Visit to Nostell Priory, near Wakefield (NT): 8th August

The August visit was to one of the National Trust’s finest houses, Nostell Priory. After refreshments we had a slide presentation about the history and contents of the house before lunch and we were then free to explore the house on a self-guided tour.

The Priory was founded here in 1122 and dedicated to St Oswald; the eagle symbol from this time can be found all over the house. It was one of the largest and wealthiest foundations until its dissolution in 1540. The Priory was turned into a manor house, Nostell Hall, and passed through various hands until purchased by the Winn family. The first Winn we know about was George, a draper selling merchandise to Elizabeth I, which brought the family enough money to buy an estate in Lincolnshire at Thornton Curtis. George’s grandson bought Nostell Hall in 1654 and when Charles II was restored in 1660 he lent him money. The first three Winn Baronets lived in the Manor house buildings. In 1722 the 4th Baronet, Rowland Winn inherited at the age of 16. After going on the Grand Tour and being particularly impressed in Italy by Palladian architecture, he returned determined to build his own version of a Palladian mansion. He married Susanna Henshaw, heiress daughter of a London Merchant, and appointed a Yorkshireman, James Paine, as Clerk of Works for the house. Paine worked on the house for 30 years and when his son, also Rowland Winn, succeeded as the 5th Baronet in 1765, the house was far from complete. The 5th Baronet was married to Swiss heiress Sabine D’Hervart. With her money they employed the finest architects and craftsmen including Robert Adam and Thomas Chippendale. When the 5th Baronet was killed in a carriage accident both Adam and Chippendale were left out of pocket and only one wing of the four intended for the house was built.

After various other owners the house was given to the National Trust in 1953. Exploring the building we discovered an exhibition on “Chippendale: the man and his brand” as well as many exquisite contents from both Chippendale and Adam. The house also contains the painting by Pieter Brueghel the Younger “The Procession to Calvery”, which was shown in York Art gallery when the National Trust were fund raising to buy it back for the house in 2011. There is 13

also a fine long case clock by John Harrison and an eighteenth century doll’s house, reputed to be by Chippendale.

It is a house that I am sure many of us will return to, as there are so many magnificent paintings, furniture and other objects to see Catherine Brophy

Holiday Reviews

YANT visit to Sweden September 2019

Herefordshire: 1st to 5th July

We left York and travelled to Herefordshire to begin our holiday with a visit to The Laskett Gardens near Ross-on-Wye. They are a 40-year creation from 1974, of Sir Roy Strong and his wife Julia Trevelyan Oman. The gardens are

14 constructed in ‘rooms’ in the formal garden tradition with Italian, Tudor and Stuart influences, as well as Victorian and Edwardian additions. The walk through was delightful and inspiring with grottos, statues, a belvedere with stunning views of the distant hills, an orchard, fountains and a wealth of flowers and shrubs.

On our second day we first visited Hampton Court Castle, originally a site built by Henry IV, but passing through several families including the Arkwrights in 1830/40. After much change and neglect an American millionaire Robert van Kampen rescued it in the 1990s. He refurbished it with an American view of how a medieval castle would look with many new suits of armour, tapestries etc. The old walled gardens have been remodelled into stunning new flower gardens divided by canals, island pavilions and pleached avenues. A maze of 1000 yews centering on a Gothic tower provided much fun! There was a passage to a sunken garden with lilies and a waterfall, a wisteria tunnel and vast lawns and with many ancient trees.

Later we continued to Berrington Court (NT), a Georgian mansion with Capability Brown’s last landscape and a curved walled garden, one of only two in the UK. There was some fine period furniture and period costumes from the Wade collection. A special exhibition showed how a gown, discovered in pieces, was researched and found to be a late 18thC court mantua gown that was worn by Ann Bangham, wife of the owner Thomas Harley. It was restored by NT and on display. We could also see the restoration being done on the glass dome in the roof of the central hall.

In the afternoon we went to Croft Castle (NT) near Yarpole, a large Elizabethan manor house with Georgian alterations and a chapel. It was in the Croft family for 1,000 years from before the Doomsday Book. The family sold the castle in 1756 after the South Sea Bubble crash but it was finally bought back into the Croft family in 1923. There is a working walled garden containing vineyard, orchard and a 1908 glasshouse is being restored. We returned to Hereford via the beautiful old village of Eardisland with its typical local black and white cottages.

On our third day we went to Kinnersley Castle, a Grade 2 listed historic house, near to Hay-on-Wye, rescued from imminent demolition in 1935 by the 15

current family. Originally a Norman sited Marches castle but now restored as an Elizabethan manor, once owned by the Vaughan family. Predominantly a family home with oak panelling in the rooms and a fine 1588 plaster ceiling in the solar. A beautiful flowering tulip tree was admired in the garden together with the ancient church next to the house.

We continued to Hay-on-Wye where we spent lunchtime enjoying the many bookshops. Our final visit was to Tretower Court Castle near Crickhowell in Wales. Originally a motte and bailey built around 1150, with a later tower, standing away from medieval buildings from the 15thC. There has been major restoration of the house with the kitchen, buttery, pantry and Sir Roger Vaughan’s Great Hall equipped as in the 1460s. A medieval banquet is set out with a painted cloth behind the high table depicting scenes from notable 15thC events in the Vaughan family. There is an attractive medieval garden with latticework fences around flowerbeds of flowers of the time, and a tunnel arbour of clematis, honeysuckle and roses. Our fourth day began in Hereford itself, with a visit to the Cathedral to see the Mappa Mundi exhibition and the world famous chained library of 1500 books. There were individual visits to museums or a climb up the 218 steps of the cathedral tower for the wonderful views.

We then travelled to Lower Brockhampton Manor (NT), a delightful timber framed house dating back to the late 14thC with a similar timber gatehouse. In 2014 the NT set up a project focussed on revealing the 7-generation history of the manor in the rooms themselves. The Barneby family lived in the manor for 400 years, until 1731, when Bartholemew built a grand mansion on the estate for his large family. In keeping with it’s historic origins the manor was tenanted by farmers until 1946. There are many trails and walks around the huge estate. Our last morning was spent at Hanbury Hall (NT) near Droitwich, an early 18thC house built for the summer entertainment of the family. There are original Sir James Thornhill wall paintings and lovely restored formal gardens, orangery, orchards and walled garden. After lunch we travelled home to York.

Angela De Muynck

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The Isle of Wight: 10th – 14th August

Our holiday began at Windsor Castle where despite the thousands of tourists we were overawed by the grandeur and opulence of the State Apartments and the splendour of St George’s Chapel with its magnificent stone fan vaulting, the burial site of Kings and the scene of recent royal weddings. We continued to Portsmouth for a smooth and comfortable ferry crossing to Fishbourne and made the short journey to our hotel in Ryde, which offered fine views across the Solent to the mainland.

The first day on the Island was spent at Osborne House and Gardens, the private and favourite home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and here we explored the grounds including the Swiss Cottage and the beach, much enjoyed by the Queen’s nine children. The recently restored walled garden was a haven of tranquillity, the formal gardens were very colourful and the estate contained some impressive tree specimens. We were treated to a tour of the house by an informative and enthusiastic guide whose passion for her subject was to be admired in one so young and which left us all a little spellbound.

Cowes week is one of the oldest and largest annual sailing regattas in the world and the following day some of us took a cruise on the Solent to view the yachts at close quarters whilst others explored the seaport town. We wandered through the sheltered gardens, which surround the medieval manor house of Mottistone, complete with colourful borders and beautiful scented flowers. Lunch in the gardens was served as the heavens opened, made up for later by an excellent cream tea enjoyed in the comfort of the Chessell Pottery café. We continued to Alum Bay, the westernmost point of the Island affording views of multi-coloured sand cliffs and the geological wonder of the Needles rock formation.

The next day we were greeted by a jester at Carisbrooke Castle, part of an ensemble of characters taking part in a medieval life encampment with traditional music, cookery and crafts. The castle dating from the Norman Conquest is deeply steeped in English history, Charles I was imprisoned here and this was once the summer home of Queen Victoria’s favourite daughter Beatrice. We continued to the Rosemary Vineyard, one of the largest 17

producers of English wines, for tasting of both wines and some rather fine apple juice for the abstainers.

In Shanklin Old Village we visited the famous gorge, a wood-lined coastal ravine containing waterfalls and lush vegetation. The village itself contains some of the oldest dwellings on the island, many of which are thatched. Our next stop was the equally quaint village of Godshill where some of us visited the model village whilst others walked the short distance to the church.

On our final day we enjoyed a guided tour of Frogmore House. Situated in the grounds of Home Park, Windsor, this fine 17th century English country house has been an intermittent residence for several members of the Royal Family. We took time to unwind in the tranquillity of the Savill Garden, with its 35 acres of interconnecting gardens containing rare plants from around the world and a visitor centre for those less inclined to venture outdoors in the inclement weather.

We returned to York in the capable hands of our driver Darren, refreshed from an interesting holiday made all the more enjoyable by the convivial company of the group and the services of our ever attentive guide Michael Gill.

Anne Richardson

Denmark and Sweden: 23rd to 30th September “Mounds, castles, rune stones and bodies”

Eric Bloodaxe, Harald Bluetooth and King Gorm not to forget Canute, were all brought to life in spacious modern museums full of ingenious audio-visual displays. However, the bodies of both men and women from the early Iron Age, found relatively recently and amazingly well preserved, were possibly the most interesting. One woman’s clothes were still almost intact; another had lovely fair hair, while other bodies still had the rope that had hanged them round their neck.

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The mounds were from the late Iron Age 500-900, some had reconstructed palisades. The ship settings - were these burial sites or symbols of power? Were they gigantic sundials? We do know that ships have always been associated with the Vikings and the Vasa museum was one of the tour’s highlights. Rather like the Titanic this magnificent warship sank very soon after its launch, in fact it only sailed 1300 metres as it was top-heavy.

Scania, the southernmost part of Sweden, and Denmark were united for thousands of years and the new bridge between the two countries is now a spur to rapid economic expansion.

In Denmark we met Graubelle Man. Discovered in a bog, he was possibly sacrificed to the gods in order to have a good harvest. We saw more Viking ships one of which was built in Ireland. We were lucky to have Clive as our guide as he explained the reasons for different stages of preservation, and how archaeologists are able to date and place artefacts.

In Roskilde we saw tombs of many Danish kings in the cathedral. We visited two of their ornate castles and were especially impressed by the chapel in Fredericksburg. The walls were lined with shields showing the names of the famous who had visited, including Churchill and De Gaulle.

Our final stop was Jelling where one runestone has the earliest depiction of Christ in Scandinavia. Runes were the first written language, they were often erected as memorials. In the museum we were able to write our names in runes.

Were there any downsides? The coach driver, a Lithuanian, followed his satnav rather than Clive who commented on his ‘unique approach to driving’. The hotel in Malmo had changed its name and we stood for some time in the dark and drizzle until it was located. In Copenhagen the lifts were so temperamental that we had to allow extra time as frequently they raced past several floors or just stuck. Overall it was a fascinating look at early Sweden and Denmark, and a very varied and instructive holiday. Especial thanks to Clive and to Peter.

Elizabeth Hjor

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

DECEMBER 5-6 Holiday: Lake District 6 Christmas lunch at York College at 12 noon 11 Christmas lunch at York College at 12 noon 12 Day Trip: Haddon Hall and Christmas Lunch 30 Short Walk: Beside the Ouse

JANUARY 13 Short Walk: New Earswick 18 Talk: “The Determined Ladies of Minster Yard” by Glynnis White 29 Drop-in lunch, Walmgate Ale House & Bistro from 12 noon

FEBRUARY 11 Short Walk: Sheriff Hutton 15 Talk: “Entertaining at Sandringham” by Colin Alderson 26 Pre-holiday meeting at Walmgate Ale House & Bistro, 10.00am 26 Drop-in lunch, Walmgate Ale House & Bistro from 12 noon

MARCH 10 Short walk: Heslington 20 Social Evening and Quiz 21-29 Holiday: Madrid, Toledo & Salamanca 25 Drop-in lunch, Walmgate Ale House & Bistro from 12 noon 28 Annual General Meeting talk and lunch, 10.30am York Hilton

Please send contributions and photographs for the March Newsletter to Catherine Brophy [email protected] by Wednesday 5th February

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