PARK NOTTINGHAM

NEWSLETTER APRIL 2019

EASTER GREETINGS

Membership Renewal Your annual subscription is due on 1 April 2019. This year it will be £28.00 per person.

Words from the Chair

You should all have received your membership renewal forms in February, and I know many of you have already signed up for another great year of Park Nottingham U3A events and groups. We also have several new members. There are new groups for 2019 to pique your interest, so keep your eyes on the Newsletter and website for updates. The Gardening Group based on the Hart’s Community Garden will resume activities in April after the winter hiatus. Our monthly speakers are also now booked into 2020, thanks to the hard work of Liz Gilder our speaker- finder.

We put current political upheavals to one side in our U3A, and no matter what your views on events we come together in friendship and sharing as an antidote to such uncertainty. I recently attended a gathering in Carlton run by Notts U3A Network which reinforced the tremendous health of the organisation locally. New U3As are springing up all over the region and the great range of activities attest to the commitment and knowledge of members. We are clearly meeting a need!

Remember, if you have a particular interest it is likely that others will be interested in joining you to pursue it. You don’t need to be an expert - just keen to learn. That is how groups get started, so use the Newsletter, website and Monthly Meetings to spread the word!

Ian Henderson Chair

Items for the May issue to the Newsletter Editor [email protected] please by 23rd April 2019

Forthcoming speakers

Tuesday 16th April Talk by Phil Cooper on The Silk Road in Western China

Tuesday 21st May Knitters, Nailers and Traitors in Belper and the industrial revolution will be the subject of David Skillen’s talk.

Tuesday 18th June ‘Do You Know Who You Are?’. Geneology research for one of our members with an intersting background. Last Month’s Speaker

All families are different and the Mitford family was no exception. It had its share of members with their own views on life and what they wanted to do. In his talk, John Whitfield gave us an insight into the lives of the son and six daughters from this minor aristocratic family with little money and a father who did not believe in education and was prone to drinking and gambling. Their mother, however, was quite different and was known for helping socially in the villages near their home.

The lives of several of the daughters were controversial as they became involved in politics, which was unusual for girls from their social circle. Whilst the son, Tom, was educated at Eton and Oxford, the girls were educated at home by governesses.

Think back, and you will probably remember hearing the the stories of some of the daughters.

Nancy had ambitions to be a writer and did write some successful novels. After a failed marriage she lived a highly social life in Paris but had no children. Pamela preferred a domestic life and moved with her husband to Ireland. She had no children and after her divorce spent a lot of time touring Europe. Diana was the beauty of the family, intelligent and rebellious. She met Oswald Mosley whilst they were both still married, but they did eventually marry. Oswald Mosley started the British Union of Fascists with which Diana became involved and they were both imprisoned during the Second World War. They had two sons. Unity was the fourth daughter of the family and she, too, was a supporter of Nazism and fascism. She became friendly with Hitler and joined his inner circle of friends. However, after the declaration of World Ward ll she tried to commit suicide and remained incapitated for the rest of he life. Jessica liked the countryside, but also had a deep interest in Communism. She wanted to join the Spanish Civil War, but her family had her made a ward of court. She married, first, Esmond Romilly, who died bombing Germany in World War ll. Her second husband was a communist and with him she joined the American Communist Party. The youngest daughter was Deborah, who became the Duchess of Devonshire. Her husband, Andrew, was the

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second son of the then Duke of Devonshire. His older brother, William who married Kathleen Kennedy, should have inherited the title, but was killed in in the war. Deborah worked hard to pay off death dutiess and save the estate. She was responsible for suggesting the house be opened to the public, started the farm shop and raised the profile of the estate.

The only son of the family, Tom, joined the army and reached the rank of major. However, he would not fight the Germans, but did go to North Africa and died in Burma shortly before the end of the war in the Far East.

World War Two had an impact on the lives of the whole family. Notices

Attention Blue Badge Holders!

We have received the following information from one of our members which will be of interest to our blue badge holders:-

"I was fined for parking near the tunnel despite showing my blue badge. When I complained I was told they were inoperative in The Park. A long discussion ensued....."

The member contacted the Nottingham Park Estate Ltd and was pleased to receive a positive response indicating that the matter had been raised at a meeting and that residents with a valid permit displaying a blue badge could park on any single blue line within The Park Estate. They have also proposed that this be added to the new parking regulations when they are updated and that they will communicate these via their website and Facebook page when they are complete.

News from The National Office

Third Age Matters is delivered to you five times a year and until Frebruary this year Sources was included three times a year. Now, items usually found in Sources will be included as part of Third Age Matters. There is also an online Sources which includes more interesting information and can be founded at sources.u3a.org.uk.

The National Office has noticed a significant increase in enquires about joining U3A from people who have been referred by their GP. Social prescription is for people who visit their GP but who would benefit from friendship, learning and exercise instead of drugs or medicine.

The Trust has now written to every CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group), Regional and Local Health Boards (LHB) in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland - to see how the U3A model can help support schemes that are taking place around the UK.

Items for the May issue to the Newsletter Editor [email protected] please by 23rd April 2019

The Trust is also in conversation with the College of Medicine and the Social Prescribing Network.

! Two New Groups !

Contemporary Eastern Dance – Convenors: Christine Brooke and Dokhi

A trial session will be held on Monday 15th April at The Squash Club to ‘make some shapes’ to enchanting eastern music under the guidance of our very own Dokhi. A small room hire charge will be shared.

Visiting Gardens Group – Convenor: Maureen Moffatt

Maureen is launching a new group to visit interesting gardens in the region with a visit to Hames Covert at Stanley Common in Derbyshire. There is a laburnum tunnel, wisteria and rose domes, a lake and 10 acres in which to wander. This is currently arranged for Wednesday 10 April, meeting in Squash Club car park at 10.30 for car share. We will stop on the way back for a light lunch.

If you are interested, please contact Maureen on [email protected] or tel: 948318.

Here is what your interest groups are doing

Film Club – Convenor: Steve Payne

At our March meeting, for the first time the group had two films to watch, ‘All is True’ and ‘Can you ever Forgive Me’. These provoked a discussion between the merits of watching the film with a critical eye and enjoying the film. Neither film received a high audience score, although it was recognised that there were some great performances, special note goes to Richard E Grant.

We reflected on the Oscars having had our own Oscar winners, and discussed the various categories and compared what we chose and the eventual winners.

As we met on International Women’s Day the film selected for April is ‘Out of Blue’, where the intention is to have a look at the Detective Genre and the impact of a female lead and director on the film itself. For those interested, further homework was set to see Captain Marvel, a first female lead in the franchise.

The next Film Club is 4pm Friday 19th April.

Items for the May issue to the Newsletter Editor [email protected] please by 23rd April 2019

Flower Arranging Group - Convenor: Maureen Moffatt.

There were nine members at our February meeting. We were all surprise at the amount of displays we produced with the few flowers Maureen purchased from the flower market. Many of us had never previously worked with oasis and, again, were very pleasantly surprised by what we achieved.

We all agreed that even without professional help, we had a lot to learn from each other.

If you would like to join this group, we meet on the last Monday of each month at a members home. There are costs involved, the amount depends on what flowers are available, but the cost will never exceed £8. Members are welcome to bring their own flowers if they prefer.

Membership of this group is open to all, but numbers are limited, so please email [email protected] if you are interested.

The April meeting will be on Monday 29th at 1.00pm at the convenor’s home.

Gardening – The Green Gym! – Convenor: Christine Brooke

Come along for gentle exercise and a chat in a relaxing setting on Wednesday 17th April at 2.30pm in Hart’s Community Garden at The Squash Club. We will be refreshing the garden after its winter sleep. Come and join us for weeding, watering and a chat in the fresh air followed by tea and cake in the Squash Club at 3.30pm.

Languages & Culture – Convenor: Christine Brooke

Many thanks to Wolf Liebeschuetz for his very interesting talk on Hamburg. A record number of 18 turned up to listen to his moving account of life as a young boy in Hamburg, the effect of the war on the city and his move to England.

Inspired by the talk we were alerted (thanks to Virginia Van Der Lande) to a showing of the new film ‘The Aftermath’ that was set in post-war Hamburg. A group of 15 of us braved the wind storm to reach The Savoy where we were

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treated for the bargain price of £3.95 to film, coffee and biscuits, enjoying our first Language & Culture outing. Thanks to Chris Colbeck for his ferrying service.

The next meeting will be on Friday 5 April at 2.30pm at The Squash Club and will be on ‘Rural France – February 2019’ Light refreshments will be served.

Cost £1 to cover room hire charge.

Local History – Convenor: Angela Little

Early in March we had an excellent conducted tour of Wollaton Hall. Our guide was very knowledgeable and his enthusiasm for the building was obvious. We were shown the seldom-used Grand Prospect Room at the top of the Hall and down to the Tudor kitchens below. It is a building constructed to make a grand impression.

For our meeting on Friday 12th April we will be visiting the Salvation Army Museum in Nottingham.

Meet at the museum at 10.30am, at 14 Notintone Street, Nottingham NG2 4GQ. Some parking is available behind the museum. If travelling by bus, take the Red Line No. 43 and alight at the Windmill Lane stop. Walking from The Park will take about 25 minutes.

The curator will guide us round this small but very interesting museum which is of great significance to Nottingham. There will also be a chance to visit St. Stephen’s Church where George Green, the mathematician and local miller, is buried.

There is free parking (free for up to two hours) at Green's Windmill & Science Centre's Car Park (access via Windmill Lane). If travelling up Sneinton Road from Nottingham city centre, access the staff car park by turning left onto Windmill Lane, then left on to Harold Street and then by turning immediately left through the metal gate in the red brick wall that surrounds the car park area and wider Salvation Army complex of buildings. Park in any available free space. There is a blue door that leads from the car park into the community centre, down a long hallway and out the door into the courtyard before the museum. Postcode NG2 4QG.

Our meeting on Friday 10th May, is to be a visit to Mr. Straw’s House, arranged by Margaret Gotheridge. Details have been circulated to members of the History group. Please note that there are only 20 places available for this visit and Margaret already has seven names. If you want to be part of this visit please email her as soon as possible on [email protected] to book your place.

There is no charge for National Trust members, non-members pay £8.

Items for the May issue to the Newsletter Editor [email protected] please by 23rd April 2019

The booking is for 10.00am for 20 people. We will be going around the house in groups of 5 at 15-minute intervals starting from 10am. The times are : 10.00am, 10.15am, 10.30am and 10.45am. Please let me know if you wish to participate by e-mailing me and indicate your preferred time.

More information regarding parking & facilities to participants will follow.

Long Walks Group – Convenor: Andrew Martin Our February walk took us into Derbyshire and into Chatsworth country.

The long walk on Tuesday 23rd April will be from Bramcote to Kimberley along the Robin Hood Way, passing the Hemlock Stone and Strelley Village.

We meet at the Squash Club at 10am. Full details will be sent out before each walk. If you want to be added to the email list for Park U3A Walks, please contact Andrew Martin at [email protected] or send a message via the Walks pages on the website.

Photography Group – Convenor: Judith Valentine The Photography Group has used recent meetings to review members' pictures and suggest edits, technical changes etc. Several alternatives for the 2020 calendar are under discussion. The April meetings, on 1st and 15th will continue this work.

Poetry Group – Convenor: Philip Gammage

The group met in February and, besides reading the ample number of poems brought, were able to look at some biographical notes as well as discuss ways one might analyse material. For the latter we used a Brunerian approach, which has been widely used in schools. The notion of (perhaps) a brief analytical/theoretical approach each time we meet was agreed, though we don’t want to make our group ‘poetry for pleasure’ become too academic.

We all agree that a small biography/and or collection of contextual notes on the poets concerned helps a lot and we hope to supply a list of poets and poems regularly. We are each responsible for bringing contributions and this is half the fun! A common approach is that of using or developing themes (like love, or the countryside) but we also enjoy following the interests of a specific poet at times.

Poems read and discussed at our February meeting were:

“Luminary” by Ann Atkinson, former Poet Laureate for Derbyshire. This is a poem about a painting by Joseph Wright of Derbyshire. Also, "Wanted" - a letter to Mr Arkwright applying to be a clerk in the Cotton Mill.

Items for the May issue to the Newsletter Editor [email protected] please by 23rd April 2019

Poems by Sir John Betjeman - "Slough", "A Subaltern's Love Song" and "The Hunter Trials"

“Just in Case” by Charlotte Mitchell

Christopher Mathew’s A.A.Milne poems re-written for 60year olds!

Our March meeting is on the 25th March and the following meeting will be on Monday 29th April

Short Walks – Convenor: Andrew Martin

The short walk on Tuesday 9th April will visit Sneinton, Greens Mill and Stonebridge City Farm. This walk was postponed from March because of the heavy rain delivered by Storm Gareth.

We meet at the Squash Centre at 10am. Full details will be sent out before each walk. If you want to be added to the email list for Park U3A Walks, please contact Andrew Martin at [email protected] or send a message via the Walks pages on the website.

Singing for Fun – Convenor: Maureen Moffatt

There were 11 of us Monday morning, all in very fine voice. After a gentle physical warm-up, we worked our way through songs from Vera Lynne and some old-style music hall compilations, finishing with a rousing rendition of Land of Hope and Glory.

Our next meeting is March 25th. 10.30 at the Squash Club and the April meeting will be on Monday 29th April.

We shall work our way through sounds of the 60s. Those members already registered with the group will receive a play list.

If you are interested in joining us you will be very welcome, please email: [email protected]

We each pay £1 towards the cost of the room.

Items for the May issue to the Newsletter Editor [email protected] please by 23rd April 2019

CALENDAR FOR APRIL 2019

Date Group Time Convenor Location Monday Photography 2.00pm Judy Valentine NSRC 1st April Friday Language & Culture 2.30pm Christine Brooke NSRC 5th April Friday Book Club 3.45pm Liz Gilder NSRC 5th April Tuesday Short Walks 10.00 Andrew Martin Meet at the NSRC 9th April Friday Early Doors 5.00pm – NSRC 5th April 7.00pm Wednesday Table Tennis 10.00am Paul Stapleton NSRC 10th April Wednesday Garden Visit to 10.30 Maureen Moffatt Meet at NSRC car 10th April Hames Court, park for car share Derbyshire Friday Local History 10.30am Angela Little Meet at Salvation 12 April Army Museum, Notintone Street, NG2 4QG Friday Mah Jongg 4.00pm Chris Colbeck NSRC 12 April Friday Early Doors 5.00pm – NSRC 12 April 7.00pm Monday Contemporary 11.30am Christine Booke and NSRC 15th April Eastern Dance Dokhi Monday Photography 2.00pm Judy Valentine NSRC 15th April Tuesday Monthly Meeting 10.00am Talk by Phil Cooper NSRC 16th March on The Silk Road in Western China Wednesday Gardening 2.00pm Christine Brooke Hart’s Community 17th April Garden - NSRC Friday GOOD FRIDAY 19th April Friday Film Club 4.00pm Steve Payne NSRC 19th April Friday Early Doors 5.00pm – NSRC 19th April 7.00pm Monday EASTER MONDAY 22nd April

Items for the May issue to the Newsletter Editor [email protected] please by 23rd April 2019

Tuesday Long Walks 10.00am Andrew Martin Meet at the NSRC 23rd April Wednesday Table Tennis 10.00am Paul Stapleton NSRC 24th April Friday Mah Jongg 4.00pm Chris Colbeck NSRC 26th April Friday Early Doors 5.00pm – NSRC 26th April 7.00pm Monday Singing for Fun 10.30 Maureen Moffatt NSRC 29th April Monday Flower Arranging 1.00pm Maureen Moffatt Convenor’s Home 29th April Monday Poetry Group 3.00pm Philip Gammage NSRC 29th April Friday Language & Culture 2.30pm Christine Brooke NSRC 3rd May Friday Early Doors 5.00pm – NSRC 3rd May 7.00pm

Items for the May issue to the Newsletter Editor [email protected] please by 23rd April 2019