DISS U3A MONTHLY MEETING REPORTS
The March 2014 meeting was preceded by the AGM (see separate report), following which Jean Croft gave a short talk on “The Pulham Market Millenium Tapestry”, which members have the opportunity to visit on the 26th March in Pulham Market Village Hall.
To conclude the meeting, our own Mike Bowen gave a lively musical presentation entitled “Did You Jive In Fifty Five”, telling the story of British Rock and Roll from the early 1950’s to the arrival of the Beatles in 1963.
For further information on Diss U3A, please visit our website or telephone 01728 627907.
The next meeting will be on 3rd April at Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
The guest speaker at the February meeting was Tony Diamond who gave a most interesting and illuminating talk on the life and work of writer Rudyard Kipling.
Born in India in 1865, Kipling returned to England aged five and was placed in the care of a cruel and sadistic nanny. The young Kipling quickly learned the best way of avoiding her harsh treatment was to lie, realising early on that if the truth was not acceptable then the only option was to tell lies. When he returned to India a few years later it was this self-taught art of storytelling and the ability to be imaginative and inventive with the truth that brought him early success both as a newspaper correspondent and a writer of popular novels such as “The Jungle Book.” As his fame spread he used this opportunity to highlight causes close to his heart and he began to forge friendships with some of the great historical figures of the late 19th and early 20th century. Much of his work was inspired by the wars and conflicts of that period encompassing the problems in South Africa prior to the Boer War and ending with his fears of the rising popularity of the Nazi Party in the early ‘thirties. In desperate times, Kipling’s words could be relied upon to identify and inspire the mood of the nation.
In this the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One, it is expected that many of Kipling’s poems written about that dreadful conflict will be used in the commemorations due to take place across the country in the coming months. His influence extends into the present day as many of the phrases originally written by him have passed into the English language and are regularly used in everyday conversation and the poem “If” written by him in 1910, remains one of the most popular poems of all time. The next meeting of Diss U3A will be on 6th March at Diss United Reform Church and will be preceded by the AGM which will commence at 9.30am.
For further information on Diss U3A please visit the website or telephone 01379 642674.
For those of us whose New Year’s resolution was to take more exercise, they needed to look no further for inspiration than our January 2014 speaker Chris Davies. A familiar figure often seen pounding the pavements in and around Diss, Chris told us of his ambition to complete 50 marathons. So far he has achieved a total of 42 and plans to have completed all 50 by 2017. At school Chris was a keen cross country runner and whilst serving as a bandsman in the army in Germany he was encouraged to take part in the Berlin Marathon. It was as a result of this experience that Chris’ interest in long distance running began. Since then he has taken part in marathons all over the world in places as diverse as Boston to Kathmandu and he is one of an elite group of runners who have completed the Everest Marathon, one of the world’s most dangerous runs, where only 100 of the fittest runners are allowed to compete. Although the course is mainly downhill, it is a feat Chris is not keen to repeat. Taking us through his training regime, Chris stressed that distance running is not for the faint-hearted, requiring months of dedicated training carried out in all weathers and conditions, bearing in mind that of the 100,000 who apply to run in London, only 30,000 are accepted. However all of those who do cross the line and receive their medals should be congratulated not only on completing the course but by also helping to raise the huge amounts of sponsorship money pledged each year for charity.
The next meeting of Diss U3A will be held at Diss United Reformed Church on 6th February commencing at 10.30am.
For further information on Diss U3A please visit our website or telephone 01379 642674.
The subject of December’s meeting was STUDENT LIFE TODAY, organised by educationalist and local U3A member Richard Hewitt, who went on to introduce six students aged between 16 and 18 years of age from Diss, Hartismere and Langley Lodden High Schools.
Each of the students gave a short talk explaining the changes that were now taking place in their lives following the transition from high school pupil to sixth form student, bringing with it the recognition of the need for self- motivation, independent study, the choice of subjects and realisation of the amount of work involved in A level study. All acknowledged how important the internet had become to today’s students and education in general. The years between 16 and 18 were also about personal development and independence in preparation for university. All the students spoke with humour and confidence and were happy to take questions from the audience, many of whom were no doubt comparing their own experiences of education in somewhat earlier years.
The final speaker was Julie Bidwell, director of Suffolk Anglia Ruskin University, who concluded her talk by saying that in her experience education should continue throughout life and of all the skills that could be acquired the ability and desire to learn is one of the most important. She then joined Richard Hewitt in congratulating the students on a most interesting and entertaining presentation.
The next meeting of Diss U3A will take place on the 2nd January 2014 at Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
For further information on Diss U3A please visit our website or telephone 01379 642674.
At the November meeting the guest speaker was Julia Sorrell who gave a lively and affectionate talk on the life and work of her father, the artist Alan Sorrell, one of Britain’s best known archaeological painters.
Julia illustrated her talk with some of her father’s best known works, including his recreations of Stonehenge, Hadrian’s Wall and Hadleigh Castle in Essex. Alan Sorrell’s childhood had been troubled by ill health and a serious stammer which made him a poor communicator. However his early artistic talent gave him an outlet and he found employment as a commercial artist which led to a position at the Royal College of Art as an illustrator. Whilst there, he won a scholarship to The British School in Rome to paint for three years. After returning to England, he was observing a Roman dig in Leicestershire and was asked to do some archaeological illustrations for publication in the London Illustrated News and it was here that his interest and reputation for reconstructional drawing began. Following his service in the RAF, where his artistic talents had been put to good use, he started to receive regular commissions for archaeological illustrations. In addition to his works of Roman Britain his paintings varied from large church murals to Britain’s first power station at Hinkley Point. He became a regular contributor to the London Illustrated News and was often asked to go abroad to record subjects of historical importance such as the building of the Aswan Dam in Egypt. Alan Sorrell spent much of his life living and working in Essex where he continued to paint until his death in 1974.
For further information on Diss U3A please telephone 01379 642674 or visit our website.
The next meeting will be on 5th December at the Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
The guest speaker at October’s meeting was Jenny Gibbs and her talk “A Turkish Shirley Valentine” was reminiscent of the film many of us are familiar with telling the story of a woman’s life-changing holiday.
Until then Jenny had spent a fairly unadventurous life: marriage to a Suffolk farmer and holidays spent camping on her parents’ Gloucestershire farm were the sum total of Jenny’s globe-trotting lifestyle. Until 1993 Jenny had never been abroad and as a gift for her 50th birthday, her work colleagues arranged for her to go on a cruise (despite having a morbid fear of water). Being too polite to decline, Jenny flew to Turkey to join the ship. However, her imagined cruise liner turned out to be the size and style of a Norfolk Wherry. Regardless of her fears she allowed herself to be shown to her cabin where she remained for almost a week. Towards the end of the cruise and with the boat safely moored, Jenny plucked up courage to look outside and at that moment was immediately entranced by the scenery. The sea, sun and the light all worked their magic on her and at that moment Jenny resolved to come back to Turkey, not just for a holiday but to live.
After returning home just long enough to leave her job, tell her family and buy a phrase book, she arrived back in Turkey and despite being unable to speak the language, having no job and nowhere to live, she was once again captivated by the sights, sounds and customs of the country and knew she had made the right decision. With the aid of her phrasebook and simple gestures she managed to make herself understood even if she didn’t always understand what was said in reply, which is how she found herself working long hours in a restaurant kitchen. This situation continued until one day she found herself facing the prospect of spending a weekend alone when the restaurant closed for a Turkish holiday. Rather than leave her on her own, the head chef suggested she spend the weekend with him and his parents in his village. This led to them buying and restoring a house together and embarking on a relationship that has lasted for 20 years and given her a life that she could never have imagined.
For further information on Diss U3A please visit our website or telephone 01379 642674.
The next meeting will be on November 7th at Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
September’s guest speaker was Bernard Lockett, who gave an interesting talk on the lives and works of Gilbert and Sullivan.
W.S. Gilbert, the wordsmith, came from a wealthy background and originally trained as a lawyer, while Arthur Sullivan came from a poorer background and was an accomplished composer of church music, but always wanted to compose music for the theatre.
In 1871 the two men met and although their first collaboration, Thespis, was not successful, there followed an introduction to Richard D’Oyly Carte and in 1874 they enjoyed their first success, Trial By Jury, which was inspired by Gilbert’s experience of the law. Between 1874 and 1896 they became the most successful musical partnership of all time, their productions being the start of musical theatre as we know it, appealing to audiences across all parts of society.
Much as Charles Dickens highlighted the plight of the poor in Victorian England through his novels, W.S. Gilbert ridiculed the benefits and privileges afforded to the rich through his lyrics. To illustrate this point, Bernard played excerpts from various productions and read aloud Gilbert’s lyrics proving that 130 years later very little has changed for the privileged few in society. Situations involving “the old boys network’’ annoyed Gilbert as did deference to politicians, bankers, policemen and through his lyrics he took the opportunity to satirize these people, but with the accompaniment of Sullivan’s jaunty music most were unaware that they were being held up to ridicule. Through their words and music this mismatched pair provided a musical legacy that endures to this day. Although perceived by some to be a very English institution, Gilbert and Sullivan’s music is still regularly performed and enjoyed worldwide.
For further information about Diss U3A please visit our website or telephone 01379 642674.
The next meeting will be on 3rd October at Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
Jennifer Kelsey’s talk “Mary Wollstencraft Was Not Alone”, for our August meeting, highlighted the lives of 18th Century English women during the period 1700-1830 and the challenges faced by strong-minded women like Mary Wollstencraft, who were determined to change attitudes towards women’s lives and education.
Reading passages from classic novels, Jennifer illustrated the way in which women were treated. For those from middleclass backgrounds, education beyond good manners, social graces, reading and needlework was usually all that was deemed necessary to secure a suitable marriage. The choice of husband was often left to male relatives, upon whom many women were financially dependent. Education of women was not considered to be important, as an inquiring mind and strong opinions were virtues rarely required by prospective husbands; a subservient attitude and robust constitution being far more important qualities in a future wife. Some single women from wealthier backgrounds were fortunate enough to be well educated and spent their time writing romantic novels, and although they wrote about life, love and marriage it was in reality a world in which they had very little experience. Education was an expense reserved for the males in the family, who from childhood had benefitted from a very different set of morals and expectations. A man’s infidelities could be overlooked and forgiven, whereas a woman’s fall from grace could see the loss not only of her reputation but also of her home, income and children. Women such as Mary Wollstencraft refused to accept these double standards and in Jennifer’s book “A Voice Of Discontent”, she looks closely at this period of history and at the women who saw the need for change.
The next meeting of Diss U3A will take place on 5th September at Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
For further information on Diss U3A please visit our website or telephone 01379 642674.
July’s meeting had a slightly darker edge to it, as retired forensic scientist Brian J. Heard gave a talk entitled “In search of the smoking gun” which told of his time at Scotland Yard in the mid 60’s, well before the advances and reliance of DNA and scientific progress. Like most professionals working with death on a regular basis, they have the necessary ability to find humour in situations that most of us would find shocking. In this, Brian was no exception and his non-pc approach was refreshing, keeping us amused and entertained throughout.
In the early 60’s the police laboratory at Scotland Yard still retained an air of Sherlock Holmes about it. In those days physical evidence needed to be retained in case of appeals and bottled specimens of bodily fluids, which after fermenting for several years could suddenly explode, were a particular hazard for the unwary and best avoided at all times. Evidence of fingerprints and footprints are still important factors when it comes to placing someone at the scene of a crime, especially those involving robbery or suspicious death. Infamous criminal gangs such as the Krays and the Richardsons were all part of Brian Heard’s world in the 60’s, requiring vast amounts of cast-iron evidence to put an end to their activities.
Brian’s own career in the years that followed took him down many avenues of scientific detection including toxicology and gun crime. However it would appear that in the majority of cases one felt that Brian would have found some aspect of humour somewhere.
The next meeting will be held on 1st August at the United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
For further information please visit our website or telephone 01379 642674.
In a change from the advertised talk for June, the guest speaker was Jan Michalak. Formerly head gardener at Ickworth Park, he is an advocate of garden restoration and meadow planting, a passion also shared by Prince Charles and practised at his garden at Highgrove.
Jan’s talk “ The call of the wild’’ demonstrated the benefits that can be achieved in many gardens, especially those of a more formal design, if some grassed areas are left un-mown. His opinion was that many of the wild and now sometimes rare plants that used to be familiar in gardens before the British obsession for bowling green lawns, could with a little judicious neglect be encouraged to regrow and flower.
Throughout his light-hearted talk, Jan praised and highlighted the work and ideas of gardeners such as Gertrude Jekyll, William Robinson and E.A. Bowles, all of whom were inclined to a more natural style of gardening.
The next meeting of Diss U3A will take place on 4th July at Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
For further information on Diss U3A please visit our website or telephone 01379 642674.
Mark Mitchels made a welcome return as guest speaker at May’s meeting where he gave an entertaining talk on “Parson Woodforde’s Diary”.
James Woodforde, born in 1740, took up the post of Rector of Weston Longville on the outskirts of Norwich in 1776 where he lived the life of a country gentleman. Not an ambitious man, Woodforde saw the church as more of a career move than a calling, enabling him to live well on the generous income he received in tythes and rents from land owned by the church. Woodforde’s life was largely uneventful and would have been forgotten had it not been for the fact that he kept a diary and for 45 years recorded the everyday events of his life, opening a unique window on village life in 18th century England. Although he never married, it appears from entries in the diary that he did on occasion stray from the path of righteousness. He also enjoyed a taste for gin and brandy, made even more palatable if it was supplied by local smugglers and had avoided the attention of the revenue men. Despite this Woodforde was a generous, caring man always concerned for the welfare of his parishioners, giving money and food to those in need and especially to the old and poor battling to survive the devastating cold of a Norfolk winter. As well as recording the daily events in the lives of himself and those in his employ, Woodforde recorded what was happening far beyond Norfolk; The American War of Independence, The French Revolution and Nelson’s victory at the battle of the Nile are all mentioned. In these private diaries Woodforde has bequeathed us more than many professional historians by leaving us a portrait of village life as it was, as it happened.
The next meeting of Diss U3A will take place on 6th June at Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am. For further information on Diss U3A please visit our website or telephone 01379 642674.
After welcoming the audience and the committee to the April meeting, Janet Bloomfield, the new chair for 2013, concluded her opening remarks with the hope that in this the 10th anniversary year, under her stewardship Diss U3A will continue to enjoy the success that it has enjoyed since its formation in 2003.
This month’s guest speakers were Louis and Anna from the Time Travel Team who told the story of Charles Peace a “Victorian criminal.” Born in Sheffield in 1832, Peace began his road to infamy in 1851 with the theft of a gentleman’s gold watch which earned him the first of his many prison sentences, an occupational hazard that would eventually see him spend more than half his life in prison. As well as being a prolific burglar, it was not long before Peace added violence and murder to his catalogue of crimes. He remained unmoved as he sat in the public gallery of a courtroom watching an innocent man being tried and convicted for the murder of a policeman for which he was responsible. It was not until he was due to hang for a later murder that he confessed to the earlier one, resulting in the release of William Habron who had already served several years in prison for Peace’s crime. Although more than capable of earning an honest, living Peace enjoyed his life of crime and took huge satisfaction at being able to outwit the police and the public, seemingly leading a blameless life by day whilst thieving by night. His masterly use of disguise allowed him to effectively change his appearance by looking much older and darker skinned than he actually was. There is no doubt that Peace was a talented, intelligent man who despite his poor upbringing had the ability to succeed in any number of honest occupations. Had he chosen a more conventional lifestyle he may not have ended his life at the end of a hangman’s noose at the age of 46.
For more information on Diss U3A please visit the website or telephone 01379 642674.
The next meeting will be on 2nd May at Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
Following the AGM, the guest speaker for March was Val Attenborough JP, who gave a most interesting and illuminating talk on “The Work of a Magistrate”. During her time on the bench going back over 30 years to the days when Diss had its own Magistrates Court held in the Corn Hall, Val has seen many changes to the justice system and sadly the closure of local courts has removed localism from the system and has left Norfolk with only three magistrates courts, Norwich, Kings Lynn and Great Yarmouth. The role of a magistrate is a voluntary position requiring no legal qualifications and at present there are 24,000 such volunteers dealing with 96% of all crime brought to court, as an appearance at magistrates court is the first step in all legal proceedings. Val explained the work involved in the different divisions, adult, family and youth. She expressed a preference for youth court as the less formal atmosphere can sometimes make young offenders more aware of the traumatic effect that their crime and behaviour has had, not only on the victim but also on their own families. Sometimes this is enough in itself to prevent a young person from reoffending. Modern day living, unemployment, the lack of suitable role models, dysfunctional families, alcohol and the increase in drug use are all reasons why people come before the courts. It is the job of the magistrate to see that both parties involved receive justice on the day.
For more information on Diss U3A please telephone 01379 642674 or visit the website.
The next meeting will be on 4th April at Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
At the February meeting David Cawdell, a former musician with the Band of the Irish Guards, told of his 60 year relationship with brass bands. His talk “Grandad Played The Cornet” told the story of his following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. Aged 16 he began his musical career in the Salvation Army band in Luton, where he was spotted and given the opportunity to appear in an early BBC televised talent show, which in turn led to an invitation to join the band of the Irish Guards where for several years he took part in royal ceremonial duties both here and overseas. His illustrated talk charted the history of brass bands from medieval musicians and on to those providing the music for military and religious institutions, and to more peaceful times when bands provided music for recreational purposes. In the 1900’s the brass band was an important feature in many towns and villages, playing an integral part in the social and religious lives of every community. Whenever people gathered to celebrate or commemorate an occasion, the local brass band was there to accompany them. Sadly nowadays with changes to village life, the fall in church attendance and the loss of many of our manufacturing industries, brass bands are no longer found in the great numbers of their pre-war heydays. This being the case, those that do play regularly still enjoy a popular following. The next meeting of Diss U3A will be on March 7th at Diss United Reformed Church. This meeting will be preceded by the AGM and will commence at 9.30am sharp. For further information visit the Diss U3A website or telephone 01379 642674.
January’s guest speaker was Horry Parsons who entertained a packed meeting with an account of his involvement in the building of the Millennium Tower at St. Edmundsbury Cathedral. In 1914 St. James Church in Bury St. Edmunds became the Cathedral for St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich. In 1960 it was decided to extend the Cathedral in all directions including upwards. Unfortunately by the early 1970’s funds to build the tower were exhausted and the work progressed no further. In 1994 Stephen Dykes Bower who had been appointed Cathedral architect in 1943 died and in his will he left £2 million in trust to go towards the completion of the tower. The newly appointed Dean took the opportunity to seek help from the Millennium Commission and after several attempts was awarded £5.15 million to complete the build. A further £2 million was raised by public subscription including an anonymous donation of £1 million. With funding now in place the project went out to tender, which is where Horry Parsons became involved. As a Suffolk man he was determined that the project would have a local feel to it and with, he believes, the help of his Suffolk accent, his team won the tender. Horry described to the audience many of the major elements involved in this massive project from the 98 miles of scaffolding, sourcing a supply of Barnack Limestone which had to be transported and cut, the colour of the brickwork and the correct mix of the limestone mortar. In the tower alone there are 9,244 stones and double that amount for the whole build. The project employed a maximum of five stonemasons and eight bricklayers and everyone involved in the building of the Millennium Tower has ensured their place in history as the specification of the tower was that it should last for 1,000 years. The next meeting of Diss U3A will take place on 7th February at Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
For further information on Diss U3A please visit our website or telephone 01379 642674.
In place of a guest speaker, the December meeting took the form of an in-house debate with members of the Discussion Group proposing two motions to the audience. The motions were “We should embrace the digital age” and “We should continue to celebrate Christmas”.
Both motions were argued with valid points being raised on both sides, but when put to the vote it seems many would prefer a warm handshake to a digital embrace. With regards to the Christmas celebrations, and putting the religious element aside, it would seem that until we can find something else to bring a little cheer to the long dark days before the turn of the New Year, Christmas will have to suffice.
In conclusion it was felt that by letting common sense prevail and selecting the best bits of both the digital age and the Christmas holiday, the benefits could be enjoyed by all.
For further information on Diss U3A please visit our website or telephone 01379 642674.
The next meeting will be on January 3rd 2013 at Diss United Reform Church commencing at 10.30am.
At November’s meeting the guest speaker was Professor Richard Wilson who told the story of one of Norfolk’s most famous murders. The crime with its complicated history and characters could easily have been a work of fiction from novelists such as Charles Dickens or Wilkie Collins, but was in fact a true story that took place in 1848 at Stanfield Hall near Wymondham.
For many years Stanfield Hall, an 800 acre estate owned by the Jermy family, had been fraught with problems concerning its direct line of title; early death, childless marriages and complicated wills were all part of Stanfield Hall’s history. In 1848 forged documents and debts were added to the mix which culminated one evening in the violent deaths of two members of the Jermy family being shot dead and several members of the household being wounded.
The chief suspect was the land agent and local tenant farmer James Rush, who was in debt to the Jermys, and being unable to repay his mortgage feared his land would be repossessed. Known in the area to be something of a hot-head and a trouble- maker, Rush was quickly arrested and taken to Norwich.
His trial held in 1849 soon became a sensation, fuelled by the fact that it was covered by the national newspapers and that Rush had made the decision to represent himself in court. Although no murder weapon was found at the time, much of the prosecution’s evidence came from staff at the Hall who had identified Rush and from his housekeeper, who described his behaviour when he returned home later that same evening. Despite Rush’s attempts to persuade the jury of his innocence, speaking for periods in excess of 10 hours at a time, it took them only 10 minutes to find him guilty. When Rush was hanged at Norwich Castle two weeks later his execution attracted a crowd of over 20,000, many of whom had arrived from London in specially chartered trains.
The next meeting of Diss U3A will take place on 6th December at Diss United Reformed Church at 10.30 and will take the form of an In-House Debate.
For further information on Diss U3A please visit our website or telephone 01379 642674.
The guest speaker at the October meeting was David Berwick, who gave a most interesting and informative talk entitled 'Beating the Bounds'. Undertaken every three years this ritual procession dates back many hundreds of years and would involve members of the parish, the clergy and local officials walking with sticks to beat and define the parish boundary. At times the progress was sometimes impeded, but never defeated, by obstacles such as hedges, ponds and buildings, all needing to be travelled through to establish the boundary.
The relevance of knowing to which parish one belonged was an important factor for those in the 17th Century and beyond, affecting as it could the right to be baptised, married, obtain poor relief and to be buried in the churchyard, depending upon which parish you belonged to. In order to determine the boundary, lead plates were affixed to buildings denoting the parish boundary and the year, the position of these marker plates was closely contested and often set side by side only inches apart. Norwich is fortunate that many of these markers, not to be confused with fire plates, still exist on many of the old buildings throughout the city. One of the best examples is a group of five dating from 1710 to 1854 which can be found on the wall of The Coach and Horses in Bethel Street.
David Berwick illustrated his talk with photographs he had taken whilst researching the subject for a book highlighting these fascinating pieces of social history, the significance of which is probably never appreciated by those of us who pass them by on a daily basis.
For further information on Diss U3A please visit the website or telephone 01379 642674.
The next meeting will take place on 1st November at Diss United Reformed Church at 10.30am.
At the September meeting the guest speaker was Margaret Blanchard who spoke passionately about her quest to raise awareness of the plight of one of the last survivors of the Jurassic age, the Giant Leatherback Turtle.
These huge solitary sea creatures weigh in excess of one ton and despite laying hundreds of eggs every year are the fifth most endangered species in the world. The Giant Leatherbacks inhabit the waters around the Caribbean, Florida and Australia and during the breeding season haul their way on to the beaches to lay their eggs in the sand, scraping out a nesting site with their huge flippers. For creatures so adept at living in the water their journey on land to and from the beach is an ungainly and exhausting process. When the baby turtles hatch some two months later they are forced to make a life or death dash back to the sea - a journey that very few survive, falling prey to many of the natural predators that await them both in and out of the water.
Unfortunately even upon reaching the sea 21st century life is also a major cause of their diminishing numbers. Chemical pollution and rubbish dumped in the sea kills large numbers of Leatherbacks every year, with plastic bags being the main culprit. Mistaken for jellyfish, the Leatherback’s only food source, the bags once swallowed, cannot be expelled thereby causing the turtles to suffocate. Other marine dangers also exist, including long line fishing nets and speedboat propellers that can slice off a flipper in an instant.
Part of Margaret’s campaign involves regular visits to breeding sites around the world highlighting these dangers and encouraging the local population to become turtle custodians, moving the newly laid eggs to safer nesting areas and protecting them from poachers. Margaret has also written a book entitled “Ripples In The Sand” and although a fantasy appealing to all ages it does contain a serious message that mankind needs to improve and protect the environment for these amazing creatures before they disappear from the sea forever.
The next meeting will be on October 4th at Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.20am.
For further information please telephone 01379 642674 or visit the Diss U3A website.
A heavy downpour of rain in Diss provided a fitting accompaniment to our August meeting where speaker Dennis Casey gave a most interesting talk on the working life of a commercial deep sea diver. His talk entitled “Blowing Bubbles” told how Dennis in the early 1970’s opted for a change of career when he went to work as an engineer on an oil rig in Great Yarmouth. One day a shortage of manpower coupled with his ability to swim, set him on a career path he would follow for the next 25 years. Deep sea divers are the unseen heroes of the oil industry and the dangerous conditions faced by them below the sea are perhaps not always appreciated by the general public, as multi-national oil companies continue to search for new gas and oil fields beneath the sea bed.
In the middle of the North Sea the safety of the rigs and the lives of those working on them remain paramount, although underwater explosions are thankfully rare. When accidents do happen the results are instant and can be catastrophic requiring immediate evacuation of the platform.
The divers who work underwater securing and maintaining the rigs work in some of the most dangerous and physically exhausting conditions with teams of men living in an underwater chamber for days on end, one twenty minute work period requiring a six hour period of rest.
After any deep sea dive, the hours spent in a decompression chamber are imperative to expel nitrogen from the body, a result of breathing compressed air, which if not done properly can lead to the condition commonly known as ‘the bends’, nitrogen bubbles in the bloodstream. Coping with the boredom of being submerged in a pressurised chamber for hours on end is tempered only by the knowledge of those who dive for a living that a few seconds too long underwater or a loss of concentration outside the safety chamber can be and often is fatal.
The next meeting will be on 6th September at the United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
For further information on Diss U3A, please telephone 01379 642674 or visit our website.
Norfolk artist Judith Key was the guest speaker at July’s meeting and her talk “A Funny Thing Happened On My Way To The Coast” was an amusing and entertaining account of some of her experiences whilst out painting along the Norfolk coast. During her talk she drew a number of comical sketches illustrating some of the hazards that she had encountered along the way, attracting the unwanted attention and curiosity of both humans and animals.
Judith also runs a series of art courses with the Norfolk landscape providing an ever- changing vista for those wishing to discover the joy of painting. Although some of her students may prefer the comfort of a warm dry studio, Judith’s approach is a little more alfresco and at times not for the faint hearted with waterproofs being a necessary accompaniment to easels, brushes and watercolours. Amongst every group of would-be Turners and Constables, Judith confessed that there is always one character, one person more possessed of artistic temperament than artistic talent and although these students may not be best remembered for their artwork they do provide a rich source of amusing stories and anecdotes.
The next meeting of Diss U3A will be on 2nd August ay Diss United Reformed Church at 10.30am.
For further information on Diss U3A please telephone 01379 642674 or visit the Diss U3A website.
At June's meeting we welcomed author Peter Maggs who explained that whilst in the course of researching his family history he discovered the fascinating story of a court case involving a distant relative, the Rev. Henry Hatch. His interest in the case formed the basis of his book ''Henry's Trials: The extraordinary history of the Reverend Henry John Hatch''. The trial in 1859 was heard at The Old Bailey where Hatch was accused of indecently assaulting two young sisters whilst in his care. The prosecution's case relied solely on the verbal testimony of the girls, seven year old Stephana and eleven year old Eugenia Plummer. Hatch protested his innocence but hampered by an inept defence team and the law that prohibited both him and his wife from giving evidence, Hatch was found guilty and sentenced to four years hard labour with no right to appeal. Fortunately for Hatch his friends and the press took up his cause, raising funds and a petition to ask for a Royal Pardon. After serving 191 days in Newgate Prison he was released and a further court case was held, this time 12 year old Eugenia found herself in the dock accused of conspiring with her mother and sister to commit perjury. Further trials followed with Hatch attempting to obtain justice and compensation for his ordeal. Unfortunately these hearings met with little sympathy from the judiciary at the time. Eventually Hatch and his wife moved away, but the toll on his reputation and finances were never to recover. The picture that Peter Maggs paints of those involved in the legal system of 19th Century England highlights a frightening process and those expecting a fair trial could just as easily receive criminal injustice.
For further information about Diss U3A please visit the website or telephone 01379 642674.
The next meeting will be held at Diss United Reformed Church on July 5th commencing at 10.30am.
Mark Mitchels was the guest speaker at May's meeting and he told the rather sad story of the life of the poet John Clare. Born in 1793 in rural Northamptonshire, the son of illiterate peasant parents, Clare's life could have followed the same pattern had it not been for the few years of formal education that he received at the village school. Empowered with the ability to read and write Clare discovered a love of poetry and romantic verse, and this coupled with his love and observation of the countryside around him turned Clare into one of England's finest poets. A reputation sadly not bestowed on him until long after his death. For a brief period Clare's work was so popular and highly praised that he received the lifetime patronage and support of the Marquis of Exeter for whom he had once worked as a gardener. Sadly his popularity was not destined to last and when public taste changed Clare took to drink and began to suffer the start of his mental health problems. In 1841 Clare was admitted to the first of the two lunatic asylums where he would spend the rest of his life, a period of twenty three years broken only on one occasion when he decided to undertake a journey of 80 miles to walk home to his wife and family. Throughout his life Clare's obsession with poetry never waned, continuing to write almost to his dying day leaving a legacy of over 3500 poems. Following his death in 1864 Clare and his work were largely forgotten, and it was only the inclusion of one of his poems many years later, in the Oxford Book of Verse, that led to the rediscovery of John Clare, the man who today is regarded as one of England's most important 19th century poets.
For further information about Diss U3A please visit our website or telephone 01379 642674.
Our April speakers were John Ford and John Elwood from The Adrian Bell Society, who gave an affectionate and enjoyable talk on the life of countryman, author and crossword compiler Adrian Bell. In 1920 at the age of 19 after leaving public school and following a farming holiday in Suffolk, Bell turned his back on the promise of a Fleet Street career in journalism to learn to become a farmer, a passion he pursued for the next sixty years. Out of his early experiences working with the land and animals, came his first book Corduroy, the first of a farming trilogy. So successful was Corduroy that the paperback edition published in 1940 was much prized by servicemen in the war especially those serving overseas, who amidst the danger and noise of a war zone found solace and respite in Bell's writing. Bell wrote over 20 books about the countryside and in 1950 became a regular contributor to The Eastern Daily Press. Today many of his articles are currently being reprinted and enjoyed by new readers of the same newspaper. In the early years in an effort to supplement his farming income, Adrian Bell became interested in compiling crossword puzzles and when in 1930 The Times newspaper began losing readers to The Daily Telegraph, Bell's name was suggested and he became the newspaper's first compiler and between 1930 and 1978 was credited with setting around 5000 puzzles. As a young man Bell had wanted to become a poet but this was not to be and although successful he cut an unlikely figure as a gentleman farmer always retaining a little of his lost bohemian past.
For further information on Diss U3A please telephone 01379 642674 or visit the Diss U3A website.
The next meeting will be held at Diss United Reform Church on May 3rd commencing at 10.30am.
At the March meeting we welcomed David Eddershaw who gave a most enjoyable talk on the life of Flora Thompson author of the 'Lark Rise to Candleford' trilogy, her semi- autobiographical account of living and growing up in a small Oxfordshire hamlet in the late 1800's. Many of the characters who inhabit these books were drawn from real life; friends, family and neighbours, many of whom lived in the hamlet of Juniper Hill where she was born in 1876. Receiving only a basic village school education in Cottisford, Flora then aged 13 was fortunate in obtaining a position at the local post office where she met Kesia Whitton the larger than life post mistress and blacksmith where she was able not only to further her post office career but also her writing ambitions. In 1911 she won a prize in an essay-writing competition which heralded the start of her literary career. In 2008 her work received a much wider audience when the BBC's television adaptation of 'Lark Rise to Candleford' became popular Sunday night viewing. Although much romanced and sanitised by television, her books remain much closer to the truth providing a contemporary account of the lives and times of those living in rural communities in late Victorian era.
The next meeting of Diss U3A will be held at the United Reformed Church on 5th April, commencing at 10.30am.
For further information on Diss U3A please visit the Diss U3A website or telephone 01379 642674.
The guest speaker for February was Matthew Jackson who gave a most interesting and revealing talk on The History and Culture of Korea. Matthew, who is a regular visitor to South Korea, shared his passion for the country by interspersing his talk with a series of short films highlighting key moments in Korea's 5000 year history, also showing examples of intricate carving and art works going back to the 7th century and progressing on to workers’ rights and welfare laws that pre-date our own by 500 years. One of the most revolutionary changes was implemented in the 15th century by King Sejong who introduced a new 28 letter Korean alphabet in a bid to ensure that no Korean, regardless of status, should be hindered by illiteracy. The influence of Buddhism has done much to shape the character of the people and the country which since the end of the war and the separation of North from South has seen remarkable economic success in this previously war-torn area. Beginning in the 1970s when Hyundai entered into a contract to build two ships, they have since gone on to become the largest shipbuilders in the world. Much of the credit for Korea's economic success must go to its people who have always taken great pride in working for their country and supporting each other.
For further information on Diss U3A please telephone 01379 642674 or visit the Diss U3A website.
The next meeting of Diss U3A will be on 1st March at United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
Please note: the AGM will precede this meeting and will commence at 9.30am.
Wild and windy weather conditions in Diss were an apt accompaniment to guest speaker Roland Buggy's talk for the New Year recalling his visit to Antarctica in 2001. Replying to a newspaper advertisement Roland was able to fulfil a life-long dream to visit this white wilderness. Flying out to the Falkland Islands and transferring to a converted fishing boat Roland was one of 100 hardy travellers who were looking forward to spending a month discovering Antarctica. He illustrated his talk with many photographs of the features and creatures that inhabit this bleak and hostile landscape and which for Roland are a reminder of a never-to-be-forgotten experience.
The next meeting of Diss U3A will be held on 2nd February at the United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
For further information on Diss U3A please telephone 01379 642674 or visit the Diss U3A website.
Well known author and entertainer Charlie Haylock was the guest speaker at December's meeting and for those of us without Suffolk roots, Charlie's talk 'An eccentric look at Suffolk' was an opportunity for him to explain the eccentricities of the Suffolk character and dialect. His highly amusing talk was a mixture of history, language, geography and social history, interspersed with large helpings of Suffolk humour, and demonstrated that you don't have to be an 'alternative comedian' to indulge in a little lavatory humour. Charlie Haylock has written a number of books on the Suffolk dialect including the bestselling 'Sloightly on Th'Huh', and although saddened by the way regional accents have disappeared or been diluted over the years, he is determined that we in this part of East Anglia will continue not just to speak Suffolk but to understand it.
The next meeting of Diss U3A will be held at The United Reformed Church on 5th January commencing at 10.30am.
For further information on Diss U3A please telephone 01379 642674 or visit the Diss U3A website.
At the November meeting Deborah Preston, once described as “Britain's top Mrs Mop”, made a welcome return to regale us with some more entertaining “Tales from the Housemaids' Cupboard.” With over 34 years in hotel housekeeping in some of the most prestigious hotels in the country, she has a wealth of experience to draw upon, sharing with us some amusing anecdotes of things we did not know about hotel housekeeping and some which perhaps we would rather not. Deborah also explained the challenges and responsibilities involved in motivating over 170 staff, speaking 27 languages, to be the unsung, unseen heroes of the hospitality trade, 24 hours a day every day of the year.
For further information on Diss U3A please telephone 01379 642674 or visit the Diss U3A website.
The next meeting will be on the 1st December at the United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
October's guest speaker was Sylvia Barrett who gave a talk entitled “Fun With Follies”. Although follies can be found in many parts of the world, Sylvia concentrated her illustrated talk on British examples, explaining that follies, some dating back to the 16th century, are a common feature of the British landscape. Being an ornamental structure built purely for decoration and fulfilling no practical purpose, they were usually erected by wealthy landowners determined to indicate to others the size of their estates and prosperity. Towers, spires, classical temples and huge decorative pineapples all found favour with the rich. Some follies however were built for a purpose being used to disguise utility buildings such as hunting lodges and water towers, “The House In The Clouds” at Thorpeness being a prime example. Although the passage of time and the break-up of many of the old estates have taken their toll on these buildings, various charities such as The Landmark Trust have undertaken restoration work and many of these once-solely decorative buildings have taken on a new lease of life as unusual holiday lets and wedding venues.
For further information about Diss U3A please visit the Diss U3A website or telephone 01379 642674.
The next meeting will be on the 3rd November at Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
September’s guest speaker was Alexander Bass who gave an interesting and colourful talk on “Suffolk and The Brecks”. Alex is a keen bird watcher and regularly leads bird watching tours in and around East Anglia. He began his illustrated talk close to home in the nearby Brecks - an area covering 370 square miles of heaths, woods, fens and wetlands. This unique landscape helps to support a large cross- section of British and visiting birds and has shown encouraging results in the increase in the numbers of breeding birds such as the elusive Bittern. Alex then moved on to the coastal and marshy areas of Suffolk. The work carried out by numerous wildlife trusts, conservation groups and the RSPB with their reserves at Minsmere and Dunwich also showed that this area is chosen as a popular location for breeding birds in spring and a safe haven for migrating birds seeking refuge from Siberian winters in our (usually) more temperate climate.
For further information on Diss U3A please telephone 01379 642674 or visit the Diss U3A website at http://u3asiteb.org.uk/u3asites/code/u3asite.php?site=116
The next meeting will be on 6th October at Diss United Reformed Church, commencing at 10.30am.
The guest speaker for August was Ian Powys who gave an illustrated talk entitled Crete and The Minoans. Now a popular holiday destination, Crete - the largest of the Greek islands - has a history of civilisation dating back to around 2,700 BC. Evidence of this early civilisation was discovered following the excavation of Minoan palaces containing frescos, jewellery and pottery. Sadly, and as the result of a probable volcanic eruption around 1400BC, the Minoans disappeared. Over the centuries and due to its advantageous position in the Mediterranean, Crete has been invaded many times by the Venetians, Arabs, Greeks and Turks who have all arrived on Crete intent on imposing their own will and culture on this small island. Most recently in 1941 during WW2 Hitler's army arrived intending to use Crete as a stepping stone to Russia. They unexpectedly incurred huge losses against the British and Commonwealth troops for which many local people were executed in reprisal. Fortunately since then Crete has welcomed a more peaceful type of invasion from holidaymakers who regularly visit to enjoy the climate, scenery and diverse fauna and flora, which due to its unique location are found only on Crete.
For further information on Diss U3A please telephone 01379 642674 or visit the Diss U3A website at http://u3asiteb.org.uk/u3asites/code/u3asite.php?site=116
The next meeting will be at Diss United Reformed Church on the !st September.
July - our guest speaker this month was Tessa West who gave a talk about John Howard, the prison reformer, of whom she has recently written a new biography.
John Howard was born in Smithfield in 1726 and following the death of his father in 1742 inherited a considerable sum of money, with which he purchased an estate in Cardington, Bedfordshire. The lack of a happy home life and having been widowed twice in a short space of time, led him to look toward public life for fulfilment.
In 1773 with the encouragement of his friend Samuel Whitbread, of the brewery family, Howard became High Sheriff of Bedfordshire. One of his responsibilities was the supervision of the county jail. The conditions he found there both shocked and appalled him. Jailers at that time were not paid or regulated and earned their living from the monies paid to them by prisoners and their families to provide them with basic items such as food, bedding and medicines. This meant that those unable to pay lived in the most terrible conditions.
Following visits to other jails, Howard was convinced that prisons were rife with disease and corruption. He brought his findings to the attention of Parliament, which in 1774 passed an Act attempting to improve conditions. Although encouraged, Howard was determined more could be done and travelled widely in Britain and Europe to gauge the extent of the problem. It was during one such trip to Russia in 1790 to inspect conditions in a military hospital that Howard contracted typhus and died there at the age of 64.
Throughout his life this lonely, religious and private man had shunned public attention but because of his work had become one of the most famous men in the world and in 1866 the Howard League for Penal Reform was founded in his honour.
The slides which illustrated this talk were projected using equipment purchased by Diss U3A with a grant from The Norfolk Community Foundation.
For further information on Diss U3A please telephone 01379 642674 or visit the Diss U3A website at http://u3asiteb.org.uk/u3asites/code/u3asite.php?site=116
The next meeting will be held on the 4th August at Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.
Due to the indisposition of our June speaker, there was a change to our advertised talk. We were fortunate to be able to secure, at very short notice, the services of Richard Gibson from the Memorial Museum of the 100th Bomb Group (Station 139), Thorpe Abbotts. Richard's illustrated talk showed the transformation of 500 acres of farmland to an operational USAAF airfield, home to 3,500 US personnel and the iconic B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. The airfield which took just 1 year to construct was operational from 1943 to December 1945 and finally decommissioned in April 1956. The years following were left for nature to reclaim until 1977 when a group of local people got together with plans to honour all those who served at Thorpe Abbotts. The original control tower now houses the museum and is proud to host regular visits from veterans and families who served there in World War 2.
The ever-entertaining Mark Mitchels was warmly received when he returned to give a talk at the May meeting on the life of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Britain's first woman doctor. Although born in Whitechapel in 1836, Elizabeth Garrett's family were well established in Suffolk to where she returned in 1838 when her father bought a coal and corn merchants business (which would later become famous as Snape Maltings). Being the daughter of a prosperous businessman, little was expected of the young Elizabeth other than that she should marry well and live the life of a lady. Her own expectations however were beyond this and in 1860 following a meeting with Elizabeth Blackwell, the first American woman to become a doctor, Elizabeth Garrett decided that medicine would become her chosen profession. In 19th Century Britain this was unheard of and attempts to attend medical school were denied her as medicine was seen as a strictly male profession. Undeterred she enrolled as a student nurse at Middlesex Hospital where once again she was barred from attending lectures intended for male students. A fortuitous discovery led her to the Society Of Apothecaries, whose rules at that time did not bar women from taking their examination. In 1865 she passed her exam and obtaining her licence to practice opened a dispensary for poor women of London who were seeking qualified medical help. Following her marriage to James Anderson, Elizabeth was determined to obtain her medical qualification and in 1870 she attended the University Of Paris where she earned her degree. Undaunted by the British Medical Council's refusal to recognise her success, Doctor Garrett Anderson founded her own hospital for women and which was staffed solely by women. Her determination paved the way for other women and in 1876 an Act was passed allowing women to enter the medical profession. Until her death in 1917 Elizabeth Garrett Anderson remained a pioneer both in the world of medicine and for the rights of women.
At April's meeting the guest speaker was Roger Simpson who gave a talk on Sir John Tenniel, illustrator of Lewis Carroll's first two "Alice" books. Prior to his association with Carroll John Tenniel was a successful cartoonist working for Punch magazine where his talent for political satire was evident in his humorous drawings. In 1864 when Lewis Carroll was searching for an illustrator for Alice In Wonderland John Tenniel was Carroll's one and only choice. Relying only on the text and his own imagination Tenniel's depiction of Carroll's characters came to life and although many of them such as The Mad Hatter, Tweedledum and Tweedledee have been immortalised through his drawings and they were in many cases originally inspired by real life events and personalities where it was obvious that Tenniel's talent for political satire remained with him.
For more information on Diss U3A please telephone 01379 642674. The next meeting will be on 5th May at the United Reformed Church. Doors open at 09.45h. The entry charge is 50p for members, £2 for visitors. Prospective members are welcome. Join us for coffee before the lecture starts at 10.30am.
MARCH - AGM:
The chairman David Emerton reported on another successful year for the Diss Branch with overall membership now standing at around 230. Interest group members continue to expand and the Diss U3A website is also attracting an increasing amount of interest. Group leaders and committee members were thanked for their continued support and hard work throughout the year with special thanks and presentations given to Bronwen Moran and Judith Buckfield who were standing down from the committee following the expiration of their terms of office. The chairman then welcomed on to the committee Bernie Morris and Don Rogers who were elected to serve as Business Secretary and Membership Secretary respectively.
Following the AGM the guest speaker was Dr David Dougan who gave a most enlightening and enjoyable talk on the life of Samuel Pepys. Although he was both a naval administrator and an MP, Pepys is best known for his diaries kept between 1660 and 1669. Originally written in code and intended for personal use only, these diaries have become some of the most important works in English history, describing as they do his eyewitness accounts of events such as the restoration and coronation of Charles II, the Great Plague and the destruction of the City during the Great Fire of London. Pepys also recorded with frank honesty events in his own daily and domestic life which, when translated by David Dougan into modern day language, gave life to that which was for some of us just a name in history.
Due to the indisposition of our advertised speaker for February we were very fortunate to secure the services of BBC TV weatherman Chris Bell. By way of introduction Chris explained that in addition to forecasting the weather his other great passion is storm-chasing (not an activity for the fainthearted). He illustrated his talk with video footage taken of chases on some of his regular visits to his native USA. The Great Plains in particular, commonly known as Tornado Alley due to its combination of atmospherics can usually be relied on to produce some dramatic storm conditions. The mixture of strong winds, torrential rain and large hailstones can prove to be an exhilarating experience when chasing a tornado, albeit at a safe distance and with the added security of a sturdy well-equipped utility vehicle. To illustrate the power of nature Chris also prduced some photographs showing the devastation left by a tornado to a town in America unlucky enough to be caught in its path. With these images fresh in our minds and just in case we were becoming a little complacent, Chris concluded his most enjoyable talk by telling us about one of his best chases which took place in nearby Long Stratton ensuring that we all pay a little more attention next time storm clouds appear overhead. The guest speaker for the January was Paddy Heazell who gave a fascinating talk on the history of Orford Ness. This 11 mile shingle spit on the Suffolk coast, now a renowned National Trust nature reserve was for much of the 20th century an important secret military testing site. The quiet remote location proved to be an ideal site for the development and testing of weapons and equipment used in modern warfare. Since 1913 and with the arrival of the Royal Flying Corps in WW1 Orford Ness began the start of its 70 year history that saw the advancement of aerial warfare and photography. The Second World War heralded experimental work in the development of weaponry, ballistics and pioneering work on radar which was later followed by the development of listening devices in the era of the cold war. The people working at Orford Ness in those times all played a pioneering role in the history of modern warfare and defence. Although some evidence of the secret past of Orford Ness still remains the ever encroaching sea will in time ensure that this historical site is lost forever.
Prior to the meeting, David Emerton, chairman of Diss U3A, voiced his concern that nobody has yet expressed an interest in taking on the role of Branch Secretary when it becomes vacant in March and unless the position is filled it could have serious consequencs for the continuation of the Branch.
The December meeting was attended by 74 members and 3 guests who braved the wintery weather to hear Frances Feldman give a talk on 17th Century Dutch art.
She explained that Dutch painters had to seek new markets for their work in 17th century Holland as the Protestant church was no longer commissioning paintings of religious themes. Frances concentrated on portraits, still life and genre paintings in her talk. The portraits conveyed the fashions and reflected the calvinistic traditions of Holand at this time. The still life paintings included flowers especially the highly- prized tulips and butterflies which symbolised the souls of the departed.
After the meeting 36 members enjoyed Christmas lunch at The Park Hotel.
The guest speaker at November's meeting was Basil Abbott who gave an enthusiastic talk on the epic poem Beowulf. This 3,000 line poem is considered to be one of the most important pieces of Anglo-Saxon literature. Although set in Scandinavia it was written by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet in 7th Century England. A legendary tale of the hero Beowulf and his fierce battles with giants, dragons and monsterous creatures and the eventual triumph of good over evil.
Mark Mitchels made a welcome return to the October meeting, where he gave a most enjoyable and entertaining talk on the life and work of poet Edward Fitzgerald, now best known for his translation of the Persian poem "The Rubaiyat Of Omar Khyyam". Born in 1809, son of a wealthy if somewhat disfunctional Suffolk family, Fitzgerald was educated at Cambridge where he counted Thackeray and Tennyson amongst his contemporaries. However, unlike them and with the comfort of his family's wealth behind him he showed little ambition and was happy to surround himself with a small group of clever interlectual friends known as "The Woodbridge Wits". Fitzgerald was a complex character who although capable of acts of great kindness could also be amazingly selfish and was possessed of a cruel tongue especially where females were concerned refusing even to stay under the same roof as a woman. He lived in Woodbridge for most of his adult life where he was able to indulge his passion for water and boats and where his increasingly eccentric behaviour was accepted and occasionally encouraged by his neighbours. FitzGerald died in 1883 having outlived almost all of his few close friends.
September's guest speaker was Clive Paine who gave an enjoyable and informative talk on Duleep Singh, the last Maharajah of Lahore and former owner of Elveden Hall. Born in 1838 Duleep Singh became Maharajah at the age of five, but following the annexation of the Punjab in 1843 and the involvement of The East India Company it became politically expedient to offer the young Maharajah a number of incentives to leave India. So in 1854 with the promise of a generous pension and an English education Duleep Singh arrived in England. The young, fabulously dressed and bejewelled Indian Prince immediately became a firm favourite with Queen Victoria and due to her patronage he was quickly accepted into English society. Over the years his upper-class connections and prowess with a shotgun ensured that he was regularly invited to join shooting parties in the best country house in the land. In 1863, prior to his marriage he bought the Elveden estate and for many years enjoyed the lifestyle of a country gentleman. Under his ownership Elveden Hall was improved and refurbished, the interior being decorated in the style of an Indian palace. Over the years his friendship with the British Royal Family continued and when in 1884 his expensive lifestyle forced him to sell-off some of his property, Queen Victoria wrote to the Government asking them to honour the financial promises made to him as a young man. Sadly her requests were ignored and in 1886 he and his family left England. It was Duleep Singh's wish to return to the Punjab and he tried to gain the support of foreign governments to help his cause. Unfortunately this plan also resulted in failure and he died in exile in Paris in 1893 and was buried in Elveden churchyard. Today a statue celebrating the life of the last Maharajah of Lahore stands alongside the river in Thetford and brings to a close another regrettable chapter of Anglo-Indian political history.
At the August meeting the guest speakers where Rosemary and Peter Salt whose topic was "The Rise And Fall Of Costessey Hall". Their illustrated talk charted the history of the hall from Tudor times when in 1555 Sir Henry Jerningham was rewarded with Costessey Manor by Mary, the Catholic daughter of Henry VIII for supporting her in her successful claim to become the rightful Queen of England. Sir Henry built a Tudor manor house at Costessey which for many years and numerous generations of the Jerningham family remained largely unchanged. However, in the 1830's Lord Stafford Jerningham embarked on an ambitious plan to enlarge and alter the hall. Sadly the new building with it's collection of ornate gables, turrets and chimneys, elaborately decorated plasterwork and oak panellng proved to be a costly folly and was never fully completed. After 400 years in the same family, in 1913 following the death of the last Lord Stafford Jerningham, the contents of the hall were auctioned and sold off. The hall itself stood empty until WW1 when it was commandeered by the war office who used it to house and train troops. In 1918 following years of neglect and damage the hall was demolished. Today little remains of Costessey Hall other than the Belfry block which stands on guard over the 18th fairway of Costessey Park Golf Club.
Due to the indisposition of our guest speaker for the July meeting, the advertised talk on The Evolution Of Norfolk Market Towns had to be postponed.
Fortunately however we were able to call upon the services of committee member David Love, who was able to give a very entertaining impromptu talk on his experiences as a police training officer in Bangladesh.
This poor but fertile country, part of the Indian sub-continent often beset by floods and cyclones was far removed from David's usual habitat of the West Midlands. In the 1990's Bangladesh police training was a somewhat shambolic affair, taking up to 10 years for police officers to complete their training. In addition to language and cultural differences David discovered that some of the training methods used at that time had not changed greatly since the days of the Raj, the whole experience being at times, surreal. Although the talk concentrated on many of the lighter moments of David's time in the job he did highlight some of the problems involved in trying to provide a modern police force in a country as poor as Bangladesh.
Maureen Gaynor Publicity Secretary