Warsop & District

Issue 44 July 2021

Remarks from the Editor

As you are all aware Zena is stepping down as our Chairperson at the AGM in Sept, unfortunately due to personal reasons she stepped down at the last committee meeting.(June 21st) So has we no chairperson or vice chairperson (Sylvia also had to step down for personal reasons) the committee will be covering these roles until the AGM. On behalf of all the members of our U3A I would like to thank Zena for all her work from the start of Warsop U3A to the present time. Being Chairperson involves a lot of work behind the scenes, Zena enjoyed the challenge of the role, despite all the documents/e-mails she had to read and attending many meetings. Thank you once again and BEST WISHES from all at Warsop U3A.

Regarding the lastest news from the government i.e. that all social distancing will end on July 19th the committee are looking into the possibility of holding a meeting in the Tudor Barn. We are liaising with the church to find out when or if this is possible. We are also aware that infection rates are rising and some members will not be comfortable meeting in person.

Please note there will be NO zoom meeting on Monday 12th.

Items of interest

Annual General Meeting The relevant paperwork for the AGM on 13th September can be found at the end of this newsletter.

Holiday to the Lochs and Glens Mrs Pat Magness is organising a holiday to the Lochs and Glens – please see the leaflet at the end of the newsletter. There are 3 twin rooms and 1 double room still available. If you wish to go please ring 01623 845503.

Painting Pebbles

A lady from Seaham U3A painted these pebbles and on the reverse painted U3A and the telephone number. She then scattered them in the local area. What a novel way of advertising the U3A. If any members wish to have a go the phone number to paint on is 01623 846128. Maybe the craft club could have a go when we get going again?

Group News

Group Leaders For various reasons we now have five groups without a current leader, these are GARDENING, FRIENDSHIP GROUP, TALK ROOM, SILVER SCREEN and FRENCH CONVERSATION. If you feel you could fill one of these roles please contact any member of the committee. Remember that it does not have to be one person the role can be shared.

Walking Group The next walk will be a local walk on Thursday 15th July from the Carrs in Warsop.

Regards Sharon Higton.

Photography Group

The Photography group have not yet met physically since the last update, but have continued with the online Themed challenges. The last challenge was ‘DOORS’ set by Joyce O’Neill. Here are a few of the photos posted on the Warsop u3a Facebook page. Joyce O’Neill

The next THEMED Challenge is ‘LANDSCAPE’ Again these challenges are open to ALL u3a members. A few pointers for the best shots. 1. Make sure there is a point of interest, or a pleasing scene. 2. Be careful of where the sun is when framing your shot, pointing towards the sun can over- expose the shot, causing the sky to turn white. 3. Check the view finder corners to make sure there aren’t any unwanted objects, signs/branches/people in the shot before you press the shutter release button. 4. Review the shot before you move on, and make sure you are happy with it. Sometimes you will not be able to return to the spot to retake the shot. The next group meeting will be towards the end of this month but the date isn’t fixed yet. If anyone is interested in joining us please contact [email protected] for more information. Have fun, but keep safe!

Bob T.

History Group

History Group General Meeting Tuesday 15th June 2021 via Zoom at 10:00am

There were 17 members present. Ervin welcomed everyone to the meeting and hoped they would enjoy his talk today. He would try not to be too boring and monotone!

Some Mysteries and Murders in and around Mansfield. Ervin had picked incidents that had happened in each month of the year.

January - 1842. The death of Mary Hallam aged 20 at Mansfield. She was killed by John Jones a shoemaker in his workshop after turning down his marriage proposal. He was hanged at Nottingham Gaol on 23rd March 1842.

February - 1884. Mysterious Poisoning at Warsop. Hannah Head aged 10. Mary died from strychnine poisoning. The strychnine was found in some Epsom Salts purchased by her stepmother from the Chemists in Warsop. How it got there no one knew, other people had bought the salts with no problems. No one was ever charged with Hannah’s death!

March - 1680 & 1681. Begging in Mansfield. Punishment = Public Whipping. This punishment first appeared on the statute books in 1530. Delinquents and vagrants were to be tied securely to the back of a cart, stripped to the waist, and beaten with whips as the cart dragged them around the streets or market square. Once punishment had been meted out vagrants and beggars were ordered to return to their own parishes and if they failed to do so they would be whipped again. Simple and easy to administer, whipping was well used by most courts, but in time public whipping gave way to the birch in prison, a practice that continued well into the twentieth century.

April - 1908. Attempted Shooting in Mansfield. Mansfield tattooist Arthur Scott attacked a customer, Charlie Mills, after he refused to pay. After spotting him in Mansfield’s marketplace he followed him home and attempted to shoot him. The magistrates sent Scott to prison for one month’s hard labour.

1800. Theft of Gallows. A report in the Nottingham Date Book records that the gallows, two uprights and a transverse beam approximately 12ft high, which stood on the summit of the hill beside the Nottingham to Mansfield road, had been stolen.

May - 1801. Breaking into the Brown Cow Pub. Michael Denman (aged 24), William Sykes (31) and William Ratcliffe were arrested after breaking into the Brown Cow public house at Mansfield and stealing £8 in banknotes. Ratcliffe offered his freedom in return for a full confession implicating the two old hands, didn’t hesitate. At their trial Denman and Sykes were found guilty and sentenced to death, being executed together on 5 th August.

June - 1771. Robbery in Mansfield. A young domestic servant, Mary Jones, was walking back to Mansfield at around 10:00pm after an evening out visiting friends when she was attacked by a man who attempted to drag her into a nearby woodland. After a violent struggle she succeeded in beating him off, but not before he had robbed her of 9 shillings. She later identified the man, and he made a full confession. Unfortunately for Mary, the magistrate at the man’s eventual trial forced her to drop the charges after the man made an offer to repay the money, promised to lead a better life and even offered to marry her! Ads#r,mplrstnmlk’df July - 1817. Body found in ditch. Murder of 17-year-old Betty Sheppard. The body of 17-year-old Bessie Sheppard was discovered in a ditch alongside the Mansfield – Ravenshead road at Thieves Wood. Bessie of Papplewick, had set out to walk to Mansfield in search of work as a domestic servant, wearing brand new shoes and carrying a brightly coloured cotton umbrella to keep the sun off her face None of these distinctive items were found with her body. Charles Rotherham of Sheffield attempted to sell them in the Three Crowns Inn at Redhill but could find no takers. He was eventually arrested at Loughborough and made a full and frank confession. He was executed at Gallows Hill, on 28 th July, and a group of Mansfield businessmen, moved by Bessie’s tragic death, erected a stone memorial at the spot where her body was found. Many years later the memorial was moved a small distance to facilitate the widening of the A60 road, after which her ghost began to appear. On several occasion motorists have stopped to offer her a lift!!

August - 1767. Hung from a gibbet after execution for murder. Robert Downes was arrested after a coroner’s warrant had been issued against him for the murder of Thomas Greenwood. Downes instantly confessed his guilt and apologised for having killed the boy but added in mitigation that he had been extremely angry at the time and unaware of his actions. As a result of his confession, he also confessed to several robberies and thefts, he was executed on the 11th August and was given the dubious honour of being the first man to be hung in chains at Mansfield since 1642. His body was hung from a gibbet at the corner of Lichfield Lane End, Mansfield, near a place known locally as the gravel pits.

September - 1895. Jack the Ripper outdone. In 1895, the Burnley Express described the murder of a family in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, as ‘a ghastly crime: “Jack the Ripper” outdone’. Henry Wright, a lodger, had murdered his Landlady and three of her sons. Henry Wright had appeared infatuated with Mary and had wanted to marry her, Wright stated that if he ‘could not have Mrs. Reynolds, no one else should’. He murdered her; he then murdered her three younger children. So, although the mutilation of a woman made the Victorian press think of Jack the Ripper, Henry Wright was no Ripper, but a man who sought control and who refused to recognize a woman’s right to reject him and to love her children. The Home Secretary refused to recommend a reprieve in Henry Wright’s case, and he was duly executed at Bagthorpe Jail on Christmas Eve, 1895. He was said to have walked to the scaffold ‘in apparent anguish of mind’, having previously sat through his trial ‘in seeming indifference’.

October - 1800. Transportation. Robert Crampton of Mansfield was arrested after being caught attempting to sell on a quantity of lead. Admitting that he had bought it from a young lad who was known to the authorities as a thief, Crampton was charged with receiving stolen goods. At his trail, despite his plea of innocence, he was found guilty and transported for a period of four years. Initially based on the Royal prerogative of mercy, and later under English Law, transportation was an alternative sentence imposed for a felony. It was typically imposed for offences for which death was deemed too severe. By 1670, as new felonies were defined, the option of being sentenced to transportation was allowed. Forgery of a document, for example, was a capital crime until the 1820s, when the penalty was reduced to transportation. Depending on the crime, the sentence was imposed for life or for a set period of years. If imposed for a period of years, the offender was permitted to return home after serving his time but had to make his own way back. Many offenders thus stayed in the colony as free persons and might obtain employment as jailers or other servants of the penal colony. 1831. Rioting. Rioting was reported on this day in Mansfield after news reached the town that the government’s Reform Bill, the first reading of the Reform Act, which became law in 1832, had been rejected by Parliament. Alarmed town officials called out the local yeomanry, sent for the 15th Hussars and began to swear in a number of special constables. A great deal of damage was done to local businesses before order was finally restored two days later.

November - 1811. Rioting. Riots broke out in villages around Mansfield as the town saw the introduction of new, more efficient machines, which the Luddites feared would destroy their livelihoods. Over 1000 men gathered at the 7-mile marker-stone on the Mansfield to Nottingham road. They descended upon Sutton-in-Ashfield where they smashed Fifty-four new knitting frames. Mansfield’s army volunteers were called out and were joined by seven dismounted dragoons who happened to be escorting two French prisoners into the town. This small band managed to overcome the ill-disciplined rioters and arrest the ringleaders. The Riot Act If any person to the number of 12 or more, unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously assemble together to the disturbance of the public peace and being required by any Justice by proclamation in the King’s name in the exact form of the Riot Act, I George I, Sess. 2 c, 5 s. 2, to disperse themselves and peaceably depart, shall to the number of 12 or more unlawfully. Riotously and tumultuously remain or continue together for an hour after such proclamation shall be guilty of a felony.

December - 1763. The mystery of the Warsop murderer. John Stowe, arrested for criminal damage in Nuthall, declared that he ought to be hanged because he had committed a murder at Warsop and that hanging was preferable to imprisonment. The Magistrate had him jailed while he contacted the parish clerk at Warsop village. Within twenty-four hours he received a letter informing him that an old woman by the name of Sarah Wass, housekeeper to a Warsop gentleman, had been discovered brutally murdered. He was duly ordered to stand trial at Nottingham’s Winter Assizes. There the matter ought to have ended but in Warsop the authorities had already arrested a man named William Barlow for the crim, he was the deceased’s godson and had been seen leaving the house shortly before the murder was discovered. So he too was ordered to stand trial for the same murder. Stowe maintained his story but before he could be brought to trial, he went mad and was removed to an asylum. Barlow continued to declaim his innocence, and on the day set for his trial died in the arms of his jailer as he walked to court.

1784. The strange will of Charles Thompson. A native of Mansfield. Charles Thompson had travelled much of the known world. His will stated that his body was to be buried in a field beside the Mansfield to Newark/Southwell road in a simple and plain coffin. The grave itself was to be six yards deep and a stone wall was to be erected around the grave site some seven yards wide. Finally, earth was to be piled upon it to make a small mound. An Oak tree was then to be planted at its highest point. Thompson’s grave can still be seen near the junction of Berry Hill Lane and Southwell Road.

With that Ervin ended his talk. Following the presentation, a short 15-minute video about Cuckney Mill, and the use of foundling child labour was shown.

There then followed a general “chit chat” among the members and the meeting closed at 11.30am.

Next month’s meeting, Tuesday 20th July, will again be presented by members and will include short talks on Spion Kop, Wellow, Rainworth, Blidworth, Cuckney POW camp and Warsop Businesses.

Silver Screeners Mansfield Odeon will be returning soon. Worksop Savoy Exclusively for the over 50s.Every Wednesday at 11.30am, admission is £4.15 including complimentary tea or coffee.

July quiz Can you name these Musical Shows/Films from the clues below?

1 A Roundabout 2 Fictional Kingdom 3 Felines 4 Trouble with a coat 5 Rival Gangs 6 Revolution 7 Leo Rex 8 Male School Pupil 9 City in USA 10 Modern Los Angeles 11 A Royal in Education 12 Trains 13 Men and Women 14 Girl in trouble 15 Add together and you will have 14 16 Colour your transport 17 Asian Girl 18 Not the North Atlantic 19 Evil 20 The Royal and Me 21 Violinist above 22 Lubricant 23 The Belle is Mine 24 A Show 25 Red Windmill 26 Circus 27 Man Eating Plant 28 Macs wellies and Umberellas 29 A singing family 30 Magic Nanny 31 A Mask 32 Maybe needed after styling 33 Iced Up

Quick quiz All the answers begin with the letter I.

1 In which sea is Corfu? 2 Where do Glasgow Rangers play? 3 Complete this saying If anything can go wrong ---- 4 What plant is a Hedra Helix? 5 What is the Scottish home of the Duke of Argyll called? 6 Which countrys wine is labelled DOCG? 7 Who wrote the James Bond novels? (first name I ) 8 On which river does Kilmarnock stand? 9 Tikka is a dish from? 10 Who formulated the Laws of Gravity? (first name I )

Well I dIdn’t knoW that!

1 Frederick Augustus of Poland (reigned 1694 -1733) had 345 illegitimate children and only 1 legitimate child!

2 The longest engagement ever was 67yrs. The couple eventually married in 1969 in Mexico City, they were both 82 yrs old!

3 The first performance of Mozarts Marriage of Figaro was not enjoyed by the Emperor Ferdinand who said it was” too noisy and had too many notes”!

4 The smallest recorded audience at a pantomime performance is 2 at the panto Red Riding Hood at Terrys Theatre in London in 1900.

5 A choir competition had only one choir entered but the judge gave them second place! He refused to give them first because they had arrived forty five minutes late! Answers to June quiz SEE BELOW PICTURES. Can you name these famous people past and present?

Clare Balding Gordon Ramsey Monty Don Lorraine Kelly

JFK Alex Armstrong Doris Day Dame Kelly Holmes

Mohammed Ali Claudia Winkleman Sylvester Stallone Stephen Fry

James Stewart Martin Kemp Sue Perkins David Bowie

Joe Lycett Ainsley Harriot Vic Reeves Barbra Striesand

Duchess of Cambridge Martin Compson Barack Obama Jeremy Paxman

Will Smith Edward V11 Joanne Lumley Michael Portillo

Alison Steadman Steve McQueen Esther Rantzen Napoleon

Answers to june Quick quiz All the answers start with the letter H

1 What character did Harrison Ford play in the Star Wars films? (first name H ) HAN SOLO 2 Which King was the father of Elizabeth I? HENRY V111 3 Where in London is the Strangers Gallery? HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT 4 If you have Hippophobia which animal are you afraid of? HORSES 5 In the Bible which instrument did David play? HARP 6 Which Educational childrens programme was presented by Fred Dinge 1966-81 ? HOW! 7 What are measured using the Richter Scale? HURRICANES 8 In which famous play was the main character a Danish Prince? HAMLET 9 Name the 1980’s TV programme based around sailing boats? HOWARDS END 10 Name the fairytale character who got lost in the woods with his sister? HANSEL

Robin Hood Lottery Warsop and District U3A is now a registered cause with the Robin Hood Lottery. To buy a ticket you can register on line at www.robinhoodlottery.co.uk and set up regular payments. If you buy a ticket every week for a year Warsop U3A will receive £26. Remember the more members that have a go (specifying Warsop & District U3A) the more money we get for our funds.

Website The Warsop & District U3A website has gone on line. It can be found at the address below. www.u3asites.org.uk/Warsop The website is managed by Ervin Devney. [email protected]

Facebook Warsop & District U3A now have a Facebook Page. It is a closed group page which can be seen by the public. What this means is that you have to be invited to join the group or have your request to join accepted. To this end I have e-mailed all Warsop U3A members with an invitation to join the Group. Obviously it is your decision whether to Accept or Decline the invite, also you need to be on Facebook which some of you may not be. As a member of the group you will be able to put your own posts on the page, please keep them relevant to the U3A and what it stands for. We would ask that you don't put anything on that is in anyway party political or anything that may be offensive to others who may be of a different creed or religion. Hopefully everyone will join, use the page and find it useful. Ervin

Data Protection Rules

Warsop & District U3A is committed to treating all people equally. Anyone wishing to see the Privacy and Data Protection policies may view them on the Warsop & District U3A website, alternatively please ask Zena or Sylvia.

The deadline for including articles/information in the next newsletter is Tuesday 3rd August 2021. Please send contributions to Chris Shervey before this date.

Email to [email protected] or phone 01623 846128.

Committee Members Role

Chairperson Deputy Chairperson June Whittle Business Secretary

Linda Crossley Treasurer Jim Shervey Membership Secretary Ann Ayodele Groups co-ordinator Chris Shervey Newsletter editor Jennifer Thomson Social Events & Speaker Finder Joyce O’Neill Committee Member

Mel Mitchell Co- Opted Committee Member Rob Thomson Co- Opted Committee Member

Group Leaders Group Name Email Tel

WALKING GROUP Ivor Higton [email protected] 01623846565 HISTORY GROUP Ervin Devney [email protected] 01623 468617

BOOKS & LITERATURE Mel Mitchell [email protected] 01623614699 THE TALK ROOM

CRAFTS Sue Fenyn [email protected] 01623846060

GARDENING

LUNCHEON Yvonne Brown [email protected] 1623843682

SILVER SCREENERS

FRIENDSHIP GROUP

DAY TRIPS Chris Wilson Please Note: only use the contact 01623 842059 numbers for urgent enquiries / Brenda Pearce 01623 846264 cancellations not for bookings.

SINGING Sylvia Ellis [email protected] 07581 025900

CYCLING Joyce O'Neill [email protected] 07904 859931

PHOTOGRAPHY Bob Thomson [email protected] 01623846232

FRENCH CONVERSATION GROUP SOCIAL EVENTS ORGANISER Jennifer Thomson [email protected] 07762 476901

NATURAL HISTORY, Ann Ayodele [email protected] 07460760870 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Sylvia Ellis [email protected] 07581 025900

For those of you interested in the various roles of the committee members summaries of the roles are below.

Chair

Role summary  To provide inclusive and democratic leadership of the board of Trustees (the committee).  To ensure the committee fulfils its responsibilities for the overall governance, strategic direction, financial stability, administration and sustainability of the U3A.  To ensure the U3A applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its charitable objects/purposes, abides by its governing document (the constitution) and complies with charity law and other relevant legislation.  To ensure the U3A upholds the guiding principles.  To oversee adherence to the terms and conditions of affiliation to the Third Age Trust.  To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the U3A.  To safeguard the good name and values of the U3A organisation.

Vice Chair

Role summary It is usual for a Vice Chair to hold another Committee position although constitutionally this cannot be an Officer role. It is generally accepted that simply being available to deputise for the Chair does not constitute a viable committee role. One of the Vice Chair‘s roles is to deputise for the Chair and so he/she will need to be familiar with all necessary committee procedures and able to assume responsibility at short notice, if necessary.

Secretary

Role summary  To support the Chair in ensuring the smooth running of the board of Trustees (the committee).  To take overall responsibility for the day to day administration of the U3A.  To deal with all correspondence and the circulation of information.  To ensure meetings are effectively organised and minuted.  To maintain effective records. To act as an information and reference point for all members of the committee.

Treasurer

Role summary  To oversee the finances of the U3A in line with good practice and in accordance with the U3A’s governing document (constitution), the wishes of the board (the committee) and charity legislation.  To take day to day responsibility for the U3A’s finances.  To provide regular reports to the board on the financial position of the U3A.  To ensure the financial resources meet the present and future needs of the U3A.  To ensure effective measures, controls and procedures are put in place which are appropriate to the U3A and will safeguard assets and ensure financial security.  To be instrumental in the development and implementation of appropriate financial, reserves and investment policies in line with the charitable objects/purposes of the U3A.

Membership Secretary

Role summary

 To provide information to prospective members.  To be responsible for the paperwork and administration pertaining to U3A membership. To maintain accurate membership records in the desired format.

Group coordinator

Role summary

 To facilitate the setting up of new interest groups.  To support and advise the Group Leaders/Convenors.  To ensure good communication between the Group Leaders/Convenors, the group members, the Committee and the U3A as a whole.

Notice of Warsop and District Annual General Meeting (AMG)

Monday 13th September 2021 10.15am at Tudor Barn, Church Warsop, or Via Zoom

It will soon be our AGM and these papers are in preparation for the event.

At the AGM the membership has to vote in the four Honorary officer posts of Chair, Vice- Chair, Treasurer and Business Secretary.

The current officers, Zena Inger - Chair, Vacant - Vice-Chair and June Whittle - Business secretary will all be retiring as they have completed their term of office. It’s time for the next generation to undertake these roles. Linda Crossley – Treasurer is able to stand again as the constitution allows, although if you feel that you would like to take on this role then please do nominate yourself.

At this meeting all of the committee will be retiring, however anyone retiring may stand for re-appointment apart from those stated above.

All of these positions are open for nominations and the nominating and seconding process is necessary for each office. More positions are available and nominations would be most welcome from members wishing to join the committee in an non officer role. Which means that you would be available to help other committee members as needed, which will ultimately lessen the load on each individual. The only position that cannot have more than two members working in the same role is the Chairperson.

The nomination forms are included with this document, the completed forms must be returned to June Whittle at 18 Normanton Close, Edwinstowe, Notts. NG21 9PF by the 16th August 2021; the votes will then be taken at the AGM.

The committee holds at least 3 meetings a year, sometimes more. The meeting is currently held via Zoom and lasts approximately one to two hours. Once covid restrictions lift and life become more normal the meeting will be held face to face.

Topics range from Membership Numbers, New courses to Funding and Action Planning. Your real interest in the U3A is more important than skills and abilities, though these are also very welcome.

The current positions available are:

Committee Members Role

Vacant Chairperson

Vacant Vice Chairperson

Vacant Business Secretary

Vacant Groups co-ordinator

Linda Crossley Treasurer

Jim Shervey Membership Secretary

Vacant Speaker Organiser

Jennifer Thomson Social Events

Chris Shervey Newsletter editor

Bob Thomson Co-opted

Merryll Mitchell Co-opted

Vacancy Website and Face-book

Joyce O’Neill Committee member

Vacancy Helper

Vacancy Helper

Vacancy Helper

NOMINATION FOR HONORARY OFFICER

Post nominated for

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Name of Nominee

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Signature

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Address

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Telephone …………………………………………. Email ………………………………………………….

Name of proposer

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Signature

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Name of Seconder

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Signature

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Return to the Business Secretary, June Whittle, 18 Normanton Close, Edwinstowe, Notts. NG21 9PF no later than 16th August 2021

NOMINATION FOR COMMITTEE MEMBER

Post nominated for

…………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………

Name of Nominee

………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………

Signature

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Address

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Telephone …………………………………………. Email …………………………………………………

Name of proposer

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Signature

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Name of Seconder

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Signature

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Return to the Business Secretary, June Whittle, 18 Normanton Close, Edwinstowe, Notts. NG21 9PF no later than 16th August 2021