Association York Association of the Newsletter National Trust

1970-2020

www.nationaltrust.org.uk An Association of National Trust Members and Supporters

Please send contributions and photographs for the December Newsletter to Catherine Brophy [email protected] by Wednesday 12th November September 2020 Number 193

Printed by Print Solutions, Audax Close, Clifton Moor, York, YO30 4RA. (01904 690090) Contents YANT Officers 1970-2020 Page Many hundreds of willing and enthusiastic volunteers have devoted many Chair’s Letter 3 hours to running the group over the last 50 years. When we have access to NT Director-General Letter extract 4 Holidays 5 the archives, via Explore York, we will make a roll of honour of these My Time with YANT 6 members to display next summer but for now, for the record, here are the A YANT Tour Leader remembers 9 names of the Chairmen who have led the Centre/Association during these Social and Fundraising Events 10 years. NT Wish List 2019 11 Walks Group 12 News from the NT 12 Nostell Priory 13 Chairmen 1970-2020 15 YORK CENTRE/ASSOCIATION CHAIRMEN 1970 -2020 Website Information 15 50th Anniversary Quiz Loose Insert 1970-1974 Margery Willoughby 1997-1999 Ralph Wilkinson Enclosed with this Newsletter are the 2021 Holiday Programme and a 1974-1977 Ronald Little 1999-2001 Michael Potter questionnaire. Please contact the Newsletter editor if any of these are missing. 1977-1980 George Hepworth 2001-2003 Frank Lowe 1980-1983 Geoffrey Sheath 2003-2005 Margaret Middlemiss Chair: Catherine Brophy [email protected] 01904 499179 1983-1985 Sydney Judson 2005-2007 Jim Wilson Secretary: Mererid Hunt [email protected] 01653 690992 1985-1987 Charles Middlemiss 2007-2009 Don Dormer 1987-1989 Sydney Appleby 2009-2011 Elizabeth Hjort Treasurer: Valerie Laud [email protected] 01904 704600 1989-1991 Lance Gilling 2011-2013 Peter Denton Membership: Elinor Bailey [email protected] 01347 821262 1991-1993 Tony Rogers 2013-2014 Allan Charlesworth Day Trips: Colin Sherwood [email protected] 01904 640915 1993-1995 Peter Marsden 2015-2019 Roger King Walks: Alison Rutter [email protected] 01904 703430 1995-1997 Bill Taylor 2019- Catherine Brophy

Holidays: Peter Drew [email protected] 01904 702285

Events: Christine Truman [email protected] 01937 541163 Website Reminder Website: Mike Morrow [email protected] 01904 654546 www.yant.org.uk : Catherine Brophy [email protected] 07947 854923 Newsletter Talks: Roger King [email protected] 01904 761274 User Name is: member Password is: yantmember

Communications: Della Brotherston [email protected]

Cover: Teapot Sculpture Beningbrough Gardens© National Trust Images/Paul Harris 2 15 the Art Fund in 2010. Those who visited York Art Gallery during the campaign Chair's Letter will have had the benefit of viewing it close to in what is now Madsen 2. Originally we planned this issue of the newsletter to be a celebration of the Association’s Fiftieth Anniversary in November but, as we have all Painted in oil on a large oak panel, Christ is shown at the bottom left discovered, 2020 is the year that really has not gone to plan. I do hope that struggling under the weight of the cross as he makes his way up the hill to you have remained safe and well and will bear with us as we make future Calvary just at the moment when St Veronica reveals his image on her veil. plans, which remain dependent on government advice. We are now planning Simon of Cyrene is directed to assist bear the weight of the cross as Christ our 50th Anniversary celebration for a summer afternoon in July 2021; with falls to the ground. Set in a distinctly Flemish landscape, Christ is surrounded birthday cake, fizz and music. To help our planning for other future activities by a huge crowd of followers, the Virgin Mary, sympathisers, citizens and we have included a short questionnaire with this newsletter. soldiers. The soldiers, by their mounts and armour, are clearly identifiable as Spanish troops at a time when Flanders was part of the Spanish Empire in a On page 6 you can read about long standing member Kathie Carr’s memories nice reference to Palestine status under the yoke of the Roman Empire. of the early days of the York Centre. Elizabeth Hjort has followed this on page Further up the hill, the two thieves are being transported in a horse-drawn 9 with her account of leading tours, including many Mystery Tours. I am cart, the thief on the right, the ‘good’ thief, dressed in white, the ‘bad’ in grateful to both of them for writing for us now and for the many years they black. At the top right is Calvary itself, forbidding under a dark sky and have supported the Association. Included with this newsletter is the “YANT showing gruesome signs of previous executions. In spite of the rich reds and 50th Anniversary Quiz” for which the prize will be a £50 National Trust yellows of the composition, this is not a happy scene, but it is certainly Voucher. Many thanks to Roger King for writing the questions and striking. administering this quiz.

Pieter Breughel the Younger (1564-1638) was not as highly regarded as his As you will know, this has been a very difficult few months for many charities, father, Pieter Breughel the Elder (1525-1569), nor is his representation of including the National Trust, and I have included on page 4 an extract from Calvary as well known as his father’s version painted in 1564 (now in the the letter that Hilary McGrady, Director-General, recently sent to supporter Kunsthistoriches Museum in Vienna). However, there are distinct similarities groups including YANT. On page 12 there is an update on the current in the use of colours, the crowded and dynamic scene, the Flemish setting situation with our local properties and on page 13 a reminder of a and much contemporary clothing and Nostell Priory has every reason to couple of gems at Nostell Priory. consider their painting stands up well against the earlier version. In 2019 our social events enabled us to raise £5,500 for projects at local properties, which included a donation of £500 from the Walks Group. Details Dr Dorothy Nott of the projects supported are on page 11. The need for fund raising next year will be important and we would appreciate your suggestions. See Christine Truman’s request on page 10.

On behalf of myself, and the committee members, I send you all our best wishes. Catherine Brophy Chair

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From the National Trust Director-General to Supporter Groups Nostell Priory

National Trust spending cuts and redundancies We were able to give a small donation towards the conservation of the 18th century historic dolls’ house. This very rare dolls’ house now has its own With much sadness I am writing to let you know that, today, the National exhibition space on the ground floor of the mansion. Trust is opening consultation on proposals that will likely lead to staff being put at risk of redundancy. Like so many organisations, the Trust has been hit Hopefully in summer 2021 we may be able to organise a group visit to see very hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Almost every aspect of our income the house again, and the wonderful art collection including this painting: has been affected and we estimate we have lost £200 million in revenue this year alone. As a result, we have drastically reduced our spending for the year and used some of our unrestricted reserves. Like many organisations, we have also accessed furlough, loan and grant schemes. However, we need to The Procession to Calvary-(1602) reduce costs further. Pieter Breughel the Younger

Our purpose remains clear, to provide benefit to our nations and to bring people closer to nature, beauty and history. That was the vision of our founders 125 years ago and it remains undiminished today. To achieve it we need now to adapt to the changing world around us.

This is undoubtedly a challenging time for the Trust, and many of our staff across the organisation will be balancing their own involvement in the consultation alongside reopening our places for members and the wider public. We therefore ask for your patience, understanding and kindness as we all work through the consultation period.

Thank you for your longstanding and continued support at this critical time.

Yours sincerely

© National Trust Images/John Hammond Hilary McGrady Director General Nostell Priory is indeed fortunate to house one of Pieter Breughel the Younger’s major works of art, The Procession to Calvary, a painting saved by

an intensive fund-raising campaign jointly mounted by the National Trust and 4 13

Holidays Walks Group 2020, what a disaster! All holidays to date are cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with perhaps a slim chance of the West Sussex trip, The Walks programme is cancelled until such time as it is deemed safe to 24 - 28 September, running. As members have booked, paid deposits and resume. My thanks to all who have been involved in organising the Quiz some even the final amount for these holidays the simplest way to plan next night, offering to lead walks, book coaches and take bookings but I’m sure year’s holidays is to transfer these bookings to the same venues with the you agree that this is our only option to keep people safe. exception of Madrid, which was cancelled due to low numbers. This is being replaced with a trip to ‘The Trust in Devon’ in April 2021. As you will see on page 11 the Walks Group raised £500 in 2019 to support the Yorkshire Dales NT at Hudswell Woods in providing new stiles, gates and The decision for West Sussex is yet to be made, but as the production of next similar facilities. This year we have been able to give them a further £300. year’s brochure is imminent, we have substituted this with East Kent, 6 - 10 They are very grateful for this help and have sent us a letter of thanks. September 2021. If West Sussex does not run this year it will take place in 2022. Alison Rutter Chair Walks Group All 2021 details are in the YANT holiday Brochure accompanying this Newsletter. News from the NT in Yorkshire YORK ASSOCIATION of the NATIONAL TRUST

Many NT Parks and Gardens are now open from Wednesday to Sunday for Walmgate Ale House, 25 Walmgate, York YO1 9TX pre-booked visits. Tickets are released on Fridays for the following week. Nostell and Houses are open but there is limited access with no Tours Advisory Group Meeting pre-booking. If you have a ticket for their car parks/gardens you will then be able to check if there is room in the houses during your visit. Wednesday 24 February 2021 at 10:00 am

Beningbrough: As major projects such as the Mediterranean Garden are Come and find out more about our 2021/22 holidays. A meeting before lunch currently on hold the gardeners have created a wonderful wild flower border with Andrew Sharples from Brightwater Holidays and your YANT Tours along some of the walled gardens. The seed mix was provided by “Pictorial Organiser, when we will discuss & show slides of our 2021 planned holidays Meadows”, and is their “Sundance Mix”, which is the same collection of and decide our choice of holidays for 2022. flowers that was used outside the Olympic Stadium. Refreshments are available. Whether you have booked or are just thinking about it, come and find out more details. Fountains Abbey: The abbey, grounds, shop and café, (for takeaways with Space is limited to 40 members, so let me know if you’re coming. outdoor seating) are open again but all visits must be pre-booked. Peter Drew, Tours Organiser : 01904 702285 email: [email protected]

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Beningbrough Gardens ©Mike Morrow

Goddards Gardens ©Tom Longridge, NT Senior Gardener 2019 Wish List for NT Projects In 2019 YANT fundraising activities enabled us to make the following grants to Yorkshire Properties.

My time with YANT by Kathie Carr Property Project Cost Beningbrough 2 Table and Chairs for Andy Sturgeon £1,311 The York Centre of the National Trust was one of the first centres to be Garden formed in the country. This was in 1970 with Miss Willougby (Headmistress of Mill Mount) as its Chairman. The Centre covered the whole of Yorkshire Beningbrough Garden chairs for Mediterranean £1,439 but as this grew it was divided into smaller regions i.e. Centre and Garden Dales Centre in 1980. Brimham Rocks Pond dipping equipment (10 sets at £250 I joined the Trust in 1974 at Blickling Hall, Norfolk, and then soon became a £25 each) member of the York Centre together with Anne MacKray. We soon took part in the activities and were made very welcome. The Centre consisted of three Nostell Priory Dolls House Restoration £1000 sub-committees as well as the main one. Nunnington Hall Scaffolding £700 The Project Committee raised funds for the Properties in the area so they could acquire extra items. This was to help make places more pleasurable for Nunnington Hall Iris Garden £300 people to visit. Items such as picnic tables, notice boards and seating were added as well as Children’s activities areas, which give interest to future Hudswell Woods New stiles etc £500 generations. The Programme Committee was set up to arrange talks and outings for YANT members. The Walks Committee arranged half day and full Total £5,500

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Finally I should mention the task of Chairman, something that many day walks across the area. All of which aimed to be social gatherings to gain members seem to feel is too onerous, in my years it wasn’t, but unless more friendship as well as exercise. people volunteer it will become so. Our present Chairman also edits the newsletter. This is a plea to you to join in. My first holiday with the Trust was to Kent, visting Chartwell, Ightham Mote, Batemans and Sissinghurst Gardens. Whilst on this holiday I met Cherry Elizabeth Hjort Cummings and discovered that we lived in the same street in York. In fact we July 2020 had been neighbours for over three years and had never met. Cherry organized the monthly Coffee Evenings at the Treasurer’s House. I would go and help (Denby Cups and Saucers); this was a nice way to meet other Social and Fundraising Activities members including Marguerite Spence, Fiona Frost, Rose Goldbury, Ruth and Geoffrey Sheath as well as Margaret and George Hepworth. We are really sorry that we have had to cancel our social activities this year but planned events will be rebooked for 2021 as soon as Covid-19 rules Tom Daffern organised the holidays and we would meet at his house prior to allow. In the meantime we wanted to ask for your suggestions for enjoyable the holiday and were told which Properties we would visit. There would be social activities, which will also help to raise funds for the National Trust. two, three or four properties each day. As well as Kent our destinations included Devon (where we put on weight due to the Devonhire cream teas Last year the committee had a presentation from NT Fund raisers with lots of each day). Another holiday was to Edinburgh, staying at Pollock Halls of suggestions; although we all felt a bit weak at the knees with the suggestion Residence near Arthur’s Seat. A university group from Japan was visiting of a sponsored abseiling session! Other suggestions were an adult Treasure Edinburgh University at the time. They gave evening entertainment including Hunt, i.e. around York or one of the NT Gardens with a small fee for each the “Tea Ceremony”, Calligraphy and Martial Arts. couple/mini team and of course refreshments and prizes. Wine tasting or a Pet show or Pooch Party was amongst other examples. As soon as possible Mrs Daffern organised the seating arrangements on the coach. She would we will organising a coffee morning and perhaps these could include a plant appear each day with a bag of marbles, each one numbered. We would draw sale or plant swop. Would you enjoy a musical afternoon with out a marble and this would allocate us the seat on the coach. In this way we refreshments? Complete the enclosed questionnaire or let myself, or any would have a different member of the tour for company each day, and so get committee member know. to meet everyone. On each of the holidays we met members of local centres, with the result that committee members of the York Group would On page 11 are details of the “Wish List” from properties we fund raised for play host to visiting centres at Treasurer’s House. in 2019. Fund raising activities such as the Summer Fair and Christmas Coffee Morning Christine Truman were also originally held at Treasurer’s House and then moved to St Projects Group Chair Sampson’s.

For a while shift changes at work meant that I didn’t have an opportunity to join in with the holidays until I saw a weekend visit to Derby advertised, which included visits to Lyme Park and Sudbury Hall. This was at the time of the TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth as Mr Darcy. So I

10 7 booked the tour and met up with old friends. This was my first holiday of A YANT Tour leader remembers many arranged by Brian Knowlman. Committee members of the Centre, including Michael and Mrs Potter, Lance and Brenda Gilling, Jim and Joy My involvement with YANT has mainly been with the day trips, the holidays Wilson as well as Anita and Don Dormer, led some of the holidays. under the guidance of Brian Knowlman, and the Mystery Tours with Kath Carr. Daytrips were and still are a popular part of the programme; headaches Following retirement I became a volunteer at Nunnington Hall as well as for the organiser are cancellations either by members or by venues, Treasurer’s House. By this time the York Centre had become the York unforeseen traffic diversions and timekeeping. One late arrival at each stop Association of the National Trust and I joined the Projects Committee and can end up with a 30 minute delay, on arrival in York, with the resultant with Mrs Potter and Pauline Walker I helped to organize events. These complaints about missed buses. included Garden Parties, Antique Evenings, Musical events and talks with cream teas. For one of these, in Northallerton, Margaret Bailey and myself My first experience as a holiday leader (this was before we used Brightwater) made five dozen scones. At this event I met a gentleman who I though I knew was to Madrid and Barcelona. Unfortunately one member had a nasty fall so chatted away until I realized he was the speaker and passed him on to during our first visit and was bleeding a lot. Joan Letty, an invaluable Michael Potter. Our speaker was none other than William Hague who spoke companion on such occasions, quickly reassured us that nothing serious had about walking in the Dales. It was very humorous and he did not charge us happened. Joan and I went to the nearest pharmacy where my Spanish was anything as we held the event in his constituency. These fund raising tested to the limit. activities continue now under the guidance of Christine Truman and with the help of committee members. On a holiday to Wales, I had a bee sting the evening before we left. I felt it would calm down and, as I was leading, set off to meet the group. My arm Elizabeth Hjort and myself still enjoy arranging the Mystery Tours. The next was throbbing so I mentioned the problem to Joan, who found something one will be my twelfth. I drive and Elizabeth makes notes. A good time is had suitable in a motorway shop and told me not to worry that I was above the by both of us! We get lost and have to make detours to make sure a fifty two age recommended on the pack!! seater coach can get through the country roads. I still go to Nunnington, which I enjoy, each fortnight; and keep in touch with old and new friends in Mystery Tours are fun to organise but involve a minimum of two full days the Trust. checking out routes. We try to use minor roads but have to check that all sharp corners and small bridges are passable for a large coach. Even after Kathie Carr, the coach company has agreed this, we can be badly thrown by a diversion February 2020 on the day. On one narrow lane we met a large tractor and the driver shouted at our driver ‘Where are you going?’ He replied ‘I don’t know, it’s a mystery’.

One of our worst experiences was when the hotel chosen for lunch had changed hands and, when we went to check again it proved unsuitable, we found a different venue, fortunately free on the same date. We feel our route has proved a success when very few people have guessed the destination, until we have almost arrived at our lunch time stop. -

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