WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BURTON ROAD JUBILEE PARK? SEASON’S GREETINGS The Local History group is working with Gedling Bor- ough Council to look into the TO ALL OUR MEMBERS social history of the park. The council is hoping to erect in- formation boards on the site. The park was sold to the council by the Earl of Man- vers in1911 and has been used as a recreational ground since then. Did you use the park when you were younger (perhaps you still do)? What was it like then? What sort of games or activities took place? Appar- ently there used to be a bandstand: the Railwayman's Band and the Lilac Dominoes performed, with shire horses pulling drays loaded with equipment. So please search your memories, ask family mem- bers what they can remem- ber and let us know, or CHEERS! U3A members enjoying the Christmas spirit at Thursford come along to a meeting and tell us all about it. If you have NEW MEMBERS MEETING any photos, etc that we can copy for the information This is an opportunity for new members, and anyone wishing to find out boards, all the better. Any more about the U3A, to meet and have a chat to some committee information, from early members and group conveners in a smaller less formal setting than the days right up the present monthly meeting. Coffee is for sale along with the usual range of could be helpful. beverages and the meeting will take place at the Willowbrook Pub at Jann Kirke 11.00am on Tuesday 23rd December. Convenor Brian Shield. Group Convenor Page 1 YOUR CHAIRMAN Tom Grainger

Hello, with my malaise by giving me good to reinforce family traditions Family and friends will know that helpful tips like “Stop being a mis- of who cooks breakfast on Christ- December is my favourite month! erable so and so” “Get a life” and mas morning, when you should A time to fret about what to buy other equally helpful tips. open your presents and still buy- Rofie for Christmas (ideas please Of course, they are right, ing the kids (now 27 and 30) choc- on the back of an envelope by the December is a special month. olate money and magic trees and 20th!) the anticipation of peeling Like so many families, ours is split hanging their Christmas stocking endless vegetables, re-arranging around the country and so being on their bedroom door after they furniture to make room for every- able to get them all together is have gone to bed! And for those one (and a dog this year!), arguing very special and worth my having who go to Church Christmas Serv- about when and what to eat, what to sleep on the floor for a few ices or school nativity plays, this games to play after dinner and nights. Yes, it is good to catch up time of the year has an additional trying to get both kids and part- with friends and to exchange special meaning. ners to be in at the cards and gifts and perhaps the Whatever you are doing same time! Add to that my love of odd drink (!). This year my sister is this December, have a very spe- cold, wet and dark days and over from America and it will be cial time and enjoy every moment. Christmas is truly “special” for me, the first Christmas we have spent Happy Christmas and New Year! (perhaps I should join the Grumpy together in Nottingham for too Tom Grainger Old Men group after all) many years. (AKA Mr. Grumpy) Friends have learnt how to cope OK, if you insist, it is also

Police Files - Rogues Gallery? No. This is Your New Look U3A Committee

Christine Cracknell Eric Rennie Tricia Terndrup David Dobbs Ian Robey Treasurer Graeme Bunting

Lynne Jaremczenko Ned Flaherty Tom Grainger Chairman Paul Martinez Rosemary Stennett Pat Downing

David Morley Tom Butcher Brian Shield Richard Downing Lindsey Angus Nicola Dandie Minutes Sec. This Newsletter is published by The Carlton, e-mail to [email protected], or by post to 2 Gedling & District U3A. Views expressed are not Ivy Grove, Carlton, Nott’m, NG4 1RG. The necessarily those of the Editor or the U3A. absolute deadline for items for the next Correspondence should be sent to the Editor by newsletter is Sunday 4th January 2015 Page 2 News COOK’S TOURS An educational and interesting talk himself was born in Melbourne, from Danny Wells, our Guest Derbys.) Speaker, about the history of Queen Victoria's obsession with Thomas Cook and Son – the most Scotland was a great boon to the famous travel young travel company. agency in the The Great Exhibition of world. 1851 gave Cook the Danny told us further chance to take that the excursions to “educate whole idea of the people”. organising As Thomas Cook was trips arose an idealistic man who out of ran the company badly Thomas but for worthy reasons, Cook's his son John Mason staunch Cook took over and Baptist and developed it into the Temperance worldwide business it views in the became – issuing the Victorian era. The early first Travellers Cheques, getting excursions were to take people to involved in the logistics of wars. fresh air at seasides or to spa Old Thomas was not happy with towns for health. The other side of the way it was going and spent his the business was a Temperance great wealth on philanthropy, Hotel in Leicester. (Thomas Cook dying with only £2000 to his name. ER

U3A FILMS ROLL AGAIN WIGHTWICK MANOR AND GARDENS WOLVERHAMPTON Anne Sen from Nottingham U3A has organised a new film WEDNESDAY MARCH 25TH, 2015 programme for U3A members at Nottingham . A trip has been booked for a visit to Wightwick Manor which The next film in the series is Not is National Trust. Tickets will be on sale at the December Without My Daughter, on meeting, and will be around £20.00 (for non NT members). Monday 5th January. This is a There will be tea and coffee on arrival and a guided tour just for film released in 1991 depicting us which will last approx. one hour. The cost will cover the the escape of American citizen gardens as well. Betty Mahmoody and her Wightwick Manor is a house of timber beams and barley- daughter from her husband in twist chimneys with gardens of wide lawn, yew hedges and Iran. The main characters are roses. There are rich William Morris furnishings and exquisite played by Sally Field and Alfred Pre-Raphaelite paintings. It is an idyllic time capsule of Molina. The film starts at 1pm and Victorian nostalgia for medieval . Exhibitions in the entrance is only £3.50 for U3A Malthouse. members. There is a tea room in the stable block serving hot food with Future films for U3A members: kitchen garden produce but we can also pre book a hot two course lunch – menu to be provided nearer the time. There is Monday 2nd February: also a shop with William Morris and Arts and Crafts-inspired The Prestige ranges and plant centre. Monday 2nd March: Annie Hall A TRIP NOT TO BE MISSED! Monday 13th April: Janet Whitchurch The Sapphires. Page 3 Theatre Visits This month we have two new offerings: the Arcadia by Tom Stoppard. ever green musical Me and My Girl (in Febru- Definitely not a play for the faint hearted! Twenty members ary) and Dead Ringer, a comedy about the turned up at the Playhouse to see this, and without doubt mayhem that follows the sudden death of the found it challenging to comprehend what the playwright was prime minister on the eve of a general elec- intending us to understand. It concerns the relationship tion. Dead Ringer is in May. We are thinking between past and present, order and disorder and for good about a trip to see the musical Hairspray at measure, certainty and uncertainty! the Theatre Royal. There will be a sign up Personally, I was swept along with the sheer brilliance of sheet at the general meeting to see if there is the actors, who were so convincing in their roles. However I enough interest. would question the programme telling us the play was “exuberantly funny” (no!), “thought provoking” (yes!) and Advance notice: we will organise a trip to an- “touching” (?). But it appears to have “dazzled audiences both other musical in May, Legally Blonde, and you here and in the USA”. A few of the audience on Saturday were will be able to sign up and pay for tickets at dazzled sufficiently either to fall asleep or leave at the interval! the January general meeting. Paul Martinez However I am especially grateful to Paul Martinez for organising not only this event but also other theatre trips and THEATRE VISITS PROGRAMME would encourage other U3A members to join us. Don’t let opportunity pass you by! Janet Whitchurch Concert: Discovering Debussy Wednesday Riverdance th 14 January 2015, 7.30pm (£10) Royal Con- A Dance Spectacular. That’s how it was advertised at the cert Hall, Organiser Paul Martinez Collect Nottingham Concert Hall. It certainly was that and a lot more. tickets Twenty four of us went to see the Saturday Matinee. It was a nd truly wonderful show, and lived up to every expectation. From Ballet: Matinee Edward Scissorhands 22 the first scene we were mesmerised by the beautiful music and January 2015. Matthew Bourne’s Theatre Roy- singing. The band were on stage the whole time, and what al (£29.50). Organiser Carolyn Broadhurst. incredible musicians, all doing solo performances throughout Sold out the show. Concert: Piano recital, Sunday 25th January, When the dancers came on it was like a breath of spring, the male and female leads so perfect together. They were then 11am, Royal Concert Hall, (£10). Organiser joined by the company of dancers who were so enthusiastic Christine Farnsworth. Collect tickets and seemed so happy to be on stage, the atmosphere was Musical Comedy: Forever Young, Thursday contagious. The story portrayed by the show - leaving Ireland 29th January 2015, 7.45pm (£7) Nottingham for a new life - was so poignant, and then the new life, shown Playhouse. Organiser Basia Arch, Collect through dance, was superb. Finally the whole cast on tickets stage dancing in this extremely original show was wonderful; we were all on our feet so happy to have been part of it. What th Musical: Barnum, Matinee Thursday 5 Feb- a marvellous way to spend an afternoon. Barbara Rogerson ruary 2015, 2pm Theatre Royal. Organiser Lin- da Spencer Collect tickets Sleeping Beauty th New Musical: Me and My Girl Saturday 28 A good sized party of theatre-goers attended the first night February 2pm (£11) Nottingham Arts Theatre performance at the Playhouse, there were no first night Organiser Anne Porter Sign up and pay for hitches,and it was an excellent performance by all concerned. tickets The part of Nursie was played by John Elkington who is Play, The Importance of Being Ernest Thurs- the long standing Playhouse dame, and long may he continue day 14th May 2015, 2pm, Theatre Royal (Stalls as he is perfect in the role. tickets - £28.80). Organiser Anne Porter Sign The king and queen together with the jester kept the audience up and pay for tickets laughing, and the fairies Wiseheart and Maleficient cast their good and evil spells (no prizes for guessing which is which!) New Play: Dead Ringer Saturday Matinee The Prince of course was dashing and handsome and all 23rd May, (£9) Organiser ended well when he awoke the the beautiful Princess with a Paul Martinez Sign up and pay for tickets kiss, no one turned into a frog, or is that another story! The New Hairspray, the Musical Matinee 2.30pm, cast received a standing ovation all except poor Maleficient th who received boos, a shame as she was really magnificent in Wednesday 28 October, Theatre Royal Or- her role. ganiser Linda Spencer Sign up for tickets to Two people bought light up wands for their express interest grandchildren.... they said, and created merriment flashing Advance Notice Legally Blonde, the Musical them around town on the way home - no names! Hope the Theatre Royal. Matinee 2.30pm on Wednes- grandchildren still had battery power when they received them. th A most enjoyable evening and thanks to Basia for arranging it. day 6 May. Organiser Ginny Snowden Gill Horrocks Page 4 Interest Groups Photography Group HOT TIPS FOR SWAN LAKE SENIORS We all like a bargain or a mon- ey saving tip and there are lots of things available but often we just hear about them by chance. So we thought it would be useful to post them in the monthly newsletter. However this will only work if members send them in and they can then be collated and published. So if you come across any useful information or tips for us seniors, then send them my way and we can share them. Send either by Newstead Abbey was this month's venue for our photography email or in writing at one of the shoot, being well attended by 12 members of the group (it's free entry meetings but make sure there to Newstead at this time of the year). is a contact number and name The weather being mainly cloudy was rather disappointing. We in case clarification is needed. hoped for sunshine, especially at this time of the year creating long We cannot take any responsi- shadows, ideal in parkland for winter photography. So out came our bility for issues that could arise cameras only to be met by 2 noisy geese who attempted to drive us and so all suggestions must be back home again - we don't frighten that easy. checked out fully yourselves. We dispersed around the grounds looking for the perfect shot, (sometimes you are lucky), spending time at the waterfall taking To start with:- clever shots on both sides of the falls. Then onto the gardens and Senior Railcard down to the end of the lake, just missing what would have been a If you travel on the train regu- great photograph of a swan swooping towards us, landing at the end larly or make long journeys. of the lake. You have to be quick on the ball for a shot like that. The Anyone aged 60 or over can Canada Geese also refused to stay still for photographs. get 1/3 off Standard and First It was now starting to get cold so we returned to the Abbey cafe Class Anytime, Off Peak and for a welcome coffee after another good day out. Advance fares. A Senior Rail- Thanks again to our Sneintonian guide David who takes the group card costs out every month. just £30 for a whole year or £70 John Berry for 3 years. Photo by Linda Shelton (who was quick enough) GREENFINGERS Quiz time! Many thanks to all who brought along questions. These ranged from fairly straightfor- ward to quite tricky. There was a fair bit of scratching of heads, much conferring within teams and some chuckles and giggling, too... Very respectable scores were achieved and it's fair to say we all learned things as well, so well done everyone! The first signs of wintry weather also had us exchanging tips on protecting the more tender plants, espe- cially those in pots. If you can't get these under cover, grouping them together at the top of the garden - frost pockets form in lower areas - or against a house wall can help. Raising pots on to "feet" allows for drainage and can stop the compost from freezing. Wrapping less hardy plants (and clay pots) in fleece also adds a layer of protection. Additionally, 20 of us treated ourselves to a "gardener's supper" at a local garden centre, where we also enjoyed a presentation on gardens of the National Trust. Naturally, bit of Xmas shopping took place... Next meeting: Monday 5 January 10.30 a.m. Gedling Inn, Main Road, Gedling Topic: Winter Tasks & Winter Cheer - choosing seeds for Spring. Jann Kirke Page 5 Interest Groups Crafts CHRISTMAS CANDLES AND CARDS In November, Audrey led fold glossy magazines to make us in a Christmas session of can- Christmas trees complete with a dle decorating and card making. silver star, a simple but effective Once again bringing a wide as- technique. sortment of craft materials and There is no meeting in December, specialist products, she guided so our next meeting will be on both second timers and newbies FRIDAY January 23rd, not Thurs- through the process and everyone day as it has usually been. We will produced a pretty candle or two. be doing a paper folding project Then it was on to the cards to which has yet to be finalised, but match (or not) using a similar you won’t need to bring anything. technique, but complete with print- Next meeting – Paper folding - ed inserts and matching enve- January 23rd 2015 - 1 to 3 pm lopes, very professional. at Carlton Fire Station. I showed everyone how to Rofie Clennell

....and meanwhile next door in the Discussion Group IMMIGRATION BONSAI Our November Topic. The subject People who come here to work are GROUP that seemed to crop up in so many OK but we criticised them for taking previous discussions - so topical. our jobs. We criticised immigrants We had a good meeting Its not the biggest issue fac- using the health service but accepted in November. Many thanks ing Britain today. We mentioned the that it is largely staffed by immigrants. to Steve for the hospitality housing crisis, the economy, the Also the services industries – hotels, and for showing us his health service, the depression, low catering,etc. bonsai. We won't be wage jobs, etc. But at times in the Why here and not somewhere else? discussion it seemed like all those The underlying reasons were dis- meeting in December, as problems were because of immigra- cussed – refugees from famine & war there's an awful lot tion. They aren't, of course. in the Middle East and Africa,the happening generally, but We recognised that historical- comparative richness and stability of not so much with bonsai. ly Britain always had waves of mi- the west. We argued about other Our January meeting is grants - even your Anglo-Saxons countries should do more but in fact on Wednesday 21st were immigrants and where would they do take a lot more than Britain. January. We will visit the railways be without the Irish la- We discussed integration and the ef- Greenwood Bonsai centre. bour, or the Asian corner shops open fects on schools and health facilities Meet up at Ranmoor Rd all hours. and housing. Integration always took shopper's car park at 1000 It got muddied about which immi- time over generations – the Ugandan to arrange car sharing to go grants were acceptable. We tried to Asians in the 70s, the Boat People of to Greenwood's. Rofie has separate out asylum seekers as a South East Asia. kindly agreed to lead the humanitarian issue. There are legal Towards the end of over an hour and visit. We have arranged an immigrants (through marriage), stu- hald of talking about immigration, we extra meeting in March, dents encouraged for their fees, lost the will to live and went off topic. because that's a really busy those brought in by gangmasters to Next meeting is Monday, Decem- time in the bonsai calendar. do menial and agricultural work, EU ber 22 at 10.30 in the Fire Station. If you’d like to join the workers through European freedom Our topic is: The House of Lords group, please sign up at a of movement, illegal immigrants who and the Honours System....and general meeting or email get locked up and deported. And we maybe just a few more mince pies? [email protected]. seemed to find another group who Convenor: Eric Rennie only come for the benefits. Paul Martinez Page 6 Interest Groups Reading Group BROMLEY HOUSE VISIT This month as a special had been formed in 1816 as a shelves of very ancient books. treat the Reading Group visited gentlemen's library, was housed in Bromley House is re- . Tucked Hockley on Carlton Street. Run as nowned for having it's own filing away next to Barnado's charity much as a gentleman's club as a system. Books were filed in the shop on Angel Row, it is Notting- library, larger premises were re- order they were bought, rather ham's unique subscription library. quired to house the expanding than alphabetically or by their top- Stepping into the building is like collection. So, when Bromley ic, which can be confusing if you stepping into another world and house was put up for sale, it was are searching for a specific book. back in time. A stark contrast to bought by the N.S.L. and renamed Modern fiction and non fiction the hustle and bustle of the sur- Bromley House Library. however, are filed alphabetically rounding city streets. It was by their authors and the librari- intended that we would have ans, along with volunteers a talk and tour followed by have for some time been very tea/coffee and cakes. How- busy putting books onto the ever, because of meetings newly installed computer sys- we had things the other way tem. round and refreshments There is so much to write came first. Librarian, Geral- about the library. The famous dine joined us in our cosy mathematician George Green room and gave a fascinating received most of his education talk on the history of Bromley and support from the library. House. One room houses a collection The house initially of books found in Alan Sillitoe's belonged to George Smith, a holiday home and these were rich banker and baronet in Not- The talk was followed with donated by his sister when he tingham. His son, also George, a tour by our guide Frances. died. A rare Meridian Dial consist- became George Bromley due to Thankfully we did have a guide, ing of a brass strip lies across the taking his mother's maiden name as the building is a maze of rooms floor of the Standfast room. Cosy when he inherited a vast amount and I'm sure we would have got armchairs are dotted around and of money from his Aunt. As so of- lost (even though I am a mem- some overlook the beautiful gar- ten happens with very rich fami- ber!). den, so that one can peacefully lies, son George was not so We started with a climb into the read a rare book or newspaper upstanding as his father and after attic and into the photographic and feel you are living a grand several altercations with the law studio containing an original 19C Georgian Home. Bliss and well was imprisoned and eventually camera (I've forgotten the name.) worth a visit. Even better become bankrupt! Bromley House was put Husband thinks it must be an epi- a member and enjoy this jewel. up for sale. Meanwhile Notting- diascope, whatever that is. Then Jean Berry ham Subscription Library, which into the annexes all containing TEA DANCING We returned from the U.S.A.to find learn something resembling the steps that the Tea Dancing Group was not The Shadows did in their prime. It is only still flourishing but numbers had called something like the six shoe increased!! Thanks to Trish and Ken shuffle (we are learning without for ‘holding the fort’ while we were guitars), and is difficult BUT by the away. end of the session folks were Since then we have polished our shuffling for all their worth! repertoire, learning the odd ‘whisk’ Our final session of the year is on and ‘chassis’ and brushed up on both Monday 15th December. Sessions Quickstep and Foxtrot. Last lesson, re-commence on Monday January our teacher Kathy considered that we 12th 2015. Helen Madden were good enough to beginning to Page 7 Trips & Visits

MFA Materials Recovery Facility trip BOWLING RECYCLING CENTRE Tues. 6th January At 12pm £10 Last chance to buy tickets for this highly competitive bowling competition, you win if you come first and you win if you come last! The price includes two games of ten pin bowling followed by a hot Panini and nachos.

If you have any queries about only be identified and rejected by what happens to the contents of hand. your green recycling bin C&G I think we were all impressed by THURSFORD U3a now has a number of ex- the efficiency and relative cleanli- perts on hand. Two groups visit- ness of the facility and everyone 56 of us enjoyed a really ed the Veolia plant in Mansfield in learned something new, for ex- memorable day, even the lunch November. After a warm wel- ample, the need to remove all was good. Thursford lived up to its come by our guide, Victoria, we plastic caps and not to put shred- name and was truly spectacular. watched a short video, donned ded paper into the green bin. Set in the magical surroundings of hard hats, visibility jackets and Victoria impressed us with many mechanical organs and fairground headphones and embarked on statistics, including:- carousels, a cast of 130 our tour of the huge facility where By recycling one 2L plastic bottle professional singers, dancers and recycled materials are sorted. you save enough energy to pow- musicians delivered an A mountain of materials is er a television for 52 minutes. extravaganza of non-stop singing, dumped at one end of the plant Recycling a 500ml bottle would dancing, music, humour and and 15 minutes later the contents provide sufficient energy for 1.5 variety. There was an eclectic mix emerge at the other end bundled hours of tv. of both seasonal and year-round into bales of paper, metal or plas- We left enlightened and inspired favourites, with famous and much- tic. The sorting is mainly done by to be even greener. loved chart toppers being sung state-of-the art machines, but Maggie Doherty alongside traditional carols. some unsuitable materials can Sue Fairweather DONINGTON PARK TRIP A small, but very select group of 12 enjoyed a visit to the Grand Prix Collection at Donington Park on 13th November. We marvelled at the number and variety of Grand Prix racing cars that the enthusiast Tom Wheatcroft managed to acquire in a life devoted to motor sport and the development of this local circuit. The exhibition fills three halls and is now supple- mented by the Wheatcroft Collection of WW2 vehicles and motor cycles, mainly of German origin. We are lucky to have such a prestigious attraction so close to home. Understandably, absorbing all the detailed information and exploring the collection resulted in hunger and thirst that could only be satisfied by a visit for most of the party to the Willowbrook on our return. Maggie Doherty Page 8 Interest Groups WINE LOVERS Our Christmas party tastings in December, will whites were all good value, coming in at around £6: be a blind or 'sock' tasting where you bring a bottle, Eva's Vineyard, the Czerszagi Fuszeres and the disguised in a sock. We will then assess (ie guess Corvinus Hungarian White. The best value white wildly) the colour (an easy one for starters), was definitely the Eva's Vineyard, which is available dominant grape, country from Waitrose at a very of origin and age of the attractive £4.95. Both WL4 wine (a bit more and WL2 disliked one of the difficult). Last year's most expensive whites, the blind tasting was good Furmint. Its bouquet was fun and I'll try to dig out described variously as the scores, to see if we almonds, nuts, rubber, wet are getting better (or dog, wool, and farmyard. It's otherwise!) Please bring famous as the grape from a bottle of wine in a sock which the sweet Tokay or (preferably a bottle Tokai is made and we seem to between 2). Guide price think it doesn't make a good is £5-6 (one person) or dry wine. £10-12 (a bottle The red which divided between 2). opinion most and - by far the most expensive wine of the The November tastings were of Eastern evenings - was the Saperavi from Georgia (via European wines, tasting wines from Waitrose and Waitrose). This scored well, despite being the Wine Society. Apologies to all for our mangling thoroughly disliked by some of us. WineLovers4 also of the names of grape varieties – but how do you liked the Vranac from Montenegro and the Medoc pronounce rkatskeli or czerszagi fuszeres? The top style Enira from Bulgaria. Paul Martinez StridersLAXTON Walk November Walk. Striders Walk well that at one point they burst I have decided to move the walk 27/11/2014 This month’s walk into song but that was to wish one to Monday 29th December. This took us to Laxton and Egmanton of our party a happy birthday. will be a local walk starting from for a bracing seven the car park on Ranmoor and a half mile walk. Road Gedling. We will walk Laxton still has the down to the river via Nether- fields that were used in field Lagoons then on to Bur- medieval times for strip ton Joyce where there will be farming. Unfortunately a choice of following the road the weather reduced or getting a bus back to Ge- visibility to a few hun- dling. Those who have a lot of dred metres so we saw Turkey to walk off can return very little of them. We via Lambley. As was the case did see the remains last year, family members will the fishponds. The wall be welcome to join us at no of church of the shrine extra cost for the Christmas of Our Lady of Egman- walk, however they need to be ton provided a conve- aware that they are not cov- nient lunch stop. The ered by U3A insurance for this team coped magnificently with the December Walk. This month’s activity. Meet in the car park on wet and muddy ground and the walk would have been scheduled Ranmoor Road Gedling at 9.00 numerous extremely slippery for Christmas day so having con- am on Monday 29 December. stiles and slopes. Things went so sulted with the November striders Convenor Brian Shield

Page 9 Interest Groups Local History WW1 Strollers This month we talked about WW1 at home and how it affected local people. We heard the family histories of two un- TRENT cles who were killed 19 days apart at the Somme and some examples of the med- als awarded to those who served were passed around. BRIDGE Life was difficult for those at home. Women joined the workforce as local firms turned production to the war effort. Raleigh began to manufacture be- Sixteen strollers met on spoke khaki cycles, Lewis gun magazines and pioneered a new kind of fuse. bus station. Regulars, Boots had 900 women producing gas respirators and by 1915 a quarter of new & returned .We set off at a hosiery machinery was producing socks, underwear, pullovers, balaclavas steady pace, found the canal & and gloves. And, of course, 1000s of women were employed at the gun fac- followed it to . An tory in the Meadows and on the Chilwell site, where in July 1918 a massive uneventful first half, except for the explosion killed 134 workers and injured 250. These women were nicknamed near death of the leader crossing the "Canary Girls" because the chemicals used in the manufacturing proc- Radcliffe Road. The main concern ess turned their skin yellow. Women also became nurses, land girls, drove was who would do the walk report? ambulances and worked on the trams, the railway, the postal service and the The TBI was warm & welcoming, police. Raising a family alone was hard. There were food shortages and pric- with a real fire! Two members left es rose. Food rationing was introduced but public spaces were turned into the walk, the rest, refreshed allotments and everyone was encouraged to grow vegetables. Children often continued beside the river, along worked on the allotments, attending school part-time. the Trent Valley Way. Passing the Meanwhile, bawdy music hall songs had to have some of their words changed and did you know that it became illegal to buy a drink for anyone ‘City Ground’ some of the men fell except yourself in the pub? Apparently at the start of the war, Lloyd George behind. Reminiscing about the was more worried about the problems of drunkenness than he was about good & bad times of Forest. The Germany or Austria. Beer was watered down and prices went up (and never rest of the group waited for us came down). By 1918 convictions for drunk and disorderly conduct fell dra- further along. They pointed out that matically, although how much of this may have been due to the millions away the leader should be at the front. In fighting? response I said that like the Duke Thanks to all for their contributions. in a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta led Next Meetings: Tuesday 16 December 2.00 p.m. Carlton Library, Manor the troops from the rear. Avoiding Road, Carlton. Topic: Xmas Past. joggers, cyclists & dogs we Tuesday 20 January 2.00 p.m. Carlton Library. Topic: Nottingham Riots! reached our destination. Three of Jann Kirke us continued on to the toilets near the canoe slalem course. I made the mistake of saying that I fancied Music Appreciation Group White Water Rafting but I pointed out that I would look like a beached We had a “bring what you like” ses- Reilly, John Tams from Derby to whale in a wet suit, so we had our sion and got a good mix with a Perez Predo. sandwiches instead overlooking slight unintended Irish folk tint to it. Our December meeting on the the rowing course. The day was The playlist will be on our Music 23rd will have a transportation overcast & cold. However, the walk Appreciation page of the Carlton & theme – TRAINS and BOATS and was sunny & warm because of the Gedling Website but briefly we PLANES. No Christmas records. company. went from the Beach Boys to 2.00 in the Richard Herrod Centre. The next walk date is New Year’s Eartha Kitt, Barbra Streisand to Convenor: Eric Rennie Day. I am unavailable because I Status Quo, Trad Jazz to Paddy am queuing overnight for the sales. Wet suits are on offer. I shall, however, be at the Starting Gate Bird Watching pub on Friday 2nd January 10.30am as usual for a walk around Colwick We are hoping for much better weather for the December meeting! Park. So if you want to blow away The plan is to visit the Netherfield Lagoons again as many things will some of that festive cheer please have changed since our first visit. Now that the leaves are almost off the join me. trees we should see lots of different birds. Report by Ian Robey Contact on Meet at the entrance to the Lagoons (at the rear of TK Maxx) on 12th 9988803 December at 10.15 am. If there is any doubt about the weather Or email [email protected] please contact either Joan or Mo. Page 10 Diary of Events - December / January 2015 December Date Time Group Meet at Convenor Details Mon 15 10:30 Family History Richard Herrod Brenda Bowers Mon 15 14:00 Tea Dancing Richard Herrod Helen Madden Christmas fuddle and social dance Tue 16 14:00 Local History Carlton Library Jann Kirke Theme: Christmas Past

Wed 17 10:30 Drawing Carlton Fire Station Alyson Rennie Wed 17 13:30 Choir Gedling Rd Methodist Tom Butcher Wed 17 14:00 Bridge & Whist The Willowbrook Ken Savage Wed 17 14:00 Indoor Games The Willowbrook L Jaremczenco Thu 18 10:30 General Meeting Richard Herrod Tom Grainger Christmas Party Thu 18 13:00 Luncheon Club Richard Herrod Ian Robey Fri 19 11:00 Choir Mechanics Institute Tom Butcher Christmas concert Mon 22 10:00 Sewing Carlton Fire Station Lyn Jenkins Mon 22 10:30 Discussion Carlton Fire Station Eric Rennie Topic: The House of Lords / Honours Mon 22 14:00 Committee Richard Herrod Tom Grainger Mon 22 18:30 WineLovers4 Burton Road Com Cen Paul Martinez Sock wine tasting Tue 23 11:00 New Members The Willowbrook Brian Shield Find out more about the U3A Tue 23 14:00 Music App. Richard Herrod Eric Rennie Theme: Trains & Boats & Planes Wed 24 14:00 Bridge & Whist The Willowbrook Ken Savage Subject to demand Wed 24 14:00 Indoor Games The Willowbrook L Jaremczenco Subject to demand Mon 29 09:00 Striders Ranmore Road Brian Shield Along the river to Burton Joyce Wed 31 14:00 Bridge & Whist The Willowbrook Ken Savage Subject to demand Wed 31 14:00 Indoor Games The Willowbrook L Jaremczenco Subject to demand

CONTACT DETAILS Alyson Rennie 8478094, Anne Porter 9526648, Basia Arch 9539780, Brenda Bowers 0774 2017482, Brian Shield 9567670, Carolyn Broadhurst 9524203, Charles Cracknell 9157525, Christine Farnsworth 9612199, David Dobbs 9554726, Eric Rennie 8478094, Ginny Snowden 9561661, Helen Madden 9554723, Ian Robey 9988803, Jann Kirke 9615621, Joan Miller 0776 307 1655, Ken Savage 9562780, Linda Spencer 9583567, Lyn Jenkins 9523163, Lynne Jaremczenco 0777 180 1957, Maggie Doherty 9523185, Maggie Martinez 9559285, Mary Bruce 9874550, Ned Flaherty 9116419, Paul Martinez 9559285, Rene Battershall 8418481, Richard Downing 0751 421 2134, Rofie Clennell 9554471, Sue Fairweather 9613140, Tom Butcher 9532140, Tom Grainger 0780 094 9396, Tricia Terndrup 9401707

page 11 Diary - December / January 2015 (Continued) January

Date Time Group Meet at Convenor Details Fri 2 10:30 Strollers The Starting Gate Ian Robey Walking in Colwick Country Park Sun 4 Newsletter/Diary E Rennie Deadline for Newsletter/Diary Mon 5 10:30 Greenfingers The Gedling Inn Jann Kirke Winter Tasks & Winter Cheer Mon 5 13:00 Films Broadway Cinema Broadway Cinema "Not Without My Daughter"

Tue 6 14:00 Reading Carlton Fire Station Maggie Doherty The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Tue 6 12:00 Trips & Visits MFA Bowl Sue Fairweather Bowling and Brunch Wed 7 13:30 Choir Gedling Rd Methodist Tom Butcher Wed 7 14:00 Bridge & Whist The Willowbrook Ken Savage Wed 7 14:00 Indoor Games The Willowbrook L Jaremczenco Thu 8 11:00 Coffee Morning Top Spot Club Ned Flaherty Thu 8 13:00 Badminton Southglade LC Tricia Terndrup

Thu 8 14:00 Creative Writing Carlton Library Ian Robey Fri 9 10:30 Bird Watching Colwick Country Park Joan Miller Meet at Mile End Road car park Mon 12 10:00 Classical Music David's house David Dobbs Baroque music (Ian)

Mon 12 14:00 Tea Dancing Richard Herrod Helen Madden

Mon 12 18:30 WineLovers2 Burton Road Com Cen Paul Martinez G’day Australia Part 2

Tue 13 09:45 Photography Ranmore Road Tom Grainger

Tue 13 14:30 Poetry App. 16 Sunnydale Road Rene Battershall Theme: Winter Wed 14 10:00 Making Music Chandos St. Baptist Charles Cracknell Wed 14 13:30 Choir Gedling Rd Methodist Tom Butcher Wed 14 14:00 Bridge & Whist The Willowbrook Ken Savage

Wed 14 14:00 Indoor Games The Willowbrook L Jaremczenco

Wed 14 19:30 Theatre Royal Concert Hall Paul Martinez BBC Philharmonic play Debussy Thu 15 10:30 General Meeting Richard Herrod Tom Grainger Dave Thomas, CSV volunteer

and finally from the Editor s desk I wish ye aw a guid New Year Page 12