Croydon U3A Magazine Spring 2016 The Third Age Trust (Operating as the University of the Third Age) Croydon U3A Reg. Charity No. 102946612 Website address www.u3asites.org.uk/croydon Table of Contents Editorial 1 Chairman’s message 2 Committee profile – Paul Smith 3 Visits : Into Deepest Sussex 4 – 5 Reports from General Meetings: What are you going to do about Climate Change 6 – 7 Groups: Archaeology 7 - 10 History of London 1: Visit to the Pepys exhibition 10 - 11 Walking 12 Looking at London (South Croydon) 12 History of London 4: quiz questions 13 - 14 Share and Read 14 - 16 Travel: Turkish Delight 16 - 18 Called to Adventure 19 Out and About in (and near) Croydon 19 - 20 One hundred years ago 20 Golden rules for a good old age 21 Going on retreat 22 - 23 Trivia from across the pond 23 Quiz question answers 24 - 25 Literary Gems 26 Cover Picture – Rock garden at Dingwall Road entrance to East Croydon station Photo by Gordon Thynne Editorial I am in mourning. The newspaper I have read for 30 years – ever since it first saw the light of day – is to cease appearing in print. To continue reading it, I shall have to use my computer (not having a tablet). But I can’t prop the computer up on the breakfast table. Instead, I shall have to talk to my wife. There’s no telling what may ensue. This issue includes some reports from Group Leaders. I plan to make this a feature of the Magazine, in the hope and expectation that members will enjoy learning more about what Groups have been up to, and what they plan to do. If you did not read Philippa Bassett’s article in the February issue of ‘U3A Sources’, I recommend it. Philippa has led our Art Appreciation Group for almost 20 years. Her article illustrates the knowledge, imagination and enthusiasm that Group Leaders bring to their role. Another article of interest in the same magazine: Trish Allen of South East London U3A wrote about the Shared Learning Project on the history of Croydon Airport. It reminded me of a book about aviation that I had as a lad. It included a glamorous illustration of the airport. What happened to the book? I’ve included in this issue some ‘literary gems’. If you have come across some in your reading, share them with us! I’ll welcome contributions for the Summer issue by 8 June. Gordon Thynne Picture: Wandle Park in winter by Barbara Lister 1 Chairman's Message A new year with new beginnings. Croydon U3A is ready for any new challenges which lie ahead! Our members have shown themselves to be adaptable, and those groups which formerly used ECURC have moved into new venues without any problems. We also had a very successful launch for one of our new General Meeting venues at Croydon College in March. A record 178 members came up by glass lifts to the amazing Conference Centre and appreciated all the modern technology and resources which had been set up for us. The star attraction was our very own Barry Goodwin (Membership Secretary) who gave a very interesting and informative talk on Climate Change. At the end of the meeting some of our members chose to walk down the steps (from the 4th floor) to exit the building, and we were very impressed. A very enjoyable New Members' Coffee morning was held in February. New groups, including Wine Tasting, Gardening, Greek and Upwords, bring the total number of groups to 65. With 681 members we are offering a broad and balanced programme for shared learning and enjoyment. We are still appreciating day outings to very interesting places and looking forward to the holiday in Austria in May. We are also forging new links with Croydon Council by using their venues which include Heathfield for Committee Meetings, the David Lean cinema for a history group, the Braithwaite Hall for the Study Morning on The Crystal Palace in April and future General Meetings at Croydon Community Space, Croydon Bernard Weatherill House. It is good to be a thriving, expanding organisation in such a forward-looking town as Croydon. Brenda Kidd 2 Committee Member Profile – Paul Smith, Events Coordinator I have been retired for just over 2 years after spending 37 years teaching in Croydon, starting at Lady Edridge School in South Norwood. The major attraction there was that my classroom looked on to Selhurst Park, the home of Crystal Palace Football Club, where I watched my first ever game in 1964. From that moment on I was bitten by the Palace bug and have been a season ticket holder for many years. As for the school - it is now a housing estate. My next job was at Heath Clark High School which had just been changed into a comprehensive school from a grammar school. It was going through quite a turbulent time. Two weeks after starting there it was announced it was to be closed in a few years’ time. It is now a housing estate (Do you notice a pattern emerging?) I then moved to Monks Hill High School and spent 30 years there doing a variety of management jobs, but always enjoying the teaching more than the managing. It was there that I met Brenda Kidd, our Chairman. The school became Selsdon High School and then The Quest Academy. Just after I retired, it moved into a new building. The old one is being pulled down, to become - not a housing estate - but a leisure space on a housing estate! I am married with 3 children. My wife teaches at Old Palace School. I like to think that I do the shopping, cleaning, cooking and gardening. Apart from the U3A Committee and the History of London Group, I do voluntary work for the NSPCC, the Elis David almshouses and my son’s PTA. I spend hours each day walking, or rather being walked, by our springer spaniel, Maisie. I like nothing better than meeting ex- teacher friends for lunch and reminding ourselves how glad we are to be out of teaching in the current climate. 3 Visit : Into Deepest Sussex A nearly full coach left Croydon on 12 November on the trail of ‘Mad Jack’ Fuller. Our Blue Badge Guide, Carol, joined us at Lamberhurst. By then it was raining, but the sky soon cleared and we were rewarded with a glimpse of the sun on the distant sea. The South Downs, rearing up from Eastbourne, were visible. Coffee at the small Sun Inn at Woods Corner, near Dallington, put us in good heart. We proceeded to the Church at Brightling where Carol told us about Jack. He was born in 1757. His ancestors had made the family’s fortune from land and iron-making. A marriage connection with West Indian plantation owners had also helped. The family’s manor house was near to the Church. Jack was a large man. (One nickname was ‘Hippopotamus’.) He was also outspoken, earning the name, ‘Honest Jack’. After a short, inglorious career as a Member of Parliament, he settled down as the (bachelor) local squire, and began to exhibit the qualities that endeared him to many people. He became a patron of the arts and sciences. He supported the painter, Turner; he commissioned the architect, Robert Smirke (leader of the ‘Greek Revival’) to design an observatory; and he was a founder member of the Royal Institution where he instituted two professorships. From the coach we had a near view of the observatory, now a private residence. It’s on a hill top with views to all quarters of the compass. Since it had a scientific purpose it doesn’t count as one Jack’s ‘follies’, but we saw others that do. All stand in Brightling Park, the family estate. From a distance we spied the Rotunda Temple, variously explained as a gambling den, a resort of ‘ladies of the night’, a smugglers hide-out, or just a place for visitors to take tea. Nearer was the Sugar Loaf, reputed to have been built so Jack could win a wager that the spire of Dallington Church was visible from his house. (Finding that it couldn’t, Jack had the Loaf built hurriedly to masquerade as the spire). But the most unusual ‘folly’ is the large pyramid in the grounds of Brightling Church. Jack began preparing for his death 24 years before it occurred. The pyramid was to be his mausoleum. Legend had it that he wished to be ‘buried’ above ground, but when the mausoleum had to be repaired, it was found that he had in fact been interred. 4 Jack was known not only for his patronage and eccentricities, but also as a benefactor. At a time of serious unemployment, he employed men to build a four mile wall around the estate. He paid for the first life-boat at Eastbourne, and for the first ‘Belle Tout’ lighthouse on the cliffs near Beachy Head. And he bought Bodiam Castle when it was threated with demolition. Brightling Church also benefited from his generosity, acquiring a barrel organ and a gallery. The Church escaped Victorian restoration and retains a seemingly ancient appearance. On a wall is a bust of Jack. Underneath is an inscription in Latin which – I learnt from a booklet about him – means, ‘Nothing is of use that is not honest’. The Swan Inn provided us with an excellent lunch. Under dull skies we walked the length of the main street at Battle (the Abbey ruins were closed); and ended the day of exploration with tea at Bodiam, as dusk hid the object of Jack’s rescue from view.