SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S CLUB The weather in 2010 produced a good variety of fungi, visible well into November when members explored Ecclesall and Whirlow woods NEWSLETTER No. 37 JANUARY 2011 1 Dear Members and Friends, Happy New Year to everyone! So here we are in 2011. Looking back at my diary, I see 2010 was bracketed by snow and ice: January and December both sprinkled with notes of extreme weather and cancelled meetings. Well, it’s sunny outside as I write this, and I see green instead of white on the hedges and lawns; we’ll see what the new year has to offer. One thing it’s sure to bring is another chance to hear Suzanne Bingham talking about The Sheffield Blitz. We had to cancel her talk in December since, even had she managed to snowshoe in to the University, she would probably have been talking to herself! But she has kindly agreed to try again in May: Monday the 9th at 2pm. I think we can confidently expect there to be no snow. Suzanne has also said that she would be interested to hear any particular memories of the Blitz that people can bring to the meeting. The SUWC Committee have had their heads together over the past year, planning a rich programme of talks and outings for this spring and summer. A particular change from recent practice is the new set up for the Spring Supper. Instead of the traditional (and very nice!) DIY affair at Ranmoor, this March we will get together at the Millhouses Park Cafe. The renowned “pudding ladies” open the cafe for group bookings in the evening, so we can look forward to some delicious food, and no cooking! We will still be able to mingle and chat and relax with friends. Please remember to book your place at events using the forms supplied with this Newsletter. Send a separate cheque for each event where required, otherwise refunds in case of emergency are much more difficult to make. The £2 for guests who are coming to talks should be paid at the door. Booking Forms for events should be returned to Hilary Page, Additional information can be found on the Club’s website. Dariel Merrills, Editor January 2011 2 RECENT EVENTS 17 September: Coffee Morning in the Fulwood Room, University House Our new year began, as has become our custom, with a coffee morning at University House. It was a delightful occasion which allowed us to catch up with our friends after the summer recess. And the event was made even more interesting by the presence of Eve Fawcett's silver jewellery stand, Hazel Brocklehurst 's sale of her cards and a nearly new bookstall run by Chris Roe. The proceeds go to the Women's Club. and we thank them for their efforts. It's always an interesting occasion when so many women, with such a range of backgrounds and experiences, get together for such an event. Our travel exploits over the years would make fascinating reading! Thank you to our committee members for providing such delicious biscuits. Marisse Evans 19 October: The Annual General Meeting, followed by a talk by Annie Rouxeville on “The Spirit of Bhutan”. Approximately 65 members attended the AGM this year. After the minutes of the last AGM were approved and accepted, Sue Battersby presented the treasurer’s report. The club’s finances are in a healthy state despite falling interest rate on the reserve account. We all thanked Hilary Shenton for auditing the accounts and Sue for keeping the money in order. Retiring Committee Members Jasmine Simeone and Sheila Duncan were thanked for their years of excellent service, and two new members were elected: Carol Walsh and Chris Roe. 3 As outgoing chairman, Hilary Page reminded us of the highlights of the year, in particular the day out at Cannon Hall and the garden party at Horsleygate. The Lake District holiday, organised by Sheena Ritchie, was enjoyable as ever. Hilary introduced the new Chair of the SUWC, Rosalind Dean, with the ceremonial handing over of the Bell. The lovely cut glass bell had been given to the club by Margaret Strachan, back when Rhiannon Clayton was in the Chair. Rosalind outlined her priorities for the SUWC for the coming year: to continue the excellent programme of events; to encourage an increase in membership; and to make sure that the website supported recruitment. After the business, we all relaxed to listen to Annie’s fascinating account of the spirit of Bhutan. Annie Rouxeville’s talk “The Spirit of Bhutan” Bhutan, population 635,000 lies between China, India (with whom they have a much more open relationship) and Tibet. The country is mountainous, producing hydroelectricity, 70% forested, and with rich agricultural plains. Though poor, the people are not downtrodden – the country is tidy and peaceful. Buddhism pervades society – they don’t shout and they don’t believe in arguing. Food is plentiful and varied. Education and health, art and culture have high priority. Everyone has access to health care; education is free to age 13 and afterwards if the child passes an exam. There is a University, an Art School and a National Library filled with scrolls on every subject. Annie showed us what she deprecatingly called ‘holiday snaps’. They were rather good! Music, painting, weaving, wood carving, and mask making are much in evidence. Houses are decorated outside by professionals – no DIY. If you can’t afford it, you have a plain house. 4 Bhutan is a democracy with a young king, Oxford educated, who wants to bring the country into the modern age while preserving their culture. The internet is widely available and many have mobile phones. The fable of the ‘Four Honourable Friends’ the elephant, the monkey, the partridge and the hen illustrates an interdependent, mutually respectful and harmonious hierarchy. The spirit of harmony and cooperation may save from extinction the tigers which roam the high forests of Bhutan. The success of Bhutan is measured in Gross National Happiness. Has the rest of the world something to learn from this? Hilary Page 1st and 4th November: “Fungal Foray” led by Patrick Harding in Ecclesall Woods and Whirlowbrook Park 2010 was a good autumn for fungi as well as for autumn colour. On two damp but mild mornings a stalwart group of SUWC gatherers and friends assembled in Ecclesall Woods and Whirlowbrook grounds to forage. Leading us was the irrepressible Patrick Harding, who provided a quick introduction to the characteristics of fungi, emphasising that they were not “plants”, before venturing into the vegetation. Some fungi thrive in dead others in live wood, and many different species do better in open grass. 5 We were amazed at the number of different species that could be collected within a very small area. Sharp eyes were needed to detect low-lying specimens among the dense fall of leaves. Some, however, notably “Jew’s Ear”, a gelatinous, bracket type grew out of tree trucks, dead or alive, and we saw many specimens. We must have seen these many times before but most of us did not even recognise what they were or that they had a name. We found it helped to know that they prefer elder trees and Patrick’s extensive knowledge of trees and other plants was appreciated. We learned that colour, size and shape are not reliable features. They change with age, just as do we! The oak trees of Ecclesall Woods provided good examples of “Hen of the Woods”. Whirlowbrook grounds proved exceptionally rich in ‘fairy rings’ and in a wide variety of edible fungi. Many edible fungi have poisonous ‘look-alikes’, even belonging to the same family and the best advice is to pick nothing for eating, unless you are an expert or have the specimens scrutinised by one. One or two members had brought a basket and proceeded home to their mushroom omelettes, while others repaired to the pub to enjoy warmth and a snack. As well as writing books, some of which were available to our members on the day, Patrick gives talks on many other aspects of trees, flowers and local customs. He also leads adult education, residential courses in many parts of the country and abroad, further details of which can be found at www.patrickharding.co.uk . Sheila Duncan 6 11 November: Theatre Visit -- William Nicholson’s Crash at the West Yorkshire Playhouse Leaden skies, gusty winds and sudden cold, sharp downpours. Not the most promising weather for the SUWC’s day out in Leeds for a trip to the theatre. But the determination of doughty members to overcome such disagreeable conditions was well rewarded. This production was great fun for all. Our seats were amazing. Down at the very front and with a superb direct involvement in the action, we were from the very beginning fully drawn into the passionate performances. And the programme that provided us with the full text of the play instead of bare information and a load of glossy adverts was a great idea. It was not a subtle play, with a rather contrived, even hackneyed, message that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones, nor was it a long performance, but clearly William Nicholson, the author of Shadowlands saw the need for theatrical display. Here we saw a stonkingly rich and greedy banker showing off his millions along with his deliciously young Croatian girl friend, teetering on six inch heels with legs which reached up to her armpits, to two old friends from student days, an impecunious unsuccessful sculptor and his teacher wife who were invited to his Elizabethan pile in the countryside for the weekend ostensibly to celebrate the banker’s purchase of the sculptor’s rather banal artwork.