News

The latest news from our groups…..

Members are invited to participate in our “virtual group”. Below are the photos chosen forOctober. Others can be found in the newsletter.
Please email me ONE snapshot you have taken on your phone, or digital camera, sometime before a general meeting. I will compile an informal slideshow of the results and show them at the next general meeting. There are no themes, no prizes, no meetings, just a monthly picture gallery.
Select wisely, remember only ONE snapshot.
No people snaps! Not every one wants to be plastered all over the village hall screen and I would feel uncomfortable with personal data. So please stick to – animal (not human), vegetable and mineral please. Snaps will be deleted after 1 month, ready for the next gallery.
Let’s give it a go. What could possibly go wrong?
My special email “snapshot gallery” address is:
snapgallery21@gmail.com
Ian Hibbert

Indoor Games

Think a lot more practice is needed as everyone missed the target, must be on something good here at the u3a

Lynden Lowe

Should have gone to Specsavers I think! Editor

Canasta

Our Canasta group has also started and takes place in the Methodist Hall at the same time as Card Craft, Hobbies and Indoor Games, come along and join beginners at this card game with expert instruction from Enid. Three “newbies” had  mastered the rules by the end of the 1st session, another “learning curve” for our u3a!

Enid Thomas

At each meeting a different card is demonstrated for members to copy. Come along and make a greetings card to send to someone special. We provide all necessary materials and help. The group meets on the 3rd Monday of the month at the Rainworth Methodist church hall, 2 – 4pm.

Jill Pullan

Sixteen members had a great day out at Whitby on 24th August. We had a lovely journey up with a comfort stop on the way arriving in Whitby at mid-day. The weather was kind, sunny and warm. Most of us did our own thing, walking, riding on the open top bus or maybe walking around the market. I don’t think anybody walked up to the church which unlike the Abbey isn’t a ruin and gave Bran Stoker the idea for Dracula. Most of the retail shops were open until 4pm and were quite busy, as were most of the fish and chip shops. Some of us opted for quieter dining places where we didn’t have to spend time waiting for a table. Being a Bank Holiday weekend it was quite busy with people and dogs but still quite easy to get around. We left at 5pm and had a short comfort break arriving back in Mansfield at 8pm.
The trip was booked with Vallances, both Bob the driver and Tracey the courier, were a pleasure to travel with, Tracey serving coffee, tea and cold drinks plus snacks as required, we even had time for a quiz on the way up in competition with the other coach, our coach had the winner getting 17 right out of 20 but it wasn’t one of us !! It really was a lovely day out.
Jackie Massey

What a great day out to Gates Garden Centre and Farmer Barnes Dairy. About one hour drive from Rainworth the garden centre is like a ” mini retail outlet ” with the likes of Lakeland, Pavers and Cotton Traders and others having shops there. The Garden centre is probably one of the best that many of us have ever visited. As is customary we all headed for the coffee shop on arrival after which we branched off to do our own thing. Some of us had lunch before getting back on the coach for a trip just down the road to Farmer Barnes Dairy. We were met by Jane Barnes who gave us insight into running a dairy farm which she does with her husband and son. We had a look at the tank that holds the milk produced by ” the girls” which is collected by a tanker and taken to Clawson’s Dairy where it is turned into the famous Stilton. We had a tour of the pens where we saw baby calf that had been born during the previous 24 hours. The cows are milked twice a day, early morning and again in the afternoon which we were able to watch. Technology has come a long way from the milking stool and bucket!!! We ended what was a very interesting tour with refreshments, water from their springs, coffee or tea, cake and cheese and biscuits, Stilton or Shropshire Blue. Cheese was also available to buy.
Jackie Massey

Eighteen of us enjoyed lunch at the Archer on Warsop Lane. The food was tasty and very good value and it is always a pleasure to support the staff who are training students in the hospitality trade. The desserts and homemade cake are well worth a try! We will be going back!

Jackie Massey

Book Group

Last month’s book was ‘I see you,’ a psychological thriller by Clare Mackintosh. When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classified ads section of a London newspaper she is desperate to find out why it’s there and, more importantly, who put it there. Worse still, it’s among the ads for escorts, chat lines and dating agencies but there’s no explanation, just a website, a grainy image and a telephone number. She takes it home to show her family but they are convinced it’s just someone who looks like her. However, the next day there is a photo of a different woman and another the day after that. Zoe’s concern turns to panic when she realizes other women whose photos have appeared in the same ad have become victims of terrible crimes. Who is behind this awful site and will she be the next victim? She ends up in contact with police officer Kelly and the story unfolds from both their points of view. So begins this journey of terror that knows no limits with plenty of twists and turns along the way that keep you on the edge of your seat and only one of our members guessed the outcome!

Betty Foster

Visit to Papplewick Pumping Station

Some of our group were familiar with this venue, some had never been before, but on our visit we all learned something new.

Papplewick fresh-water pumping station was built between 1882 and 1885 by Victorian engineer Marriott Ogle Tarbotton. It was once part of a network of eight local stations and reservoirs and played a major role in supplying fresh water to the growing city of Nottingham.

It houses two beam engines built by the James Watt Company, powered by steam from six Lancashire boilers. These engines pumped water from the underlying sandstone to a reservoir, and from here, gravity fed water to the city.

This all ceased in 1969 when a new pumping station was built, powered by electricity, and can be seen by the boundary wall, looking like an anonymous bungalow! It still operates today and is entirely automated.

The Gothic Revival building is of Bulwell brick and Mansfield stone, with external terracotta decorations, brass fittings and stained glass windows. The ornate cooling pond with fountain and fish, the many trees and the 120’ high chimney add to the effect.

The whole site now is a Scheduled Ancient Monument run since 1974 by a volunteer Trust. There are steaming event weekends eight times a year and once you have bought a ticket you gain a year’s free admission. Well worth a visit.

Diane Hibbert.

We were back again at Southwell Minster to see The Longest Yarn 2 – A Thread Through History. This time, 80 scenes in wool art depict life in Britain on the Home Front, from the declaration of war in 1939 to VJ Day in 1945.

New for this time though are the life-sized figures of all the uniformed service people that saved Britain in the hour of need, such as Land Army girls, Spitfire pilots and more.

Our crafters noted that there was more knitting this time than crochet, plus some embroidery (for Churchill’s speech), but the attention to minute detail was still there. For example, we spotted ladybirds, birds on rooftops, mini-veg (Dig for Victory), ornaments in the parlour, a photographer with a tiny camera, and of course, Churchill’s cigar.

There were a lot more figures this time, from troops in railway carriages, evacuees from Dunkirk, VE Day street parties, crowds outside Buckingham Palace and the conga through the Ritz.

The creators of this exhibition come from all walks of life and age groups across the UK and beyond. They supply their own wool, time and inspiration to create these marvellous scenes.

A fitting tribute to our Home Front story.

Diane Hibbert.

Garden Visits

After many glorious weather days out this year, in September we came unlucky. As we journeyed to our destination, Thornbridge estate in Derbyshire, it started to drizzle so on arrival we went straight to the coffee shop. It then became rain and it rained and it rained and it rained! Our leader Ann then negotiated with the management to swap viewing gardens to a tour of the House. It took some negotiation! However the tour was all inside ( thankfully! ) and a fascinating house. Thornbridge has had various owners since being built ,who had all altered it so getting back to the original was impossible. It was even owned by the local council at one stage and used as a teacher training college. It is now very much a family home. After the fire in 1938 at Clumber several items were purchased by Thornbridge and although some have been sold there is still a vast array of statues, facades and fountains which all came from Clumber. No gardens this time but Ann saved the day! We then went for a hot lunch at Chatsworth garden centre. Thanks Ann, it all turned out well in the end!

Pam Berry

Nunnington Hall is a country house near York, named after a nunnery located in the area before the Norman Conquest. The first Hall dates from the 13th century but the present building dates from the 17th and 18th century.

The gardens include an organic walled garden, orchards and rose gardens. Peacocks and scarecrows were also in occupation.

Ann Mills

Strollers

On a beautiful sunny Autumnal Monday morning near the end of September, several members of the group put their best feet forward and strolled around the Teversal Trail. Some people were missing, due to various reasons, but we were joined by Chris Bentley for the first time who brought the glorious weather with him. Being musical it reminded us of the song ‘Blue Skies’ because as the lyrics say ‘there was nothing but blue skies’, not a cloud to be seen! The trees were starting to change into their rustic colours, of different reds and golds and a very proud pair of swans were taking care of their majestic seven cygnets. According to a man out walking his dog we had just missed out on seeing three deer which had suddenly appeared from the nearby woodland. A robin was singing his little heart out, a mischievous squirrel dashed across the path in front of us and we spotted clumps of cyclamen growing wildly at the side of the path. Two intrepid members, Andrew and Linda, walked up to the top of the mount to see the statue of the miner, while the rest of us conserved our energy and gave it a miss this time. We all returned to the visitor centre cafe for refreshments, which are sold at reasonable prices, and it is staffed by volunteers. We chose the sausage cobs as an alternative to the usual bacon ones and we did notice that one or two members selected the sausage rolls (warmed up of course). Everyone enjoyed the walk with the gorgeous scenery, flora, fauna, and conversation in such perfect conditions and no one was struggling for breath at the end… phew! The only disappointment of the morning was that Linda didn’t manage to find any conkers, which she was hoping to collect to act as a spider deterrent to those occupying her house! Never mind, she will have to put up with them a little while longer.

Our next venture will take place on Monday 27th October when we will be returning to Brierley Park, Huthwaite, meeting in the car park as usual for 10.30am.
             Andrew & Susan Goodison

Roman Holiday  ( directed by William Wyler)

A beautiful debut for a young Audrey Hepburn, sharing the headlines with a handsome Gregory Peck.

Despite a bizarre start with the dialogue entirely in German, once we had found the English language button, we were away for two hours of viewing the sights of Rome, where this romantic comedy takes place!

Even in black and white, this is a sumptuous production, with a stylish score by Georges Auric.

Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) is a European princess who rebels against her royal obligations and escapes to explore Rome on her own for a day. She meets Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck), an American newspaperman who pretends ignorance of her identity in the hope of a story. He is aided in this by his cameraman pal who joins in the fun of the day.

Princess and commoner fall in love, but what will prevail, love or duty?…….

Diane and Ian Hibbert.

We were all entranced once again to an Andre Rieu concert film at the end of August. As usual it was uplifting and beautiful. There were soloists performing modern and opera songs, a multitude of ballroom dancers who occupied the aisles and Pan pipes played exquisitely. We came away on a high note. The next concert film is “Merry Christmas ” on Sunday 7th December at 3.15pm.

In October will be booking for the ballet “La Fille mal gardee” which features the well known clog dance! November 5th and on 25th November the ballet “Cinderella”.

Pam Berry

Ringtones

The Ringtones singing group is about having fun and performs at meetings and social events.
At our monthly rehearsals at the Methodist Church Hall in Rainworth, 10am-12pm, on the second Monday of each month, we plan for any future performances and enjoy a wide range of music. We have sung celebratory songs at our 10th anniversary celebrations, coffee mornings, Christmas parties, our AGM and  Garden Parties. New members are always welcome, no audition required!

Some of the Group enjoying lunch at Ciao Bella Italian Restaurant in Mansfield.
5 Star food and service as usual (IMO). I’m sure we will be returning.

Ann Mills

Breakfast Group

Our Breakfast Group enjoyed an excellent meal in lovely surroundings at Ramsdale Golf Club.

Gordon Brown

Ten members attended the quiz at the Oak Tree enjoying a meal before it started. Once again we did very well, we got 28 out of 30 right but the winning line didn’t fall for us , we shall try again next month.

Jackie Massey

Hobbies

This group covers several hobbies at present but we are always on the lookout for more!
Please come along if you want to have a go at any hobby, we meet on the 3rd Monday, 2-4pm at the Rainworth Methodist Church Hall.

We knit squares that are made into blankets and donated overseas, this is our latest contribution, three beautiful blankets crocheted by Linda and  squares by other members.
Diane has made a model plane in the past!

The hats were knitted by Louise as gifts.

We mix with indoor games so you can do either or both at a session. Bring a mug for the teabreak.

Mary Howarth

Recently, we tasted an unknown grape Chilean Carmenere, a red wine that is a member of the Cabernet family. As often the least expensive came out best! We then enjoyed a delicious supper from our host Linda Tift. Another thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Pam Berry