News

The latest news from our groups…..

Members are invited to participate in our “virtual group”. Below are the photos chosen for January. Others may 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

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 or craft. 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.

Some of the beautiful cards  made in January’s Card Craft group.

Why not join us – all materials are provided to make the card.  We meet on the 3^rd Monday of the month at the Methodist Hall on Southwell Road, at 2.00pm.  Interested?  Contact Jill  07719165800

Book Group

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

This was an interesting story but a bit repetitive and overlong in many areas. Through a bad investment, middle aged couple Ray and Moth lose their home and everything they have worked for while at the same time Moth is diagnosed with a terminal illness. However, rather than sofa surfing with friends they decide to walk the 630-mile South West coastal path, rough camping along the way, battling the elements and living on a diet of mainly fudge and noodles on a weekly income of less than £50 in tax credits!

There are some lovely descriptions of the walk itself and the people they meet along the way but I’m afraid that at the back of my mind was knowing there was some controversy, following an Observer investigation, about the book and misrepresentation by the author of the whole story. However, the book was a huge success selling over 2 million copies worldwide and adapted into a 2024 film so an end to their financial woes!

Betty Foster

– The water mills of Mansfield

In its day, the River Maun powered 14 mills on its course from Kings Mill Sutton to Bath Mill Mansfield.

Many of the mills themselves evolved from corn-grinding water mills to cotton-doubling textile mills, all powered by water.

There were also fulling mills to pound the cloth, sawmills, a bark mill for the tanning industry, and a mustard mill which became Metal Box.

The first water mill in the area to be recorded was in the Domesday Book of 1086. This is believed to be Kings Mill. The original mill had a small mill pond, until the 4th Duke of Portland replaced it with a new mill and Kings Mill Reservoir. This provided more water for mills further downstream. The Duke encouraged the building of mills to relieve unemployment and poverty, and Mansfield became prosperous from cotton production.

A few of these mills, like Town Mill, are still standing, but many have succumbed to the elements, fire, arson and demolition.

Local historian Denis Hill took us on a fascinating journey of only a few miles, but with a variety of tales and industry. He showed us maps and illustrations which he hopes to include in a book he is writing on the subject.

Diane Hibbert.

Next month, we join Chris Weir to explore Nottinghamshire’s Dark Side!

10am Feb.27th Cambridge Close.

Strollers

Several members of the group braved the elements to stroll around Kings Mill Reservoir recently.

Fortunately we missed the deluge of rain and winds brought by storm Chandra which arrived on the day after our walk. Although the sky was grey and the temperature was quite low it wasn’t raining so everyone remained dry but rather cold. The weather hadn’t deterred other walkers either and many were out with their furry companions. There was a conglomerate number of birds around on the reservoir including swans, moorhen, ducks, Canada geese and even three cormorants were spotted sharing a rock. It was definitely very noisy with most of the birds seeking food from the visitors [which should be grain of course and not bread which harms wildlife].One of the members mentioned that she had picked up from Breakfast TV the information that it is only drakes which quack and not female ducks [who said that females did all the talking?]We kept the walk to the perimeter of the reservoir due to the cold conditions and so were back at Morrisons’ cafe in record time . As it was rather early for lunch most of the strollers settled for a hot drink and cake in order to thaw out their extremities!

Next month we will be strolling around Berry Hill Park, Mansfield on Monday 23rd February meeting in the car park at The Rushley Pub, Nottingham Road to leave at 10.30am.

         Andrew and Susan Goodison

Wide-open Western spaces, high-stepping dances and a hummable humdinger of a score – all ingredients of our latest film “Calamity Jane”

In Deadwood, Dakota, pistol-packing Indian scout Calamity Jane (Doris Day) rescues Lt. Gilmartin from the Indians and promptly falls for him.

She then journeys to Chicago to bring famous singer Adelaid Adams to Deadwood, but mistakenly brings her maid Katie Brown instead. Cue lots of exuberant singing, dancing and sharp-shooting from Calamity and Wild Bill Hickok (Howard Keel) at the Golden Garter theatre.

There is comedy with Katie helping Calamity to dress and behave more lady-like.

Inevitably, Katie and Lt. Gilmartin fall for each other, leaving Calamity angry and humiliated.

Finally however, Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok find romance and a double wedding ensues.

The film won an Academy Award for the musical score and an Oscar for the song “Secret Love”. The stars – Doris Day and Howard Keel – were wonderful and our group couldn’t help but sing along.

Ian Hibbert

This group visits Mansfield Odeon for live events broadcast from The Royal Opera and Ballet in London.

January saw the return of a well loved favourite opera with La Traviata by Verdi. The music is outstandingly beautiful and emotional. This performance was superb with brilliant singing but also brilliant acting which isn’t always the case. There was even dancing on a table with firstly gypsies and followed by matadors ! The story is sad as is often with opera but the music uplifts to compensate. In the interval we had an informative talk on making the costumes which take 35 yards of fabric and 6 layers to each dress. Pleased to say these were staged at the correct time and not modernised as can happen!

Our next event is Woolf Works, a ballet inspired by the genre defying works of Virginia Woolf on Monday 9th February (report next month). We are unable to do the next ballet in March, Giselle, but as I gather it is macabre with dancing round a grave it may not be missed!
The next opera to be booked is The Magic Flute on 21st April at 6.45 pm. Booking at the April meeting.

Pam Berry

We have a vacancy in our Wine Appreciation group.

We meet in each other’s homes on the 3^rd Wednesday evening of the month.

If you are interested, please contact Jill    07719165800

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!

THE RINGTONES- World Singing Day video project.

The Ringtones were one of the many choirs from across Newark and Sherwood to celebrate the joy of singing by sending in a short video clip of our recent Elvis coffee morning. This year, participants from 81 host locations in 18 countries took part from New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, South Africa, the UK, Germany, and North America each holding their own singing event in celebration of World Singing Day. It’s amazing to know that our voices became part of that worldwide harmony. World Singing Day is a reminder that we’re part of something much larger not just a local celebration, but a global community united through song. Well done Ringtones for helping to make that vision come alive so beautifully here in Newark and Sherwood. See if you can spot us on the Rainworth u3a Facebook page.

The Ringtones flew the flag for our u3a at the Rainworth Methodist’s annual Christmas cake, coffee and carols celebration.
They performed their Christmas hits, which they sang beautifully.  I added a bit of flute and clarinet, and we were joined by the Minister on piano and the resident violin player.  Truly a musical feast.
The Methodist congregation are a lovely group of local people. They joined in our songs with gusto and served up delicious cake and Xmas cheer.
The selected Christmas readings and poems, both humorous and thoughtful, along with well-loved carols, gave us an uplifting countdown to Christmas 2025.

The collection in aid of “Action for Children” made £163 on that morning and a total of £443.57 after their weekend services. Well done, a great
result.

Ian Hibbert

Thirty four members attended the Christmas lunch at the Hostess restaurant and enjoyed the usual high standard of food, entertainment and service.

Several took to the dance floor to burn off the calories.

Breakfast Group

This week 14 of our members enjoyed breakfast at the Bakery cafe in Mansfield

Gordon Brown

Garden Visits

December always sees us visit a home / garden decorated for Christmas and this year it was Doddington Hall and Gardens.
The theme was Fairytales and each room depicted a different one.  However, it was worth looking into the annex off the main entrance hall as it was the Bar and as the owners currently occupy the Hall obviously it’s still in use!! Never seen so many different bottles all together!
Most of the fairy tales we knew and two stand out, Sleeping Beauty complete with bed, spinning wheel and that beautiful Rose Adagio being played from the ballet by Tchaikovsky. The last room was a Forest depicting Cinderella and a hidden glass slipper amongst the foliage. All this was taken from the Estate and painted to look pretty.
Our day started with a morning visit to Pennells garden centre for shopping and lunch, then on to Doddington and finally a look round their farm shop. It was also very good to see on the route there the Lancaster bomber that has been made and erected larger than the Angel of the North. It stands back from the main dual carriageway from Newark to Lincoln. Look out for it if passing.

Pam Berry

Our members enjoyed visiting the Vulcan and having the exterior, interior and cockpit explained to us in detail. The plane is based at the Robin Hood Airport, Doncaster.

Gordon Brown

We all had a great night at the Last night of the Proms at the Hostess Restaurant. The meal was well presented, plentiful and a good selection to choose from. Music by the Shirebrook Miners Welfare Band got most of us up on our feet waving flags and singing loudly. It was the first time Colin & I had been, we really enjoyed it and felt it was well worth the money. Hope they do one next year!!!

Jackie Massey

Indoor Games

There was an end of term feeling at indoor games with the final sessions of dominoes and Kurling of 2025 taking place.

In Kurling, the blues beat the reds in a first-to-fifty match.

For Maltese Cross, John won three games, Diane won two and Ian won one. Andrew and Jim were unlucky this time.

However, we all enjoyed drinks, nibbles and good company.

Diane Hibbert.

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

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

Our numbers were a bit depleted at the last quiz night. As usual we did our best but didn’t win! If we look cold in the photo we were, the pub’s heating had broken down on the Monday, but hopefully will be fixed by the time we go again!

Jackie Massey

The last outing of the year was to Lyme Park near Stockport, a large mansion house with formal gardens and a deer park dating from the 1300s.

In 1995 the exterior of the house and gardens were used as a location for “Pemberley” in the BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The series was so successful that afterwards visitor numbers tripled. There are various quotes and references to Pride and Prejudice throughout the property including a dressing up room where Betty and Barbara had fun dressing up in Georgian costumes.

Ann Mills