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COMMITTEE MATTERS

SHERWOOD U3A COMMITTEE MEMBERS

CHAIRMAN

Rita Foulkes

VICE CHAIRPERSON Liz Wilson

BUSINESS & MINUTES SECRETARY Liz Wilson

TREASURER

ADMINISTRATOR

Margaret Taylor

David Bradley

GROUP CO-ORDINATOR Sue Robb

EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR Marilyn Dillon

GREETER & REFRESHMENTSCO-ORDINATOR Wendy Sterland

TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT OFFICER

WELFARE OFFICER (1)

WELFARE OFFICER (2)

Chris Robb

Jeremy Lloyd

Margaret Minto-Smith

VISITORS’ & NEW MEMBERS’ SECRETARY Lynda Brotherhood

COMMITTEE MEMBER Pat Collins

MESSAGE FROM YOUR CHAIRMAN -

Rita Foulkes As no-one has come forward to take over as Chairman, I’m afraid you will have to

put up with me for the next 11 months.

Once again Terry Whitehead of Mansfield U3A is arranging his annual trip to

Thoresby Hall next January so if anyone is interested in attending please contact

Terry (626991). 247 people attended last January and he has reserved places for 180 people next year.

In my role as Membership Secretary, I’m pleased to report that all members on the Potential Members List

have been offered places. 14 members have already signed up and, hopefully, the rest will join on the 11th

July. A new potential member list will then be started.

The new members of the Committee have settled into their roles and are making a good contribution towards

continuing improvements within the Sherwood U3A. If you have any ideas toward this end, please speak to

any member of the Committee

Local U3A’s that are actively seeking members are:

SUTTON IN ASHFIELD U3A www.sutton-in-ashfieldu3a.org.ukMansfield Hosiery Mills Sports & Social Club,

Huthwaite Rd. Sutton-in-Ashfield Contact: Susan Harrison 01623 472493

DUKERIES U3A www.dukeriesu3a.org.uk Jubilee Hall, Wellow Rd, New Ollerton. Contact: Tricia Leaver

01777 87240

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WELFARE OFFICERS

On behalf of Sherwood U3A a card of condolence has been sent to member Josie Earnshaw on the death of

her husband Frank.

We are still requesting volunteers for transporting and/or visiting members.

If any member becomes aware of any other Member who may be ill, either in hospital or at home, OR who

may need assistance to get to a meeting OR in the event of a death of a member, please contact MARGARET

MINTO-SMITH 01623 423095 (home phone with answer phone facility).

Report from your Interest Groups’ Co-ordinator,

Sue Robb

NEW PROPOSED GROUPS

The following groups have been suggested. There will be lists to sign at the meeting to register interest.

Members will be needed to help organise any group that is established:

Sunday Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Bird watching, Photography, Writing for Fun, Language

Conversation, Archaeology.

Just a reminder that the voluntary contribution to car drivers is: up to a 20 mile round trip £2, up to 30 miles

£3, up to 40miles £4, 50-60 miles £5, longer journeys at driver’s discretion.

STROLLERS

8th August Pleasley Pit. Meet 10.30am at car park.

WALKERS

On a sunny morning in June seven members, including two new members enjoyed a walk around Blidworth

Woods. All enjoyed the four mile walk taking in views of the surrounding countryside followed by lunch at the

Fox and Hounds.

On 23rd July our next Walk is the Mansfield Woodhouse Heritage walk starting from Mansfield Woodhouse

Railway Station. 9.50 for a 10am start please. Our lunch venue is the Foxglove at Forest Town.

RAMBLE

25th July Chatsworth and Beeley Moor. Meet 10.00am Morrisons. Car share

LUNCH CLUB

Wednesday 24th

July at The Burntstump Inn, Burntstump Hill, Arnold, NG5 8PQ - Tel.

01159631508. Meet 12.30 for 1.00pm start. Pre-order from menu at meeting.

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HERITAGE GROUP

3rd August Wingfield Manor. Notice for people booked for this visit. Vehicles not allowed on site or gateway.

Off road parking short distance along road in direction of Crich. Meet tour guide outside gateway at 11am.

Uneven uphill walk so wear suitable footwear. No refreshments or toilet facilities. 1-1 ½ hours including

access and exit. (Waiting list only)

Saturday 21st September, Woolsthorpe Manor & Belton House £15: Our visit to Woolsthorpe will be from

about 11am until 12.45. There is only a small coffee shop here and no food available. We will then go on to

Belton House, approximately 20minutes away, where a café and a restaurant await to provide sustenance as

required. Please pay for this outing by August meeting

Ashgate Hospice Midnight Walk 22/23 June: I successfully completed the 13 mile walk despite the wet

weather. At the time of writing I have raised £248.50 and am hoping to increase this amount. My sincere

thanks to everyone who was kind enough to sponsor me. Irene

Latest news from Margaret Burlinson

. Thursford Christmas Spectacular 4th - 6th December -The balances of

£194 for singles and £168 pp for those sharing must be paid no later

than the September meeting. Cheques will not be cashed until the last

week in September so you can start paying now especially if you know you may be absent at any of the

meetings before then. Cheques payable to Mansfield & District U3A.

U3A MEMORY COURSE We are hoping to start the first Sherwood Memory Course this September for those people interested in

attending.

Should there be sufficient interest-and we intend to ask for a show of hands at the July meeting, along with a

list of names - there will be a Pre-Course Seminar held in August, at which attendance on the Course proper

can be confirmed.

Further information about the Course will be given at the Sherwood meeting. Claire Wilkie

Just a reminder that the voluntary contribution to car drivers is: up to a 20 mile round trip £2, up to 30 miles

£3, up to 40miles £4, 50-60 miles £5, longer journeys at driver’s discretion.

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

We meet every third Monday 2-

4pm. We are a mixed bunch of people who like to get together and discuss

anything that catches our eye. Questions are written down prior to the meeting

and then pulled out of a hat. Everyone takes a turn in posing a question and topics range from very serious

subjects and some very topical subjects to something more amusing. Nothing is taboo and opinions very often

vary but everyone’s opinion is respected.

The group can sometimes get noisy but it is always harmonious. Members say it is stimulating, diverse amusing

and energising. It certainly makes you think and keeps your mind active. Come and join us.

Sue Haywood

DAYS OUT A visit to Wensleydale Creamery, Hawes.

An early start indicated a longer journey than

usual for this visit and we were relieved to see

that despite a rather overcast sky, it was DRY! As

we made our way to the A1, glimpses of a bluebell

wood in full bloom and the roadside trees in full

leaf assured us that Spring had at last arrived.

Continuing our journey north after a welcome

break, we crossed the River Ure and the tranquil

beauty of the Dales all around us. Rolling green

fields stretched to the lower slopes of the

Pennines, divided by dry stone walls begun in the

eighteenth century and constructed slightly

differently from those in Derbyshire. Every field

was home to ewes and their lambs, so this visit was very well timed. At Leyburn the busy market had left no

available parking space, so we continued to Hawes, and enjoyed exploring the hilly streets, where an old

fashioned sweet shop and a craft fair welcomed our visit! At the Creamery we all did justice to the excellent

hot lunch, and afterwards we watched a short film and an interesting demonstration by a farmer’s wife, who

made a small cheese before our very eyes!

A gallon of milk produces a pound of cheese. During the making a “special ingredient” and rennet are stirred

into the milk, in huge open containers, which is later strained to remove the whey. Much of the work is done

by hand, and in the viewing gallery we saw several workers pressing curds into moulds by hand. Finally we

came to the eagerly anticipated sampling of over a dozen varieties of Wensleydale cheese. Would we be able

to manage this after such a good lunch? Well, perhaps just one or two!

Leaving the shop with our choices, we had time to walk into Hawes for a cup of tea before setting off on our

return journey via Wetherby, arriving safely home after a round trip of about 240 miles.

Thanks to the excellent planning by Desley and Marlene, and Peter’s very competent driving, this was a great

day out to a lovely area which I, for one, would otherwise not have visited.

Kathleen Bowmer

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M.S. Braemar cruise around UK and Ireland Friday 24 May-Mon 3

June 2013 1986 nautical miles

My log: Shannon Macfarlane

Day 1 (Fri) Braemar was a beautiful sight docked at Dover.

Onboard she was modern, spotless and comfortable.

Thanks to the welcoming, efficient and helpful crew all

1000 passengers were soon settled in, sorted out and

ready for dinner. All 5 courses! All superb! Perfect so far.

Day 2 (Sat) Guernsey sun dancing off choppy waves at St Peter Port. Tender to the quay and a race to catch

the No. 91 bus round the island for £4--bays, beaches and bunkers was my impression of Guernsey. Time for a

cuppa with a fabulous view of the harbour and then a search for ice cream. 2 scoops of heaven. A bit of

"parlez-vous" at the French market and back to Braemar. Lovely day, great start to our cruise. Next stop

Falmouth.

Day 3 (Sun) Glorious Cornish sunshine! Falmouth Ambassadors pointed us in the right direction and we ended

up at the Sunday market which was selling local food and arts and crafts. Next door was the absorbing and

fascinating National Maritime Museum which took us to lunchtime. 'The Shack' was advertising crab

sandwiches--irresistible for a girl from the Chesapeake Bay. I got so homesick I had to console myself with 3

scoops of Cornish ice cream. Strolled around town and returned to find Braemar docked in the Cornish

Caribbean! What a send-off, sun shining, band playing, crowds madly waving onshore, small boats following in

our wake. What could top this?? Only a sighting later that night of the May ‘supermoon’ rising red from the

sea and fading to pink.

Day 4 (Mon) Docked in a grey Dublin at mid-day which gave us plenty of time for a coach tour of the city and a

cruise on the River Liffey. Late return to the ship with the poetry of WB Yeats and traditional Irish songs

Running through our minds

Day 5 (Tue) Still in Dublin, we followed our noses to Trinity College to see the fabulous Book of Kells.

Unexpected bonus was Trinity College Library which just blew me away. Back down to earth, the sun was

shining and we went in search of a memory--Bewley's Oriental Café. Sitting on the James Joyce balcony

overlooking the splendid interior, we lunched on potato soup (what else?), gorgeous brown bread and even

more gorgeous Guinness (what else?). The "Irish Gold" exhibition was recommended by our guide the

previous day. It was astonishing, but we tore ourselves away as we had to catch a boat to the Shetlands.

Day 6 (Wed) Sailing north we had our first lunch on board. A stupendous seafood buffet, so good we went

back for seconds....

Day 7 (Thu) Lerwick was cool and grey but spirits undampened, we grabbed our map and headed up the hill to

Fort Charlotte which proved to be a great vantage point. It reminded me of Fort McHenry in Baltimore

harbour. The impressive Town Hall sat atop Hillhead but we were unprepared for awaited us inside, stained

glass everywhere. The piece de resistance was the public hall with its open timber ceiling and 8 magnificent

stained glass windows telling the history of the islands. Just across the street was the library which was in a

de-consecrated church. Small, but stunning and very busy. Downhill to the Shetland Museum which was well

worth a visit-especially the 'Bard in the Bog!'

Day 8 (Fri) More cool and grey at Invergordon but we had booked an excursion to Dunrobin Castle. A

spectacular chateau perched high on a Scottish hill with 189 rooms but we only saw 20. The tea rooms were

scrummy. We made an unscheduled stop at Dornoch where the small cathedral proved to be a gem with an

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Andrew Carnegie connection. I put it on my list of places to return to. Back on ship, the Invergordon Song and

Dance Troupe entertained us in true Scottish fashion until it was time to sail. The Royal Burgh of Tain Pipe

Band was dockside to pipe us farewell. Magic!

Day 9 (Sat) I shall never forget rushing up on deck just in time to see the Forth Bridge passing overhead as we

sailed into Rosyth. Another full day's excursion to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Both places had self-guided audio tours which is a great idea. The commentary brought history to life at the

Palace and I got the creeps when the narrator was describing Rizzio's murder by Lord Darnley, right in those

very rooms. After a thorough tour of Britannia, I was pleased to be able to report that all was shipshape on

board. It was Gala night on Braemar, so we put on our glad rags and did our best at dinner but the Gala Art

Buffet was the real culinary hit of the trip. Wonderful ice sculptures and incredible displays of vegetables and

breads and desserts--all for us to eat.

Day 10 (Sun) Sailing back to Dover next day, we packed and tidied up loose ends. Our spirits were lifted in

anticipation of a proper afternoon tea in the Observatory. It didn't disappoint. Amazing views, traditional

sandwiches, warm scones and delicious cakes. I can't remember how we found room for Dinner-but we did.

We would like to say 'Thank You' to Margaret Burlinson for all her hard work over the past 18 months,

organising, arranging and confirming all the details of this memorable cruise. It was super, an amazing

adventure and we had loads of fun. Thanks Margaret.

PS-In case you've heard rumours that cruising is unhealthy, especially for your waistline, here are some

statistics of the food consumed on board:

4.5 tonnes of veg, 1,700 kg fish, 1,400 kg chicken and 600 litres of ice cream (a good part of that consumed by

Table 50).

T

Cosford 75th Anniversary

Air Show Sunday 9th June

‘Chocks away’ on a glorious day here at the Cosford

Air Show. Events began with the impressive Falcons

parachute display team and pin point landing. There

followed a tight and highly accurate formation

display of brightly coloured Russian Yaks. Although

propeller powered, these planes performed at a

speed we could all easily follow and enjoy.

We were not allowed to relax when the Typhoon

arrived. This aircraft showed off its prowess with a

rib rattling roar from its afterburners as it pirouetted and hung in the air, defying gravity. Then we had the

craziest aerial display by O’Brien’s Flying Circus, which involved landing a biplane on a tiny moving ramp being

towed by a vehicle and then taking off again from it!

The moving majestic fly- by of the Battle of Britain Memorial trio of Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster, brought

everybody to their feet. The magnificent Lancaster gracefully banked and turned for us, against a perfect sky.

To cap this, if possible, the Red Arrows arrived and left us spellbound with their precise and seemingly

effortless aerial display. There were familiar and new formations, with Red 10 giving us expert commentary.

In fact, the commentary overall was well informed and at times very moving.

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We cannot forget the helicopters. There was the life-saving Sea King from Valley, Anglesey, and the Chinook,

the workhorse at the battle front. We stood in awe as the pilot manoeuvred this aircraft in unbelievable ways.

There was the Apache, too, which we were informed, included Captain Wales as co-pilot gunner. This insect-

like aircraft proved its agility with aplomb.

Near the end of the show, there was the silent approach of the delta shaped Vulcan. She looked menacing as

she calmly flew over us with her twin tiny escort planes. Then, with no fuss, she opened up her throttles and

showed us, what a powerhouse of a warplane she is.

As we returned to our coach, we saw the Dakota give its steady and purposeful display. It’s another famous

World War 2 plane and is believed to be still in service somewhere in the world.

Thanks to Marilyn for organising such a wonderful trip, and to our driver, who patiently and safely got us there

and back. Philip Wright

HERITAGE Beauvale Priory

The Heritage group visited Beauvale Priory on a blustery May

day. It is situated in lovely countryside surrounded by fields and

woods near the village of Moorgreen.

The Priory was founded in 1343 by Nicholas Canteloupe and is one of nine priories in Britain to be dedicated to

the Carthusian Order of monks. The community lived a silent life of worship and work for nearly two centuries

until the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The Priory was then stripped and left as a ruin. Beauvale is

distinguished by two of its priors St John Houghton and St Robert Lawrence who were the first martyrs of the

Reformation.

In 2006 the present owners bought the farm on which the ruins

stand and are working with English Heritage to consolidate the

ruins and preserve them for the future.

Our visit began with a walk to an area of woodland where we were

delighted to find a beautiful display of bluebells. Walking a little

further along the path we arrived at the fish pond where the

monks would have fished for their dinner.

Returning to the Gatehouse we began the tour of the buildings

accompanied by assorted poultry and a friendly sheep. The best

preserved structure of the site is the Prior’s house. We were able to look inside and see two fire places and

the curved wall where a spiral staircase was once situated. The prior would have had a good view of the

monks’ cells and the cloister which is now the orchard. Here the monks were buried without a coffin, in their

robes. The south wall of the church still stands and we could see the remains of one of the windows. The high

altar was where the stone commemorating the martyrs is situated. Part of the boundary wall still stands and

this was built to a height of eight feet in places cutting off any contact with the surrounding area.

The tour over it was a relief to get out of the wind into the warmth of the Gatehouse Tea Room. We

thoroughly enjoyed the sandwiches and delicious homemade cakes with a welcome cup of tea.

Lynette Howarth

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Finally I asked “What have you done since joining Sherwood U3A” Look for

replies in this and future issues. I appreciated this one! Sue Robb (Editor)

Since joining Sherwood U3A in 2008 I have.......Never had time to do anything else!

Since joining Sherwood U3A in 2009 I have.......as a member, enjoyed and experienced numerous

days out, visits, lunches and dinners, coach trips, meetings, talks, presentations and,

helping as a volunteer, I have assisted wherever I was able. All very satisfying.

Since joining Sherwood U3A in 2009 I have.......made a lot of new friends, found new hobbies

which I enjoy. It’s a place where we can talk to friends of our own age, they understand

lots of things that are happening to us like memory loss and a hundred and one other

problems such as being on your own when you lose the other half.

Website: sherwoodu3a-mansfieldwoodhouse.org.uk