R O Y S T O N · 2017. 5. 2. · Grazyna Tutak took us on a journey back to mediaeval times in her...
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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 12 MAY 2017 R O Y S T O N www.u3asites.org.uk/royston Spring is here and the days are getting longer again so to keep Inside this issue: Welcome message April meeting Gardening group 1 1 1 March meeting Curry Club 2 2 Wine Appreciation group French Conversation group 3 3 Five Mile Walks group Clay Shooting group 4 4 Birding group Dates for your diary Guide to interest groups 5 5 5 Interest groups contacts Royston U3A committee 6 6 ” “ Welcome to our new members and thank you to all our existing members who have renewed for another year. Since the previous edition of Royston U3A News, the Curry Club, History group, Meditation group and Pudding group are all now up and running and several other interest groups are being planned. Our next excursion will be to Sutton Hoo and Woodbridge in July - full details and a booking form are on our website. Happy reading and hope to see you all at the next monthly meeting. Jackie Gellert Chairman Val Fairbanks Gardening is definitely good for you! The Gardening group had a speaker with a difference in April. Paul Herrington, a psychiat- ric nurse who took a course in garden design called For My Own Sanity, spoke to us about Gardening for Health and Grow Places a social enterprise he founded in 2014. As a nurse Paul specialized in referrals in day care, social inclusion and triaged GP referrals in the NHS mental health service including Royston. As a garden designer he won a bronze medal at Chelsea in 2004 for a courtyard garden and now designs for private and commercial clients. He gained funding for the Gardening for Health group at Nightingale Park in Cambridge - a disused bowling green site where a wildflower meadow and picnic area have already been created. People who may be experiencing psychological or physical health problems can be referred and work together with the community. Paul is now instrumental in designing the Roger (Syd) Barrett garden at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Syd, a founder member of Pink Floyd, was a patient at the hospital and staff and patients will be involved in this project. The house that May Savidge built For a retirement project with a difference why not try moving your house and rebuilding it 100 miles away? That’s what May Savidge did when her mediaeval home in Ware was threat- ened with demolition in the 1960s. Unfazed by the challenge of single- handedly dismantling the house brick by brick and beam by beam, she hired a lorry to transport it to the Norfolk coast where she spent the last 20 years of her life putting her home back together. “She thought it would be a lovely retirement project to keep her busy,” her niece- in-law Christine Adams told members at the April meeting. In an enthralling talk she described how her elderly aunt scaled 40 foot scaf- folding in her seventies, in headscarf, skirts and an apron with a pocket to hold Selling off some of it raised funds to carry on the rebuild and Christine now lives in Ware House Hall at Wells- next-the-Sea, the house that had consumed May Savidge’s life. “Aunt May was very unusual and an amazing person. It was her life being ‘project lady’,” she said. her tools. As a trained draughtswoman and first aider during the war she was up for new challenges, and such was her stoical determination that she used an alarm clock to set herself targets each day. Sadly she did not live to see the house completed, dying in 1993 at the age of 82. Christine took on the project and discovered that her aunt had been an inveterate hoarder, never throwing anything away, and the house was crammed with memorabilia from bus tickets and bills to hundreds of diaries and letters. Christine Adams An excursion to May Savidge’s house in Wells-next-the-Sea is being planned for August 9. Details on our website when finalised.
Transcript of R O Y S T O N · 2017. 5. 2. · Grazyna Tutak took us on a journey back to mediaeval times in her...
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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 12 MAY 2017
R O Y S T O N
www.u3asites.org.uk/royston
Spring is
here and
the days
are getting
longer
again so
to keep
Inside this issue:
Welcome message April meeting Gardening group
1 1 1
March meeting Curry Club
2 2
Wine Appreciation group French Conversation group
3 3
Five Mile Walks group Clay Shooting group
4 4
Birding group
Dates for your diary
Guide to interest groups
5 5 5
Interest groups contacts
Royston U3A committee
6
6
”
“ Welcome to our new members and thank you to all our existing members who have renewed for another year.
Since the previous edition of Royston U3A News, the Curry Club, History group, Meditation group and Pudding group are all now up and running and several other interest groups are being planned.
Our next excursion will be to Sutton Hoo and Woodbridge in July - full details and a booking form are on our website.
Happy reading and hope to see you all at the next monthly meeting.
Jackie Gellert Chairman
Val Fairbanks
Gardening is definitely good for you!The Gardening group had a speaker with a difference in April.
Paul Herrington, a psychiat-ric nurse who took a course in garden design called For My Own Sanity, spoke to us about Gardening for Health and Grow Places a social enterprise he founded in 2014.
As a nurse Paul specialized in referrals in day care, social inclusion and triaged GP referrals in the NHS
mental health service including Royston.
As a garden designer he won a bronze medal at Chelsea in 2004 for a courtyard garden and now designs for private and commercial clients.
He gained funding for the Gardening for Health group at Nightingale Park in Cambridge - a disused bowling green site where a wildflower meadow and picnic area have already
been created. People who may be experiencing psychological or physical health problems can be referred and work together with the community.
Paul is now instrumental in designing the Roger (Syd) Barrett garden at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Syd, a founder member of Pink Floyd, was a patient at the hospital and staff and patients will be involved in this project.
The house that May Savidge built For a retirement project
with a difference why not
try moving your house and
rebuilding it 100 miles
away?
That’s what May Savidge did when her mediaeval home in Ware was threat-ened with demolition in the 1960s. Unfazed by the challenge of single-handedly dismantling the house brick by brick and beam by beam, she hired a lorry to transport it to the Norfolk coast where she spent the last 20 years of her life putting her home back together. “She thought it would be a lovely retirement project to keep her busy,” her niece-in-law Christine Adams told members at the April meeting. In an enthralling talk she described how her elderly aunt scaled 40 foot scaf-folding in her seventies, in headscarf, skirts and an apron with a pocket to hold
Selling off some of it raised funds to carry on the rebuild and Christine now lives in Ware House Hall at Wells-next-the-Sea, the house that had consumed May Savidge’s life.
“Aunt May was very unusual and an amazing person. It was her life being ‘project lady’,” she said.
her tools. As a trained draughtswoman and first aider during the war she was up for new challenges, and such was her stoical determination that she used an alarm clock to set herself targets each day. Sadly she did not live to see the house completed, dying in 1993 at the age of 82. Christine took on the project and discovered that her aunt had been an inveterate hoarder, never throwing anything away, and the house was crammed with memorabilia from bus tickets and bills to hundreds of diaries and letters.
Christine Adams
An excursion to May Savidge’s
house in Wells-next-the-Sea is
being planned for August 9.
Details on our website when
finalised.
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PAGE 2
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 12 ROYSTON U3A NEWS MAY 2017 www.u3asites.org.uk/royston
visitors to enjoy.
It is now not only a fine example of one of England’s smallest mediaeval churches, but also evidence of what a small group of dedicated
people can achieve. ‘it is
now a fine
example of one
of England’s
smallest
mediaeval
churches’
The Restoration of Caldecote Church Grazyna Tutak took us on
a journey back to mediaeval
times in her talk on the
chequered history of St.
Mary Magdalene Church in
Caldecote.
The Church could be 1,000
years old and it is sobering
to think of the many events
its stones have witnessed -
conflict, plague, peasants’
revolt, dissolution of the
monasteries - to name but
a few that we all know from
history lessons.
Listed in the Domesday
Book of 1086, Caldecote
Manor was held by Ralph
de Limesey as a loyalty
reward from William the
Conqueror and consisted
of 325 acres and 14 homes.
But over the centuries the
impact of history took its
toll and by the 1870s the
population had dwindled
to 34. The church, the only
ancient building left in the
mediaeval village, was
declared redundant in
1978. The future looked
bleak but three of the
remaining 17 residents
came to the rescue and
the fortunes of St Mary
Magdalene changed
again.
Setting up The Caldecote
Church Friends, they
enlisted the support of
Friends of Friendless
Churches, an organisation
which rescues and repairs
historic churches under
threat. Through their
efforts the church,
complete with rare
features such as a
mediaeval font and 15th
century holy water stoup,
has been preserved for
the local community and Grazyna Tutak
Knowing your korma from your vindaloo menus. Members who are not so familiar with dishes are helped to make their choices, especially if they are determined to avoid anything too hot or too spicy! At the opposite end of the scale of experience, George Karger entertained
Our recently formed Curry Club has enjoyed two excellent lunchtime meals - at Yuva in Kneesworth and Ashiana Spice in Royston.
Supported by information sheets produced by a Curry Club member, the group chooses mainly from the special lunchtime
the group at the first meal with tales of being fed over 80 years ago by his English mother with curry-type dishes wholly unknown to most of the population at the time.
Future Curry Club gatherings are now being planned. The next meeting will also be at lunchtime but group leader Reg Hounsell is more than happy to plan occasional evening meals if members prefer. Additional events may also be arranged in-between the four to six weekly slots. Over time the group hopes to extend its knowledge by having short talks or cookery demonstrations.
The next Curry Club meal will be on Monday May 8 in Baldock - check the website for details or contact Reg Hounsell on 01763 241805 or [email protected]
Rob Whatmough
Tucking in at Ashiana Spice
Diane Glanville
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‘Ready
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French conversation group is on the move The French conversation group has moved to a new location in Royston since Easter. Now well into its second year, the group has moved from its venue at The Plough in Shepreth, to the Old Barn in Upper King Street, Royston.
Prior to moving, Shepreth based group leader Elisabeth Goodman-Spain said: "I will miss the friendli-ness and convenience of The Plough, and it's been lovely to have changing art exhibitions to enjoy as a backdrop. The new venue in
Royston will be more convenient for most of the group members, and the Old Barn will also give us
better acoustics when conversations are in full flow."
The change in venue makes the group more accessible to those members who are unable to drive and will also make it more environmentally friendly.
The French conversation group currently has space for one or two new members, so if you are interested in joining the group do get in touch. Contact Elisabeth Goodman-Spain at [email protected]
Main picture: Elisabeth Goodman-Spain (right)
with Jennifer Fletcher. Inset: deep in study mode
ROYSTON U3A NEWS MAY 2017 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 12 www.u3asites.org.uk/royston
Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and
Mathieu stressed that they
control their production
from A to Z. The four
Champagnes we tasted
were all stylish and fruity.
A splendid tasting where
we discovered the subtle
differences between the
four Champagnes.
Jackie Gellert
What a way to start the day Maison Delamotte was
founded in Reims in 1760
by vigneron François
Delamotte. It produces
750,000 bottles of
Champagne annually; in
comparison to many other
Champagne producers
they are a small artisan
house.
Around two-thirds of
Delamotte production
represents their basic Brut;
another 25% their non-
vintage Blanc de Blancs;
and there is a bit of Rosé too. Their vines are grown
in the area around the
Grand Cru village of
‘a splendid
tasting where
we discovered
the joy of
Champagne’
Wine Appreciation group
members had an early
start on a Tuesday morning
in late March when we
took part in a Champagne
tasting.
Through Gil Riggans of
Corney & Barrow, we were
delighted to have a visit
from Mathieu Pouchan,
a young and extremely
knowledgeable sommelier
from one of the five oldest
wineries in the whole
Champagne region, Maison
Delamotte. Mathieu brought
with him four exceptional
Champagnes for us to
taste. Not a bad way to
start the day!
Before pouring each
Champagne, Mathieu
informed us about the
grape variety, the hard
work in the vineyard
from pruning to harvest,
the long laying period in
the cellars before final
distribution to the
market for all to enjoy.
Gil Riggans with Mathieu Pouchan (left)
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Kath is right on target During the actual shoot at the Clay Shooting Ground at Nuthampstead members practised three disciplines - 'driven pheasant' 'down the line' and 'bolting rabbit' - all simulated clay targets.
After practice and a coffee break the group split into two for a friendly competi-tion and Kath triumphed with the highest score.
First time entrant Kath Kennedy was in winning form when she beat the competition to lift the trophy at the Clay Shooting group.
The sport is proving so popular with women that eight have already signed up after completing the compulsory health and safety training session.
The group is organised by Frank Martin and Peter Godfrey and the next meeting will be on Wednesday May 17 at 2pm. Numbers are limited so if you would like to register contact Frank Martin at [email protected]
Celebration time for Kath
‘Kath
triumphed
with the
highest
score’
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 12 ROYSTON U3A NEWS MAY 2017 www.u3asites.org.uk/royston
Stepping out in Therfield
‘we collected
enough clay on
our boots to
make several
plant pots’
All action for Five Mile Walks group This group is proving popu-lar with walks to Heydon, Chrishall, Great Hormead and Therfield over the last four months – anything to do with the pub lunches at the end? In April, 28 of us set off from Therfield along a section of
the Icknield Way into Hawkins Wood to see the first of this year's bluebells. We continued on to St Faith's Church at Kelshall, spotting three pet alpacas in a garden before heading back to Therfield. The morning rounded off with a welcome lunch at the Fox and Duck. In March, 18 members braved early rain to walk from Chrishall through beautiful countryside, spotting red kites soaring overhead. We arrived back at the Red Cow for lunch a couple of inches taller and a couple of pounds heavier due to the clay on our boots.
On a grey February day, 22 of us set off from Great Hormead along the lane to St Nicholas Church where we saw the memorial to a
local man Lt-Colonel Stables who was killed at the Battle of Waterloo. We returned to the Three Tuns for lunch and our thanks go to Jean and Rita who chose and led the walk.
In January, 30 of us set off from Heydon for a two hour walk, visiting Holy Trinity Church where the tower was badly damaged during an air raid in the Battle of Britain. We returned to the King William IV and enjoyed a hot meal with good company.
Our next walk will be on May 10, meeting at the Pig and Abbott, High Street, Abington Pigotts, SG8 0SD, and Peter Walden will lead. If you would like to join the group contact Eric Heaton [email protected]
Eric Heaton and Peter Andrew
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Easy Guide to Interest Groups
For frequency and contact details about all interest groups please see the chart on the next page or
check out our website for more information www.u3asites.org.uk/royston Announcements about future
theatre trips and excursions will be posted on our website when details become available.
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
MORNING Meditation Fitness Birding Walking: Strollers Book Club 2
Seated Exercise Book Club 3
Five Mile Walks
Patchwork
AFTERNOON Current Affairs Book Club 1 Clay Shooting Ballroom & Latin
Dancing Petanque/Boules
Curry Club Bridge for Beginners Wine Appreciation 1 Gardening Pilates
French Conversation History Wine Appreciation 2 Golf
Pottery
(Hand Building) Mixed Crafts
Tai Chi Pudding
EVENING Jazz Appreciation
ROYSTON U3A NEWS MAY 2017 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 12 www.u3asites.org.uk/royston
Twitchers flock to Lackford Lakes The weather was perfect for
the Birding group’s April trip
to Lackford Lakes, a Suffolk
Wildlife Trust reserve not far
off the A11 at Barton Mills.
The wildlife oasis has sever-
al large gravel pits, reed
beds, scrapes and wood-
land, with eight hides and a
very good visitor centre.
We all arrived in good time
and started our day by
checking the feeders for the
tits before heading into the
visitor centre for coffee,
where huge windows look
out onto a lake and yet
more feeders. The elusive
kingfisher was seen from
here by some of our group.
We all walked right round
the reserve, stopping at the
hides to check out the
birds on the water and
also in the woodland areas
for the summer visitors,
among which we found
chiff chaff, willow warbler
and linnet. By about 3pm
some of us decided to go
to nearby Cavenham
Heath to look for the rare
stone curlew, which we
eventually found just off
the track. A very good
day was had by all!
Carol McGeoch
Chiff Chaff
Twitchers in action
Dates for your diary
May
Tuesday 30, 2pm
Royston Parish Church
Jason Middleton will give a talk on
THE PEARL - a gemstone admired throughout history
June
Tuesday 27, 1:30pm Royston Parish Church
ROYSTON U3A AGM followed by Veronica Bennett will give a talk on
SUTTON HOO ancient Anglo-Saxon royal burial site
July
Tuesday 25, 2pm
Royston Parish Church
Martin Johnson will give a talk on
ANTARCTICA - the ‘White Continent’ and its amazing wildlife
Royston U3A excursion to
SUTTON HOO and
WOODBRIDGE Tuesday July 18 2017
Full details together with booking form on our
website.
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ROYSTON U3A NEWS MAY 2017 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 12
Get it in the News If you’re involved in a group why not publicise it in Royston U3A News? Send in a short report of your latest meeting or outing - photos welcomed too - to Pam Dajda at [email protected] or phone 01763 246234
Chairman Jackie Gellert [email protected] 01763 248097 Vice Chair & Groups Co-ordinator Reg Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805 Treasurer Kathy Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805 Secretary Deirdre Smith [email protected] 01763 244700 Membership Secretary Marion Martin [email protected] 01763 246876 Minutes Secretary Sylvia Fuller [email protected] 01763 243006 Publicity Pam Dajda [email protected] 01763 246234
Royston U3A News Ralph Gellert [email protected] 01763 248097
Committee Member George Karger 01763 245988
Co-opted Committee Member Barbara Andrew [email protected] 01763 245363
Co-opted Committee Member Karen Heaton [email protected] 01763 242989
Co-opted Committee Member Eric Heaton [email protected] 01763 242989
Royston U3A Committee
R O Y S T O N
Interest Groups Don’t forget to check out our website for more information
www.u3asites.org.uk/royston
GROUP DAY FREQUENCY GROUP LEADER CONTACT DETAILS TIME
Ballroom & Latin Dancing Thurs 2nd & 4th Thurs of month Jackie Gellert [email protected] 01763 248097 4:45pm
Birding Wed Monthly 1st Wed Carol McGeoch [email protected] 01223 207354 8:30am
Book Club 1 Tues Monthly 1st Tues Deirdre Smith [email protected] 01763 244700 2:00pm
Book Club 2 Fri Monthly Variable Janet Burton [email protected] 07984 600295 11:00am
Book Club 3 Wed Monthly last Wed Elizabeth (Lee) Towers [email protected] 01763 241488 10:30am
Bridge for Beginners Tues Weekly Mike Thrower [email protected] 07737 400348 1:45pm
Clay Shooting Wed Variable Frank Martin [email protected] 07831 898234 2:00pm
Current Affairs Mon Monthly Variable George Karger 01763 245988 4:00pm
Curry Club Mon 12:00pm Monthly Variable Reg Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805
Excursions Variable Occasional Annette Guttridge [email protected] 01763 241818 Variable
Fitness Tues Weekly Kathy Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805 9:30am
Five Mile Walks Wed Monthly 2nd Wed Eric Heaton [email protected] 01763 242989 9:45am
French Conversation Mon 1st & 3rd Mon of month Elisabeth Goodman-Spain [email protected] 1:00pm
Gardening Thurs Monthly Variable Val Fairbanks [email protected] 01763 230724 2:30pm
Golf Thurs Weekly Ralph Gellert [email protected] 01763 248097 1:00pm
History Tues 2:00pm Monthly Reg Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805
Jazz Appreciation Wed Monthly 2nd Wed Reg Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805 7:30pm
Meditation Mon 10:30am 2nd & 4th Mon of month John Froggett [email protected] 07900 210808
Mixed Crafts Thurs Monthly 3rd Thurs Rosie Cowsley [email protected] 07809 047380 2:00pm
Patchwork Wed 10:00am Monthly 1st Wed Maureen Strugnell [email protected] 01763 241967
Petanque / Boules Fri Fortnightly John Bishop [email protected] 01763 246703 2:30pm
Pilates Fri Weekly Kathy Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805 2:00pm
Pottery (Hand Building) Mon Fortnightly Variable Rosie Cowsley [email protected] 07809 047380 2:00pm
Pudding Thurs 1:00pm Monthly Liz Wells [email protected] 01763 247460
Seated Exercise Tues Weekly Kathy Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805 10:45am
Tai Chi Mon Weekly Reg Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805 3:00pm
Theatre Trips Variable Occasional Deirdre Smith [email protected] 01763 244700 Variable
Walking: Strollers Thurs 1st & 3rd Thurs of month David Walker [email protected] 01763 241896 10:15am
Wine Appreciation 1 & 2 Wed Monthly Variable Jackie Gellert [email protected] 01763 248097 2:00pm
Proposed New Interest Groups: Buddy Support : Film : Flower Arranging : Shed : Ukulele : Walking Netball. To register an interest in any of these groups email Groups Co-ordinator Reg Hounsell at [email protected]
