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APRIL 2019 Bulletin No. 138
STOP PRESS
Extra Meeting on Thursday 30th May 2019
See Notices on page 4 for further details
Contents
Monthly Meetings................................................................................3Notices.................................................................................................4ART APPRECIATION..............................................................................6BOOK CHAT..........................................................................................7CARD GAMES........................................................................................8ENGINEERING, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY........................................9FRENCH CONVERSATION...................................................................15GARDEN GROUP.................................................................................16GENTLE CYCLING GROUP...................................................................19GOLF GROUP (Lutterworth & Wycliffe U3A).....................................21HISTORY GROUP.................................................................................23LIVELY DISCUSSION............................................................................29MOTOR CYCLE INTEREST GROUP.......................................................39PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP.....................................................................42POETRY GROUP..................................................................................47SNAIL’S PACE WALKING GROUP........................................................49LEICESTERSHIRE 3 PEAKS CHALLENGE...............................................531st WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP....................................................542nd WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP....................................................564th WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP....................................................58
Committee April 2019– March 2020.....................................................62
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Monthly Meetings
Welcome to the Wycliffe Lutterworth U3A. We meet on second Thursday of each month at the Methodist Church Hall. Tea, coffee and biscuits available from 10am – 10.30am. An opportunity to meet friends old and new, book exchange, information about trips etc. All are welcome to join.
Our speaker for April: David Bell and his talk is “The Plague Doctor” A story about The Eyam Plague guaranteed to make you laugh in a world of outrageous medical diagnosis and treatment.
Visitors: may come to one monthly meeting (payment of £1), after which they must become a full member if they want to come again.
Membership: to interest groups is limited to full members only.Please contact the group co-ordinator to ask for further details if you would like to join a group. If you have an interest/hobby not covered by the existing options, why not think of joining with like-minded people to form a new group. Contact Viv Weller (01455 557136) for assistance and advice.
Refreshments:Maggie Rigby – tele: 01455 557615 email : [email protected]
April 11th - Judith Godfrey, Andrea Nicholl and Marlene FletcherMay 9th - Dot Barnard, Janice and Bernard Poile.June 13th - Paula and Colin Beadle
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Notices
EXTRA MEETING ON THURSDAY 30 MAY
I just wanted to remind everyone that we have an extra meeting with aspeaker on Thursday 30th May. If this meeting is well supported, then we could arrange others so please put the date in your diary and at-tend if you possible can.
Our Speaker on May 30 will be Alastair Fairley. He will be giving a presentation celebrating the 50th anniversary of manned landings on the moon.
Thank You - Nigel Burt
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CHANGE OF CONTACT DETAILS
Members’ contact details appear to change more frequently nowadays particularly as people change mobile phones or internet providers and move.
If any of your contact details should change, please can you remember to let the Membership Secretary know so that our records can be kept up to date. - Thank you.
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SUBSCRIPTIONS
U3A Annual Subscriptions are due from 1st April
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USED STAMPS
Liz White of Lutterworth U3A is collecting used stamps on behalf of Medical Detection Dogs. They can be any used stamps but please could you ensure they have approximately a 1cm (roughly a finger’s width) surround.
Please hand in your used stamps to Sue Creeden at the monthly meet-ings and she will pass them on.
Also, we now have some more envelopes to recycle used toner cart-ridges. Either let Sue Creeden have your inkjet cartridges or help your-self to an envelope. They will be on the table in the coffee room at the meeting.
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ART APPRECIATION Co-ordinator: Ursula Kanetistele: 01455 553563
We went to Birmingham to visit the exhibition “WOMEN POWER PROTEST”.
This collection in the Gas Hall brought together modern and contemporary artworks from Birmingham’s Collection and Arts Council Collection to mark 100 years, since the first women won the right to vote, and to celebrate female artists, who have explored protest, socialcommentary and identity in their work. The exhibition was curated in 3sections: Hope, Dignity and Activism, maybe linking that to the colours of the suffrage flag: green, white and purple. We found the viewing thought provoking, but quite demanding. Reading had priority, viewing /seeing came second, unfortunately.
Our discussion over lunch was very lively and frank. Before catching thetrain back to Rugby, we went into Selfridges to see their exhibition of “Art In Unusual Places”.
Next meeting: 5.4.2019 14.00 - 16.00 Bitteswell Village Hall : “FEMALE ARTISTS"
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BOOK CHATCo-ordinator: Sylvia Curtistele: 01455 554504
Our March book was ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’, by Mitch Albom.
This is a factual account of the author’s visits to his old tutor and mentor, Morrie Schwartz. Mitch lost contact with Morrie after graduation but when he heard that Morrie was dying and that he had arranged a “living funeral “ being joined in his home by family and friends, he contacted him again and they agreed one last “class” how to live.
Not all members liked this book but some found it interesting if inevitably sad. However we felt that his follow up book (and his debut novel), The Five People you Meet in Heaven, which we read previously,was more enjoyable
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CARD GAMESCo-ordinator: Cynthia Griffithstele: 01455 554308
We are looking for new members to join our Card Group. We meet thefirst and third Monday of the Month at 2pm.
We play a variety of games, mostly Rummy, Whist, New Market, GroupPatience or Uno. No expertise required.
Cynthia Griffith
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ENGINEERING, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYCo-ordinator: Chris Ridleytele: 01455 209920
ESTG March event - Visit to RAF Hendon
Our March event took 26 members on a coach trip down the M1 to London for a look round the Royal Air Force Museum London located on the former Hendon Aerodrome.
The Museum is spread over five buildings and 6 hangars and shows thehistory of aviation and the Royal Air Force from the early beginnings of flight up to the latest example of the RAF’s Typhoon.
There is another Royal Air Force Museum at RAF Cosford in Shropshire.
On arrival the group had a reception of tea/coffee and biscuits in the "Claude Grahame White Cafe" while an official guide gave a brief history of the site and its transition to an Official Museum described below.
Members where then able to explore the site returning to Lutterworth at 4:00pm.
Hendon was originally one of the first civilian airfields acquired by Claude Grahame- White in 1911 but in 1914 the aerodrome was requisitioned by the Government for Home Defence.During the 1st WW Hendon became a Royal Naval Air Station, training new pilots in the flying schools on site. Operations ceased after the
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end of the Great War and between 1927 - 1939 Hendon housed No 601 Squadron, nicknamed the 'Millionaires' Squadron' due to the wealth and upper class of its volunteers.
The outbreak of war in 1939 saw Hendon become an operational RAF station and home to No 24 Transport and Communications Squadron, RAF Hendon also served briefly as a fighter station during the Battle of Britain.
The last flight at Hendon by a fixed-wing aircraft was on 19 June 1968, when the last operational Blackburn Beverley was delivered to the Museum, the runways were removed to make way for the Grahame Park Housing Estate and official closed on 1 April 1987, Hendon as a museum was officially opened on 15 November 1972.
Despite the weather being "fairly damp” all day, I felt the visit was highly interesting with some excellent and rare exhibits, unfortunately our return journey was extended taking 5hrs to get to Lutterworth as we were held static for 2.5hrs on the MI due to an accident some 10 miles ahead of us…… not the ideal ending to a great day but thankfully kept warm and safe by our coach driver until we could crawl into Newport Pagnell services for a very welcome and urgent pit stop….
Thanks must go to Paul Butler and Tony Allen for organising this greatevent for the group.
Next Months Event will be a talk by Air Ambulance Helicopter Pilot Greg Kelly on Tuesday April 9th at Gilmorton Village Hall at 09:45
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Group Captain Richard JamesAbrahams became a pilot with the RAF in 1936 and was posted to the staff of Headquarters, RAF Middle East where he often flew theHawker Hart. In 1940 he joined 112 Squadron, flying obsolescent Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters in which he shot down two Italian fighters over North Africa and Greece. In January1942 he was posted to the Air Ministry. He retired from the RAF with the rank of Group Captain in 1967.
Group Captain Richard James Abrahamsand friends
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Future Meetings:-
April - Air Ambulance Helicopter Pilot (Gilmorton Village Hall)May - Quarry VisitJune - Battle of the Beams (Gilmorton Village Hall)
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FRENCH CONVERSATIONCo-ordinator: Sue Hickstele: 01858 880273
Meeting held on 28th March 2018 We discussed world matters of interest or concern to each of us, including natural disasters, global warming, housing development, plastic disposal, and of course the B word! After coffee we looked at a difficult crossword, which I hope taught us a few new words. The next meeting will be on 25 April.
Sue
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GARDEN GROUPCo-ordinator: Sue Creedentele: 01455 557888
Mike Rowe, a retired doctor from Dunton Bassett, joined us for the March meeting. By way of introduction he explained he had been brought up on a farm where he had kept bees since childhood. He and his Wife Rosie have lived in Dunton Bassett for 27 years. Their aim is to grow organically and to produce enough fruit and vegetables to be as self-sufficient as they can. He also keeps chickens and bees. They are also very keen to create a natural habitat for wildlife.
He quickly ran through some photos of his garden which looked delightful. He then went on to raise some points regarding commercial farming, the use of chemicals and their possible effect on our health. However, he admitted that growing fruit and vegetables organically was not easy and one always had to strike a balance. Slug hunting with a torch was not fun! He used compost and chicken waste as fertiliser. To extend the life of his produce he had adapted storage space in their cellar.
He told us about the decline in the bee population due to the use of pesticides, the loss of their natural habitat and the Varroa mite. He hadonce had over 40 hives in the area but unfortunately was now down to about 14 active hives. He explained that the nutrients in the cheaper commercially produced honey were destroyed in the processing.
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He then invited discussion about the environment for wildlife. The decline in some bird species but the successful re-introduction of others. The changes in their natural habitat and how we could encourage wildlife into our gardens. Creating undergrowth for hedgehogs and ponds for other creatures. Providing bird feeders and nesting boxes.
Mike raised many current environmental and ecological issues and gave us plenty of food for thought. As he said at the beginning, there are no right or wrong answers but slight changes can make a big difference to the world around us.
If you would like to visit his garden, it will be open for Dunton Bassett Open Gardens weekend on 15th and 16th June.
Our first outing of the 2019 season is a return to Coton Manor Gardens, Northamptonshire by special request. This will be on Tuesday, 23rd April. Hopefully apart from exploring other areas of the garden, we will be able to wander through the bluebells in the 5-acre beech wood.
The minibus will leave Lutterworth Leisure Centre at 1.30 p.m. to arriveat 2.00 p.m.
The cost will be £11.50. Unfortunately, this does not include refreshments but the Stableyard Café will be open.
If you would like to come, please phone me on 01455 557888 or email [email protected].
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Just to give advance notice, our trip at the end of May (Tuesday 28th) will be an all-day outing to Melbourne in Derbyshire. Dot Barnard is going to led a ‘snails’ pace’ walk around the village in the morning (it is stunning) and then after lunch (she will point out eateries en route) we will visit the NGS garden at Dower House. More details to follow next month.
Sue
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GENTLE CYCLING GROUPCo-ordinator: Sue Creeden Tele: 01455 557888
We had another bright and mild morning for our ride in March. (We have not missed one all winter!) Eight keen cyclists met at the Village Shop in Gilmorton. However, unfortunately one frustrated member had to retire even before we started when he discovered a broken brake cable whilst unloading his machine from the car. There were a few minutes of discussion regarding the route (we realised there were two road closures on our planned ride) and then off we set towards Kimcote. We then took the quiet back lane to Walton and on through Upper Bruntingthorpe to Bruntingthorpe. After a short breather we rode to Peatling Magna and puffed our way up to Willoughby Waterleys. We were all enjoying being out in the fresh air with the birds tweeting and the stunning views so much that we decided to add a bit more to our outing and take another quiet back road to Ashby Magna. At this point a few of us realised we may have been a bit over ambitious, the last mile or so back to Gilmorton was testing! However, we all made it and were refreshed with a coffee in the sunshine. We clocked approximately 14 miles – our longest ride to date. We must be getting fitter!
The ride on Wednesday 17th April will start from the Black Horse at Walcote. The route will take us up to Swinford Corner, through Swinford and on to Stanford. We bear right here towards Elkington but take a left turn over Hemplow Hill towards Welford. Turning left onto the main road to South Kilworth, the ride takes us back to Walcote. It’s about 13 ½ miles but if the weather is not so good the distance can be adjusted.
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Everyone is very welcome to join us, it’s all very easy going. If you would like to come just email Sue Creeden – [email protected] or phone 01455 557888 to let her know you will be there.
Sue
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GOLF GROUP (Lutterworth & Wycliffe U3A)Co-ordinators: Peter Moore tele: 01455 552594 email :- [email protected] Patton tele :- 01455 556996 email:- [email protected]
Joint Golf DayLutterworth and Wycliffe U3A
I have the Assistance of Ken Patton who will co-ordinate your commitment to fully support this event that has lacked solid support in the recent past. Your U3A Golf section needs you.
The next Golf Day will be at Lutterworth Golf Club on Thursday 9 th May 2019 competing for the Hartopp Trophy and Prizes, including Ladies Prize.
Meet at 12.10 hrs in the Golf Clubhouse Bar for 1.00 pm Tee Time.
Coffee and Bacon Roll, included, on arrival.
To confirm your attendance or for full itinerary, please contact Peter Moore by Sunday 5 th May 2019,
Cost approx. £28.00 To include Coffee and Bacon Sandwich , Green Fee, Prizes and Dinner in the restaurant at 6.30pm. (Dependant upon numbers)
Upon confirming your attendance, you will receive a full itinerary and Meal choices.
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Please invite your Spouse / Partner for 3 course Dinner at 6.30pm in the
Golf Clubhouse Restaurant - Cost £11.50 per person.
Jackets and Ties *not required*
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Forthcoming Golf Days.
Thursday 11 th July 2019. Ullesthorpe Golf Club.
Full details in May 2019 newsletter.
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HISTORY GROUPCo-ordinator: Viv Weller tele: 01455 557136email: [email protected]
U3A HISTORY report for meeting 4th March 2019
Who is your favourite or most admired Historical character?
In the first part of our March meeting three group members gave a short presentation about some famous names from the past. It proved to be a very interesting and varied selection. Each character has been instrumental in achieving far-reaching changes in their different ways although perhaps one thing each had in common was their sheer force-ful determination to make things happen. It was notable that although
all three speakers commented thatthe person they had chosen was easy to admire and respect, it was perhaps not so easy to like them.
Sheila Eggleton began by discuss-ing the life and importance of the famous prison reformer, Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845), one of the few women who has been honoured with a portrait on a banknote in re-cent times. Much of Elizabeth’s lifewas devoted to improving the livesof poor women languishing in overcrowded, filthy and inhumane British prisons. She also did much
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to improve the lot of those who were transported to Australia and Tas-mania. Her practicality encouraged a new approach which not only re-stored some dignity and self respect but also offered basic education and skills to equip women to start a new life after they had served theirsentence. Her work reached far beyond prison walls and she set up support systems for homeless people and others in distress. She also contributed to the campaign to abolish the slave trade. As a Quaker, she was a devout Christian and her quiet determination and ability to influence those in power, including Queen Victoria, seems to have been an unstoppable force. She was a remarkable woman, not least because she achieved all this and still found time to marry and have 11 children.
Dot Barnard chose another strong and determined woman, Sylvia Pankhurst (1882-1960). In our memory of the Suffragette movement,
Sylvia is sometimes overshadowed by her mother, Emmeline and her colourful sis-ter, Cristobel but Sylvia too had consid-erable strength of character and after the WSPU, became a leading anti-Fascist
campaigner. As an artist, Sylvia’s special role in the WSPU was in ad-vertising the cause, designing posters and leaflets and writing propa-ganda for the cause although she was also an active campaigner and went to prison on several occasions. However as time went on, Sylvia increasingly disagreed with the way the movement was progressing. She was an idealistic Socialist and she wanted to see the WSPU aligned with the Labour Party. The row led to her being expelled in 1913 and
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from then on, Sylvia pursued her own campaigns independently. The rest of her life was defined by her Socialist principles. She opposed con-scription in World War I and after the war promoted a women’s Peace movement. By the 1930s, Sylvia had adopted two related causes, anti-Fascism and anti-Colonialism and in particular fixed on Ethiopia as the centre of her campaigns. The violent invasion of Ethiopia by Mussolini in the mid 1930s highlighted the cause even more and she worked strenuously to support the people. After the war and liberation, Sylvia helped to build hospitals and schools and she became a much loved celebrity in that country. She moved to live there in 1956 and is buried in Addis Ababa as an ‘honorary Ethiopian’.
Mike Bates completed the trio with a presentation about one of his heroes, Winston Churchill (1874-1965), in particular the important turning point in 1940 when Church became Prime Minister and led the country through the darkest days of World War II and ultimately to vic-
tory. Mike’s thesis was that without that pivotal moment when Chamber-lain stepped down and Churchill was selected to take over, we were on the brink of defeat. Only Churchill re-fused to countenance some kind of peace deal with the Nazis, as Lord Halifax, the other possible successor to Chamberlain might have done. Churchill’s vision and obstinacy ef-fectively saved the country. Mike highlighted Churchill’s brilliant skills in capturing the support of the Brit-ish public and in
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particular his skills in oratory and so it was fitting that he concluded his talk with an extract of Churchill’s famous ‘Blood, toil and tears sweat ‘ speech of 1940.
Historical Gems of South Lincolnshire
After tea, we changed tack and heard from one of the other members of the group, Derek Eastwood, who gave us an interesting presentationabout a driving tour around some of the historical highlights of South Lincolnshire. Derek first took us to Woolsthorpe Manor, onetime homeof Isaac Newton and then on to nearby Grantham. Here, he focussed
on the historic Angel Inn. This lovely old building hasbeen welcoming travellersfor hundreds of years. After this he showed us the little church at Scott Willoughby, the unusual Whalebone arch at Threekingham and then on to the pretty market town of Folkingham. The
unusual church at Semperingham is the site where the Gilbertines, the only monastic order founded in England, originated in 1130. After this, on to Bourne where Delaines, one of the first private bus companies in England still survives and provides all the local transport in the area. Derek ended our virtual tour at the George in Stamford, another histor-ic coaching in.
It’s always fascinating to see how much ‘history’ there is to see around us if we just pause to look. I think Derek’s presentation inspired every-
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one to go on a motoring tour this summer and see these interesting and sometimes quirky sites for ourselves.
Many thanks to Sheila, Dot, Mike and Derek for their excellent contri-butions.
Reminder; there is no meeting in May due to the Bank Holiday. Our next meeting is our trip to Beaumanor Hall on 3rd June. - Viv
Future meetings in 2019
I think everyone has now signed up for the various trips but please let me know if you haven’t and wish to join in. There may be a few spaces available for some of these if non History Group members would like tocome. You can contact me on [email protected] for further information.
May 6th NO MEETING as it’s Spring Bank Holiday. I may be able to offer a guided History trail around Leamington Spa on a different day. TBA
June 3rd Historical tour of Beaumanor Hall.
Minibus £5. Tour, including tea and biscuits, £8. The bus departs from Lutterworth Sports Centre CP at 12.45. If driving, the tour starts at 1.30.
July 1st Trip to Oakham. A guided tour of the castle followed by ‘Medieval Manners’ , a fun look at medieval dining.
Minibus, £5.50. Event tickets, £5. The bus departs from Lutterworth Sports Centre CP at 9.50. The Castle tour starts at 11am. Departs from Oakham about 3pm.
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August 5th A visit to Upton House.
Minibus, £6. Upton is a NT property so members are free. The group rate entry price for non members is £11. We should arrive at Upton around 11.15 with time to explore the lovely gardens and have lunch before looking round the house. Our house entry timed ticket is at 2pm. This is a joint trip with the Art Appreciation Group.
September 2nd Visit to the archaeological site at Flag Fen and then onto nearby Peterborough to see the Cathedral.
Minibus, £6. Flag Fen group entry ticket with a guide is £6. The bus departs from Lutterworth Sports Centre CP at 9.30.
October 7th TBA At the Rugby Club.
November 4th at the Rugby Club, 2 till 4.
‘Florence, the Medici and Renaissance Art’ (Fran Nott)
December 2nd At the Rugby Club, 2 till 4.
‘Io Saturnalia’! A return visit from Guarderobe, who gave the very entertaining, ‘Dressing a Knight’, presentation last year. This time it will be a festive Roman offering! Depending on numbers attending, I think the cost should be about £5pp but I will confirm this later.
Viv
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LIVELY DISCUSSIONCo-ordinator: Dot Barnard tele: 01455 208190 email: [email protected]
Lively Discussion held on 11th March 2019
Should there be a second referendum of any type?
The group comprised some who had voted leave and some who had voted remain. Nevertheless we were unanimous that there should not be a second referendum as this would be undemocratic, and would perpetuate or increase the divisions which exist now. From newspaper and other media reports our view seems to mirror that of the whole country. The voting figuresin 2016 were:
Leave 37% Remain 35% Didn’t Vote 28%
Various recent polls say that three quarters of young people
would now vote remain and that those who have recently become
eligible to vote would want to remain. It would be interesting to
know how many of these young people are included in the 28%
who didn’t vote. News reports suggest that the general attitude
seems to be that those who voted in 2016 would still vote the
same way and Nigel Farage certainly thinks so.
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Britain has had a rocky relationship with Europe since De Gaulle
vetoed our first application to join in 1963 and he also vetoed
subsequent applications which damaged the Macmillan
government, perhaps fatally. This led to the formation of the
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1967, between
Britain and 6 other nations. It was in 1975 that the UK first
entered the Common Market when Ted Heath was Prime Minister
and George Pompidou was the French President.
In the lead up to the 2016 referendum there were illegal activities
on both sides and it is only now that we have a clearer idea of the
pros and cons of leaving the EU after 2 years of exhausting and
exhaustive media coverage. Everyone in the group felt that as
soon as the outcome of the referendum was known the Prime
Minister should have set up a National Government as there was
during the war. Failure to do this has greatly contributed to the
chaos which exists today. Many MPs have lost sight of the
directions they received from the voters and are jockeying for the
position of party leader when this mess has been sorted out.
Those who appear to be doing this are Sir Keir Starmer, Yvette
Cooper, Nicky Morgan, Jeremy Hunt and possibly Jacob Rees-
Mogg. There are probably others too.
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The Open University’s Open Learn website has the following
interesting arguments for and against a second referendum:
The Case for a Second Referendum
Andy Price, head of politics, Sheffield Hallam University
Regardless of whether you voted Leave or Remain, the 21 months since the referendum have shown what a challenge Brexit is to deliver, and some of the long-term impacts the UK’s departure from the EU will have. This is why the simple, one-off question put to the electorate in the June 2016 referendum was never going to be the final word on this.
This was never a binary choice of in or out of the European project, as shown by ongoing discussions around membership of the single market and the customs union.
Not only did we not know the answers to such questions at thetime of the original referendum, but the vast majority of people
couldn’t have fully understood the questions.
What really should have appeared on the ballot in 2016 was a series of questions: do you want to leave the EU as a whole? Would you like to stay in the single market and the customs union? Do you value freedom of movement, integrated financial systems, and the reduction of barriers to trade?
Of course, it was unlikely (but not impossible) that such a long listof questions could be put to the electorate, not least because it would have been a confusing turn off for voters. But this is why a second referendum is now required.
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It’s essential because we only started to ask the questions aboveafter June 2016. Not only did we not know the answers to such questions at the time of the original referendum, but the vast majority of people couldn’t have fully understood the questions.
Put simply, the June 2016 referendum started a meaningful national debate about EU membership for the first time in at leasta generation. This debate should have happened many years ago, but it is happening now. And only once this debate is over, once we have heard everything we need to hear about what EU membership means, should the electorate then decide whether they support it or not.
For those who worry that the divisions that have emerged since June 2016 will only be prolonged by a second referendum, I would say this: handled sensibly and sensitively, avoiding all of the mistakes made first time around, the next referendum could be based on analyses that are checked and double checked, on a meaningful engagement of experts and practitioners from all sectors of society, and carried out with the explicit acknowledgement that this is the final vote on this matter. Indeed, this might well be the only way to overcome this in EU Referendum #2 the emotional divides caused by EU Referendum#1.
The Case Against a Second ReferendumBen Williams, tutor in politics and political theory, Universityof Salford
The primary argument in favour of holding a second referendum is that there have been further significant political developments and changes since the original vote in favour of Brexit. These have included various shifts within the UK economy , the nature of the final likely “divorce” settlement with the EU,
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and ongoing movements in public opinion. It is ultimately a core element of any liberal democracy that voters have the right to change their mind or review key political decisions if circumstances appear to have changed.
An argument often cited by opponents of Brexit is that the vote of June 2016 indicated a somewhat narrow desire for “departure” from the EU, but it did not endorse what the final “destination” would be, for example, whether the UK would remain within the single market.
With a rather hazy destination in the pipeline, Remainers argue that this would justify a revision of the referendum decision. In addition to this distinction between departure and destination, opponents of Brexit have bolstered their argument by casting doubt on the contentious claim of Brexiteers that they would reallocate £350m of funding a week from the EU to the NHS.
On this basis, there is a strong argument to make that the voters deserve a further say on any final deal agreed with Brussels.
Nigel Farage’s somewhat surprising intervention in calling for a second referendum comes from a different angle. He is apparently calling for a further vote to settle the issue for “a generation”, and to silence persistent critics of Brexit such as Tony Blair, Andrew Adonis and Nick Clegg. There is some consistency in his position; before the referendum result he said he would continue to campaign against a narrow Remain vote.
While this represents a gamble from a winning position, Farage issaid to believe that a further referendum would produce an even more decisive vote for Leave by motivating Brexiteers who feel that “establishment” politicians are ignoring their democratic wishes by obstructing Brexit.
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Philip Cunliffe, senior lecturer in international conflict, University of Kent
As cross-party calls grow for a second referendum on Brexit, it is important not to underestimate the gravity of the situation. A second referendum would be a disaster of the first order for democracy.
Instead of giving Britain the possibility of transcending the division between Leavers and Remainers in the form of a democratic and representative Brexit, a second referendum would recapitulate these divisions, and it will be more bitter a second time around. It would forestall the restoration of parliamentary democracy that has been opened up by Brexit, substituting direct for representative democracy, with all the dangers of elite manipulation that come with it.
A second referendum would erode the very basis of democracy by suggesting that rule by the majority is an insufficient condition for democratic legitimacy, undermining all political decisions for the foreseeable future. It would cast a pall over political life in the UK, undermining national political institutions and delegitimising the very basis of democracy itself as a mode of collective decision making. It would breed public resentment as well as fostering protest politics and extremism.
A second referendum would not be changing a decision that hasbeen implemented but subverting one that has not been enacted.
But “democracies are entitled to change their mind”, comes the retort. It is a deeply disingenuous claim, made as it most often is by diehard Remainers. If they are so genuinely keen on keeping choices open, it is legitimate to ask whether these Remainers – or indeed recent converts to the cause of a second referendum such as Nigel Farage – would be willing to countenance a third
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referendum, to verify the outcome of the second? Why not a fourth referendum, to verify the third? Of course they wouldn’t.
Were we to vote to rejoin the EU after a second referendum, we can rest assured that those Remainers within the elite would move rapidly to ensure that this second choice was locked in through mechanisms that restrict democratic and popular will – mechanisms that the EU excels in building.
Brexit hasn’t happened yet. A second referendum would not be changing a decision that has been implemented but subverting one that has not been enacted. Worse than democracy by plebiscite, it would be dressing up deliberation-by-plebiscite in the guise of democratic decision-making. However people voted over Brexit, a second referendum must be forcefully resisted by all those who care about the future of democracy.
Dion Curry, lecturer in public policy, Swansea University
There were numerous credible objections raised against the first Brexit referendum – that people were not given full (or even partial) information about what their vote meant; that complicatedissues were boiled down to a simple yes or no answer. These concerns remain for a second referendum, which is currently as problematic as the first one.
The people decided. Now, it’s about coming up with a result that is best for all, which requires expert negotiation and high-level political decision-making. This is not an elitist argument. Rather, it is asking for politicians to do what they were hired to do: to represent the interests of all their constituents. Very few have spoken up for the 48% who voted Remain in the referendum.
Nobody knows what kind of Brexit people actually voted for, and a second referendum doesn’t answer that. Instead, it just provides a thin veneer for politicians to continue to do what they
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planned all along (I’m calling you out, David Davis, Liam Fox, Boris Johnson), except giving them the perceived legitimacy to claim they are speaking “for the people”.
Our answer, as voters, must be to call politicians to account (as happened to a certain extent in the 2017 elections), to vote them out if they don’t represent us in a meaningful, well-informed way, to contact them if we disagree, and to present our own well-informed arguments to counter their occasional ignorance.
Apart from the yes/no referendum, few politicians have actually asked for the opinion of the builders, the shopkeepers, the accountants, the factory workers, the consultants, the miners, thebankers, or the unemployed who voted for or against Brexit. Maybe there needs to be more listening and less dictating about what Brexit actually means. And maybe another one-off binary question is not enough.
An argument against a referendum is not an argument against democracy. It’s an argument for a meaningful dialogue between the people and their politicians, rather than the box-ticking exercise that a second referendum would be.’
It is interesting to note that in this article there is one academic in
favour of a second referendum and three against. We wonder if
this reflects feeling in the country. We found ourselves agreeing
with some points and disagreeing with others despite our
opposition to a second referendum. What do you think?
The media and many politicians say that failure to agree on the
‘backstop’ is what is holding up a final agreement. The Irish times
is reporting that the Northern Irish don’t care if there is a border in
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the sea, they just don’t want a land border. Reports also suggest
that an electronic solution is about 2 years away. The transition
period will be about 2 years so why can’t this solve the problem?
Everyone agreed that by refusing David Cameron flexibility on the
free movement of people the EU itself had a large responsibility
for the leave vote. With Trump, Putin, Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping
circling, some felt we would be much safer in Europe with a deal.
Also there was concern expressed about climate change and air
and sea miles if we have to import from much further afield.
Finally we tried to address what we thought would happen after
the vote – or not – in the House of Commons on 12th March. Well
Theresa May might pull the vote again, so no vote would mean
there couldn’t be a vote on no deal. It would not be good to stop a
vote again. BUT we can’t stay now as we’d be Europe’s whipping
boys. By the time you read this we might know what’s happening
but at the time of writing we don’t.
Dot
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There’s a vacancy for a permanent member of the group. Also guests can be accommodated at some meetings so do contact me if you would like to come along.
01455 208190 or [email protected]
Future Topics 2019
May 13th – What should be done about Universal credit?
Jun 10th – Do we know what we eat?
Jul 8th – Climate change – we’re on the edge
Aug 12th - King Charles III – how will he differ from his mother?
Sept 9th – Should we reintroduce National Service?
Oct 14th – Is there life after death?
Nov 11th – What is art?
Dec 19th – Xmas Meeting
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MOTOR CYCLE INTEREST GROUPCo-ordinator: Colin Beadletele: 01455 558013 mobile – 07505 997767e-mail: [email protected]
No bike outings this month but as alluded to in February report we did visit Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley for what proved to be a very en-joyable and informative evening.
The evening was promoted as “The Legend Returns – The Speed Twin Story”. We were uncertain as to the content – other than the launch of the new 2019 Triumph Speed Twin motorcycle. Triumph provided ex-cellent hospitality - with a buffet and liquid refreshments on arrival.
The event started with us (some 150+) being ushered outside to witness the arrival of a 1938 Supercharged Triumph Speed Twin motorcycle that was instrumental in creating the “Legend of the Speed Twin”. The supercharged Speed Twin holds the 500cc lap record at Brooklands (118.02 mph in October 1938) – achieved by Ivan Wicksteed. The ma-chine was ridden on the evening by his son Malcolm Wicksteed.
Back inside Malcolm Wicksteed narrated how his father – a keen mo-torcyclist and engineer- and a childhood friend Marius Winslow had a vision for setting a speed record. The newly introduced Triumph Speed Twin was seen an ideal machine, however, an approach in 1937 to Tri-umph Managing Director (Edward Turner) for a discounted model fell on deaf ears. Undeterred the project progressed but was self-financed. Following the successful record of 1938 - Triumph were keen to exploit the merits of the Speed Twin and factory backing became available to Wicksteed / Winslow. The events of 1939 – 1945 however overshad-owed development work and any further record attempts.
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The banked Brooklands circuit was partially demolished to make way for WWII aircraft production hangers and so the 1938 record remains inperpetuity.
The second speaker was Dick Shepherd who has painstakingly restoredmany Triumph machines and the Supercharged Speed Twin is no excep-tion. The research and attention to detail on the Wicksteed / Winslow machine can only be described as amazing.
Our host Triumph then provided an insight into the development of a new motorcycle – namely the 2019 Speed Twin. To the casual observer the new motorcycle does not look that much different from the old one. How wrong would they be! A three year project encompassed every as-pect of design and manufacture. A major redesign of the engine to make
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it lighter, narrower, with more power and less vibration. Work to ensure compliance with exhaust emissions including a catalytic converter con-cealed into the sweeping “retro” style exhaust system. Plus traction con-trol, ABS and so much more – a far cry from the original Speed Twin.
The 2019 machine will have components and parts made in various countries (including the UK); final assembly will take place in Thailand.Sales projection is of 6000 Speed Twin machines this year.
A question and answer session followed plus the opportunity to visit therevised display area and museum.
Colin Beadle
Mob – 07505 997767
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PHOTOGRAPHY GROUPCo-ordinator: Michael Batestele: 07899937595
PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP MARCH MEETING 2019 REPORT
March 2019 Meeting. Projected Digital Image Competition
At our March meeting we held our first competition, each member submitting a single image. We selected for our favourite picture via a single vote from each member. From the same entries we marked eachpicture based on 8 criteria with each criteria being marked on a scale of1 to 5 (low to high). To help us manage our voting we were pleased to have John Haddon as our guest. John is an old friend of the group and with his considerable experience in organising and participating in competitions via the Lutterworth Photographic Society we could not have had anyone better to assist us on the day. John also gave a useful critique on each picture which provided a guide to improving our images. Just like Parliament we used paper voting slips, but unlike the current political situation we achieved a positive result. Perhaps our U3A members should pass on some tips on voting to our MP’s.
The picture that won our single vote competition was “Canada” by Mary Hodgson, a fine landscape study. The “criteria vote” competition was won by a picture of a Juvenile Oystercatcher by Peter Sands. So congratulations to Mary and Peter for two great pictures.
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“Canada” by Mary Hodgson
Winner of the Single Vote Competition
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“Juvenile Oystercatcher” by Peter Sands
Winner of the Criteria Vote Competition
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One small point to mention is that both winning pictures were up for selection in both forms of the competition. The purpose of having a “criteria” vote was to try and get everyone to think about the different aspects that go to make up a pleasing photographic image, such as impact, story-telling, composition, lighting etc. As it turns out the “criteria vote” involved over 3000 marks all of which had to be collatedto find the winning picture. In retrospect this exercise is one of those situations which seemed a good idea at the time, but a bit overcomplicated in practice. However, the results were interesting in respect of how people look at pictures, but I doubt that we will be thinking of those 3000 marks when we are next looking through the lens of our cameras.
To see larger versions of our winning pictures and all the other picturessubmitted for our competition go to the Wycliffe Lutterworth U3A website picture gallery later on this month.
Next Meeting – 2.00 pm on Friday 26th April 2019 - Gilmorton Village Hall
Please note, for the April meeting only we shall be starting at 2.00 pm.We continue our competition theme in April with our “Prints” competition. During April each member will submit an image which we shall have professionally printed. At our April meeting each print will be appraised and marked by our guest judge Paul Chilton. Paul is an experienced photographer, both in taking part and in judging competitions and we are fortunate that he has agreed to judge our efforts. Paul has visited us before and we look forward to a lively and informative session of judging.
If we all survive the judging process we hope to get permission to display our prints at one of our U3A monthly meetings.
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As we shall all be busy preparing our prints for the competition there is no monthly picture topic for the month of April. We shall use the digitalversions of the printed pictures as the topic of the month submissions.
We are always happy to welcome U3A members to our meetings, even if you cannot attend on a regular basis, or are just curious about what we do. There is a small contribution made by those attending to cover the cost of venue hire and refreshments.
For more information regarding the photography group contact us at
Michael Bates
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POETRY GROUPCo-ordinator: Sylvia Hitchentele: 0116 247 8353email: [email protected]
Poetry March 2019
There was no set topic this month, we all brought a selection of our favourite poems. It was difficult to choose favourites from so much wonderful material, but here are a few:
Thomas Hardy – The Fallow deer at the Lonely House
Scenes of softness, quietness, as the deer looks through a window. Snow and cold outside, warm and snug inside ( a metaphor for the haves and have nots ?). Such wonderful delicacy of language.“Wondering, aglow,Fourfooted, tiptoe.”
E E Cummings - In Just Spring
An exuberant short poem, full of life and games and movement.
Gillian Clarke – A Miracle on St David’s Day
This tells the story of a poetry reading at a home for people with mental health issues. The reading awakens something in a man who has never spoken before, and who begins to recite Wordsworth’s “Daffodils” which he learnt in school.
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Simon Armitage – Remains
This is about a soldier who is ordered to shoot a looter, possibly in Syria, and who is never able to recover from the memory of this horror.Armitage is a modern poet whose mastery of language makes us see and feel alongside this soldier.
Eric Bogle – No Man’s Land
This poem is also an anti war song. Sitting at the graveside of a 19 yearold killed in the Great War, the speaker wonders what happened to him. This poem is not for the faint hearted, it is a hard hitting, and troubling. “The countless white crosses in mute witness standTo man’s blind indifference to his fellow manAnd a whole generation who were butchered and damned.”
Elaine Feinstein – Urban Lyric
A woman working in a service wash on a dusty traffic filled road has just had her cancer removed. She“is made alert to the day’s beautyAs if her terror had awakened poetry”.A wonderful uplifting and very moving poem.
The next meeting is on April 25th and the topic is “Botany”,
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SNAIL’S PACE WALKING GROUPCo-ordinator: Mandy Cutler tele: 01455 251809email: [email protected]
March Walk
On a blustery morning 15 of us set off for a walk around Clifton upon Dunsmore, which has the distinction of being the most easterly village in Warwickshire and the West Midlands. The village has existed as an agricultural settlement since pre-Roman times.
We visited the cemetery where we were intrigued and saddened to seewar graves from both world wars. We walked past the Manor House, built in the eighteenth century, and through a housing development
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which had an interesting array of older and contemporary housing. We then followed the main road with its views right across the fields as far as Long Lawford to the towpath of the Oxford Canal, which runs for 78 miles and for which James Brindley did the initial survey and construc-tion. We then retraced our steps to the village and a welcome meal and drink at The Bull Inn.
Sheila Eggleton.
April Walk – Friday 12th April - Rothley
Here is Sue and Nadene’s information about the next walk:
The walk starts from The Rothley Court Hotel, Rothley, Leics LE17 7LG. tel. 01162 374141
This is a walk that we have done before in 2017, but we may change it a little.
The walk is approximately 3 miles long partly through the village along footpaths and some fields with no stiles. It can be muddy if it has rained so walking boots or strong footwear is advisable.
If we have time we can visit the Rothley Railway Station where the steam trains stop on the Loughborough to Leicester Great Central Rail-way Line. There is also a small museum there.
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Directions from Lutterworth:
Take the M1 north from Junction 20 for approximately 12 miles. Leave the motorway at Junction 21A onto A46. Keep right as the road splits staying on the A46. Exit at A6 Wanlip; at roundabout take first left onto Loughbor-
ough Road. Take the next exit at fork signpost Rothley/ Cossington. At traffic lights turn left onto Hallfields Lane. Turn left onto Town Green Street. Follow the road to the right onto Wellsic Lane. Follow the road to the left onto Westfield Lane. Rothley Court is on the left.
There are other routes but if you don’t know the area this is probably the most straightforward.
There is plenty of parking at the hotel car-park.
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CALENDAR OF SNAIL’S PACE WALKS -2019
DATE WALK WALK LEADER18th January Suffragette Walk,
Leicester City CentreDot Barnard
15th February Gated Road walk between Sutton Cheney and Market Bosworth
Mandy Cutler
15th March Clifton upon Dunsmore Sheila Eggleton
12th April Rothley Nadene Baugh & Sue Dilks(reserve Viv Weller, Clipston}
17th May Croft Hill Jenny Croft
21st June Great Oxendon Sue Hayward & Celia Smith
19th July Welford Fran Knott
16th August Wistow Daryl Graham
20th September Catthorpe Mary Oldham
18th October Burton Overy Anne Dean
15th November To be decided Val Ridley & Ursula Kanetis
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LEICESTERSHIRE 3 PEAKS CHALLENGE
CHARITY LINK : LEICECESTERSHIRE 3 PEAKS CHALLENGE
(16 MILE WALK on Sunday 22nd September 2019)
U3A GROUP ENTRY
CHARITY LINK is a local Leicester charity and they tap into national charity trusts and for every £10 raised locally they can unlock £50.
I participated in this challenge a couple of years ago as part of a Social Services group and enjoyed the experience. I would like to put togethera U3A group for this year’s Challenge. The route starts at Bradgate Parktakes in Beacon Hill, Bardon Hill and finishes back in Bradgate Park hav-ing reached Old John Tower. The distance is around 16 miles with re-freshment stops on route with medals and certificates at the end. It will take around 6 - 7 hours. 60 to 100 people of all ages take part some even run it!
Each participant pays a £10 entry fee and pledges to raise £100 or the group pledges to raise £1000 so the more participants the less pressureon individuals to raise cash.
I will organise a few training walks, to include hills, nearer the time.
Are you up for the challenge?
For more info. http://charity-link.org/get-involved/events-challenges/leicestershire-3-peaks/
George Robertson. [email protected]
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1st WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUPJoint co-ordinators : Peter & Irene Mooretele:- 01455 552594email:- [email protected]
Date of Walk :- Wednesday 1 st May 2019. The Bluebell Walk.
Walk Organisers :- Peter & Irene Moore. Tel :- 01455 552594 :- email:[email protected]
Driving distance:- 18.5 Miles each way. Note earlier start. But well worth it.
Meeting Point and Time : Lutterworth Recreation Ground car park at 9.05am to leave at 9.10am.
Start Point : The Cottage Inn, Fillongley, Nr Nuneaton. Leave 10.00am.Toilets available.Directions to Start :- At Magna Park A5 island, take 3rd exit towards Wolvey, at Axe and Compass island take 2nd exit to Nuneaton, after large Rail bridge, turn left at island through Attleborough, at large island (under bridge)turn left onto A444 towards Coventry, at 1st island,with pedestrian bridge over, take 3rd exit (signed George Eliott Hospital), at rear of Hospital turn left onto B4112 then B4102 signed Fillongley. At the X roads in the centre of Fillongley ,turn right onto B4098 Tamworth Road, after ½ mile bear left onto Black Hall Lane. Pub on left at end. Car Park at rear. Please park at the far right. Allow 40 minutes travel, as nearly all on busy side roads.
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Order lunch before starting walk.
Route and Distance :- Starting from Car Park, turn left on track and head towards Fillongley. After X roads turn right after Church. All seated at Coffee break, we then head to our *bluebell delight* and re-turn on footpaths and farm tracks. There is a stretch of very quiet road walking to join it all together.
5.9 miles in total. 4 Stiles.(approx)
Good choice of Food , from the extensive Lunch menu. Gluten Free Food available. 2 courses £8.95
Summary. The walk and Pub are now our favourite. Even Bass on draught. What could be better.
Interesting walk, Great Pub & Excellent food, only needs your sup-port. Bluebells in abundance.
Lets hope the Pub comedian/landlady is on duty.
Next Walk. Wednesday 5th June 2019. Lime Tree Pub, Whetstone. Ex-cellent Country Pub with Good Special Lunch menu. Gluten Free food available.
Peter and Irene Moore
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2nd WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUPCo-ordinator: Mike Chapman 01455 209972
Last minute update(until 8:45am on the day) see www.wycliffelutterworthu3a.org/walking
or follow the link in “Stop Press”.
Walk Organisers: Peter and Irene Moore Tel: 01455 552594
Date of Walk: Wednesday 8th May 2019
Meeting Point: Coventry Road Recreation Ground at 09.20am to leave at 09.30am.
Start Point and Time: From the village end of Stanford Road or Rugby Road in Swinford (LE17 6BJ). Start time 10.00am.
Directions to the Start: From Lutterworth take A426 towards Rugby. 200 metres after Plane Island (opposite Golf Club entrance) turn left and immediately right towards Swinford. Follow the signposts for Stanford upon Avon and park near the children’s swings in Stanford Road, Swinford. (LE17 6BJ)
Route and Distance: This is a circular Walk, a little less than 5 miles. Leave Swinford on the Kilworth Road, after 2 fields turn right onto Bridle Track towards Stanford. Continue into village, turn left at Churchand continue through this lovely village on the Clay Coton/Yelvertoft Road, turn right on the outskirts of the village onto the footpath that
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was the Railway line. (lookout for the old Station) and return to Swinford via fields and bridge over River Avon. No stiles.
The pub in Swinford is very unreliable for food, as with no notice at all, and on a whim, the Lady who cooks decides to go to Manchester. Even if it’s booked, she still shoots off.
Directions for lunch: Head back towards Lutterworth, after 2 miles turn right at offset cross roads into Walcote. The Black Horse is opposite. Choose from menu, so no need to pre-order.
We look forward to your company.
* * * * *
March walk
On a windy drizzly miserable day, 15 hardy souls met by the “Old Smithy” in Church Lawford. At the appointed hour we set off towards Long Lawford, in what was quite a strong cold wind, Only to realise thata Walker last seen at Lutterworth was not with us. Having re-checked the start point, we continued onwards, over field paths to be joined by our missing walker before we reached our coffee stop in the grounds ofa disused church. Setting off from our break we too late spotted that the church hall was open for coffee and cake. We continued on towards the canal, back to our starting point, where a number stayed for lunch at the pub.
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4th WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUPCo-ordinators: Sue & Peter Creeden 01455 557888
Wednesday 24 April 2019
Walk Organisers:- Sue and Peter Creeden Tel: 01455 557888
Meeting Point and Time:- Lutterworth Recreation Ground car park at 09:25am to leave at 9.30am.
Start Point and Time:- The Bulls Head at Brinklow (Postcode CV23 0NE)Depart at 10:00am
Directions to the Start:- Leave Lutterworth towards Magna Park. At theA5 roundabout take the second exit (B4027) to Pailton, Stretton under Fosse and then Brinklow. At the T junction in Brinklow turn right (towards Coventry) and the Bull is about 150m on the right. Please parkat the back of the car park.
Route and Distance:-. The route will head up Broad Street and then turn off to pass the motte and bailey castle before heading to the canaland along the towpath to Hungerfield Bridge. It will then take a large loop to Kings Newnham before returning across fields to Brinklow. The route will be along a mixture of roads, canal towpath and tracks across fields. Distance: Approx 6 miles. Stiles: 6
Lunch Arrangements:- The Bulls Head has a reasonably priced lunchtime menu. We will order before we depart from the pub.
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March 2019 Walk Report
A walk leader’s lot is a difficult one. They have to find a walk, preferably not walked recently, for the 1st and 4th Wednesday walks one that starts from a pub that is open at lunchtimes, do a recce and possibly a second one closer to the walk date to check nothing drastic has changed on the route, try to limit the mileage to approximately 6 miles, limit the number of stiles, limit the amount of mud en route, limit the number of ploughed fields and then after that get details to the coordinator in what seems months in advance, lastly organise the weather and then lead the walk.
So, it is a challenge and sometimes things don’t go quite as well as planned because of comprises that have been made or difficulties not envisaged.
The March walk was one of these walks when George Robertson, who lead the walk, I think regretted choosing this one.
The weather was not as good as was forecast earlier in the week. It wasdry but overcast and a little on the chilly side particularly in exposed places. However, this did not stop a magnificent number of 31 walkers starting from The Holly Bush (renamed the Cherry Tree by George) in Ashby Magna. I was little surprised to see Pete and Jean Williamson arrive in their car because they live in the village but Pete assured me itwas to get a quick getaway after the lunch. Little did he know what wasabout to unfold.
We set off at a good pace and took the footpath that goes through the back garden of a large house. There is always a feeling of naughtiness when doing this. Within a few hundred yards we encountered the first
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of a series of what can only be described as b**** awkward stiles. Can I appeal to the residents of Ashby Parva to dip into the parish coffers toupgrade these stiles. Now as any walk leader knows stiles can slow the walking group down, awkward stiles can slow them down even more (getting the leg over being the challenge) but getting 31 walkers over them takes a while, and it did. I could see him getting flustered at seeing all this going on.
Eventually we did get going. The walk across the fields to Leire Mill wasso rural, the trees and bushes just at that point where they are about to burst out into leaf. We then passed Stemborough Mill, a Grade 2 listed building, and headed along the footpath to Dunton Bassett. Luck was on the walk leader’s side as I have seen this stretch of the walk a complete quagmire but on this walk it was incredibly dry. We went up Bennett’s Hill and then ascended The Mount to join Dunton Lane. At the sharp right hander we kept going straight on. We had lost a lot of time and a shortcut was suggested to the leader, I was not a party to his decision making process but he decided to keep going on his original route. We passed through Boggy Brays Farm (not any more!) and through Slip Inn Quarry. It was at this point that George decided that, maybe, we might not get back to the pub for 1.00pm so he gave them a ring to delay the cooking of the food. We reached Cauldwell Lane, walked a hundred metres, or so, along it and then back across a rape field. There was a lovely wide path flattened out for us, what a nice farmer we thought, but it was a lure, like a spider’s web, because there before us was a recently ploughed field (the walk leader’s worst nightmare), no footpath flattened out, just heavy chunky clay, dried out to make it a really ankle twisting experience. The convivial conversation went silent as we concentrated on navigating ourselves across the field. The next field was not much better but fortunately the farmer, I am not sure whether it was deliberate or not, had left a small
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pathway round the edge, but had left trip hazards (brambles) to catch us if we should use it. This slowed us down even more.
It was at this stage that Peter Moore, who I had thought had mellowed as he got older, pulled out a yellow card and then a RED card.
We arrived back at the pub about 1.10pm. I am not sure whether Pete Williamson got back early enough to get and consume his lunch.
So, that was the walk. Countryside was brilliant, company was excellent but there were some issues!
I would like to thank George very much for leading the walk and beg him not to throw in the towel as we desperately need walk leaders like him if we are to continue as a group.
Peter Creeden
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Committee April 2019– March 2020
Office Name Contact
Chairperson Chris Brady 01455 209108
Vice Chairman Colin Beadle 07505 997767
Treasurer Ruth Bones 01455 209756
Membership Secretary Ann Hetherington 01455 203498
Interest Group Co-ordinator Viv Weller 01455 557136
Speaker Liaison Tony Allen 07770 580828
Bulletin Trudy Haddon 01455 552905
Minutes Secretary Anne Dean 01455 202327
Committee Member Nigel Burt 01455 554498
Committee Member Andrea Nichol 01455 556788
Committee Member Peter Ross 01455 272797
Committee Member Peter Turner 07971 240196
Committee Member Andy Hetherington 01455 203498
Contributions for the website should be sent to Mike Chapmanemail: [email protected]
Articles, Reports, News items etc. for inclusion in the next bulletin should be sent to the editor: e-mail [email protected]
Deadline for inclusion in the next bulletin: on the last day of the month. Interest Group Dates and Times can be found on the website under ‘summary’
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