Issue 26
Summer 2007
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STRAY NEWS
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Group News
In June the Armchair Travellers usually go for a meal, this year we decided to combine that with an 'away day'. Leeds was our destination- the object of our visit The Thackeray Medical Museum. After a reviving coffee in the museum’s cafe we set about our visit. Firstly you travel back in time to a Victorian street of 1842, where you experience the sights, sounds and smells of the squalor in which our ancestors lived (not for the squeamish!). You can follow certain characters in their life and what diseases they suffered. There is a short, quite graphic film portraying the amputation of an 11 year old girl’s leg. There are instruments, gadgets, remedies and all kinds of interesting exhibits and facts. Did you know that as recently as 50 years ago seven women died each day through childbirth? If you have never been to this museum we can recommend it as we all felt it was well worth a visit.
Returning to Leeds on a' bendy bus' our table awaited at the busy Lucky Dragon Cantonese Restaurant where we all enjoyed our meal. (We were the only non-Orientals there!) Our thanks to Elizabeth for ensuring the day went smoothly.
"Travelling" certainly made for an interesting and enjoyable day out!
Barbara Peel
We have successfully finished another year of Bridge lessons. Our beginners will become improvers and we will be very happy to welcome people to the Bridge experience as part of a new beginners group which will start in September.
Unfortunately we cannot accept any more improvers as our group is filled to capacity, but we can invite players to a bridge tournament which will be held every Friday afternoon.
Juliet Fabbi
Although the group’s year has been somewhat disrupted by several cancellations, making some improvisation necessary, we have had excellent meetings on a variety of topics of current concern. At the final one (improvised) in June we considered what constituted a “good society”, starting predictably with law and order, but concluding with a more humane ethos and culture. We are currently looking for a leader to succeed me, as our loyal membership very much wants the group to continue.
I have recently formed a new group to learn the art of card making out of various media.
This craft is growing in popularity and there will be similar groups from other U3As at the forthcoming Ridings Region Open Day. Take a look when you are there.
We meet alternate Thursday afternoons from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at my home address. If you are interested, contact me .
Betty Romaniak
In June members of the Gardening group visited the delightful gardens at Sutton Park near York. Situated in the pretty village of Sutton on the Forest it is the Yorkshire home of Sir Reginald & Lady Sheffield.
The gardens really are a joy to behold, the roses and peonies being particularly stunning, while in the borders the foxgloves and the wide variety of ornamental poppies provided a riot of colour. Margaret and I especially enjoyed the Woodland Walk, which culminates in a loggia smothered in laburnum; we were pleased to discover this still in bloom.
The whole garden is set in parkland and includes a walled pond garden, a fernery plus a herb and vegetable patch where broad beans, runner beans and even blue potatoes were growing and the sweet peas were flowering! The beautiful house was not open but can be visited on Wednesdays, Sundays and Bank holidays. At the end of the afternoon the excellent tearoom provided very welcome refreshments, as it had been a glorious, hot and sunny day.
A garden well worth a visit.
This year our first meeting will be on Monday 17 September. Since this is before the AGM members who have an interest, may not realise that this meeting is taking place.
The meetings are held in the Meeting Room at the Convent on Oatlands Drive; the doors open at 1.30 and the meeting starts at 2 PM. New members will be made welcome.
For further details contact Betty Travena (Group Leader) by e-mail
Brian Souter organised a day trip to London by train for our flourishing group to visit the National Gallery plus the Courtauld Institute Gallery on May 8.
We had the most wonderful day as Brian had booked tickets for the ‘Renoir Landscapes’ exhibition at the National, but we arrived in time to see the Impressionist paintings at a special exhibition ‘Manet to Picasso’ in the Sainsbury wing. It was fantastic to enjoy so many beloved paintings before we went on to Renoir.
It was an added treat for us when Brian shared his knowledge and love of the famous paintings in the various rooms, showing the artists’ influences and development through the ages.
We had time for some tea before walking through sunny London to the Courtauld where again we were excited by looking at works we had been studying, now in such lovely surroundings.
We were a very small group and after so much culture it was great fun to be taken by Brian to his favourite Italian restaurant close to Kings Cross station.
Here’s to the next time!
Stella Russell