Ilkley & District
FORUM
No 15
Autumn 2015
www.ilkley.u3a.org
ILKLEY & DISTRICT U3A COMMITTEE: CONTACT DETAILS
CHAIRPERSON
Roger Bainbridge
01943 839607
[email protected]
VICE CHAIRPERSON
Sue Butler
01943 600905
TREASURER
Pam Lamming
01132 507462
[email protected]
01943 461485
[email protected]
GROUPS CO-ORDINATOR
Angie Grain
01943 465059
[email protected]
SECRETARY
Jean Smith
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY AND COMMUNICATIONS
Gunilla Vriesendorp
01943 603899
[email protected]
[email protected]
VENUES
Carolle Bayly
EVENTS
01943 468592
Patricia Baker
01943 603049
[email protected]
[email protected]
SUMMER SCHOOLS ORGANIZER
Angie Grain
01943 465059 [email protected]
PUBLICITY
Alison McCloy
01943 604895
[email protected]
EQUIPMENT
Sue Butler
01943 600905
[email protected]
SUPPORT
Neil Stevens (IT)
01943 817326
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[email protected]
CHAIRPERSON’S COMMENTS
Welcome to the Autumn edition of Forum. After a disappointing
Summer weather-wise, let’s look forward to a golden Autumn!
Since our last edition we have had the election of a new government,
a new Labour leader, a successful Tour de Yorkshire and an even
more successful Summer School. But Angie Grain, who has made this
event what it is, would now like to ‘retire’ from this role to concentrate on the ever increasing demands of Group Co-ordinator. Is there
anyone out there who would like to take this Summer School role
on? Please contact Angie or me if so.
Thank you to those who took the time to return our questionnaire
relating to the potential future of our U3A. We will be sharing the
results of this with you—together with the results of the strategy
group’s recent deliberations— at a meeting at Abbeyfield on the
morning of November 14th.
We are looking forward to working with Yorkshire Dales Millennium
Trust on a number of Shared Learning Projects in the near future. We
still need people who might be interested in these. Please have look
at the details of these on pages 6 and 7.
Finally but very importantly, as a number of Trustees are nearing the
end of their terms of office, if anyone is willing to consider becoming
a Trustee they will be made most welcome. Perhaps you would like
to talk it over with me or any of my colleagues. Initial contact can be
made with any Trustee whatsoever.
The next edition of Forum will be in January 2016 so Merry Christmas
everyone.
Roger Bainbridge
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FRENCH CONVERSATION
When I made tentative enquiries about joining U3A last summer,
little did I realise that by September I would be leading a new group!
The French Conversation Group had its inaugural meeting on 18th
September 2014, when a few very nervous folk attempted to
introduce themselves and share basic information. Over the next few
months our confidence grew, as did our numbers.
We meet on alternate Thursdays at the home of one of our members
(many thanks, Peter!). We agree on a topic for the following meeting
– topics have included Desert Island Discs, 2015 anniversaries,
favourite films, best holidays and we sometimes play games to
improve our vocabulary. Members help each other out when stuck,
and we enjoy sampling French food (and drink!) at Christmastime.
Happily, three new members signed up recently, so unhappily there
are no vacancies, but I do have a waiting list.
We thoroughly enjoyed our end of year meal at Le Bistrot Pierre, as
you can see! Roll on October. A bientôt!
Vivien Drake
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INTERMEDIATE ACOUSTIC GUITAR GROUP
After a productive first year, this group reconvenes on Tuesday
afternoon, 15th September, 14.00-15.30, upstairs in the Flying Duck
pub (opposite the Box Tree, Central Ilkley).
Information update: A small guitar beginners group generally follows
the Intermediate Group, 15.30-16.30. Numbers need to be limited for
beginners group. The only requirement for Intermediate group members, is that they can tune their guitar, and are reasonably fluent at
chord changes. The Group is run as a Workshop, with an expectation
that participants bring different material and styles, and share their
skills- the group would welcome other guest musicians to contribute,
in particular acoustic bass, fiddle, banjo, Ukes, etc... We have not
found it necessary to limit numbers...if we got too big, we would
probably break into different groups.
Further information: contact me through the U3A
Peter Mate
VIEWS ON THE NEWS
We continue to plod along happily, meeting on Friday mornings on a
fortnightly basis - we re-commence on 4th September after a short
summer break. We have about 10 regular members, though the
attendance is usually 7 or 8. We simply discuss issues which have
cropped up in the news - local, national or international, in a
pleasantly informal manner. We could accommodate a small
number of new members but no more than would fit comfortably in
my front lounge!
John Lewis
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TO MEMBERS INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE LIFE
AND WORK OF THE YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK
The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust has approached Ilkley & District
U3A to explore the possibility of working together on Shared Learning Projects relating to aspects of Yorkshire Dales day-to-day life and
work, now and in the past. The YDMT is a relatively small, lively
charity based in Clapham, which effectively complements the work of
the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. Representatives of both
organisations spoke at our study day last year, The Yorkshire Dales
Under Threat.
Four areas have been identified in which we could be involved:
1 Quarry Tales
Recording the memories of current and retired workers in stone and
quarrying in the Ingleborough Dales, using oral history methods and
research. Training would be given and would commence in January
2016.
2 Capturing the Past
Volunteers would be involved in classifying and digitising archives
relating to the history of local communities and their use and management of the landscape in the Ingleborough Dales. Training would
be given and would begin in late 2015.
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3 Hay Time based research - Bumblebee project
Monitoring and recording bumblebee populations at different grassland habitats across the Yorkshire Dales. A database would be
collated to help determine the value of each grassland type for
bumblebees and other pollinating insects. Training would be given,
starting in June 2016 prior to haymaking in July.
4 People and the Dales - Health and well-being
This would comprise researching current provision for outdoor
activity for dementia sufferers, identifying any difficulties and barriers
that may exist and finding solutions to these. It would involve talking
to local people, to charities such as Age UK and to dementia sufferers
themselves and their carers. It might also involve the development of
various dementia based activities in the Craven area of the Dales. This
would commence later this Autumn.
So would you like to take advantage of this exciting opportunity to
get be involved in helping the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust in one
way or another?
If so, contact me at [email protected] . Please
indicate which of the above projects is of specific interest to you (if
not all four). Further information will follow and a meeting will be
called for all interested members.
Roger Bainbridge, Chair
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ILKLEY CINEMA
No doubt many members will be aware that a new, small cinema is
being developed in Ilkley: a conversion on the corner of Little Lane
and Leeds Road where the old ‘Il Trovatore’ nightclub (yes – Ilkley
used to have a nightclub; ask your children) used to stand. It will
have about 53 seats and be the smallest single screen 4K digital
picture house in Europe.
This is great news, not just for film fans, but also for U3A members
who love their theatre, ballet, opera and art but who are unable to
go to live performances in London, or even to the transmitted ‘live’
shows in Leeds, Bradford or Harrogate, from venues such as The
National Theatre, The Old Vic, etc. John Tate, the developer behind
the cinema, is negotiating to have live satellite links with such events
and hopes to screen one or two a month.
The cinema should open in November when, among the first films,
will be Spectre’– the new James Bond – and Maggie Smith in Alan
Bennett’s The Lady in the Van. More ‘specialised’ movies will also
feature as well as that wonderful old tradition of Saturday morning
kids’ showings. It will be open seven days a week and have three or
four performances each day. Prices are expected to be about
£10 - £14, with concessions for seniors and children, and a membership loyalty scheme will be available for further benefits. There will
be a licensed bar and a range of refreshments available
This is surely a welcome addition to the cultural life of Ilkley and
one that I hope U3A members will be able take full advantage of.
Mike Johnson, Group Leader, Film Group
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NON-FICTION BOOKS (1)
What have we been reading recently?
1) Paris After the Liberation – 1944-1949 by Antony Beevor and
Artemis Cooper. How to reconcile the former Vichy administration
and collaborators with resistance workers and communists?
2) The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins. The format of myth compared with reality did not really work for us. Some good “science for
beginners” but overall a bit disappointing.
3) A Death in Brazil by Peter Robb. Political life in late 20th century
Brazil – corruption and violence of course. The struggle of the landless
and organised labour to overcome the existing order. Plus some
earlier history. Our best book so far this year.
4) Rubicon by Tom Holland. Narrative history – For nearly 400 years
Rome was a republic, avoiding internal strife and successfully empire
building, before succumbing to civil war and dictatorships under the
likes of Sulla, Caesar and Augustus. Lots of interesting stuff you never
knew about the Romans.
Membership of our group is limited to 12, but currently we have one
vacancy which is quite rare, so if you are interested do not delay in
contacting me.
Roy Grooby
How it all began
A Third Age University began in France in 1973 and was based on a
purely academic model associated to local universities. The selfhelp model that exists in the UK today and in other countries such
as Australia and New Zealand, began in England in the early 1980s.
The phrase ‘third age’ represents that period of life after the age of
full-time work and parental responsibility.
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GILBERT & SULLIVAN GROUP
Members share their interest in Gilbert & Sullivan as collaborators in
the Savoy Operas but also their independent works and collaborations with others. We show DVDs of performances and recorded
talks. We have a lending library system for DVDs and books. We
book Visiting Speakers. There are Sing-alongs round the piano (you
do not need to be a great singer!!). Trips are organised in
collaboration with the Musicals and Musical Theatre group,
particularly to The International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival based
in Harrogate in August 2016.
We will also work with other U3A choirs to organise a G&S Singalong concert performance. Organisers: Pamela Drake and David
Hewitt at the Baptist Church, Kings Road, Ilkley, (free car park)
Times: 1.45 - 5.00 with a refreshment break
Please note:
25 Sept: The Mikado - National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company
23 Oct: HMS Pinafore, and Book & CD session bring examples or lists
20 Nov: Trial by Jury, and Chorus singalong.
18 Dec: The Sorcerer - Opera de la Luna, set in the swinging sixties!!
Please contact me at [email protected]
David Hewitt
MUSICALS AND MUSICAL THEATRE GROUP
Arrangements as usual but here’s an update: 9 Oct: Holiday Inn
6 Nov: The King and I 4 Dec: Evita
David Hewitt
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‘Talking Textbooks’ for blind students in Ethiopia
One of our longstanding local U3A members, Gary Knamiller, is
currently part of a team of three, including Steve Amos and
Professor Mike Dixon, who are recording textbooks for visually
impaired secondary students in the northern Tigray province of
Ethiopia. Their base is at Abbeyfield which has generously opened
the Ilkley Talking Newspaper’s studio for their use.
Trials last year demonstrated the practicality and the appeal of the
MP3 player in playing back recorded academic material. At a push
of a button students can track forward and backward to find the
section in the text they want to hear. The team hopes to provide a
pack containing a solar powered MP3 player, headphones and
recharging cable at a cost of £30 per student . Their initial target
is some 200 grade 9 & 10 visually impaired students currently
attending mainstream secondary schools in Tigray. In this way they
are enabling such disadvantage students to fully access the curriculum and become independent learners.
There are approximately 200 visually impaired students in grades 9
and 10 in Tigray. The team is concentrating on three subjects at
the moment: biology, civics and geography as a pilot to ‘work out
the wrinkles’ before expanding into other grades and possibly
throughout the whole country.
If you are willing to help in any way at all, please have a look at
this website: www.sene.org.uk and/or contact Dr Gary Knamiller,
Project Co-ordinator: [email protected] or tel. 01943
430 634
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WALKING 10 TO TEA (LET THEM EAT CAKE!)
In a year celebrating the 50th anniversary of the magnificent Pennine
Way, this newly formed U3A walking group has a growing membership. Walking 10 to Tea was formed in April 2015, following requests
from U3A members seeking to join a walking group, but finding many
existing groups had no vacancies.
Meeting fortnightly on Thursdays, for walks of up to 8 miles, walkers
bring their own picnic lunch and enjoy refreshments at a local cafe at
the end of the walk. (The group has now created Its own SconeAdvisor"
to score the post-walk refreshments!) Living so close to the Yorkshire
Dales and other beautiful and enjoyable walking countryside, we are
spoilt for choice of where to walk. Members have enjoyed varied and
beautiful scenery on a range of lovely walks in Wharfedale, the Washburn Valley, Nidderdale and Ribblesdale, all of which have been well
attended. Walkers take a turn to lead a walk of their choice.
Wish you were here?
You could be!
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Along with the physical benefits, walking in a group makes for the
perfect social activity, offering a great way to meet people and stay
motivated to walk. If you are someone who enjoys walking at a
moderate pace, up to 8 miles and in the company of like-minded U3A
members, why not join the Walking 10 to Tea group.
Interested? One or two places are still available. Please contact me,
Elizabeth Moody, Group Leader ([email protected])
Elizabeth Moody
Something in the Aire
A historical novel by of one of our U3A members will be featured in
this autumn’s Ilkley Literary Festival Fringe. Stuart Campbell, who
leads the Book Reviews Group, will be presenting readings from his
book Something in the Aire at the Playhouse Wildman Theatre on
Friday 16 October at 9pm.
Joining him on stage will be Saltaire poet and balladeer Eddie Lawler,
already well known to audiences throughout the Aire Valley.
The novel tells the story of Bradford’s rise from Victorian squalor to
become the prosperous wool capital of Britain, portrayed through the
lives and loves, joys and grief of five generations of the Ackroyd
family. Scandal haunts local aristocracy, who reluctantly forfeit
their privileged lifestyle for the good of all.
This event is free; there’s no need to book in advance, just turn up on
the night to enjoy an entertaining hour of story and song.
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LOCAL LANDMARKS AND LUNCH
We are well used to a younger generation wandering around with
earpieces in place attached to a small box. Now we have the
retired also wandering around so attired, the difference being that
rather than music coming though we have the measured tones of
the excursion leader, utilising the latest Ilkley U3A investment, the
group voice amplification system. Its benefits are significant. No
longer do groups have to cluster round the leader struggling to
hear what she or he is saying above the roar of passing traffic,
while simultaneously being glared at by passing pedestrians for
blocking the pavement. We can spread out more – the range is
quite substantial in a straight line – and even hear the presenter
while on the move.
The Local Landmarks and Lunch (aka “Triple L”) Group has been an
enthusiastic user of the system in its excursions this summer. Our
ethos and practice are well in line with U3A’s, in that all group
members take it in turns to lead an expedition, at least in alternate
years. This means we enjoy a variety of destinations, things to see
and expositions about them. At the end of the morning
(occasionally we extend after lunch) we repair to a convenient pub
for a well earned lunch, the entire morning’s programme having
been “recced” and researched beforehand by that day’s excursion
leader. So this year Pam Harris initiated the programme with a
walk round Long Preston. Still on the villages theme, Mary Gartland
led us round Embsay and Jean and Trevor Paget round Guiseley. In
each case, despite “knowing” the villages quite well over the years,
we all learned something new. This was also the case with the
towns: Austin and Jean Hughes took us to the Lightcliffe area
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of Halifax and David and Angie Adam took us to Wakefield. Seeing
into interesting houses was not passed up and Austin and Jean
managed this with the former vicarage in Lightcliffe – a lovely turn of
the (19th/20th) century house – while Robin and Rita took us back
well over six hundred years with a detailed tour of Markenfield Hall,
again with an enthusiastic local guide. Pitching between the two,
Colin and Jackie Beecham rounded the season off with a very damp,
but equally fascinating, tour of the ancient and now largely deserted
settlement at Wycoller (see cover). Our draft programme for next
year stretches from Allerton Castle to Hebden Bridge, with many
stops in between.
David Adam, Robin Leleux
PLAYS AND THEATRE.
We had a very active year and now have a full programme booked
from September to December. This includes a visit to Bolton to see
The Family Way, then Richard 111 at the West Yorkshire Playhouse,followed by Hero's Welcome in Scarborough finishing the first
section with a visit to Manchester to see Pomona. Our group is now
comfortably full, all seats for the above plays are already booked, as
are seats for the Community Bus as everything has to be planned
well in advance
Elsie Hobley
ILKLEY IN WARTIME
We start Monday 2 November 10 am to 12 noon Dales Room at
Christchurch, The Grove for 12 sessions either side of Christmas and
New Year holidays. There are still vacancies. A wide range of issues
are discussed some of which are still relevant for Ilkley today. Details
are in the U3A course brochure 2015/16. Please contact me at
richard@teaching 222.fsnet.co.uk
Richard Thakrah
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SUMMER SCHOOL 2015
Summer School 2015 took place between 13th – 17th July this
year. The timing of this week is always aimed to take place before
the schools break up. Normally we aim to avoid the week of the
Great Yorkshire Show, but it was moved back a week this year, so
we did in fact clash. Summer School also clashes with the National
U3A Summer School, but this only inconveniences a few people as
it happens.
There are many members who contribute to our annual event but
special thanks should go to: Gunilla Vriesendorp for all the website
information, Tony Willson for handling the postal bookings, Carolle
Bayly for booking and occasionally re-scheduling the venue
bookings, Pam Lamming for dealing with all the payments, Sue
Butler for ensuring all AV equipment is provided, Alison McCloy
who helped to publicise the event, Mary Hamilton and the workers
at KIVCA, the café ‘Meeters and Greeters’ and the photographers
for the website plus all the many session leaders. If I have omitted
anyone, please accept my apologies.
This year we had 35 scheduled sessions; mostly half-day but with a
few full day ones. Of these 11 (i.e. about 33%) were fully booked
on the eve of Summer School. There may have been a number of
late registrations through the week and some individuals turning
up for sessions without registering.
The sessions that were fully booked were:
1. Croquet (Monday am)
5. Dishes from Around the World
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7. Archaeology on the High Moor
9. Pros and Cons of Living in a Retirement Flat
All sessions went ahead as scheduled – we did not have any late
withdrawals due to lack of interest as we had had in 2014. I only
heard very positive feedback from participants and session leaders –
all of whom seemed to have enjoyed their events.
It is good practice to try to introduce some changes every year and
this year, the Summer School Café was introduced. We had
excellent support from Judith and the staff and volunteers at the
Clarke Foley Centre as I think they felt it provided an opportunity to
increase their custom over the summer and to raise awareness of
both the Centre and the U3A.
I had a team of volunteer helpers who acted as Meeters and
Greeters to ensure that no-one would arrive at the café to find
no-one to talk to. Attendance at the café varied widely through the
week, depending on the sessions and their locations occurring each
day. The systems were set up by me but then during the week, the
group was co-ordinated by Bonnie and Mike Fourie, who have
offered to take on the organisation of the café in 2016, if we decide
to run it again. Many thanks to them.
My role organising the Summer School has been a very enjoyable
one, and I hope that colleagues will agree that Summer School has
had another successful year. But I would like to think that someone
else might volunteer to take over this important role next year.
Please.
Angie Grain
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WALKING AT WEEKENDS
The group is now one year old. We walk twice a month on a Sunday
or Saturday averaging 5-7 miles each time. The terrain is generally
fairly gentle with the emphasis on finding a good cafe, lots of talking
en-route and generally just a good social group.
On average we have around 15 people on each walk, but have had
25 on occasions. We plan to walk through the winter, but will gauge
the routes according to weather etc. the dates of the next planned
walks are listed below.
September 19th - Angie Woodthorpe leading the walk October 4th
- Walk being led by Pat and Nick Graham. October 18th—Andy
Botherway. Contact me at [email protected] Hugh Bevington
Near Kettlewell
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ART APPRECIATION #1
We have a full programme planned for the coming season with all of
the sessions being presented or run by our own group members. We
have a good mix of indoor meetings and visits to galleries and exhibitions and will be looking at such topics as Aboriginal Art, Portraits, Art
in the Landscape, Van Gogh, John Singer Sargent, Abram Games. We
will also be having discussions on 'What is Art?' and themed meetings
on topics yet to be decided. Our visits will include trips to Abbot Hall
(Kendall) and Blackwell (Windermere), the Mercer Gallery in Harrogate, the newly re-opened York Gallery plus others, yet to be organised.
We will be welcoming quite a few new members who have already
enrolled but we are really at capacity now as the room won't take any
more members. We are looking forward to a lively and stimulating
season and hoping that all goes well for us.
Angie Grain
NORTHERN TOWNS
Since its inception in February 2013, we have grown from strength
to strength thanks to the friendship of its members and their willingness to share in its organisation, from leading visits, controlling
finances, organising transport to welcoming new members, offering
suggestions and arranging a pre-Christmas lunch. The availability of
the U3A Tour Guide system has made a huge difference this year.
Everyone now has an equal opportunity to hear the guides clearly.
Our monthly visits are attended by 30 to 35 people and we sometimes have to turn folk away because of mini bus capacity. So the
time has come to consider setting up a second group. Any thoughts
from our existing membership, which now exceeds 90, would be
most welcome.
Jean Smith
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CRAFT GROUP
The craft group has continued to meet throughout the summer to
knit, sew, crotchet, quilt, make tapestry, patchwork, tat and of
course chat over tea and coffee kindly provided by Jill Dean. We are
progressing on our wall hanging which will showcase all our skills
and creative ideas In our ‘spare time’ we continue to support the
various charities that are sending knitted items all over the world
where there is strife, poverty, loneliness and, in the UK, making
twiddlemuffs for dementia patients. Twiddlemuffs act in the same
way as worry beads, giving agitated hands and minds something to
do and focus on and softness to bring a sense of calm.
Our resident poetess, Denise, often composes a poem that
imagines what happens after an item, in this case a teddy, leaves
us. (See opposite)
Sheila Wright
MUSINGS
Musings has had a good year, with a core of loyal, enthusiastic supporters meeting monthly at my house in Ilkley for not too serious
discussions regarding the ethics of current and related affairs. Here
we have talked about such things as Rich. What does it mean? What
do we look for in our politicians?, Vegan and Vegetarian diets. Should
we raise animals in order to eat them? Invasion of Privacy etc.
It is quite informal, but we do try to treat each topic thoughtfully. At
the moment we could welcome two more members, and I think they
would enjoy the companionship. Our future plans, I think, will be
entirely governed by the suggestions of our members, who are very
enthusiastic.
Joan Tibbs
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A Teddy’s Tale by Denise Marsden
1 Food and water needed most,
Share in her problems, one by one
And clothing, to replace that lost,
Until she’s solved them, and they’re gone.
Grateful thanks, though wan and thin
He’ll be her confidant, her friend
Yet willing to let outsiders in.
Her one true love, until the end.
But not the children, standing there
He’ll be beside her down the years
Nothing can touch their frightened stare.
Until at last she’s dried her tears.
2 The heart he never knew he had
5 Sent freely by a friendly knitter
Goes out to her – she looks so sad,
To help her not to be so bitter,
She’s locked behind her eyes so brown
To move on past the dreadful times
And now he’s trying not to drown.
To open up to better climes.
She’s lost a lot, her world has gone
A simple knitted bear is he
She needs his help in moving on.
An influence on her history.
To have against the dark and cold
3 But no-one’s told him what to do
A silent partner, just to hold.
To motivate, to work it through.
Until he’s put into her arms
6 His warm wool soft against her cheek
And now she’s subject to his charms
To comfort her, repel the bleak,
Without a word, a bear to tend,
To bring her back from dark despair
And soon she’s one with her new friend.
The joy she feels with him, she’ll share.
Until once more she knows the sun
4 They’ll be together all the while
Her heart so light that she will run.
He’ll do his best to make her smile.
Before, so low, but now above
She’s free at last, to hope and love.
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RAILWAYS GROUP
First up this year was a most enjoyable visit to the East Lancashire
Railway. This “heritage” line (i.e. one taken over by enthusiasts and
volunteers after closure by British Railways) now runs from Bury up
the valley through Ramsbottom to Rawtenstall, and is home to a
wide selection of active steam and diesel locomotives plus an even
wider collection of ones awaiting repair or rebuilding. We spent the
morning in small groups being shown very thoroughly behind the
scenes, with a tour around the yards (see photo on p 22), sheds and
works and finally into the signal box at the south end of Bury Bolton
Street station. After lunch, it was into our reserved seats for a run
along the line, first up a magnificently steep, albeit short, climb over
the Manchester Metro line along to Heywood, then back through
Bury and on up to Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall. A good day was
had by all.
Our contribution to this years Summer School was a day looking at
rail travel in the Victorian era. I set the theme of the day with an
illustrated overview of what travelling on these new-fangled railways involved, then Bill Berrett followed with a look at the trains.
Austin Hughes showed us what might have been with Brunel’s
Broad Gauge and then John Hancock examined the perils of travel,
culminating in the disaster at Armagh in 1889, after which safety on
the railways was taken far more seriously. Finally Michael Elsmore
told us about the man behind those eponymous Guides, George
Bradshaw. We could not rustle up a Victorian carriage to travel in
but the next best thing was one built soon after: the Lancashire and
Yorkshire Railway’s Directors’ saloon of 1906 which has been privately bought and restored and runs on the Embsay & Bolton Abbey
Railway.(See photo on p 22 ) So after our picnic lunch we piled into it
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to hear about he tribulations of restoration while enjoying a sedate
return run along the line behind a Great Western Railway locomotive
which had spent its working life in the depths of the Welsh Valleys.
For our final expedition we were invited by the Architecture Group to
join them in a visit to the two most impressive, but very different,
main line stations in London, Kings Cross and St Pancras, both
recently restored at huge cost and also incorporating interesting new
build alongside the old. Kings Cross, the earlier of the two, boasts
two long arched train sheds behind a facade modelled on the Czar’s
stables at St Petersburg. This can now be fully appreciated as the
clutter of buildings on the forecourt has been swept away. Alongside,
linking the station to the hotel and roofing the space to create a new
concourse is a very modern, impressive and effective structure.
Our Blue Badge guide took us over to St Pancras, first to appreciate
the Victorian Gothic splendour of the frontage (the former hotel) and
then in to admire the great train shed, in its time the widest single
span roof in Europe. We stood under the tall meeting place young
man and woman bronze before walking round to the more lifesize
one of John Betjeman. Then we proceeded up to Old St Pancras
Church whose graveyard had been heavily disturbed by the building
of the railway and station, prompting a suitable poetic lament from
the young Thomas Hardy who was involved with sorting the graves.
With rain threatening we walked round the corner into the Kings
Cross Granary development where the once busy railway yards,
handling all manner of products vital to Victorian London, are being
imaginatively redeveloped for education, business and housing,
while keeping as many of the old features as is feasible. It is a farsighted scheme and a worthy complement to the work on the great
stations.
Robin Leleux
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BOOK REVIEWS
The Book Reviews Group goes from strength to strength as it enters
its fourth season. Our record membership of eleven has turned in a
cornucopia of 22 reviews over the summer, featuring a wide range of
authors including Pat Barker, Gyles Brandreth, Hilary Mantel, Jeremy
Paxman, Helen Dunmore and Ian McEwan. These will ensure a lively
discussion on 28 September with an enthusiastic and candid sharing
of literary opinions. Members of the group have also expressed an
interest in visiting our northern outpost of the British Library at
Boston Spa in the new year – details to follow. The group has
achieved its full membership for the first time this year, but we are
happy to keep a record of any U3A member wishing to join when
numbers allow.
Stuart Campbell
SATURDAY LUNCHEON GROUP
We have been fortunate in recruiting several new members recently
to replace those who have left the group for one reason or another,
bringing our membership to twenty.
This leaves scope for up to five more members to join us and enjoy
the friendly, monthly lunches at venues chosen and arranged by
members. The venues are many and varied in Ilkley and beyond and
transport can often be arranged, when necessary, for non- drivers.
Barbara Pullin
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HIKE TO LUNCH
The new 2015/16 Hike to Lunch season begins on Wednesday
September 9th, and continues until Wednesday December 16th,
when we take a short break after the annual Christmas lunch then.
The group meets on a fortnightly basis. One new member is joining
the group and two members have retired due to U3A diary clashes/
other commitments, with every opportunity to return in due course.
In the latter part of 2014/15 we walked around Harewood, from
Hampsthwaite, at Pateley Bridge, on Blubberhouses Moor, around
Beckwithshaw, around Bramhope area, and from Malham. Finally
Angie Adam led an afternoon walk from Buckden culminating in our
finale: a very enjoyable group dinner at Elslack.
On our Malham walk we had an unexpected applicant: a nosey hen!
Later on we enjoyed a well earned coffee break at Pateley Bridge.
Being a participative group, all members are expected to lead walks
and organise the respective pub lunches under the Group Arrangements. The group is led by me and I will add applicants to the
Waiting List if anybody is interested.. Tel 01943 600914. or email
[email protected]
David Adam
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The Railways Group at East Lancashire sheds……..
……… and in the Directors saloon on the Embsay railway
26
YORKSHIRE CORNER

Yorkshire is not the wettest county in England. It has below
average rainfall (32.6inches compared to 33 inches for
England as a whole)

Keighley is twinned with Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA

Mother Shipton of Knaresborough is said to have prophesied
the Great Plague, The Great Fire of London, the telephone,
space exploration—and the end of the world in 1881!

What do Simon Cowell, Jose Mourinho and Britney Spears
have in common?

Actors Charles Laughton, Ben Kingsley and Penelope Wilton
were all born in Scarborough

Malham Tarn inspired Charles Kingsley’s The Water Babies

What are cades, tegs, gimmers, hoggerels, wedders and
shearlings?

Sechin Tendulkar, the great Indian batsman, was the first
Yorkshire C.C.C. player to have been born overseas

The Yorkshire Dales National Park has the second biggest area
of all national parks in England (685 sq ms) after the Lake
District NP . The Snowdonia NP in Wales, the Cairngorms NP and the
Loch Lomond/Trossachs NP in Scotland are all larger still

City status was conferred by royal charter on York, Leeds and
Hull before 1300 whereas the charters of Sheffield and
Bradford were not forthcoming until the 1890s
They all own Yorkshire terriers
They are all sheep
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TALKS,LECTURES, MEET INGS
TALKS,ECTURES, MEETIN GS
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Sep 19
The Time of Your Life David Davies
Sep 26
New Groups Meeting CFC
Oct 2
Drop-In Session CFC Wright Room
Oct 17
Patagonia: the uttermost part of the Earth Tony Burkitt
Nov 6
Drop-In Session CFC Wright Room
Nov 14
Strategy Workshop
Nov 21
AGM + Noel Nostalgia Jenny Speaker
Dec 4
Drop-In Session CFC Wright Room
Dec 19
Christmas Extravaganza
Abbeyfield
CFC
9.30-12.30
CFC
CFC
The talks (in italics) will be held at The Clarke Foley Centre (CFC).
From 10 am members will be able to socialise. Coffee or tea will be
served until 10.35 a.m. when the talk of approximately one hour
will soon commence. The meeting will close at noon. At some
talks a voluntary collection for a charity of the speaker’s choice
will take place. Further details and a synopsis will follow on the
website approximately ten days before each talk.
N.B. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SPRING 2016 EDITION OF FORUM
These will be very welcome, particularly from the different group
leaders. Include reports, articles, photographs, puzzles, jokes,
poems if you wish.
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