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Issue No. 87
Know Your Norwich
The Newsletter of U3A Norwich
Winter 2014
? Know Your Norwich ?
A Happy New Year to All
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Contents
Contacts
Monthly Meetings
Monthly Lectures - Notice
Chairman’s Message
Committee Meeting Reports
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3
4
5
Notice Board
Various Items from H.Q.
6
6
Group News
New Groups
Coach Outings for 2015
7/8
7
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Photographic Competition
U3A Norwich Website
To keep up-to-date between issues of the
Informer, don’t forget to visit our website
for the latest news:
www.u3anorwich.org
U3A Norwich Email Address
Contact us now at:
[email protected]
U3A National Office
The Old Municipal Building
19 East Street,
Bromley,
Kent, BR1 1QH
Tel: 020 8466 6139
Website: www.u3a.org.uk
9/10
Anecdotes
Do You Believe in Miracles?
The Pilgrims’ Way
11/12
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A Walk around Lenwade
Description
The Map
13/14
13
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Monthly Lectures
History of Cromer, Part 2
Some Eminent Norfolk Ladies
15/17
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16/17
Coach Trip to Eltham Palace
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Editor’s Corner
Know Your Norwich Answer
Can YOU write something ?
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U3A Norwich
U3A Norwich Committee
Other Appointments
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Email: [email protected]
Copy Date for Next Issue
We hope to distribute the Spring Issue in
April, Please submit any material you wish
to be included by March 18th . All forms of
copy will be gratefully received but the
easiest form (for editing) is as a Word attachment to an e-mail to:
[email protected]
Alternatively, copy can be posted
to:The Editor, ‘Informer’,
46 Warminger Court,
Ber Street,
Norwich NR1 3ED
Telephone Numbers
Unless otherwise stated, all telephone numbers
in this Informer are Norwich numbers (area
code 01603).
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Announcements
Monthly Meetings - Dates for Your Diary!
Venue: Usually The Noverre Suite, Assembly House, Theatre Street,
Norwich
Time: The third Wednesday in each month at 2 p.m.
Doors open 1.30 p.m.
No charge will be made to members but please show Membership Card.
Visitors will pay £2.50 each
Following the meeting, there will be an opportunity for new members to meet
a member of the Committee.
The Noverre Suite has a Hearing Induction Loop System for the Hearing
Impaired, please switch your Hearing Aid to “T”.
21 Jan
Berlin in the 1920’s: Life’s a Cabaret
Rozanna Mark
18 Feb
John Clare Women
Mark Mitchells
18 Mar East Anglia’s Atlantic Wall
Dr. Robert Liddiard
IMPORTANT REMINDER
With over 1000 members, it is impossible for the Committee Member
greeting you at the door to know everyone.
It is important to show your membership card at every meeting. Please
remember to bring it or you may be refused admission.
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Message from the Chairman
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Committee Meetings
Summary of Meeting held on 6 October 2014
Concern was expressed at the number of members who had
failed to receive their renewal form and Programme and this led
to many overdue subscriptions. Renewals will be sent and the
survey will highlight members who have forgotten to renew.
To avoid the wastage in paper at the AGM, it was decided that
the agenda, minutes and accounts will be e-mailed to all
possible members [now 800+] and will also be displayed on the
Assembly House screens. A limited number of copies will be
available for any member who wants to have a copy.
The on-going problem of insufficient Co-ordinators was
raised and it was agreed that an attempt will be made to
involve new members who have experience of other U3As,
asking them for any good ideas and whether any of them would
like to join the Committee.
A decision was made that 2 Committee members would
attend meetings of the Norfolk Network of U3As. This had
resulted from the visit of 4 Committee members to an Eastern
Regional meeting in mid-September.
Membership management software was discussed and it
was agreed that a sub-committee would be formed to research
the options further so that a decision can be made. The
essential need is for a single database, which all Committee
members can access and which can easily be kept up-to-date.
Summary of Meeting held on 1 December 2014
Membership management software was discussed, but it was
agreed that the sub-committee should be left to gather information; the Committee will then decide on the way forward.
There was a discussion about membership numbers [down
last year but still healthy], the current financial situation [also
healthy currently], and the Norfolk Network meeting to be held
in Dereham on 10 December, at which we will be represented.
We are keen to improve channels of communication between
Norwich U3A and the other 17 U3As in Norfolk.
Anne Cardew
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Notice Board
Summer Schools 2015
Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire TF10 8NB
Monday 13th July to Thursday 16th July
Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester GL7 6JS
Monday 17th August to Thursday 20th August
If you want more details, visit the Members' Area of the website or
contact the National Office on 020 8466 6139 or [email protected]
If you want an application form you can contact Anne Cardew (see
back page)
Language Group Study Day:
For teachers and leaders of U3A Language groups - any language,
any level: Thursday 26th February 2015 at Memorial Centre, 8 East
Common, Gerrards Cross SL9 7AD
English Heritage - free group entry:
This may be of interest to Co-ordinators.
U3A is included in the list of learning groups entitled to free group
visits providing you apply in advance. You cannot just turn up with
a membership card and demand free entry. Go to the offers for
members section in the national website for links to relevant sites.
New Photography Competition
The closing date is 31 March 2015.
Photographs of members who are engaging in activities that show
the essence of U3A - learning, laughing and living.
For the competition rules contact Anne Cardew (see back page)
Help wanted: A survey on the everyday language used in connection with mental health is part of a 3 year research project at
Swansea University and U3A members are asked to help by completing a 20 minute survey online. This can be carried out by a visit
to:www.JustSpeakYourMind.co.uk
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Group News
New Groups
ENGLISH & AMERICAN LITERATURE - Thorpe End
Co-ordinator:Ann Elders Tel:07788 858104
14:00
Thurs. Fortnightly
Commencing January 2015. For anyone interested in 20th Century
English and American Literature. A book list will be suggested but it
will be flexible to Group members’ suggestions and preferences.
GERMAN CONVERSATION – Central Norwich
14:30 – 15:30
Co-ordinator: Christine Krause Tel:906215 Monthly 4th Wed.
Commencing 28 January 2015. German conversation in a friendly
atmosphere. Any standard of fluency acceptable.
KNIT & CHAT - Unthank Road
10:00 - 12:00
Co-ordinator: Christine Quinn Tel: 219089 Monthly – 1st Thurs.
Commencing 8 January 2015. Come along for some friendly chat,
bring your knitting – if you can’t knit but want to learn, then tuition
could be given.
ENGLISH: PAST AND PRESENT
14:00 – 16:00
Co-ordinator: Anne Olerenshaw Tel: 507355 Fortnightly – 2nd Tues.
Commencing 10th February. Anne is hoping to promote a leisurely
study of our language, on two fronts: its history and development as
well as its usage in modern times. Owing to limited space there will
be a maximum number of 5 to begin with. Plenty of parking.
Other Group News
BOOK GROUP. The Group had closed but it now due to start up again
with Wendy Bowles as Co-ordinator; her number is 602705.
On Friday 5th 28 members of U3A Lunch Club had an excellent meal
at the Debut restaurant. We hope someone will come forward to
continue this Group, but in the meantime a fond farewell to all those
who have supported me over the last 5 years. Wishing you all a
Happy and Healthy 2015.
Penny Banks
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Group News
Coach Outings for 2015
This is an outline of Coach Outings planned for 2015 for U3A
members on the Coach Outing mailing list. Anyone not on the list
who would like to be included, please contact me as shown below, but be aware that being on the list doesn’t necessarily mean
you will be included on the outing. Bookings are taken after more
comprehensive details of an outing are sent, usually approximately 6 weeks before.
April 1st - A day spent at the fascinating Wrest Park near
Milton Keynes, managed by English Heritage. Explore the
evolution of the English garden and stroll through three
centuries of landscape design; see the fabulous buildings,
view inside the house and other buildings, enjoy our private
tour of the collection of artefacts amassed over the years.
July 1st - Chartwell House – the much-loved Churchill
family home and the place from which Sir Winston drew
inspiration from 1924 until the end of his life. The rooms
remain much as when he lived here, with pictures, books and
personal mementoes evoking the career and wide-ranging
interests of a great statesman, writer, painter and family
man. A visit to his studio is also included. Chartwell is now
managed by the National Trust.
October 7th – Creeks, Cockles & Cockneys – a guided tour
of an unexplored area of Essex including old villages, and a
visit to Southend which was the seaside to generations of
Londoners and where there will be time for a stroll along the
front after a 2-course lunch. We visit Leigh-on-Sea which was
a thriving fishing and smuggling village when Southend was
a mere hamlet. Here is the centre of the world’s cockling
trade with the opportunity to sample a dish for ourselves,
should we want.
The above is for information only, please don’t try to make a
booking until a more informative letter with booking form is sent.
Rosemary Brown . Tel: 262936 email: [email protected]
5 Hedgemere , Taverham, NR8 6GG
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Photographic Competition
The theme of the 2014 competition was weather and the judges are
pleased to announce the winners as follows.
Mike Forrest came first with Mist on the Bure, Paul Nevens was
second with his Winter on the Yare and Liz Barnard was third with
her Snowy Ponies at Deer Park, Catton.
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Photographic Competition
The entries by Mary Blathaway, Mary Robertson, Paul
Nevens (his second one), and Jean Tate were highly recommended.
The total number of entries was nine and we wish to thank
the entrants and hope that they will compete again in 2015.
We decided to follow the example of Third Age Matters and
play around with title of this year’s national competition; our
theme for 2015 will be Architecture in Norfolk.
Note that pictures can include anything old or modern, large
or small, even designs on buildings that enhance the overall
architectural design of a building. The same rules as this year
will apply. So please get snapping !
.
Peter Montague & Esmé Wilson Staniforth
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Anecdotes
Do You Believe in Miracles ?
I expect that some of you know that I worked as a portrait and
wedding photographer with a studio in St John Maddermarket; I
was also retained as staff photographer for Norfolk Life. This
meant that I had to cover the social scene in Norfolk by photographing groups of people enjoying themselves at various
events. This was in the sixties so that the photographs were in
black and white which I then processed later.
One day I had driven out to cover an event which was to take
place in the evening in north-west Norfolk; and as I had been
busy during the day I had set out without checking my petrol –
obviously a big mistake! The event that I was covering took
longer than I had anticipated and I finally set off home after
midnight. By this time all the petrol stations were closed and I
was dangerously short of petrol.
By the time I reached Wells I had reluctantly decided to spend
the night, in the car on the front at Wells, rather than risk
breaking down on the way home. I was just settling down to
spend an uncomfortable night in the car, when I happened to
glance out of the window and there, just beside the car, was an
abandoned petrol pump. It was in a sorry state; the nozzle on
the end of the pipe was lying on the ground on a pile of sand and
the paint was peeling off the pump.
Having nothing better to do, I got out of the car and lifted the
switch on the side of the pump which, to my great surprise,
caused the motor to start. Nothing daunted, I put the nozzle into
my car and was delighted to be able to put two gallons of petrol
into the tank – quite enough to get me home.
Some time later I had an occasion to revisit Wells but there
was no sign of the pump. Do you think that the petrol fairy was
looking after me? Or was it a miracle? I sincerely hope that the
owner of the pump is not reading this or I might receive a
belated bill for the petrol.
Peter Montague
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Anecdotes
The Pilgrims’ Way
One of the well-known Christian Pilgrimages is through Spain to
Santiago-de-Compostela. There is a large network of caminos
with starting points from as far afield as Lisbon, Seville, Granada, Valencia and several places in France.
We walked a mere 120 kilometres from Sarria. The fine
weather enabled us to enjoy the woods of fragrant pine and
eucalyptus along with the greenest of fields. Each day we had an
early start and at our first albergue, everyone arose at 6 am. We
had frequent stops for well-earned café con leche y empanadilas.
At these welcome breaks we met up with our fellow pilgrims
from Australia, Korea, Canada and many parts of Europe. On the
way we saw the young and the old, boys on bikes and a lone
horse rider; they all shouted with “bueno camino” as they passed
us by.
Finally we reached Santiago (an ancient city built around its
wonderful cathedral) and the mid-day Mass was the culmination
of all the journeys.Pilgrims are drawn to the Cathedral to pay
homage to its saints and admire the awe-inspiring edifice.
In 1498, King Ferdinand of Spain, recognising the power of
the Cathedral, decreed that all pilgrims should have their needs
tended to. So the Sanctuary was built in the Cathedral Square;
it is now a famous Parador.
There is an ancient tradition (that continues today) that the
first 10 pilgrims to arrive each day with full credentials are
invited to dine in a special dining room. We were lucky enough
to be part of this group, along with an ancient Canadian lady, a
Dutch lady, 2 students from France and Switzerland and 2 Italian
couples. To have met such a diverse mix of individuals, each with
their own story, gave so much pleasure and will linger long in
our memories.
Paul Ward
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A Walk around Lenwade
1. Starting from the Bridge Inn Lenwade, go left to cross the
river bridge.
Turn left along Porter’s Lane for a short distance.
This lane is very busy and has not much of a footpath, so be
careful.
Go past the Pedestrian, Horses & Cyclists crossing sign, and
take the gravel track on the left.
Follow this track, the Marriott’s Way back across the river and
along to pass over a road; keeping on it until you pass under a
road bridge.
2. Immediately after going under the bridge take the path on the
right to climb up to the road.
Do not go along the road, take path doubling back on the left.
Follow this path with Marriott’s Way in the cutting on the left.
The path swings round to the right and continues as a sunken
path, which can become wet in bad weather.
If it is flooded walk along the right hand field’s edge.
You come out into a lane at its bend. Carry on heading ahead
and left along the lane ignoring the right-hand part of the lane.
3. The lane leads to a junction -turn right signposted to Lt
Witchingham & Alderford.
(But it’s worth just going on a bit to see Eade’s Mill).
Walk along this lane passing the mill-house on the left. The lane
comes to a T-junction with a dirt track leading straight ahead.
Turn right signposted Lt. Witchingham & Gt. Witchingham and
follow this past a road sign Church Farm Lane, heading towards
The Church of The Assumption, Great Witchingham.
4. Here turn right toward Lenwade.
Follow this lane back to join Marriott’s Way where you turn left
back on to it.
This leads to a public footpath on the right with a stile & gate.
Cross over the stile (or through the gate).follow this right-ofway between the private lakes and through gates into an
unmade-up road called Hall Walk.
This leads to the Fakenham Rd, turn left back to the start.
A U3A walk compiled & collated by Beryl Duncan & Don Wordsworth.
.
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A Walk around Lenwade
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Monthly Lecture
The History of Cromer. Part 2
On .Wednesday 15th September some 180 members braved the
Byzantine complexities of Norwich’s transport system to listen to
Alistair Murphy talking about Cromer. With the coming of the
railways, Cromer, formerly a small fishing village, became a
flourishing Victorian Resort. This, in its turn, led to the building of
large and splendid hotels such as the Hotel de Paris and The Grand.
In 1883 the poet and theatre critic, Clement Scott, visited
Cromer and coined the term “Poppy-land” for the local coast line.
With its beautiful beaches Cromer soon became a favourite resort
for families. In Victorian times all self-respecting seaside resorts
had to build a pier and Cromer was no exception. Thus a pier was
added and several enhancements have been made over the years
and it has also suffered much damage from the sea.
At Cromer, however, the sea was not just a playground, but
also the centre of the Crab Industry. Until recently, Cromer crabs
were just that, they are now processed elsewhere. Another
famous name is Olive Edis, the photographer, who was an Official
War Artist on the battlefields of Flanders in the First World War.
RNLI lifeboats have always been very important in the life of
Cromer and, among the coxswains, none was as well-known as
Henry Blogg; his heroism was recognised when he was presented
with a medal by the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VIII.
Cromer suffered a great deal in the Second World War as
returning German planes dropped their unused bombs. In his two
lectures Alistair has shown Cromer to be an interesting and
vibrant place, thank you Alistair.
Jean & Derek Oldham
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Monthly Lectures
Some Eminent Norwich Ladies
Following our AGM on Wednesday 19th November, we were
treated to a learned and lively lecture by Barbara Miller; always
a U3A favourite. She began by making a distinction between
fame which is fleeting and eminence which endures.
The first eminent on her list was Sarah Martin. She decided
to make a difference to the wretched lives of women in Yarmouth
prison. She was herself poor and made her living by sewing. She
set up a school for the children and successfully educated some
of them sufficiently to be able to read. She was a “Quiet
Reformer”.
Anna Gurney, albeit handicapped by having a famous
surname, did not let this deter her from being an intrepid
traveller. She invented various devices to assist her and financially supported Captain George Manby, inventor of the “breeches buoy” and also fire extinguishers.
In an age when a woman’s role was largely passive Elizabeth
Paston (opposite top left) proved to be an exception. While her
husband was largely absent because of his involvement in
lawsuits in London, she not only reared a large family but
managed his extensive estates.
Horatia Nelson (opposite top right), the illegitimate daughter
of Nelson and Lady Hamilton also had the handicap of her origins
to overcome. Her mother, Lady Hamilton, gained her living by
posing, scantily clad, in artistic “attitudes”. Such an event
occurred here in Norwich at The Maid’s Head. Horatia’s upbringing was rackety and unsettled but in spite of this she remained
uncorrupted; a country parson’s wife raising a family.
Barbara’s last name was that of Anna Sewell. Her parents
purchased a house in Catton and her brother bought Sewell Park
and Sewell Barn, (now a theatre). Anna loved animals and was
very moved at the plight of cab horses, which were frequently
worked to death and cruelly treated. She wrote “Black Beauty”
from the point of view of the horse. It was immensely popular
and is still a classic of children’s literature today. Thank you
Barbara.
Jean Oldham
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Monthly Lectures
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Coach Trip to Hatton Garden & Eltham Palace
Entering the Hatton Garden Silver Vaults, where dealers are
able to display their wares for sale; among the items was a
silver-plated Gatling gun used in WW1, which has been sold
for a six-figure sum and awaited delivery to the new owner.
And here we are just before entering Eltham Palace in Kent.
This is an Art Deco masterpiece, created for Stephen and
Virginia Courtauld in the 1930s. It is more like a private house
than a stately home, with few roped-off areas, and some
quirky secrets! (No indoor photography was allowed!)
Jack Stanley
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Editor’s Corner
Know Your Norwich
Armada House is just opposite Cinema City. It is an Elizabethan timber-framed building with a covering of plaster. The
timbers were said to have been collected on the Norfolk coast
from the wreckage of ships from the Spanish Armada of 1588.
Today the building houses the offices of several companies.
Can YOU write something for
?
Not counting the regular Reports and the article on the
Photographic Competition, up to mid-November I had only
received ONE article from a Member and because of this dearth
of material, I managed to encourage the production of two
further articles from Members.
Recently we have had two Menus, and three Anecdotes
about ‘interesting’ events in Members’ lives, and (now) one
report on a Walk.
So please send in your stories.
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U3A Norwich
Website: www.u3anorwich.org
Email: [email protected]
U3A Norwich Committee
Chairman
Vice Chairman &
Lecture Secretary
Secretary
Treasurer
Groups Administrator &
Publications
Membership Secretary
IT Manager
Publicity
Front of House Manager
Committee Member
Mr Peter Montague
01603 433415
email [email protected]
Mr Derek Oldham
01603 426030
email [email protected]
Mrs Anne Cardew
01603 507053
email [email protected]
Miss Gill Dear
01603 868565
email [email protected]
Mrs Rosemary Brown
01603 262936
email [email protected]
Mr Stephen Shepherd
01508 493344
email [email protected]
Mr John Rant
01603 747564
email [email protected]
Mr Cecil Weymouth
01692 581751
email [email protected]
Mrs Fay Cunliffe
01493 700960
email [email protected]
Mrs Brenda Barford
01603 461878
email [email protected]
Other Appointments
Editor
Website
Administrator
Mr Bernard Pearson
01603 625812
email [email protected]
Mr David Olphin
01603 458831
email [email protected]
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