November 19 Edition

Romsey & District U3A Newsletter – November 2019 Web site: romseyu3a.org.uk Monthly Meeting Speakers All meetings start at 10.30 am.

18 December Brian Freeland A View from the Wings A stage manager’s view of theatre productions as seen from the prompt corner, especially on those occasions when ‘everything is not quite alright on the night’.

————————————————— 15 January 2020 Alan House The Civil Defence During the Cold War Period An overview of how the UK established its Civil Defence services during the era of “The Cold War”.

————————————————— 19 February Christopher Massy-Beresford Neutrals at War Examining different aspects of the 2nd World War, this talk describes some neutral figures whose altruism was extraordinary and whose achievements were considerable but who are in danger of being forgotten.

————————————————— 11 March * PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE * Mike Read Scottish Wildlife This talk, by a professional photographer, features red & roe deer, mountain & brown hare, red grouse, buzzard and golden eagle, barnacle geese on Islay, some flowers and of course beautiful scenery.

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Chairman’s report November, and the nights are drawing in, but in the northern hemisphere many people celebrate a ‘festival of lights’ as we head towards the winter solstice.

Diwali - a Hindu festival, is celebrated in India and many parts of this country, including in Southampton. This year, it was on Sunday 27 October. (Also usually half term week, and the clocks going back.)

In Sussex, many towns and villages celebrate ‘Bonfire’; the season started in September, and goes on till late November. Very much a fire festival, in the name of the only man ever to enter Parliament with honest intentions - a Yorkshire man by the name of Guy Fawkes. You may have heard of him.

Here in Romsey we have the Christmas lights turned on in late November; many cities and larger towns start much earlier, but we wait until Saturday 23rd.

Then we’re well into celebrating the season, including of course our seasonal December meeting with a suitable topic and speaker - this year, that will be on Wednesday 18 December.

Meanwhile, I’ve escaped some of the damp grey days of late October by heading south; we’re on a cruise following the east coast of Australia, stopping off at a few of the islands along the Great Barrier reef. The passengers are mainly British, of a certain age, but including some Australians, Swedes, and Finns. I think it wasn’t till the third day I encountered a U3A member, and we compared notes. She belonged to Malvern, and is active in their Geology group, which has over 150 members. I wonder how long it will take for our new group to grow that much?

There’s plenty of geology in Australia, though so far we’ve mainly seen granite, sand, and some coral reefs. Birds too, though not as many as expected; we sometimes forget just how much we have in and around our own islands. I did see a white-tailed sea eagle yesterday - how are the ones on the Isle of Wight getting on?

Meanwhile, I’ve since spoken to other U3A people on this trip, who are definitely all still learning, laughing and living ...

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You may have noticed that we managed to persuade Marion Fowler to rejoin the committee, taking over the very important role of Programme Secretary. Please do talk to her if you have any suggestions for future speakers, from 2020 onwards. (Ann Jackson’s sterling work over the past few years means that we have a programme already in place until March next year.)

The ‘T-team’ too have some new blood, but as ever, there’s always room for more people to get involved in all of our activities, whether for the monthly meetings, or within our varied groups.

Wishing you all the best for this Christmas season, however and wherever you celebrate the dark days and your own festival of lights.

Janet Payne

THE OLD PAVED PATH Many footfalls have come in resolute flow - barefoot, Wood or leather cased; old, young and ordinary in between; At leisure, in fun, with distraction, Sorrowful and desperate to reach bland cocoon, And so beat a path up to stout oak door Low, crouched under thickened wall and warm, heavy thatch.

Centuries have united under close black beams inside Yet the path, once brightly bricked, glowed Then mellowed, dipped and cracked Sprouted doughty weeds, moss, lichen, more and more.

Progress meant rubber soles and garish plastic To wipe out imprints and sore rustic marks, And roller-blade and thundering bike Drove where once the wood cart and simple hoop held sway.

Cast aside for a new route seemed best The old paved path broke into indecent obscurity Where hare and fox stare at frozen bird And brave spiders scurry over careless dew.

A faded spirit, a world of secrets in repose, of unclaimed sun, Strange moonlight, and nature’s shadows unearthed.

Patricia Morris 3

News from around the Groups Bird Watching I was asked for a Bird Watching group report for the Summer Newsletter but, despite generally good weather, we had to cancel our June and July trips due to poor conditions. It was with some concern, therefore, that I sent out the reminder for our summer picnic, on Danebury Hill Fort north of Stockbridge, hoping for some bird and butterfly sightings. We arrived to grey cloud and a chill to the air which reminded me that September follows August all too soon. Some meadow flowers were still in bloom in the long grass between the pathways. As the temperature warmed, and the sun put in an appearance, we watched Goldfinches, Linnets and Mistle Thrushes, saw a Buzzard overhead, and heard Nuthatches.

As we walked on the path around Danebury, we saw a Painted Lady butterfly along with a Chalk Hill Blue, Gatekeepers and Small Whites. In our picnic area we could hear small birds and spotted some in flight. A Green Woodpecker flew across and landed; we had a good view as it fed in the grass. We were frustrated in our attempts to identify two different little birds, On Danebury Hill, August 2019 though later that day a member of the group identified these as a Spotted Flycatcher and a Willow Warbler.

Autumn is a great time for watching birds as migration between areas, countries and continents sees many bird movements. Our coastal areas have great sighting places for watching winter waders returned from their breeding grounds. During September’s visit to Stanpit Marsh, on the north side of Christchurch Harbour, we watched Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Wheatear and Whinchat, as well as Curlew, Dunlin and Ringed Plover. In November we visit Needs Ore, where prior notice to attend is required. In December we will have an early start of 9.30 for a morning visit to the hides at Blashford Lakes.

Sheila Holmes

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Strollers Strollers group started about a year ago in response to requests by members for shorter, easier walks than those offered by the Walking group. At the inaugural meeting, over 40 people declared an interest, a small committee was formed, and walks commenced on a fortnightly basis (second Wednesday and fourth Friday of the month).

The first two walks were around the town and Fishlake Nature Reserve when about 20 people turned up. In the spirit of the U3A, members were advised that we would look for strollers to suggest and LEAD future walks. However, since that time few volunteers have been forthcoming.

We aim to offer a variety of walks, some within the Romsey area, or using the bus (e.g. to Winchester); others further afield to the country or New Forest using members’ cars. Lifts can be arranged.

If the group is to continue, future leaders and planners are needed.

Otherwise, sadly, the Strollers will stroll no more. Our thanks to those who have led us on some varied and interesting strolls, and we wish you all a Happy Christmas.

Sandra, Cecily and John

Geography and Geology Earlier this year Michael Palin said, “Geography illuminates the past, explains the present and prepares us for the future”. What could be more important than that? For many people of our generation, the word geography brings back memories of colouring maps in school ‘exercise’ books but geography is much more than maps.

According to Wikipedia, Geography is the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of the Earth and planets. Studying geography helps us to understand the planet we live on and its human and natural complexities. Geology is concerned with the solid Earth (and other planets), the rocks of which it is composed and the processes by which they change over time. Geography and Geology are ‘natural bed-fellows’ and will, if enough Members express interest and offer to contribute, provide the topics for a new group.

If you are interested in people and their communities, cultures, economies, our interactions with the environment, earth processes, our natural environment and so on, please let us know you would like to join the Geography and Geology group. (See Interest Groups News on page 10.)

Dave Lovell

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Industrial Heritage - ‘Money for Old Rope’ Our interest in the flax and hemp industries had been aroused by a talk given by Jeff Hawksley in February 2019, which was followed by a look at the remaining buildings and water-courses of Romsey’s Flax Mill close to the Abbey. Further discussions then led to us arranging a visit to an area well suited to growing flax and hemp.

Although the raw materials are now imported, it is still very active in the manufacture of netting for surprisingly diverse applications. Today net making skills, once important for the fishing industry, are used to create nets for dropping supplies by helicopter, securing cargo in aircraft holds, football nets, such as those used in the world cup finals in Russia, and new nets each year for Wimbledon!

Sixteen members of the group set off early by mini-bus to the Dorset town of Bridport, a small town usually by-passed by travellers on the way to the delights of Devon and Cornwall. However, as we discovered, it is a place with a rich history, dating back to the time of King Alfred, and an industry which has survived and adapted continuously for over 800 years. King John placed a large order for rope and sail cloth to supply his navy in 1213, indicating that the industry was already well-established by the 13th century.

We were warmly welcomed at Bridport Museum, with hot drinks and Dorset apple cake, by our guide, Chris. Suitably refreshed we set out on a tour of just part of the town. Chris stopped along the way to show us how the origins of Bridport, as one of King Alfred’s defensive Burgh towns, provided a legacy of long Burgage plots, at right angles to the streets. These were adapted in the medieval period into open spinning walks where children as young as six turned the wheels to create lengths of yarn. We also saw examples of later buildings covering walks and the first steam powered mill, now converted into flats. Unlike many industrial processes outworking continued alongside the development of factories, Priory Mill 1838 – The first and we could see how Bridport’s industrial Steam powered mill in Bridport housing reflects this in its variety of made sailcloth for the Navy. materials, styles and building dates.

Photo - Pat Goodwin

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After the tour we returned to the museum for an interactive demonstration of rope making, ably performed by two of our group with guidance from one of the museum volunteers.

A short transfer to Bridport’s harbour of West Bay (aka Broadchurch in the recent eponymous TV dramas), which provided railway enthusiasts with a chance to view the GWR Hands-on Rope Making station. It is now a restaurant, but still in original Bridport Museum condition despite closing to passengers as long Photo - Janet Payne ago as 1930. Warehouses and other buildings around the harbour reflect the important part it played sustaining the flax and hemp industry throughout the 19 th century, supplying products to ships engaged in the Newfoundland trade. A small display in the West Bay Heritage Centre showed that shipbuilding was also once an industry in the port.

After lunch we left West Bay and Bridport for something completely different. We paused on the homeward journey for a visit to Tolpuddle and the museum. This tells the stories of six local agricultural labourers who, facing starvation after local landowners cut their wages, swore an oath of allegiance, which was technically illegal. The six were convicted in 1834 and transported to Australia. They were soon pardoned, after mass protests by supporters. They returned, but sadly could not obtain work in Dorset, and eventually emigrated to Canada, after facing similar discrimination in Essex.

The Industrial Heritage Group hope to return to the Bridport area next year to see more of the town, and probably visit Palmers Brewery. We also plan a trip to see the Mary Rose, which would reveal the importance of Bridport rope to the British Navy in Tudor times.

Bob Goodwin

Industrial Heritage Group and Guide explore Bridport’s Industrial Area. Photo - Janet Payne

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Architecture and Local History We started our programme of visits at Melchet Court, Sherfield English, where we were introduced to its architecture and history. It has links to both World Wars, being used as a convalescent hospital in the First and by the General HQ Southern Command in the Second. The building is now owned by the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth and known as St Edward’s School, which caters for boarders and local boys with special needs. Our guide was Stephen Whelan, Head of History, who told us about the work of the school. We were deeply impressed by the commitment of the staff to their charges.

A group of fifteen Romsey U3A members followed up the Day Conference on Architecture led by Andrew Davies, with a visit to the City of London, our guide again being Andrew. We saw two Wren churches and one by Hawksmoor.

After lunch, we were transported back to Roman times when we visited the reconstructed remains of the Temple of Mithras at the base of the Bloomberg building. It was certainly an eerie experience in the semi-darkness with an audio presentation of an imagined ritual of Mithras killing a bull.

Our annual minibus trip was to Chichester, where we visited the Cathedral and had a guided town tour. The Cathedral features both Norman and Gothic architecture. It has suffered various disasters over the centuries through subsidence and fires. Two unique features are double aisles and a medieval separate bell tower. Treasures include the Gothic Arundel Tomb, a Chagall stained-glass window (see image) and a painting by Graham Sutherland, Noli me tangere. We meandered with our guide through the cloister and the cathedral close trying to absorb the richness of its architecture and history.

Chichester Cross, built in the 16th century as a covered market, marks the intersection of four streets, North, South, East and West. We saw many architectural gems finishing in the elegant 18th century Council Chamber.

Wilton House dazzles with its treasures and links to the famous, whether royal or artistic. It was founded as a priory in the 9th century and became very wealthy under the patronage of King Alfred. Since the dissolution of the monasteries the house and estates have been in the Herbert family, the Earls of Pembroke. The first Earl built a Tudor house; this was succeeded in the 17th century by the Palladian style of Inigo Jones, and built of local stone. The focal point is the large double height Venetian window on the first floor of the south front. Inigo Jones designed a suite of seven state-rooms on this level with the famous Double Cube room in the centre (see image). This served as a gathering place for the court of the honoured guests and contains a plethora of such artistic gems

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as a collection of paintings by Van Dyke of the family of Charles I and furniture

by Chippendale. A further remodelling took place nearly two hundred years later when the architect James Wyatt redesigned the house with more convenience and comfort in mind. The present Earl and his family live in the house.

Although not so grand, Breamore House on the edge of the New Forest, is another family home. It dates from 1583 and is a perfect example of an E-shaped Elizabethan Manor House. It was purchased in the early 18th century by Sir Edward Hulse who was Physician at the Court of Queen Anne, George I and George II. The house has been lived in for the past 250 years by his descendants who still rely on open fires! The most impressive room is the Great Hall measuring 84 feet in length with a plasterwork ceiling and two ornate Elizabethan fireplaces. The house boasts many fine portraits, porcelain, period furniture and fine art. Of historical interest is the 1760 portrait of a young man with an early cricket bat and stumps; it is one of the earliest depictions of cricketers in existence. In the grounds there are further delights: a Saxon Church, which the group had visited on a previous occasion, and the Countryside Museum, where some of the items exhibited were used in living memory of some of our members!

Our last visit of the year was to the Wisdom Centre in Romsey, better known to some as La Sagesse Convent. Their young archivist gave us a detailed history of the site. In the 19th century this corner of Romsey was the industrial heartland of the town and housed both a flax mill and corn mill. When the corn mill closed in 1867 a new building was erected and used as a classroom. This was taken over by a French order of nuns, the Daughters of Wisdom, who came to England in 1891 to escape the unfriendly environment in France. They were not universally welcome here but through their devotion to education, the founding of a boys’ orphanage, and charitable works, they were gradually accepted into the Romsey community. Later the Sisters opened a Junior School to be followed by La Sagesse Convent Senior School, which eventually closed in 1995. Our guide took us to other buildings on the site, all with their own rich history. The Chapel is particularly interesting with its eclectic mix of architectural styles. Wisdom Centre now operates as a place for quiet reflection, meetings, retreats, conferences and community events. If you don’t yet know this corner of Romsey, the Sisters will be pleased to welcome you.

We now look forward to our winter programme with meetings at Carers Together. Thanks to those members of the group who help with talks, suggestions and organising; essential ingredients for a flourishing enterprise.

Shirley Rogers Group coordinator

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Interest Groups News Music Appreciation: It is with great sadness that we heard of the death of the group coordinator, Terry Drabble, and we wish to extend our condolences to his wife, family & friends. The group is understandably unsure of its future plans and may decide to call it a day. If you are interested in listening to music and might want to join such a group, please give your name to Margaret or Jo. The reformed Poetry group is up and running, so contact Barbara Kirkland on 01794 519242 if you are interested in joining them.

A suggestion has been received to start a group for Geography and Geology. Put your name on the list at the groups’ desk in the annex if you are interested. (See item from Dave Lovell on page 5.)

Casual Canasta: Unfortunately this group has folded due to lack of numbers. We would like to thank Jill Pilkington for setting it up and for her efforts in trying to keep it going.

If you have any suggestions for new groups, please see Jo or Margaret in the Annex or contact them as below.

CAFÉ SCIENTIFIQUE This may be of interest to members but it will not be a U3A group.

There are plans to start a monthly evening discussion group in 2020, in Romsey, covering topics in science, technology and medicine. The group would be part of the Cafe Scientifique network: cafescientifique.org .

The meetings, in an informal setting, would be open to all ages (not just the U3A generation), and take the form of a short talk by an expert, refreshments, and a Q&A/discussion session. The talks will assume no previous knowledge of the topic being discussed and questions will be encouraged. The only costs would be a contribution to refreshments and room hire.

If you think you might be interested in coming to such meetings, please contact John Gould (Romsey Archway U3A): wjg@noc.ac.uk and you will be kept informed of plans for the group. If you have ideas of topics you would like to be discussed please email John. You can also give your name to Margaret or Jo in the first instance to be forwarded to John.

Jo Morgan : 01794 514134 Margaret Marchbank : margaretmarchbank@btinternet.com

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News from around the Groups continued Current Affairs We have space for a few more members in our group so why not come and give us the benefit of your opinion on a variety of subjects?

Recent topics have included: changes in Ireland, the situation in Greece, building new council houses for sale, NHS payment avoidance by foreign nationals, space travel and no hard shoulder on lengths of some motorways.

Let me know if you are interested: Alan Fowler : 01794 518469

Table Tennis Improvers Would you like some gentle exercise? Would you like the company of fellow U3A’ers? Do you have an hour or so to spare on a Monday morning? Fancy a spot of Ping-Pong (or even Wiff-Waff!)

Table Tennis Improvers, which meets 10:20am to 11:40am each Monday at Romsey Rapids Sports Hall, has vacancies. Don’t miss this chance to Learn, Laugh and Live a little more. Contact the Group Coordinator: Susan Shorter via the website link: https://u3asites.org.uk/romsey/page/66257 or speak to her at a General Meeting.

Wine Appreciation The wine group’s August tasting was held in a member’s garden, where 24 members met to sample Spanish wines, provided by importer Bill Hughes of Supper Wines in Southsea, and tapas.

After a glass of Cava and a few nibbles, Bill led us through a further two white wines, accompanied by various tapas, followed by three reds; the final tapas was meatballs in a tomato sauce with crusty bread to mop up the juices.

Everyone had an amazing afternoon learning about Spanish wines and enjoying the tapas that go with them.

It was interesting to watch members leaving late afternoon, helping each other down the road (drivers excluded), making their way home! Another successful event and a perfect day.

Derek Morley

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Travel Group (1) Coach trip to South Holland - ‘Dutch Dahlias on Parade’ On the first Sunday in September, the town of Zundert throws open the town for a parade of huge floats, whose sculptures and structures are covered with millions of pom-pom dahlia heads; no tulips! Each village competes for the winning float. The packed spectators applaud as these enormous juggernauts slowly tour the town twice, works of art indeed. Vincent Van Gogh's family house is now a museum, which we did visit. He would surely get out his paints for this spectacular, passing his bedroom window right on the Main Street. We had reserved seats, the sun shone on the marching bands strutting in between the floats, a truly Dutch Grand Day out. In contrast, we visited the medieval towns of Breda and ’s-Hertogenbosch. All Cathedrals were inspected, market towns toured, waterways admired and cafe's patronised in perfect sunny weather. 's-Hertogenbosch, colloquially known as Den Bosch, hosted the family of painters which produced Hieronymus Bosch (circa 1500s), his weird and wonderful paintings are now world famous. The town has converted a lovely deconsecrated church to show photocopies of all these incredibly intricate pictures.

On the long trip home, on traffic laden motorways, we did have a short time in Antwerp's old town before boarding the Calais ferry to Folkestone. You should get off the beaten track, away from Amsterdam, tulips, windmills and clogs - and go Dutch.

(2) Up North!

Lancashire, between Manchester and the Lake District is usually left alone by the travel industry yet you will find wonderful scenery dotted with old manufacturing towns populated with buildings abandoned by the decline of industries. These historic places are now diversifying and again becoming popular; there is enough traffic on the roads to prove it.

So we set off from our comfortable country hotel to Rochdale, famous for the birth of the Co-operative Movement. At the museum/shop where it all started on 21 December 1844, all was explained - how the original 27 pioneers sold their goods at fair prices and no alterations, a new concept at the time. In the town museum, Gracie Fields was scarcely mentioned, despite being born in Rochdale. Even now there is no enthusiasm for her talents. Our afternoon was spent at

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Oswaldtwistle Mills, a huge mill converted to provide a ‘full on’ shopping experience.

The following day we hit Bury market; there is a stall for everything: pies, black puddings, cakes, jewellery, haberdashery, wigs, soft furnishings and hardware. Then onward we travelled on a vintage steam train, through pretty countryside. Our last stop was Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery. The latter was stunning, it was decided by the Gallery to put up all the pictures it owned, four deep on the walls of the main room.

There was one each of every type of painting that the rich mill owners bought, and then gave generously to the Museum.

Our final day we travelled east to Pendle Hill and Heritage Centre, amidst rolling hills and fields. Here in the 17c. there was an outbreak of witches. We followed the witch trials to Lancaster where some were tried and hung; the castle is most impressive.

We diverted our journey home to a Chocolate House. The entrepreneur imported Belgian chocolates and made fantastic goodies that we brought home to Hampshire from Lancashire.

Brenda Purdie

(3) Uzbekistan and the Great Silk Road An intrepid team from the Travel Group recently enjoyed a wonderful holiday in Uzbekistan, visiting the fabled cities of Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent on the Great Silk Road.

The 2500-year-old mud-walled cities of Khiva and Bukhara are UNESCO World Heritage sites, which is understandable when you see the many magnificent blue -tiled mosques, madrassas (colleges) mausoleums and minarets. The history of the country is amazing, from the Persian Zoroastrians, through the Sogdians (who built these cities but are now little known) via Alexander the Great and Ghengis Khan to the local hero/despot Amir Timur the lame aka Tamerlane.

With 10,000 Som, the local currency, equivalent to US$1 we were all local millionaires. There was endless black and green tea with machine brewed coffee often available at $1.00, which is cheap for tourists but expensive for the locals.

We also ate Plov, a meat stew topped with rice.

A large percentage of the population are Tajik, and the main languages and signs are Uzbek, Russian and English.

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We enjoyed folk singing and dancing performances and a beautiful fashion show. The handicrafts are just gorgeous and we purchased silk scarves and velvet jackets.

We visited the Observatory, built in the 1420s, where Ulugh Beg, the grandson of Amir Timur catalogued 1,018 stars. It is considered by scholars to have been one of the finest observatories in the Islamic world. This area of Central Asia used to be known as Transoxiana, and we stood on the banks of the mighty Oxus River. Sadly, due to the overproduction of cotton during the Russian era, the Aral Sea no longer exists; it is now a shockingly dusty desert where camels shelter in the shade of large derelict boats.

We crossed the Kyzyl Kum desert between Khiva and Bukhara by coach in a day. We saw a cool water cistern and caravanserai, roadside inns, which were essential for the camel trains, which used to take a month to cross. Then we travelled at 230 kilometres an hour on a bullet train from Samarkand to Tashkent.

It’s not hard to see why the author of the 1001 Nights had Scheherazade spin her tales from a palace in Samarkand; the city is alive with people from different lands, a wonderland of Islamic architecture, and a great centre of learning. No place in Samarkand represents all three aspects as well as the Registan. This was once the main city square, full of markets and lined by caravanserai. Samarkand is at least two-and-a-half millennia old, and for most of those years it occupied a position midway on the network of trade routes connecting Europe and Asia, which accounted for the city’s prosperity and cosmopolitanism. It attracted invaders and travellers alike, including us!

Janet Moody

Interior Amir Timur's mausoleum

Naqshbandi mosque

Shakhi-Zinda Mausoleum Samarkand

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The Registan, Samarkand

Short Day Trips (1) STOURHEAD: 26 SEPTEMBER 2019 On a very wet Thursday morning we all huddled under the Romsey bus shelter waiting for our coach to take us to Stourhead. Fortunately, within half an hour of the start of our journey, the sun appeared and thus it stayed for the rest of the day.

Stourhead is always delightful and, although the colours of the trees might not have been at their best, they were still stunning. Together with the beautiful lake, surrounding classical temples, grottos and exotic trees, they create a superb setting. Above the garden is Stourhead House with its unique Regency library, portraits, and collection of Chippendale furniture. The house was designed by Henry Hoare, the 18th century banker; and a member of the family still resides here at times, from where she carries out a number of charity events.

A range of refreshments was on offer in the excellent cafe or local pub, and the village church was nearby to visit. With so much to see a lot of walking was called for, but there was a National Trust buggy on hand to transport those feeling weary.

All too soon it was time to re-join the coach for our return to Romsey, driven by our trusty driver Graham. Ironically, a heavy shower came down just as we were about to leave Stourhead.

Anne Scarborough (2) SALISBURY RACES Sixteen members met at Romsey Bus Station to await our transport to take us to Salisbury Races. Ten minutes after the allotted time, we learnt that the driver “had not turned up”. A replacement driver eventually arrived an hour and a half later from Andover. Having missed the first race of the afternoon, we finally arrived just in time to see the second.

It was a very enjoyable afternoon. We visited the Parade Ring before every race to inspect the participating horses and then rushed to the other end to place our bets and cheer on our selected mounts before collecting any winnings. I don’t think anyone made their fortune, but it was a fun afternoon and an experience for those who had not been racing before.

Our thanks went to our stand-in driver Adrian for gallantly and willingly coming to our rescue so that the trip went ahead as planned. There was no Plan B! Anne Scarborough, trip organiser

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Creative Writing A woman’s place Buildings have gender, but not many people know that. Sometimes, it’s down to style: Salisbury cathedral is a fine boned lady, York minster a stocky, well-built, no nonsense gentleman. Sometimes it goes according to type: barracks are all masculine, and garden centres are all female.

Little local shops selling small things are ladies, though they may be shabby, but on the other hand, a certain supermarket chain always erects male shops, big, aggressive and go-getting. The Manor House was a gentleman, the terraces along the Street were female, and the cottage on the edge of the village was definitely a little old lady, though she’d started out as a mere woman. It’s all in the wood, with cottages.

This tree had stood for a long time, when Roger the farmer decided she was a fine oak, just the right shape and size for his purpose. His landlord had given the crucks, though he would have to find the rest of the materials. Still, that was the heart and core of the house, a good oak cruck. The tree was already a home, but Roger gave no thought to that.

The pigeon squabs had just flown the nest, but the squirrels moved in a hurry, whip-tailed refugees, and the moss and ivy, unable to flee, was left to die, displaced, derelict on the forest floor. They roped the corpse of the fallen queen, and grunting, flatulent oxen hauled her body over the mould, dragging her to Roger’s land. And there she was drawn open, split, and set on old bricks, that they’d found in the wood, to keep her dry.

Another fallen noble joined her, nearby, and many smaller branches, and the osiers almost without number, mere serfs supporting the muddy plaster. But she was the oldest, and the biggest, and a queen, and so the cottage became a female, too.

For a year or two she dried and settled, and they had to fuss about with buckets of mud to patch up the cracks. For a little while, she changed colour, gently kippering in the smoke on the inside, soaking up paint on the outside. Martins built a mud cup on her top, where her two halves still united, and the little ones squeaked and ate, and ate and squeaked, all summer long. In the winter, bats hung near her, hardly moving unless the weather was a little warmer, when they crept out past her joints. Much talking and fussing, more trees, lots of men, a great deal of cursing and hauling and the house was doubled in size. The old tree was much warmer now, sheltered from the weather, though she did miss the birds.

There had always been birds before.

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Somehow, the part of the house that rested against her always seemed to be the woman’s part. They were sleeping next to her top branch, and worked next to where her roots had been. The young women singing as they pounded the butter churn in Spring, strained the cheese in Summer, span in Winter. Sometimes, not very often, they lay propped against her upper branch, yelling and straining, and then came a thin wail. The wail was usually hung up in a bundle upon a wooden peg, set into her side.

Safe, they said, from the fire and the cat. And at night they leant against her in the dim rush light, with the wailing thing pressed to their breasts, and sang gentle songs, not like the vigorous butter churning noises at all, and prayed for the wail to get stronger and grow healthy. Sometimes it did, and then it became a scamperer, running in and out all day long; and sometimes it did not, and there were tears, and sadness, and the wail, fallen silent, was carried out on a little board.

Carrying seemed to be important. Sometimes a young woman was carried in, and there was laughter far into the night. Sometimes, old women were carried out, on big boards, and there was a little quiet weeping by the tree, and comments about a good long life. And once there was a bad time, a terrible time, when the doors were locked, a cross was painted upon it, and one by one the wails fell silent, then the scamperers, and then even the weeping stopped.

But soon new people came, and the farm prospered. Bricks were brought, and the smoke was confined to a chimney, a strange masculine thing penetrating the heart of the house. Slots were cut into the tree to support more boards. Now there was a roof space, and presently, in that space were old friends: mice, birds, bats. She was glad, for she had missed the birds.

The scamperers slept by the tree, hanging their treasures upon it, corn circles and cloth balls, and whilst they dozed the women talked by the fire. Something they called war was coming, had come ‌ who would go to fight? Who should go to fight? For whom should they fight, in a war of brother against brother?

The women running in, barring the door, clutching the scamperers, full of fear. The scamperers, pushed into the roof space, crouch, silent, beside her crown. And then something very bad was happening down below, angry, violent, foreign men were hurting her women, they screamed and clung to her for help, as the men ripped at their clothes ‌ he house was angry, but what could she do? She tried to move, creaking ominously,

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but what could she do? Suddenly there was quiet, except for silent weeping that was somehow louder than the shouting. Nothing to do, except be herself, quiet, peaceful, full of comfort, trying to reach out to the women as they wept. Life goes on: presently the scamperers ran and shouted again, and after a time, there was a wail ‌ strangely, instantly stilled, hustled away; not at all like the board ceremonies.

The tree stirred: bare sky, she had not seen that for many, many years.

Stars, and sweet summer rain, though her friends had to flee. Men with straw and ladders, climbing over her, shouting, laughing, and the sky was gone. And there was paint and whitewash, and new boards. The tree cracked, but they came with a great iron band, and pinned her fracture.

Anger in the fields, the men are angry, she hears they fear to have no work. There is rage in the farm yard, as the family cower in the kitchen, and the barn is fired. They run out then, hauling buckets and flinging curses. The tree at the end of the house is badly singed, and presently it is taken down and cut up, and bricks are brought. No one knows how to raise a lady cruck anymore, so they use coarse baked mud. In spite of it all, there is wealth now, a new kitchen is built, more barns. And then there is less wealth, but still the chickens peck around the door, and wails grow into scamperers, who grow into women, and then there are new wails, more joy and more sorrow.

And another war. This time the men go in twos and threes, and not all of them come back. The women are weeping again. The farm is sold, the house divided into two, used for workers, then left empty, but for the tramps, as the barns, long neglected, begin to fall.

Now it is a house of women, who wear strange trousers and seem lost in the countryside, as machines fly overhead and sometimes fall into the fields. Something they call an incendiary lands in the thatch, there is red light and the crackling, and panic amongst the bats, and all seems to be over. And then one of the girls, bolder and more determined than the rest, climbs onto the roof with a rake, and others pass her buckets of water, and the house is saved.

She begins to itch, to feel less strength than formerly. There are no people now, and the scorched roof straw is falling in. There are a lot of friends, but she is no longer strong enough to support them. Nothing stands forever, she knows that, and waits for the long peace with resignation. Water, once life giving so long ago, is now her enemy.

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And then come men with clipboards, and people in suits looking interested. Definitely an important survival, medieval, thirteenth century, in the centre. Needs work, though, I’ll be honest, sir, a lot of work.

Woodworm, maybe some dry rot. She’s sold, for the first time, without the land. They come with strange guns, and hurt her with strange chemicals, but then the itches stop. She begins to regain strength. There you are, sir, good as new. The thatch is redone, the floors are re-laid, discrete holes are made, wires and pipes run through. Part of the tree, covered by paste and paper, is laid bare again, and lovingly painted with preservative. It tickles ... she wriggles, creaking.

A woman, settling some scamperers for the night, runs her hand over the beam, and sighs contentedly. And presently, they bring home a basket, and sit it carefully in the corner by the beam, and soon she knows, the world knows, for it seems to have very good lungs, that there is a new wail in the cottage …

Jennifer Foster

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Merry Christmas And A Peaceful New Year

From Your Committee “Christmas Tree” by Mike Driscoll

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