ESTABLISHED 1999
Open to anybody not in full-time employment
Here we are again at another December issue, and we wish all our Readers a Happy Christmas and Healthy New Year. If you are reading this then you are most probably a member and will have by now paid your subscription for the year 2018/19. Your smart membership card is also your name badge to be worn please at Monthly Meetings and any other occasion where making yourself known is important. Whilst many of our members have been such for a long time, we are now getting close to a total membership of 400, so don’t be tempted to think that everyone knows who you are – we don’t! Talking to someone and trying to recall their name whilst doing so gets ever more difficult with each passing year so, do everyone a favour, and display your name badge where this is beneficial to one and all. Don’t forget of course that you can complete the reverse to record useful emergency information. With this issue you will find details of the integrated programme compiled by Sharon and Brian for both full day and short visits to places of interest. An enormous amount of work goes into producing these events, and no other U3A in Lincolnshire can offer such a range of varied subjects to attract you to LEARN, LAUGH and LIVE! See Geoff’s article about how he does just this when behind the wheel of his Sprite. 2019 heralds the 20th Anniversary of West Wolds U3A being brought into the world by a small but perfectly formed bunch of persons, quite a few of whom are still with us today. We and all other members of your Committee hope that you will enjoy supporting the events which have been created to celebrate this auspicious occasion. Many thanks from Terry Francis – Production Editor, and Brian Ward – Copy Editor
Articles for the next edition should reach the editor no later than 22nd February 2019 Send contributions to newsletter@westwoldsu3a.org Page 2
My second year as chairman has been, at times, quite challenging with pressures from U3A National Office and the Charity Commission asking us to ensure our governance is solid and our finances are in good shape. Thankfully our committee has been very supportive and we have worked as a team to continue to deliver the organisation that you want. There have been disappointments – I wish more people would be prepared to take on roles developing new groups or stand for the committee. The Local History Group stopped because, despite having 50 members, nobody was prepared to take on the mantle. Thankfully a new member has stepped into the role and I look forward to seeing this group restart in the coming months. The more you put into the U3A the more you will get out. We have a few goodbyes: David Oliver is leaving the committee after holding several posts in the past and given 6 years of service; Ken Howitt is standing down after many years managing the groups and he has seen their number grow steadily to nearly 50; and finally Paul Davison, who has been responsible for managing our archives, digitising 20 years of documents. On a positive note - our numbers continue to grow as does our reputation with our members and other U3As in the area. We are seen as being innovative, positive and successful. What we offer you, our membership, is broad and deep. Our group convenors are committed to their groups and the longevity of the groups proves their worth. The visits organised so professionally by Brian Ward and the one-off special events delivered by Sharon Rupp are well attended but we could always use more support. We would be a poorer organisation without their stalwart efforts. Continued overleaf
The Turkish Desert Dancers show how at the Spilsby 10th Anniversary Photo by Clive Sutton of Alford U3A Photography Group Page 3
Our links to the University of Lincoln have been slow to develop, however we will continue working on extending the level of involvement we have at the moment. Our finances are sufficient for the coming year, however to maintain our viability we need to manage our budget carefully. We now have a projection of income and expenditure for the next financial year which will help us plan for the future. Here we get into the part where it becomes a bit like the Oscars. I want to thank all those who have supported the organisation over the past 12 months. Shelley Franklin for developing the roles of treasurer and membership secretary to the point where our finances are in excellent shape. Pam Crooks for keeping the committee up-to-date with national issues and ensuring our governance is appropriate. Linda Brighton for her role as Vice Chairman, managing our Greeters and chairing a small team who are making the preparations for next year’s 20th anniversary. Our Greeters for making newcomers feel so welcome. Margaret for organising the catering so efficiently and all those who deliver our teas and coffees, then wash up afterwards. Sharon Rupp for arranging our speakers and for filling the programme for 2019. Brian Ward and Terry Francis for their role in editing and producing our magnificent quarterly newsletter. And finally – a thank you to the membership for being here; for turning up at the groups and monthly meetings. Many thanks‌ Steve McCarthy We need members to volunteer to be co-opted on the committee to replace outgoing members anyone interested please contact Steve McCarthy or any other Committee member for a Nomination form.
Please Note: If you haven't paid your 2018/2019 U3A Membership
Subscription by the end of December at the latest, we will assume you no longer wish to be a member and your membership will lapse. Page 4
Spilsby 10th Anniversary Event Our U3A Market Rasen Ukulele Band and our Turkish Delight Desert Dancers attended the Spilsby U3A 10th Anniversary celebrations on the 14th September at the Franklin Hall. Both groups delighted the audiences with their entertainment: the Ukulele Band were gaily decorated in hats and waistcoats of many colours, and played two sets with a variety of numbers, to everyone’s delight. The Turkish Desert Dancers, likewise attractively dressed (almost!) in veils of many colours, swirling skirts and jingling jewellery, were introduced by the Sultan, Mustafa Kupatee, and hindered by their smelly, downtrodden camel-herding slave, and snake charmer, Abdul. Led by their leader Salome, their costumes brought forth applause when they entered the Hall, and on completion of their dances, they even managed to get some of the local members up to join in the veil moves at the end of the concert, much to the delight of all in the Franklin Hall.
Well done, West Wolds members, for taking your skills and entertainment out to the wider world in Lincolnshire!
The ladies were loudly clapped and Next stop the Albert Hall, London? Brian Ward cheered as they left the stage.
Page 5
The Turkish Desert Dancers take a bow
The West Wolds U3A Ukulele Band entertain the crowds All Photos supplied by Clive Sutton from Alford U3A Photographic Group Page 6
1999
West Wolds U3A 20 Anniversary Celebrations th
2019
We’re kicking off our Anniversary Year with CAKE DAY Thursday 14th March 2019 At: Our General Meeting Booking not required. Details of Times to Follow. Invited Speakers from U3A & Original Members Memories
West Wolds U3A Afternoon Tea At: The Festival Hall On: Thursday 23rd May 2019 2pm – 4pm Booking required. Ticket price £8.00 pp. Members Only. Entertainment, Music & Competitions
West Wolds U3A Hog Roast & Disco At: Market Rasen Racecourse County Enclosure On: Saturday 10th August 2019 Time 7pm till late Booking required. Ticket Price Members £12.00pp, Guests £16.00 pp. Hog Roast Baps, Salads, Vegetarian Option Disco Through The Years For Our Dancing Delight
Page 7
THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT! A PROGRAMME OF FULL DAY VISITS AND SHORT OUTINGS FOR 2019—
OUR TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY YEAR ARRANGED FOR WEST WOLDS U3A MEMBERS & GUESTS Red: visits arranged by Brian Ward (briandgill@btinternet.com) Blue: visits arranged by Sharon Rupp (sharonrupp@hotmail.com) Green: events related to our 20th Anniversary (separate information will be published) February 13 Wed
March
April
May
Louth Riverhead Theatre – Alfie (Bill Naughton)
21 Thurs
Hull New Theatre—Russian State Ballet Nutcracker Suite
05 Tue
First Aid part 2, Market Rasen
13 Wed
Louth Riverhead Theatre – Diary of Anne Frank
14 Thur
General Meeting – Birthday Cake Day
20 Wed
Burton Constable Hall – behind closed doors private viewing (this visit will also be open to Lindsey U3A)
10 Wed
Louth Riverhead Theatre – Loot (Joe Orton)
13 - 16
RHS Flower Show, Cardiff, & National Botanic Garden of Wales (discounted PC Coach Holidays trip)
30 Tue
Beekeeping for Beginners, Rand
14 Tue
Rifle Shooting, Market Rasen
15 Wed
Louth Riverhead Theatre – Oklahoma (Rogers & Hammerstein) Page 8
June
July
August
21 Tue
Lincs. Police HQ Nettleham, behind the scenes
23 Thur
Afternoon Tea – Festival Hall
05 Wed
Baumber Walled Garden
19 Wed
Riverboat cruise with lunch, River Trent, Nottingham
02 Tue
Bowls Taster Session, Tealby
10 Wed
Newby Hall, House & Gardens
10 Sat
Hog Roast—Market Rasen Racecourse
Sat 31 Aug/01 Sep
Ushaw College, Durham; Kynren Epic Tale of England, & Beamish Museum (this will also be open to Lindsey U3A)
September 18 Wed
Elsecar Heritage Centre & Wentworth Woodhouse
October
Go Karting, Holton le Clay
01 Tue
The onward programme for Louth Riverhead Theatre will be announced later in the year. All bookings are made subject to our U3A Visits Booking Policy statement. You can book at the Visits & Unique Events Tables, each Monthly Meeting.
20th Anniversary events are shown with this symbol:
Page 9
Singing Together Group
A new singing group has been started, covering tunes from the 50s, 60s and 70s, nothing too serious, just a chance to exercise our lungs and brain cells and remember our YOUTH! For information please contact Linda Brighton. Tel. 01673 843925/07762385929 or by email lindabrighton1@hotmail.co.uk.
New Group – Italian for Beginners
Pat Spolton would like to start a beginners’ Italian group in the new year if there is sufficient interest. This would take the place of the French group on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 10:00. Students will use an Italian course for adults with textbooks and CDs. For further information or to reserve a place please contact Pat on Tel. 01673 828568 or by email davidaspolton@hotmail.co.uk
Local History Group
Please note that the Local History Group is starting up again in the New Year. For information and programme contact Paul Ettridge on Tel. 01472 398921 or by email paulettridge@yahoo.co.uk
Note:
Please note that the title ‘Group Coordinator’ has been replaced by ‘Group Convenor,’ this is to line up with National Office terminology and to stop any confusion with the Groups’ Coordinator role.
How to Subscribe on the West Wolds website to receive updates and notice of New Posts by email. Opening the West Wolds website homepage, look for the area shown on the right. Enter your email address and click on the ‘Receive Updates’ button. You will receive an email from Wordpress, which refers you to opening your account. Make sure you click the link shown. Page 10
Group Etiquette – (a gentle reminder for members) Please keep the following points in mind. These should not be a chore, just a matter of courtesy and good practice.
No room at the Group? Do you wish to join an interest group but have found it full or there is not one that covers your interest? Then why not 1. Let your group convenor start a group of your own? A group know if you are unable to make a convenor does not have to be an meeting, or no longer wish to be part ‘expert’ on the subject, you only of the group. need to have a desire to learn. It can 2. When accepting a lift in be both fun and rewarding when another member’s car, please everyone is learning together. West remember to contribute towards the Wolds U3A offers a Mentoring cost of fuel. service to help set up and run a new 3. Where your group convenor group. In addition, there is help to or group host serves refreshments, call upon at the Resource Centre at please remember to contribute National Office, and a network of towards the provision of them. over 50 national subject advisors 4. Members wishing to join a willing to advise and support. group should first contact the group convenor. Please do not just turn up. Where there is an existing group, the Membership of West Wolds U3A leader themselves may be willing to does not grant automatic entry to act as ‘mentor’ for a short while. any group. Prior contact with the Anyone wishing to start an interest group convenor will save any group should notify the Groups’ embarrassment on either side. Coordinator. A notice can then be 5. Please do not invite anyone circulated via all available who is not a paid-up member to a communication channels, asking group activity. those interested in joining such a 6. One for the group convenor : group to sign their names on a list. should the time, day, venue or You can then gauge the interest and leader change, please advise the decide the way forward. Groups’ Co-ordinator as soon as possible, so that the notices etc. can Don’t just sit back and leave it to be amended. We have a great team someone else. Have a go. It may of enthusiastic Convenors who give seem daunting now, but in a few freely of their time and energy. months you may find you are rather Please help them by following these good at it!! guidelines. Page 11
– Cheryl Holdship is an independent social worker who offers support regarding adult social care, specialising in hospital discharges and continuing health care assessments but can also support in other areas as required.
Jan. 10th:
‘
Feb. 14th:
‘
Mar. 14th:
‘
- Sue Cadman is a professional dancer mainly known for being in Les Dawson’s Roly Polys. She will talk about her 40 years in show business including backstage details of being a Roly Poly.
- No speaker this
month, as we are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the founding of West Wolds U3A. Special events planned! Tea/coffee and biscuits served from 09:45 to 10:15. There is a venue hire fee of 50p per person. Please give your name at the reception table.
2016 2017 2018 2016 2017 2018
Jan 878 2,153 1,964 Jul 1,086 1,423 1,231
Feb Mar Apr May 1,127 960 1,275 1,266 1,330 1,383 1,253 1,267 1,644 1,583 1,701 1,426 Aug Sep Oct Nov 1,386 1,609 1,636 1,170 1,348 1,762 1,651 1,696 1,605 1,860 2,171 1,614 Page 12
June 789 1,063 1,222 Dec Total 1,466 14,648 1,151 17,480
Remove this insert from your magazine, fold along the lines indicated
Chairman and Website Administration Steve McCarthy Tel: 01673 308364 steve@pigyard.com
Vice Chairman and Greeters Coordinator Linda Brighton Tel: 01673 843925 lindabrighton1@hotmail.co.uk
Newsletter Production Editor and Technical Support Terry Francis Tel: 01673 842088 terryfrancis22@gmail.com newsletter@westwoldsu3a.org
The following roles are still to be filled for 2019, we need members to volunteer to apply to be on the committee
Business Secretary and Third Age Trust Contact Pam Crooks Tel: 01673 565010 pamcrooks14@gmail.com
General Meeting Coordinator TBA Groups Coordinator TBA
Treasurer and Membership Secretary Shelley Franklin Tel: 01652 678283 shelley_franklin@yahoo.co.uk Speaker Finder, Special Events Organiser, Minute-taker and Secretary to East Lincs. Neighbourhood Sharon Rupp Tel: 07803 694889 / 01673 857390 sharonrupp@hotmail.com Visits, Press Liaison and Newsletter Copy Editor Brian Ward Tel: 01472 852273 briandgill@btinternet.com newsletter@westwoldsu3a.org
Archivist TBA
Support Roles (Non Committee) Catering Co-ordinator Margaret Foster Tel: 01427 668050 gordonmfoster@btinternet.com Welfare Mandy Murphy Tel: 01673 565295 Mandy.murphy1396@gmail.com
Make sure you visit our website at
www.westwoldsu3a.org
and become a subscriber in order to receive all the latest news. Back copies of the Quarterly Newsletter can be read on the website. Page 13
10:00 German
1st
14:00 Bridge 14:00 Digital Photography 14:00 Turkish Delight Desert Dancers
10:00 German
2nd
13.30 Cardcraft 14:00 Bridge
14:00 Film 14:30 Spanish
10:00 IT Workshops 10:00 Beginners Family History 10:00 Local History
14:30 Spanish
10:00 German
3rd
14:30 Spanish 14:00 Bridge 14:00 Digital Photography
10:00 German
4th
10:00 Country Walks 10:30 Strollers
14:00 Bridge 14:30 Art Appreciation ** (suspended for winter months)
Page 14
19:00 Film
10:00 IT Workshops 10:00 Music Appreciation * (*Last Tuesday of month) 10:30 3 Mile Walkers 14:30 Spanish
10:00 Country Walks 10:00 Cycling (Short Rides) 10:30 Strollers
19:00 West Wolds Ukulele Band
10:00 Embroidery 10:00 4 Mile Walkers 10:00 Cycling (Short Rides)
10:00 Italian 10:00 Patchwork * 10:00 Keep Fit
10:00 Latin 10:00 Line Dancing 10:00 Biblical Hebrew 10:00 Cycling (Longer Rides)
14:00 Drama
14:00 Scrabble 14:00 Discovery
09:45 GENERAL MEETING Festival Hall Market Rasen
12:00 Luncheon Group 14:00 Canasta 14:00 Poetry 19:00 West Wolds Ukulele Band 10:00 Telling our Stories 10:00 Cycling (Short Rides) 14:00 Readers Group 1 14:00 Gardening Group 19:00 West Wolds Ukulele Band 10:00 Embroidery * (*Last Wednesday of month) 10:00 Cycling (Short Rides) 14:00 Readers Group 2 14:00 Knitting and Crochet (Oct—April) 19:00 West Wolds Ukulele Band
10:00 Family History 10:00 Latin 10:00 Line Dancing 10:00 Biblical Hebrew 10:00 Cycling (Longer Rides)
14:00 Drama 10:00 Italian 10:00 Keep Fit 10:00 Patchwork * 14:00 Drama
10:00 Cross Stitch 10:00 Keep Fit* (* And 5th Thursday, if there is one) 14:00 Drama
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10:00 Latin 10:00 Line Dancing 10:00 Biblical Hebrew 10:00 Cycling (Longer Rides) 14:00 Scrabble* (* And 5th Friday of the month, if there is one) 10:00 COFFEE MORNING Advocate Arms, Market Rasen 10:00 Latin 10:00 Line Dancing* 10:00 Biblical Hebrew 10:00 Cycling (Longer Rides)* (* And 5th Friday of the month, if there is one) 14:00 Mah Jong
ART APPRECIATION Caroline Foster 01673 844408 BIBLICAL HEBREW Alison Atkinson 01673 849979 BRIDGE Bryan Storey 01673 849625 CANASTA Jan Watkins 01673 308791 CAR ENTHUSIAST GROUP Steve McCarthy 01673 308364 CARD CRAFT Cynthia Burke 01673 849506 CROSS STITCH Cynthia Burke 01673 849506 CYCLING Gordon Jennings 01673 844222 DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY Allen and Alice Forster 01652 678034 DISCOVERY GROUP Mary Howes 01673 849554 DRAMA Gail Dennis 01673 843575 EMBROIDERY Pat Hage 01673 849447 ETHICS and MORAL DILEMMAS DISCUSSION GROUP Steve McCarthy 01673 308364 FAMILY HISTORY Steve Field 01673 857519 FAMILY HISTORY – BEGINNERS Jacqueline Reid 01673 849490 FILM GROUP John Bartlett 01673 857480 GARDENING Mary Howes 01673 849554 GERMAN Jo Howard 01673 862015 ITALIAN Pat Spolton 01673 828568 IT WORKSHOPS Steve McCarthy 01673 308364 KEEP FIT Dawn Stopper 01472 851133 KNITTING AND CROCHET Sue Jacobs 01673 828898 LATIN Gwen Parsons 07749 044413 LINE DANCING Margaret White 01673 849274
LOCAL HISTORY Paul Ettridge 01472 398921 LUNCHEON GROUP Pam John 01673 844260 MAH JONG Jacqueline Reid 01673 849490 MAN SHEDS Terry Francis 01673 842088 MARKET RASEN UKULELE Heather Barratt 01673 849393 MUSIC APPRECIATION Janis Richmond 01673 843083 PATCHWORK Lyn Henry 01673 843851 POETRY Eva Smith 01673 842218 READERS GROUP 1 Audrey Storey 01673 849625 READERS GROUP 2 Kathryn Wade 01673 849487 RECORDER GROUP Geoff Goddard 01673 842287 SCRABBLE Audrey Storey 01673 849625 SPANISH Alison Atkinson 01673 849979 TELLING OUR STORIES David Atkinson 01673 849979 TRIBUTE BANDS Phyl Murray 01673 838543 TURKISH DELIGHT DESERT DANCERS Gillian Anderton 01673 844382 THE 3-MILERS Ken Howitt 01652 678490 THE 4-MILERS Mary Ellis 01673 842584 THE 9-MILE HIKERS Allen and Alice Forster 01652 678034 THE COUNTRY WALKERS Ken Howitt 01652 678490 THE STROLLERS Cynthia Burke 01673 849506 UPHOLSTERY AND FURNITURE RESTORATION Gail Dennis 01673 843575 VISITS Brian Ward 01472 852273
THE ACTING GROUPS CO-ORDINATOR IS: Steve McCarthy
01673 308364 steve@pigyard.com Please advise any changes to Steve Page 16
Cartoon by Gillian Anderton
Forthcoming Programme Wed. 16th January:
A talk by the Hardy Plants Society.
Wed. 20th February: 'Trees, Shrubs, and Features for Small Gardens',Steve Lovell will advise and give us the benefit of his experience. Wed. 20th March:
'Historical Lincolnshire Plants',- a talk by Loretta (Titch) Rivett.
April 13-16: Wed. 5th June: Wed. 10th July:
Cardiff Flower Show & Botanical Gardens . Baumber Walled Garden. Newby Hall & Gardens.
Indoor Meetings are held at Holyrood RC Church Old School Hall, King St, Market Rasen LN8 3BB. Members, potential new members and visitors welcome. Enquiries/details Mary Howes 01673 849554 or any Gardening Group Committee Member. Rose:
Oh no! no! The pH of this soil is far too high - I am going to die! Dandelion: Wey Hey!! Concrete!!! Page 17
VISIT BY WEST WOLDS U3A GROUP TO SOLBERGE HALL HOTEL, NORTH YORKSHIRE FROM 18-20 SEPTEMBER, 2018 its own tranquil grounds which was to be our base for the next two nights. Our rooms were most comfortable and the service was superb. For our first night we were entertained by a magician who surprised us all with his clever tricks and professionalism. It was a great start to the holiday with lots of fun and laughter. Our little holiday started with a visit We all enjoyed a delicious three to Burnby Hall Gardens, near York, course meal and each other’s best known for its lakes which are company for the rest of the evening. home to the National Collection of There were about 20 of us on the over a hundred varieties of Hardy tour and there was soon a very Water Lilies. We all enjoyed some convivial atmosphere between us all. gentle exercise walking around the gardens with some quirky artefacts on a lovely sunny day. Here there was also the opportunity to visit the Stewart Museum, dedicated to the life of Major Percy Marlborough Stewart. His eight round the world tours between 1906 and 1926 provided the inspiration for the Gardens. We all congregated in the on-site cafÊ for lunch. Some of the group made some time to visit the village of Pocklington and the floral exhibition in the local church.
Our second day began with a full English breakfast and we then joined our coach again for a trip to the Middlesborough Transporter Bridge, opened in 1911 and now a Grade 11* listed structure, the only We then continued our journey to our lovely country house hotel set in one left in England. It is the longest Page 18
working bridge of this type in the world. Unfortunately the day was extremely windy and we were not therefore able to climb to the top of the bridge and enjoy the wonderful view. Some of us made the first flight of steps and had a good view of the surrounding sights all pointed out by our experienced guide who also showed us the engine room.
We then travelled to the Hartlepool Naval Museum, which offered us a fascinating journey through time, set in an authentically-created historic quayside of the 1800s. We also had a tour of a fighting ship of the time, HMS Trincomalee, which is the oldest warship still afloat in the UK. This majestic ship was one of Nelson’s frigates and built in Bombay, India in 1817 during the ‘Age of Sail’.
accompanied the meal, ensuring a gala occasion to savour and enjoy! Some of us were at the dinner table for nearly 3 hours. I found the occasion entertaining and funny at times – but maybe that was also to do with the number of courses with different wines with each! On our last day, before we journeyed home, we visited the Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle. Was Brian saving the best until last? Personally I believe so. It is a magnificent hidden treasure! The Museum, which has designated status from the Government in recognition of its outstanding collection, is housed in a very grand French chateau built purposely by the owners in the nineteenth century, to house their art collections so local people can visit and enjoy. We were told the history of the museum and taken on a tour by a very knowledgeable guide who pointed out some special pieces.
After a very interesting day we returned to our hotel and a gourmet multi-course taster menu which Brian had specially created for the occasion. Selected wines Page 19
The diverse collection spans three floors of the magnificent building. There are art galleries with paintings which include two Canaletto’s and a Goya, rooms of porcelain with some produced at Sèvres, and magnificent furniture including marquetry attributed to André-Charles Boulle. For our visit there was a special exhibition of designer gowns originally seen through the lens of renowned photographer Chris Moore. The Museum is most famous for its 240 year old automated silver swan. The life size model is still in working order and is operated at the
Museum on a daily basis. Before leaving we all enjoyed a last lunch together in private rooms. We are very fortunate to have an expert in Brian to put together such a good excursion for us. His attention to detail is well known by our members and I would urge you all to support any events he organises as you will be in for a real treat. Thank you Brian on behalf of all your fellow travellers to Solberge Hall. Jane Guy Photos by Di Puncheon, Marion Blackstock, Brian Ward
Recorder Group Premier
On October 27th the Recorder Group put on its first public performance at All Saints Church in Wragby. During the previous weeks we had been working hard to prepare music for this. All the effort paid off and we presented music from early in the 16th century to a contemporary work. Our music was well received by the audience and we received many compliments on the standard of our ensemble playing. Speaking for ourselves, we really enjoyed the event. Now it’s back to work to prepare another 30 minute programme that we would like to present to members of West Wolds U3A sometime next year. Geoff Goddard
Photo provided by Cynthia Burke Page 20
Guess Who—Festive Fun Here are photos of some members at a mostly very young age, see if you can recognise any of them. Answers on page 23
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The ‘Geoffreyatric’ rides on track again! At Donnington Park, in Garage 39, 1st October 07:30, I was getting stuck into a bacon bap with 4 rashers. A large crowd of drivers and passengers were waiting for the Track Day briefing to begin. The day was being run by ‘MGs On Track’. After a quick introduction, the business of driver behaviour, marshalling and flag signals was expertly and humorously delivered. Then it was time for sighting laps of the track. The cars and drivers were divided into three groups, novices, intermediate and experienced. I was lucky enough to be in the intermediate group having had some track day experience elsewhere. The first 20 minute session was shortened because the briefing had taken longer than expected so there were only a few laps to get accustomed to the circuit and the presence other cars on the track. There were two more full sessions before lunch.
line which didn’t cause a panic on the exit was an interesting task. It was important to try to get it right because I wanted to carry as much speed as I could down the Craner Curves. Those curves are a place to be bold, getting them right to avoid lifting for the left hand curve was really satisfying. Then it was stand on the brakes for the Old Hairpin which was taken at about 60ish in third. Flat out in top through Starkey’s Bridge before another big brake for MacLean’s – wide in tightish out in third gear. Into top up towards Coppice which is probably my favourite corner on the circuit. Down to third just before a crest into the blind right hander. This bend opens out and you can let the car run wide to the left of the track to go down Starkey’s Straight to the chicane which is another huge stop. It’s possible to brake very late for the chicane and trail brake into the first part before getting on the throttle for the left hander to blast down the pit straight to start all over again.
After lunch it was more of the same, It was brilliant fun. The National spending time trying to improve Circuit at Donnington has several technique. It didn’t go completely to challenges for someone (me) who plan, as I had a 360O spin at Coppice has never been there before. Redgate – a triumph of enthusiasm over grip! corner which has such a wide entry But I least I now know that I wasn’t and a tightening exit took a lot of playing about and bimbling around! working out. Just picking a decent Sadly it was all too soon time for the Page 22
Screaming around the Old Hairpin last session. I repacked the car with all the stuff you seem to collect when you’ve got a vehicle that’s almost 60 years old and drove my weary way the 70 miles for home. What a fabulous day out in the Sprite. Now to fix that oil leak.
A word about the title for this piece. At lunch I heard someone wondering about my age. It was generally supposed that I was about 70. Gasps of amazement when I said I was 76. I was christened the ‘Geoffreyatic’ by a friend’s daughter a few years ago who didn’t believe that old people could be hooligans!
What have I learned? I know much more about the capabilities of the car and the limitations of the driver. You It proves the motto – I lived, laughed don’t need a particularly fast car to and learnt. enjoy a track day but, oh boy, can you have fun playing with like Geoff Goddard minded people.
Festive Fun Photos 1.Brian ward 2, Joe Willsich 3. Gillian Anderton 4. John Haywood 5. Julia Francis 6. Heather Barrett 7. Mandy Murphy 8. Terry Francis 9. Steve McCarthy 10. Mary Ellis (aged 17) 11. Sharon Rupp 12. Sheila Robinson 13. Carol Jones 14. Shelley Franklin 15. Mary Ellis (1936)
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MICK ROBINSON TELLS THE LIFE STORY OF BEEJO The Great European Tour - Part 1 In the early summer of 1972 I was temporarily out of work, having been made redundant on a last in, first out basis when English Electric reorganised and changed their name to GEC under Arnold Weinstock. At the same time, Patricia, my wife of two years, was coming to the end of her 4 year course at University. So what now? We hatched an ambitious plan to tour Europe over a six week period, visiting France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia (as it was then), through Austria, Germany, Holland and back through France, 8 countries in all. I spent a month preparing our car, which at the time was almost 37 years old and has recently (2018) celebrated her 80th birthday. With a registration of BJO 123 there are no prizes for working out why we call her Beejo!
Some of the work was carried out in our landlady’s garage in Shipley, but once Pat had finished her course we went to stay with my parents in Grasby where, with some help from my father, the preparations were completed. We informed the Grimsby Telegraph of our plans and a reporter duly arrived to interview us and take appropriate pictures, which would appear in the paper later in the week. I still have a picture, the two of us stood by the car, looking impossibly young and carefree. “Are you intending to stay in hotels?” he asked. What a joke, we were camping, but without even a tent. The seats would come out of the car then a plywood sheet would fold forward onto wooden supports to provide the base of our bed. We had made a mattress in two parts, which during the day would fit on top of each other behind the seats with all our meagre possessions on top. At night, everything was stashed under the car except the seats which would simply sit outside. The steering wheel came off too, but it was still a tight squeeze at night. We didn’t mind that though, being considerably smaller then, than we are today. Beejo rides higher than a modern
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car so I made a hidden compartment beneath the floor at the back to store a few tools, hoping I would never need to use them. After all, we were only planning to drive about 3500 miles in a 37 year old car. Easypeasy. In 1970, she had taken us on honeymoon up to the north of Scotland, covering almost 1000 miles. It wasn’t Beejo’s fault that it rained a lot but I do remember spending a lot of time stuffing bits of rag between the side windows and the front screen in an attempt to stop the rain coming in. As you can see from the photo, this is a drop head tourer.
wave and cheer us off. Flags were flying and there was a brass band and …. Well not exactly, there were only two people to wave goodbye and they were Mum and Dad. “You two be careful,” were their parting words.
Mostly, we travelled with the roof down, our hair blowing in the wind, but stopping to put the roof up as we ran into occasional showers. It was a long run down to Dover at 45 mph but we made it by late afternoon, having driven through the centre of London. There was no M25 and no congestion charge in those days. We got onto the ferry at And the budget for this great Dover and reached Calais by early European adventure? All the money evening, stopping at the first we had, £200, extremely optimistic campsite we could find. It was for a six week trip you might say, absolutely packed with tents, even for those days. We had vague caravans and just a few campervans. ideas of finding some work on the No question of the 20 feet minimum way, maybe fruit picking or gap between outfits that is the rule something, but we would cross that today. Maybe it was then, but if so, bridge when we came to it. The they ignored it. Of course we didn’t reckless optimism of youth. need much space. Removing the front seats and pushing everything The great day arrived. We somehow else under the car as planned, we managed to cram all we needed into had no trouble getting off to sleep on our tiny car. There were the two our makeshift bed, dreaming of the mattresses on the bottom, then a exciting days ahead. suitcase containing spare clothes and other items in cardboard boxes The following morning we awoke perched on top of that, tea and early to sunshine and warmth. We sugar, a few cans of tinned food and had our breakfast of cornflakes a pack of cornflakes for breakfasts. followed by jam and bread and we We were not intending to eat out were soon ready to continue the much. journey. But before we left we got The whole village had turned out to into conversation with an older Page 25
couple. Relatively speaking, that is almost everybody was older than us in those days! Naturally, they wanted to know about the car, how old she was etc. They came out with the often heard quote “Oh, my father had one of those.” In later years, this turned into “My Grandfather had one of those.“ These days, 46 years on, such a comment is rare indeed. They had assumed that we would simply be touring the north of France and they were amazed when we quoted the eight countries we were planning to visit. They took a black and white photo of us as we set off and later posted a copy to us, which we still have, somewhere, amongst thousands of others.
that we had to pass through. It made for a slower, but gentler and more interesting ride. Under these conditions, we probably averaged not much more than 30 mph but for us, the object was to reach the spectacular Alps as soon as possible. So we travelled all day, almost without stopping, and reached the first of the serious climbs of the mountains by early evening. A Morris 8 has in reality, only about 25 horsepower and only three forward gears. So it was a case of revving hard in second gear and achieving a steady 25 mph for 10 miles or more on an uphill stretch. Considering that there is no water pump, circulation depending on convection, she did remarkably well, showing no signs of over-heating. That night we All the way through France, we kept didn’t bother with a proper campsite the roof down, basking in the (saving money again) but instead increasingly warm air, but we found an old disused mountain road couldn’t help noticing that other where we parked up amongst the convertible cars that passed us trees, pulled out our cooker and nearly all had their roofs up. We warmed up something from a tin for were later to discover that they were our evening meal. wiser than us. Of course, we avoided the auto routes, for they cost money, This is where Pat discovered the about the same as the cost of petrol. folly of riding bare armed in an open Besides, we could hardly take top car for hours on end. She had advantage of the greater speeds. If I blisters on each arm the size of golf pushed hard, I could squeeze about balls. She pierced each one with a 60 mph out of Beejo, enough to keep pin and it was like turning a tap; a up with big lorries, especially if I golf ball volume of fluid spurting indulged in the dubious practice of out until the stretched skin went flat. slip streaming, which also saved Her arms were sore for several days petrol. But not only were the auto after that and I had to be very careful routes faster, they also avoided the not to roll onto her arms in the dozens of villages and small towns confined space of our bed, however, Page 26
for the second night in a row, we had no trouble getting to sleep. There is something quite magical about waking up in a forest at first light, miles from civilisation. Even though we were by now much further south, we were also at altitude so there was quite a nip in the air before the warming rays of the sun penetrated the trees. It is surprisingly quiet in a pine forest; no dawn chorus as we would expect in the English countryside. But there is plenty of wildlife about; squirrels, rabbits and many smaller mammals that we were unlikely to see. Maybe even some deer. I sat up cautiously to peep outside - and there they were; two beautiful young does, stepping quietly along only yards away, their large sensitive ears alert to the slightest sign of danger.
Roe deer, fallow deer, mule deer? No idea? I nudged Patti so that she could see them, forgetting about her sore arms. Unfortunately, the ear bashing I got for my carelessness also alerted the deer to our presence, and they were off, ghosting away into the forest, their white rumps bobbing up and down as they ran.
Never mind, today we were going to do something really exciting; we were going to ascend the highest mountain in Europe. But first, breakfast. Cornflakes again, of course, and water from a nearby stream for a quick rinse and the essential cup of tea. Mick Robinson Watch out in the March issue of the Newsletter for the next thrilling instalment of Mick’s tale of BJO as they tackle Mont Blanc.
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Visit to RHS Harlow Carr GLOW festival—23 Nov 2018
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