BARNSLEY AND DISTRICT U3A - Send info. and photos to: Internet: Barnsley U3A / Charity no. 1077654
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BARNSLEY AND DISTRICT U3A
Internet: Barnsley U3A / Charity no. 1077654
Send info. and photos to: bu3anews@outlook.com
1
Has anyone else noticed that each year the summer gets shorter. We are already approaching
autumn and the nights are drawing in. This might be part of the ageing process, perhaps, where time increasingly
seems to fly by. What has made matters worse again this year has been the impact of the lockdown and our inability
to meet up indoors for our group activities. Well, the good news is that the lockdown has come to an end and with
any luck we will be meeting up again indoors in the very near future.
Basically, if indoor groups are ready to start meeting and their venue is open, they can begin now if the Risk
Assessment has been completed. Both the venue and the Bu3a group MUST have a Covid Risk Assessment Plan that
satisfies everyone involved. Any members not happy with this arrangement should NOT attend any meetings until
they feel safe and happy to return. There is no pressure on any member to return to his/her group at this stage. Any
Coordinator ready to restart his/her indoor group MUST make contact with Trudy Atkinson, our Risk Assessment
Officer (see Contact List).
Let me at this stage give a massive shout out to Trudy whose management of the Risk Assessment process for us has
entailed her speaking to all our premises managers (we use 31 different venues around Barnsley!) and group
Coordinators and ensuring that we are covered for third party insurance purposes by the u3a National Office. A
massive undertaking in order for us to get things up and running again. Well done, Trudy!
Next, as you will have read in the last Interim Buzz, we have really tremendous news about our recent appeal for
someone to step forward to take over the management of The Buzz to enable Derek to take over the Chairmanship of
Bu3a when we get to June next year. Without having to revert to thumbscrews or other items of torture, we have a
volunteer couple who have leapt forward, keen to take on the role. Helen and Iain Simms, both highly skilled in IT and
even desktop publishing, are the members concerned and they will be supporting Derek on the production of the next
edition of the newsletter and gradually taking on full control over the next few editions. We have already welcomed
Helen as a newly co-opted member of the Executive Committee and I know that our members will welcome her into
her role and will continue to submit items for publication in our magazine, which is the best in the u3a movement [my
opinion]. As I write, in early August, dynamic Helen is cycling the challenging Hadrian’s Wall west coast to east coast
route in tough weather conditions. There’s not much that fazes this couple and I think that you’ll enjoy meeting them
on Page 8 of this Buzz.
One of the challenges over the coming months will be for Bu3a to renew its vibrancy. After an enforced period of
reduced activity, we need to get our members back into our groups and activities. We have to guard against inactivity
being our new standard as this is not a healthy state for retired people to assume. I know that these things are about
personal motivation and as a rule we u3aers tend to be more inclined towards keeping active than many others in our
age range. Can I make a plea to all members to push themselves to join in with our activities in order that our Group
Coordinators can keep their groups running with viable member numbers. Let’s not allow inactivity to be our new
approach to living.
Our 25th Anniversary Celebration is on the 6th October at the Holiday Inn at Dodworth; it’s a venue that can
accommodate large numbers. It will be a great evening of entertainment and a chance to look back over 25 very special
years. The Social Committee have sent a Happy Birthday card to us all on Page 5. A nice touch, I think!
Take care.
Alan.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS TO 2021 WINTER BUZZ:
FRIDAY 14TH NOVEMBER
2
Vice-Chairman and Buzz Editor: Derek Bacon
Welcome to the Autumn 2021 Buzz
I hope that you enjoy it
Well, it looks like the Chairman’s concerted effort to get rid of me as Editor has ended in a masterstroke (something
he certainly never managed during my recent visit to chat to the Woolley golfers!) Yes, I’ve been pensioned off in
favour of youth and talent! I suppose I can’t really complain because the original plan was for me to just produce two
or three Buzzes, but I got a bit ‘hooked’ and found myself getting a real buzz out of editing our ‘Buzz’!
I spent ridiculous amounts of time trying to put the first few editions together on a 15” laptop and panicked when I
couldn’t understand why things kept ‘scrambling’ or disappearing completely. But I am pleased that I’ve had a go at
being Editor because it was a complete leap into the unknown for me, but as with everything, persevere a bit, buy a
bigger, better computer and you vaguely improve.
It took me totally by surprise in June when, completely out-of-the-blue,
my good flautist friend, Helen Simms, said to me at the end of a Flutes
Galore meeting in my garden, “Derek, Iain and I will take over The Buzz
from you”. I looked at her to see if it was a joke but no, she was serious.
Helen then told me more about her and husband Iain’s impressive lives,
so The Buzz is moving to two people who, like me, believe fervently in the
u3a movement, but they actually know what they’re doing rather than
having to fumble their way through like me.
Helen is the superb lead flautist of Flutes Galore and when we are playing
a piece of music, it’s common for me to find that she is suddenly playing
my part to try to help me get back to some correct notes and timing. Helen
does everything well! She even keeps her eyes open and smiles properly
when having her photograph taken (right); I close my eyes and just look
“weird” (my youngest granddaughter’s favourite word to describe me!)
See more on Helen and Iain on Page 8.
So, this is my last Buzz on my own. The plan is for me to lead the team for the Winter 2021 Buzz as a joint effort. Helen
and Iain will lead the team for the Spring 2022 edition and they will take over for Summer 2022.
This Buzz contains something really special – the Group Activities Calendar! We’ve not had that for a long time thanks
to Covid putting paid to our meetings for 18 months. Hilary Newton puts this together and my thanks go to her.
With indoor groups about to re-start, we can look forward in the next Buzz to reports from them. In this edition, there
are reports and photos mainly from our outdoor groups which have been going now for a couple of months.
I was disappointed and frustrated to be told by one member that of all the 25 or so hour-long presentations that we
have had on Zoom during lockdown and that have appeared in the Buzz, few were of interest. I personally think that
the meetings have been a huge success, so, undeterred by criticism, reports from six more meetings appear in this
Buzz.
On a happier note, I did enjoy a light-hearted telling-off by fabulous Bu3a member Sheila Metcalfe (Pp 6 & 15) for not
having a bee on the front cover, as was the tradition, apparently, before I came along to ruin it all. I have made amends.
As a naive magazine editor, I still believe that all 1,200 members read every word of the Buzz. I could just possibly be
wrong, so if you are only going to skim through it, please do give a few minutes to George Morgan (P21), Mike
Mallinson (P27) and Chris Green/David Meredith (P31).
Breaking news as this goes to press is Mac McKechnie’s enforced resignation as Coordinator of Walking Cricket due to
illness. This Buzz carries an article on Walking Cricket and back cover tributes to him from Dickie Bird and Joe Root.
Please have a read of them. Mac has been sensational! He will be much missed.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS TO 2021 WINTER BUZZ:
FRIDAY 14TH NOVEMBER
3
U3A DAY – WEDNESDAY 2ND JUNE 2021
Some of the u3a members outside the Lightbox on Eldon Street with the Mayor of Barnsley. Left to right:
Maureen McKechnie, Sharon Goodyear, Indu Kumar, Jo Kasparek, Hannah Lucas, Derek Bacon, Sue Stokes,
Trudy Atkinson, The Mayor (Cllr Caroline Makinson), Alan Swann, Beryl Toplis.
Passers-by had little chance of
escaping from this formidable
bunch of Hannah, Sue, Trudy, Jo
and Sharon who were distributing
our Bu3a promotion leaflet and old
copies of The Buzz to anyone
interested in improving their
retirement.
First national u3a day
For many u3as, June 2nd was a day of sunshine, excitement and fun. Admittedly, it was not the “all singing, all dancing”
national event we had hoped for due to Covid-restrictions still in place. However, many u3a members were out in blue
and yellow in their high streets, marketplaces, beaches, parks, libraries and community centres with eye-catching
displays, offering information and insights into what u3a has to offer.
Approximately 12% of the movement are known to have been involved either physically within their local
communities, or online.
Media platforms were rich with references to u3a both before, during and after June 2nd. Many u3as had interviews
on local radio stations, using the opportunity to raise awareness of how members had been supported throughout the
pandemic and their aspirations for the return of face-to-face activities.
There were articles in local newspapers, community newsletters as well as spreads in national and regional periodicals
such as Yorkshire Life and The Dalesman.
There are stories from individual u3as to be found at www.sources.u3a.org.uk/2021/06/21/u3a-day-celebration.
Sue Stokes
PR and Media Advisors Support
4
U3A DAY – WEDNESDAY 2ND JUNE 2021
This was our entry in the Darton Arrow June edition for U3A Day
BARNSLEY U3A
FOR THE RETIRED AND SEMI-RETIRED
130 brilliant Activity Groups
throughout Barnsley and Penistone offering
friendship, learning and sheer fun to those who
have reached retirement age
We have just heard that the Roadmap out of Covid is delayed by another four weeks until Monday 19th July.
So our frustration continues and the caption on the front of our Spring Buzz magazine,
‘Bye-Bye Covid-19’ proves to be ‘jumping the gun’ itself! We now twiddle our thumbs for another month!
The highlight of June was National U3A Day! Barnsley U3A
had a stand outside the ‘Lightbox’ (library) and we spoke
to hundreds of people about our activities, handed out
Buzzes and leaflets, but the big moment was when the
Mayor, Cllr Caroline Makinson, cut the cake (left) as we
celebrated our 25th Anniversary!
The photo shows National U3A Day coordinator, Sue
Stokes, our Vice-Chairman, Derek Bacon, The Mayor, and our Chairman, Alan Swann.
Looking for new activities, new friends, new routines in your monthly calendar, some escape after lockdown?
Call 01226 891130 or 0751 220 6285 or go to our website ‘Barnsley U3A’ to explore and have a read of ‘The Buzz’.
5
IT’S THE ‘BUZZ’ WORD Sheila Metcalfe
Our ‘Buzz’ magazine seems to improve with each edition - but have you ever wondered how it got its name? It may
be of interest to our newer members.
Well, when I first joined our u3a in 2006, technology was not as sophisticated as it is now, therefore the magazine was
a simple black and white, four-paged, no-frills monthly publication and it was called the ‘Barnsley U3A Monthly
Newsletter’.
The newly appointed Editor back then decided that its title needed updating and he ran a competition for members
to come up with a more modern and original name.
I was Development Officer at the time and whenever I visited groups I was amazed at the vibrancy and enthusiasm of
Coordinators and members of all the groups. There was always a tangible ‘Buzz’ and I would mentally give each group
a mark out of 10 for the ‘Buzz Factor’. This gave me the idea for calling the magazine ‘The Barnsley Buzz’ and it was
chosen as the winning entry. Some of the more established members refused to call it by that name at first and still
referred to it as The Monthly Newsletter! However, as new members joined, it soon became apparent that ‘The
Barnsley Buzz’ was here to stay. The word ‘Barnsley’ was dropped after a while as it was felt that just simply ‘The Buzz’
rolled off the tongue more readily. I didn’t mind that at all, but I did feel a little short-changed when the bumble bee
logo disappeared! (note to Editor!) (Point taken! See front cover! Ed.)
I won a bottle of Blue Nun as a prize and there is a photograph of me, somewhere in the archives, being presented
with it at one of the monthly meetings.
I have great admiration for the hard work that is put into the production of the ‘Buzz’ magazine and feel quite proud
to be a little part of it when I see the name on the front cover.
HERE ARE SOME 50 BU3A NEW MEMBERS. WELCOME!
Brian Morris, Iain Simms, Aline Picken, Heather Lindsey, David
Parsons, Angela Bennett, Anne Prew, Jean Graham, Bev Battye, Jill
Bartrop, Michelle Kettley, Pamela Lynn, John Pepper, Pat Wilson, Pat
Maw, Elizabeth Richardson, Joyce Lowery, Derek Lowery, Christine
Kumar, Jeff Sawyer, Gloria Irani Lewis, Louise Mullaney, Dawn Godley,
Janet Taylor, Alan Pickin, George Morgan, Susan McKenning, Michael
Mellor, Peter McCormick, Susan Widdup, Stephen Coustol, Ray
Harvey, Alan Jones, Derek Goodliffe, Sally Burgess, Gill Dent, Thelma
Hampson, Marie Cook, Lorraine Dale, Karen Barrass, Vernon Hayes,
Cliff Peat, Ray Watson, Gillian Hirst, Susan Ribbons, Steve Ribbons and
Patricia Waistnidge.
6
7
THE NEW INCOMING BUZZ EDITORS - IAIN and HELEN SIMMS
Iain was born in Liverpool and moved to Nantwich as a teenager. With a
strong accent he was perpetually being asked if he had known the Beatles.
Although Paul lived just round the corner, he had never met him.
After University and an MSc in Food Science he joined a major bakery
company and they promptly sent him to the National Bakery School to
learn about baking. A few years working shifts in a huge bakery convinced
him that he didn’t like nights and he became a Lecturer at Manchester
Metropolitan University. In his 40 years there he taught a plethora of
subjects including Microbiology and Food Policy, Baking and Food
Technology.
On retirement he moved to Silkstone Common with Helen to assist with
childcare, watching eighteen inches become six and a half feet and driving them
to all the activities that children like to do.
Covid put an end to most of the childcare and he could concentrate on the
allotment and on learning to play the octave mandola. He plays rhythm guitar in
a Folk ensemble and loves playing at ceilidhs.
Iain is an inveterate jam maker and rarely do people visit without being
sent away with a sample of the latest conserve.
Interesting fact: Iain was part of the 1994 Guinness world record team that produced
a giant pancake (photo) outside Rochdale Town Hall to celebrate 100 years of the
Cooperative movement. It was 49ft 3in in diameter, 1 inch thick, weighed 3 tons and
required two cranes to flip it over!
Helen was born in Gorton, Manchester, left school at 16 with few qualifications and began work as a
kitchen assistant for a pensioners’ community centre. Her cooking and baking skills have been
attributed to this early start. However, what it really means is that she can peel and chop an entire
sack of onions in 15 minutes.
Inevitably, she realised that an education was required if she was to move
on from chopping and slicing, so enrolled at a local college to take ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels. It came
as a massive shock to succeed and move on to the University of York to study Medieval
History.
A postgraduate diploma in Business Administration followed and on to
the ladder of academic administration, firstly, at Manchester Metropolitan University then at the
Royal Northern College of Music, culminating in the dizzy heights of Deputy Head of Academic
Administration. The brief two years as a COBOL computer programmer will be brushed under the
carpet.
In retirement in Silkstone Common she embraced childcare duties and just about got the hang of it before Covid made
them too dangerous.
She plays two different types of flute, a wooden simple system instrument to play in a ceilidh band,
and a silver flute to play a greater variety of pieces in the U3A Flutes Galore and the Barnsley Flute
Choir. It’s been reported that she’ll play anything anywhere, but members of Flutes Galore know her
preference is to play everything at the speed of a fast jig.
Interesting fact: There is no interesting fact. She cannot compete with a giant pancake!
(There are MANY amazing facts! Including raising £15,000 for ‘Mind’ in just one year! Ed.)
8
MONTHLY MEETING via ‘ZOOM’, Monday 10th May
‘OUR SOLAR SYSTEM’ presented by BILL JONES
Another outstanding ‘Monthly Meeting’ starts our Autumn Buzz reports on the Zoom meetings designed to keep us
all together during what we hoped would be the end of Covid restrictions on our u3a lives.
Bill Jones spoke to us about our place in space. He was ‘caught’ by astronomy in 1957 when he managed to spot the
Russian ‘Sputnik’ passing over his house in low space orbit. In the period of 64 years since then, this simple radio
transmitter that stayed up there for a couple of months has evolved into men on the moon and hundreds of probes
that are sending back amazing photographs and data from deepest space.
He began his talk by telling us that we are all stars! We, and everything about us, is made from material from the
‘insides’ of stars which ‘used up all their fuel’ then exploded as a ‘supernova’. The left-over gas, dust etc. from
supernovas ‘clumps’ together under the action of gravity. When the main clump is massive enough, another ‘sun’
ignites under nuclear fusion. Our sun (Sol) is a third generation sun. I trust that you are still with me!?
The Sun accounts for 99.9% of the mass of
the Solar system, including the minor
planets, asteroids, Kuiper Belt objects and
Oort Cloud fragments. You are still with
me!?
I didn’t know a great deal about the Oort Cloud because I’d never heard of it before,
but Bill told us that it holds trillions of comets and he showed us Comet PanStarrs 2013;
its blue tail is the ‘ion tail’, susceptible to solar magnetic forces and the white tail is the
‘dust tail’ which is straighter and reflects light. You are still with me!?
He enthused about man’s many successful attempts to
explore via spacecraft including Voyager 1, launched in
1977. It moved away from the plane of the planets after
visiting Saturn in 1980 and left the Heliosphere in 2012.
It is now about 14,500,000,000 miles away from Earth.
In 300 years’ time it will reach the Oort Cloud and may
take 40,000 years to pass through it. Voyager 2 visited Uranus and Neptune after
Saturn and has only recently left the Heliosphere; it is now about 12,000,000,000 miles from Barnsley! That’s further
than Sheffield! Following me?
The Hubble Space Telescope, during its 30 years of peering out at the farthest
depths of the Universe, has enabled humanity to witness countless amazing sites
from here on Earth. At first glance, Hubble is from a different technological era and
yet it continues to produce dazzling science and has global recognition. Space
shuttle crews serviced Hubble five times between 1993 and 2009, replacing old
equipment and making repairs. This region of the Carina Nebula (right) is known as
‘Mystic Mountain’; we see, apparently, the chaotic activity at the top of a three-
light-year-tall pillar of gas and dust that is being eaten away by the brilliant light
from nearby bright stars. Jets of gas are also being fired from within the pillar by
infant stars. Get it?
Here was a man with great knowledge and the ability to keep stunning us with facts and figures that make us question
everything that we were taught as children, when so little was known about our place in the universe.
9
PRESENTATION HOUR via ‘ZOOM’, Monday 24th May
‘MARITIME VICTORIA’ presented by MARTEN KOOPMANS, written up by Jo Kasparek
Marten, of Ilkley u3a, described himself as a rusty ‘boat’ologist or Retired Naval Architect.
He began his talk with the changes in Shipbuilding from the 1800’s to 1900’s when huge
advances were made; ships were converted from wood to iron, wind-powered to steam-
powered, from sails to paddles and then to propeller.
The only way to transport goods, people and information was by
ship. By 1890 the Royal Navy was the largest in the world with twice as many battleships as the
next two largest navies. Half of the world Merchant Fleet - approximately 34,000 ships – sailed
under the Red Ensign (right). Britain had a total of over 300,000 seafarers, and about 1/3 of these
died while at work at sea.
The Industrial Revolution in Britain brought new techniques
in iron production, power sources and machining tools.
Boats began to be powered by steam alongside sail as in the
Savannah in 1819 (left). Later, boats were fully powered by
steam turbines, as shown by the 1894 Turbinia (right) which
could reach a speed of 34 knots.
In the mid 1800’s, sail-only propulsion of ships began to be overtaken by paddles as seen
on this early paddle steamer (left). These were vulnerable to attack as they were only
partly submerged and the next step was the introduction of propellers. This device used
a rotating hub with radiating blades to transform rotational power into a linear thrust to
propel the ship through water. Some events that led the development of shipping were
the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, and the growing demand for faster ships to trade in tea, wool and fertiliser.
Marten talked about the science of shipbuilding, mentioning William Froude who was the first to formulate reliable
laws for the resistance that water offers to ships and for predicting their stability, and Osborne Reynolds whose studies
in heat transfer between solids and fluids brought improvements in boiler and condenser design.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel was also an innovator in shipping, especially in the size
of ships. In 1838 he built the 72 metres-long ‘Great Western’ (left) – a paddle-
driven wooden ship, and in 1843 he launched a propeller-driven iron ship. the 98
metres-long ‘Great Britain’ (below right). This magnificent ship is now in Bristol
Dock and is Bristol’s top tourist attraction.
Brunel’s largest ship was the 210 metres long ‘Great Eastern’ which could carry 4000 passengers and was the largest
afloat until 1899. This ship laid the first successful Trans-Atlantic cable in 1866, more
than 2,000 miles of cable at a depth of 3,000 metres, which enabled messages to be
transmitted in minutes instead of days. The topmast of the ‘Great Eastern’ is now a
flagpole at the Kop end of Anfield Football Stadium.
Regarding Maritime Safety, between 1861 and 1870, 5,826 shipwrecks were
recorded around the UK, causing more than 8,000 deaths, mainly due to overloading
and poor maintenance. In 1872, Samuel Plimsoll took up maritime safety concerns in Parliament but the proposed
amendments to the Merchant Shipping Act were shelved by Disraeli. There was a public outcry, and the amendments
finally came into force in 1890. Other improvements to Maritime Safety were the construction of various lighthouses
around the coast of the UK, and the formation of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1854.
Marten’s final slide posed this question: “So what did the Victorians do for maritime shipping?” We now know! A lot!
10PRESENTATION HOUR via ‘ZOOM’, Monday 7th June
‘WHO KILLED THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER?’ presented by BETH RUDKIN
Following our Bu3a AGM on Monday 7th June, 2021, Beth Rudkin asked the question “Who killed
the princes in the tower?” Beth gave us information on four possibilities and we then decided the
definitive answer by Zoom poll.
Firstly, the facts. King Edward IV died on 9 April 1483, quite suddenly from an
unknown illness, but he was overweight and did not live a healthy lifestyle.
Edward was married to Elizabeth Woodville, a commoner. She had 10 children,
of whom 6 survived. Their two eldest boys were Edward, aged 12 and 9-year
old Richard, seen in this portrait (left). Before his death, Edward IV had made a
codicil to his will which made the princes’ uncle (right), also Richard, Duke of
Gloucester, Lord Protector. Uncle Richard pledged his loyalty to the now King Edward V in York. The
young king travelled from Ludlow to London with his tutor and uncle, Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers
(left), along with an armed escort. Uncle Richard now has charge of the boy, and coronation
preparations begin, robes are ordered and coins are minted. A little later, uncle Richard sends for
Edward’s younger brother to join Edward in the Royal Palace apartments inside the Tower of London.
Although Elizabeth Woodville is unhappy about giving up her younger son she has no choice.
The next suspect to come along is the Duke of Buckingham, Henry Stafford (right), who is married
to Catherine Woodville and so he is also the princes’ uncle. He was side-lined by the dead King
Edward IV, but now offers his help to the Lord Protector. But did he have his eye on seizing the
throne? Uncle Richard sees the Woodville family as a threat to him gaining the throne and
confiscates much of their land, giving it to the Duke of Buckingham – is he buying Buckingham’s
assistance?
Earl Rivers, the Duke of Buckingham and Uncle Richard are seen having a meal together. Following this, Richard has
Rivers and some others arrested and charged with corruption. They are sent to Pontefract and later put to death. The
young princes are seen playing in the grounds of the Tower up to July 1483 but they disappear and are never seen
again.
About this time, Robert Stillington, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, ‘throws a spanner in the works’ as he claims that
Edward IV had been previously married to Eleanor Butler and therefore his marriage to Elizabeth was bigamous and
the princes were illegitimate. Although there seems to be little evidence to support this, Richard is now crowned King
Richard III.
Some years later, both Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck were pretenders to the throne, claiming to be the grown
up Richard, the younger prince, who had escaped overseas, but neither case was proved.
The last suspect is Margaret Beaufort (left), a descendant of Edward III, a formidable woman and a
great politician who played a major part in the Wars of the Roses. She passed a disputed claim to the
throne for her son Henry Tudor. It is unknown how she could have sufficient power to gain access to
the princes, but her son took the throne when Richard III was killed, becoming Henry VII.
Could it be that the princes died from natural causes? They were under the care of Doctor Argentine
and may have died of any childhood disease or the plague. Two bodies were discovered in 1674 which
are said to be the brothers, but no DNA test has been carried out. In 1502 Sir James Tyrell confessed to being
responsible for their murder on the order of the Lord Protector and John Dighton also admitted to killing the boys.
So for the poll, we have four alternatives. The princes were killed by: Richard III or The Duke of Buckingham or
Margaret Beaufort or died of Natural Causes
The overall decision was Richard 111 (he’s the one whose body was discovered in a car park in Leicester) with 42% of
the vote.
11PRESENTATION HOUR via ‘ZOOM’, Monday 14th June
‘THE PRE-RAPHAELITE MOVEMENT IN VICTORIAN BRITAIN’ presented by ANGIE GRAIN
RUDKIN
It was a real pleasure to welcome the Chair of Ilkley u3a, Angie Grain, to give our 21st and final ‘Presentation Hour’
talk of this long lockdown period.
Angie runs an Art Appreciation group in Ilkley and no members of the group have any special art skills. She is “the
typical u3a non-expert” who wants to know a bit more about something that has escaped her previous learning. She
decided to look into the Pre-Raphaelite Movement founded in 1848 and fell in love with it. But she accepts that this is
very much ‘marmite’ art; you probably love it or hate it!
-------------------------------------------------------------
In Victorian Britain, a revolution was
taking place against the Royal Academy
of Arts. Academy students Dante
Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais
and William Holman Hunt formed a
secret group known as the Pre-
Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB).
The Academy promoted Renaissance
master Raphael as the ‘ideal’ style of
painting, and there was a trend of
painting mundane ‘every day’ scenes. The PRB decided to rebel
against these standards by taking inspiration from 15th Century
Italian artists - before Raphael, hence the term ‘Pre-Raphaelite’.
The art was mainly of religion and literature, and portraits of
people in nature.
After initial outrage against their works, the PRB became highly
influential, with other artists joining the movement. Pre-
Raphaelite paintings are often realistic with hyper-detailed
backgrounds. Scenes from Shakespeare and Tennyson were
popular and many of the objects in the paintings were common
symbols in literature.
A Rossetti is easy to spot as he rotated the same four models
Elizabeth Siddal, Fanny Cornforth, Alexa Wilding and Jane Morris in his
work - creating a muse with long reddish hair, a signature square jaw,
long, straight nose, sturdy, long neck and full, pouty
lips. Usually, she’s heavy-lidded with a dreamy,
distant look in her eyes. Her face shows a
melancholy, yet calm expression with a wistful gaze
that seems as if you’ve just caught her in the middle
of an otherworldly experience. Her ethereal beauty
and billowing garments, occasionally in a flowery
setting, make her look like a lone maiden from a
medieval fairy tale.
The brotherhood's early doctrines were to have
genuine ideas to express, to study Nature attentively, to sympathise with what is serious and
heartfelt in previous art and, most indispensable of all, to produce thoroughly good pictures and statues.
One of the most famous PRB pictures is ‘Ophelia’ (above, left) by Millais. The scene depicted is from
Shakespeare's Hamlet, in which Ophelia, driven out of her mind when her father is murdered by her lover Hamlet,
falls into a stream and drowns. The model, Elizabeth Siddal, was required to pose over a four-month period in a
bath full of water kept warm by lamps underneath. The lamps went out on one occasion, causing her to catch a
severe cold. Her father threatened the artist with legal action until he agreed to pay the doctor's bills.
Could there be a similar project in one of our Bu3a Art groups? Any willing volunteers out there?
12MONTHLY MEETING via ‘ZOOM’, Monday 5th July
BARNSLEY’S ‘ROUTED’ PROJECT presented by KATRINA WHALE
celebrating stories of Barnsley people and places
Katrina Whale has been working in a combination of community arts and
education settings for over 25 years; 17 of these years have been focused on
work in and around Barnsley in an arts management capacity. She is
passionate about developing opportunities for people across the community,
particularly those living with challenging circumstances, to engage with
uplifting creative experiences that are outside their usual day to day lives.
At the tail end of summer 2020, a ‘Routed’ video trailer was filmed in Barnsley Town
Centre. It captures people working, shopping, hanging out in cafes and generally
enjoying making use of the town. Katrina played us the trailer which is the Project’s
way of introducing us all to ‘Routed’, which is obviously a play on the two meanings
and spellings of the word.
Barnsley Town Centre is changing fast and the
opening of the new town centre on September 9 th is only a month away now.
There are striking and exciting new buildings that are changing the landscape
and providing new opportunities. New communities of people from around
the globe are now living in and around the town centre and are creating an
ever-growing rich cultural diversity. ‘Routed’ is a project to capture these
exciting changes and a celebration of what has gone before. The project will capture this ‘moment in time’ and
set it against a backdrop of stories, memories and achievements from the town’s rich industrial past. Katrina
explained how they would like you to share your memories of life, work and recreation in Barnsley Town Centre.
These can be stories from yesterday or from many years ago. They want to build a patchwork of stories of what
Barnsley Town Centre was and is evolving into, and share and celebrate it with the community through the project
exhibition at Experience Barnsley and a town centre trail. They will be working with a variety of groups across the
town centre to gather their stories and will also be taking their ‘pop-up’ front room around the town so that we
can visit it and tell our stories. We can also share our town centre story by leaving a message on the ‘What’s your
story?’ page. What is your story? What memory can you share?
Alan Swann immediately recalled ‘The Barnsley Six’
‘The Barnsley Six’, one of the UK’s first mass public running events to be
organised around a town centre, was the biggest road race in the country until
the London Marathon started in 1981. It was an annual event that started in 1974
and took place on an August Sunday, starting and finishing in front of the Town
Hall with a two-lap course along Shambles Street, up Lancaster Road, back
through the town centre, down Eldon Street before turning back up the ‘killer’
Old Mill Lane and then left to the Town Hall. This was a three-mile lap which had
to be completed twice. Any idea who this old guy is (right)?
The race became really well known very quickly and soon attracted thousands of entries
from across the country to add to the many local athletes. I had seen the press coverage
about the race and decided that I needed to give it a go on about the third year of its
running. Being unsure whether I could run twice up the incredibly steep Old Mill Lane, I
recall some weeks before the race, running through from Ardsley to the Town Hall and
completing the double circuit before running back home again.
Two weeks later I stood on the start line with thousands of others waiting for the starting
gun; an amazing feeling and the start of a running career which was a significant part of my life over the next 15 years.
“Great memories!”
13MONTHLY MEETING via ‘ZOOM’, Monday 2nd August
THE ELDON STREET HERITAGE ACTION ZONE PROJECT presented by DR TEGWEN ROBERTS
This was yet another tremendous Zoom presentation for the August Monthly Meeting. Dr Tegwen Roberts (above) of
Barnsley Museums is leading the Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) project to revitalise Eldon Street. Dr Roberts has a PhD
in Human Geography with emphasis on city regeneration in Hull and proof of her talent and skill can be seen in her
work as Barnsley’s leader of the now-completed, national award-winning Elsecar Heritage Action Zone.
With a £4million budget to improve Eldon Street, which at present looks tired and shabby, she has the task of making
us proud again of this historic part of town, which dates back to medieval times. The new work focuses on the western
side of the street running from the bottom of Regent Street and the Transport Interchange to the bottom of Market
Hill. The map (top left) shows clearly the main buildings involved. A lot of TLC is needed to make the many independent
businesses here appear attractive and welcoming and to make them financially strong.
The main site, of course, is The Civic, built in 1878, “an amazing building”,
according to Dr Roberts, which was once The Mechanics Institute at the
front and a theatre behind. It will be good to see the main entrance to the
theatre on Eldon Street rather than hidden away at present on Hanson
Street, by Mandela Gardens; such difficult access, there. The picture (left)
show how magnificent this building could be as a historic contrast to the
new modern town centre opposite it.
The Civic is geographically at the centre of Eldon Street but all the property
owners on either side, such as Parkway Cinema, Ben Harral, Leslie Francis
and Globe Travel, have access to grants that will help them restore historic
features, including traditional shop fronts, and bring empty upper floors
back into use.
Regent Street South is also within the plan and extra shops, resurfacing,
lighting and CCTV cameras are envisaged here.
The picture (left) at the bottom of the historic Arcade shows how unloved
the area has become. In order to compete with the multi-million-pound
development that will be opening at the beginning of September it needs
this timely injection of vision and money!
The Eldon Street Project focuses on the western side of the street but in
August, contractors moved in (left) to demolish the building opposite
Parkway Cinema and next to our partners, Age UK, to give greater access
down Midland Road to the new Glassworks area.
Dr Roberts’ 4-year plan is well and truly underway and we wish her and
her team every success.
Our sincerest thanks to Dr Roberts for talking to us.
14WEDNESDAY RAMBLERS Stephen Wild
On 23rd June, the Wednesday Ramblers met at the Station Inn, Silkstone
Common, to celebrate the retirement from the group as coordinators, of Dave
and Helen Webber and their deputies Dave and Carol Osborne. The group
presented gifts and flowers as a thank you for all their wonderful hard work
over the past 21 years!
The weather was kind
and after a lovely walk
everyone arrived back
at the Station Inn for a
well-deserved drink
and a pie and pea lunch under cover near the ‘Love Shacks’!
Dessert was a fabulous Chrissie White cake that cleverly
depicted walking boots on a trail through the grass.
Sheila Metcalfe, who organized the event, also provided the post lunch entertainment on
ukulele with a song written especially for the occasion accompanied by Linda Wild, John
Pearson and myself. After two more songs, a game of Mr. and Mrs. followed which revealed
just how much Dave and Helen know about each other!
The large turnout for the celebration showed just how much they were appreciated and
although they will not be leading the group, Dave, Helen, Dave and Carol will still be very
much a part of it and will join us on future walks.
WEDNESDAY RAMBLERS New Coordinator: Sheila Metcalfe
The two Daves, Helen and Carol have been exemplary in their roles over two decades and are a hard act to follow.
This long-established group was in danger of folding if a replacement Coordinator couldn’t be found.
I couldn’t let this happen so I have now taken over as Coordinator of the group. I held the role for a period of time a
few years ago so I know what it entails, and the hardest task is putting together a calendar of the forthcoming 13 walks
early enough in time for publication in the next quarterly Buzz. For this reason, I have decided to simplify things by
only asking for volunteers to lead the next 3 walks, then a subsequent 3 walks after that and so on. This obviously
means that it is impossible to have a comprehensive walk schedule published in the Buzz but, using the Beacon system,
it is a simple procedure to inform all members of the group of the forthcoming walks.
This by no means implies that the group is a private group. It remains open to ALL members of our U3A, although I
must add that for the moment, with 42 names on the register, we cannot accept any new walkers, but if you are
interested, please give me a call and I will put your name on a waiting list. My number is on the contact list, along with
those of the newly appointed deputies, Jeff and Jenny Sawyer. Our grateful thanks go to them, also.
I think that walking has never been as popular due to it being about the only thing we could do during lockdown and
many people want to continue. It would be great if any members could set up a new walking group, perhaps on a
different day of the week. I would willingly help and advise.
Coordinator: Hilary Newton
Regrettably, I have to advise that Flix@6 will not be resuming until at least the New Year. As Priory Campus is still
being used as a vaccination centre it is unclear at this stage when we may be able to use the rooms at the venue.
I will keep my eye on things and hopefully we will get back one day in the not too distant future. Watch this space!
15MOTORBIKES Coordinator: Ray Woodhams
When the sun starts shining all
sorts of creatures begin to
emerge, and this year, more
than ever, after a year of
virtual lockdown the Barnsley
and district U3A motorbike
group declared the roads
“open”. We had a record turnout of eleven riders, divided into two separate groups to comply with the “rule of six”,
for our first trip on 15 April. The weather was brilliant and the Peak District kind as ever on the eyes. Since then we
have lost the sympathy of the weather gods, and three rides have been cancelled due to rain forecasts. Nevertheless
we have found a number of new roads and welcomed some new members as well.
We plan to ride twice a month (first Tuesday and third Thursday) until it
gets too cold. Later in the year we are hoping that we will finally be able
to go on our twice postponed week to Spa in Belgium to enjoy some
continental riding.
Motorcyclists are a mixed group of people, who create different ways to
enjoy our hobby. It was interesting therefore to read an account written
by Tony Williams, a fellow Barnsley U3A member, who is not part of the
Motorbike group, but who clearly enjoys his biking.
“I’ve owned motorbikes for years, since 15 to be exact with a lay-
off when the kids were smaller. When I took up the bikes again, I
wanted to ensure I was riding as safely as possible so joined the
RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) group. The
RoSPA test lasts 3 days so you are continually being monitored to
ensure you’re riding at the highest standard possible. The 1-hour
test is usually overseen by a serving police bike rider / instructor
and there are 3 levels to achieve. We don’t even consider the 4th
which is a fail. Everyone who is on the training is aiming for a Gold
standard ride but a Silver and Bronze are still a high level of achievement. After a long time off the bikes, i.e. during
Covid and winter, it’s good to get out with the guys and do refresher training.” (Tony Williams)
If you ride a motorbike and are interested in joining the group do get in touch, you will be most welcome.
Our brilliant
youngster James
Naylor (87 now?) has
been busy with his
art and these three
recent portraits
unsurprisingly caught
my eye on our Bu3a
Facebook page.
Remarkable, don’t
you think?
16OUT AT LAST, I EMERGE FROM THE PAST! A second anonymous article from a Bu3a member
As I creep out slowly and nervously from the pandemic I reflect on the positive
aspect with gratitude. I discovered new ways of being in contact, from the wonders
of ZOOM to the simple art of letter writing. Family and friends were enormously
kind and loving, not just in a practical way but with emotional support too.
One of my great joys is that as part of my public information role for Al-Anon Family
Groups, I have been able to support others and reach out to people experiencing
the emotional, mental, physical and financial effects of living with a problem
drinker. In zoom meetings I have met members from all over the UK and around
the world and have heard many inspiring shares.
As you may be aware, the problem of excessive drinking has escalated for families during
lockdown, especially for children at home for so long. Alateen (part of Al-Anon) offers support
groups for young people aged 12 -17 whose lives have been affected by another person’s
drinking. Alateen have opened Zoom meetings during the lockdown which are really valuable
as this is a medium they are familiar with. I’ve also been involved in spreading awareness of
Alateen to academies and colleges to inspire any young people affected to seek support.
It may seem a strange thing to say but I am grateful to have an alcoholic in my life. Without
him, I would never have reached out and found the support of Al-Anon Family Groups where
I learned that alcoholism is a disease. The truth is I was seeking help because of the alcoholic
and not for the alcoholic. I soon learned that I didn’t cause the drinking; I cannot control the
drinking and nor can I cure the alcoholic.
I no longer feel powerless. I’ve learned to trust again and am in a position where I feel I can support others and give
something back as I continue my journey in recovery. Just for today, my son is sober and happily married, with a family.
If you have been affected by someone else’s drinking, you will find help and support in Al-Anon. Al-Anon have a free
helpline number, a comprehensive website and meetings are held across the UK and internationally.
In loving kindness J.
Al-Anon Family Groups UK & Eire, 57B Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0BB, 020 7403 088
Website: www.al-anonuk.org.uk Free and Confidential Helpline 0800 0086 811
‘THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING…’ Development Officer: Lynn Maloney
Many of our members love to walk. Our brilliant walking group Coordinators and
walk leaders go to great lengths to ensure that their walks are interesting and
safe. Thank you to all these members for the wonderful work you do.
However, there is still room for more walks, and we would like to introduce you
all to a new way of organising walking groups. These 10 walks need a leader but
to minimise the preparation we suggest that we have regular walk circuits that
are repeated by the leader and his/her group every one or two months.
Some of the circuits so far suggested are:
1 Anglers Park / Wintersett 2 Cannon Hall
3 Newmillerdam 4 Old Moor
5 Pugneys 6 Rabbit Ings
7 Trans-Pennine Trail 8 Wentworth Castle Gardens
9 Worsbrough Country Park 10 Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Repeating the same walk gives us the opportunity to watch the scenery and environment changes over the seasons.
If you are interested in leading one of these regular walks, please contact Lynn Maloney (see Contact List). Perhaps
get together with a friend and share the leadership. This way, holidays or illness would not stop a walk going ahead.
17ZOOM QUIZ Coordinator: Vanda Outram
The fortnightly Thursday evening Zoom Quiz is one of Bu3a’s social
groups. It gives members a chance to be part of a team and pit their
quizzing skills (or if you’re like me non quizzing skills) against other teams
from the comfort of your own front room or holiday home. It’s fun, it’s a
laugh and keeps us away from the tele for a couple of hours. There’s also
the opportunity to set your own Quiz with all the technical support you
require.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES.
August 5th and 19th
September 2nd, 16th and 30th
October 14th and 28th
November 18th
December 2nd and 16th
TIME: 6PM FOR 6.30 START
If you would like to take part in the Zoom quiz,
my details are on the Contact List.
Go on!
ZOOM QUIZ - 27th May 2021 - Questions set by Brian Crossland answers on Pp 39/40/41
Round 1 - Quickfire Round
1 - What was the name of Steptoe and son’s horse?
2 - Mobile Phones - we hear about 3G, 4G, 5G, etc, but what does G stand for?
3 - How many children does Queen Elizabeth II have?
4 - Name the children of Queen Elizabeth II
5 - Vehicles need an MOT test every year after 3 years old. What do the initials MOT stand for?
6 - The MOT ‘office’ has changed name several times. What is the current name of this government office?
7 - Remember Hergé’s adventures of Tintin? What was the name of Tintin’s dog?
8 - What nationality was cartoonist Hergé ?
9 - In the late 1960s, who sang ‘Let the Heartaches Begin’ ?
10 - Bill Owen played Compo in ‘Last of the Summer Wine’. What was Compo’s surname?
11 - If someone has an eye test and is diagnosed with hyperopia (or hypermetropia), what is wrong with them?
12 - In a TV series, comedian Susan Calman tours the UK in a camper-van. What was the name of the camper-van?
13 - In an orchestra, in which section would we find the clarinet, oboe, bassoon and saxophone?
14 - Which poet wrote about ‘a host of golden daffodils’?
15 - John Lennon wrote ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, inspired by his childhood. What was ‘Strawberry Fields’?
16 - At the start of a game of snooker, what colour ball is placed in the centre of the table?
17 - In the early 1960s, which device was invented by Douglas Englebart, then prototyped by William English?
18 - What is the UK size of men’s shoes equivalent to EU size 41?
19 - If a car holds 45.5 litres of petrol, how many gallons is that?
20 - At what temperature are the values in Fahrenheit and Celsius the same?
18Round 2
Round 3 - Remember This?
1 How many presidents did the USA have between 1969 and 1989? Name them
2 When did American performer Michael Jackson die? How old was he when he died?
3 Blue Peter had a garden developed alongside the London TV Centre.
a - Name the gardener who designed the Blue Peter Garden
b - In what year did the Blue Peter Garden start? [within 3 years either way]
c - In what year was it (first) vandalised? [within 3 years either way]
4 In what year was the Berlin Wall opened up?
5 ‘The Goodies’ first appeared on TV in 1970. Name them. Complete their three-word song title: Black ? ?
6 In 1980, Mount St Helens suffered a series of volcanic eruptions, ending with a major explosive eruption.
a - In which US state is Mount St Helens?
b - In which month did these eruptions start?
c - In which month did the major explosive eruption take place?
7 In the 1960’s, the UK Government set a maximum speed limit on all unrestricted roads.
a - What was that maximum speed limit?
b - What was the name of the Minister of Transport who initially introduced this on a 4-month trial in 1965
c - In July 1967, which new Minister of Transport made this permanent?
8 Potpourri:
a - What do we call a knot which makes a loop in the middle of a length of rope?
b - What is the general meaning of ‘potpourri’?
c - What is the literal translation from the French ‘pot-pourri’
9 Who is credited with being the founder of the modern frozen food industry? Is it:
a - Mr Ross b - Mr Birdseye c - Mr Findus d - Mr Bosch
10 In which city was this photograph (right) taken?
19DO YOU FANCY WINNING A FABULOUS EMAILED BU3A PEN FROM ALAN SWANN?
OF COURSE YOU DO!
Get all these CAPITAL CITIES questions correct. Ask Alan nicely and wait very patiently for his reply.
1. This is the place to get ‘plastered’
2. Put papa in a receptacle
3. Sounds like this raptor comes to ground
4. Reserve a peaceful break
5. Three times the fifth letter
6. Facial hair on the Garden of England
7. Get in supplies for our house
8. Incinerate! Incinerate!
9. A cockney’s pet makes a water barrier
10. Increase your score by 100%
11. Montgomery never watched one of these
12. Famous for lace and sprouts
13. Jam and what?
14. Sounds like the French think Miss Taylor is good
15. Hades sounds very dark
16. A favourite garlic chicken dish
17. Runner Zola’s a nuisance
18. Thump a male fowl
19. Bovine on unwanted stuff in your lawn?
20. High pub
21. Destroy your little Meldrew
22. You need two of these to splash in puddles
23. My French cut short the fruit of the oak
24. Annoyed and disposed of
25. Conflict with a toothed tool
Answers for those wishing to cheat(!!!) are on P42
20TEN-PIN BOWLING (Monday) Coordinator: Alan Swann
GEORGE MORGAN
The star of Monday Ten-pin Bowling,
according to Coordinator Alan Swann, is Alan
Swann, but everyone else there is 100% in
agreement that there’s only one real
contender for the title of ‘Star’ and that is
relatively new member, George Morgan.
Born in 1929, George will soon be celebrating
his 92nd birthday, probably at Carlton Bowl
or maybe at the new bowling alley in the
town centre! He lived as a child at Hoyle Mill,
went to Littleworth Secondary School (who
dreamt up that name for a school!?), now
Outwood Grange.
When he was 14 his dad got him a job as a
mould maker at Wood Brothers Glass works,
one of Barnsley’s staple industries. He George Morgan in his gear and in action at 91!
worked over 40 years there until it closed in
Caught on camera having a cup of coffee half way through
1986. Then seven of them re-opened it as a
their morning at Barnsley Bowl are:
cooperative and re-named it Hoyle Mill June Oates, Sandra Naylor, Bernice Hooley and Brian Hudson.
Engineering. But nature took its course until Alan Swann, Les Roberts, Pam Raynor and Janet Barrett.
there were only three of them left and they Tony Carlisle, Mike Newton and ‘superman’ George Morgan.
sold up. But, of course, the new owner
wanted George to stay on, not the other two,
just George! So he carried on until told by his
doctor that he needed “to rest”; that was at
77! So he had a working life of 61 years.
He has only taken up bowling recently but he
goes three times a week, to our Monday and
Thursday groups and also on Fridays. He was
told by Brian Hudson to join Barnsley u3a and
“it’s the best thing I’ve ever done!”. “It’s
brilliant, you meet so many people, it’s so
much better than sitting at home”.
Home is now Athersley North where he cares
for his FIVE lawns (there’s a story for another
time!) and his flower beds grown for “the
butterflies and bees”. He has a bit of a dodgy
left knee now but all his joints are the ones
God gave him. Big round of applause for
George Morgan, I say!
21WALKING CRICKET Coordinator: Mac McKechnie
Report by the Editor
Barnsley u3a members will recall that the ‘Age Friendly
Barnsley Award’ for January 2021 went to us!
Well, more good news because the award for June 2021
went to an individual rather than an organisation and the
recipient was our Mac McKechnie for his commitment to
Walking Cricket. The photo (left) shows Alec Olsen of
Barnsley Age UK with Mac at the presentation ceremony.
Mac has had a lifetime interest in cricket, as we all know
from the many reports in the Buzz, and started the entire
concept of Walking Cricket at Barnsley u3a. It took off
county-wide soon afterwards thanks to him, with teams in Rotherham, Doncaster, Wakefield and York. Since then,
Mac has promoted the game nationally and been appointed by the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation as Manager of the
newly formed Yorkshire Walking Cricket team. It has been quite a phenomenon and it is a sheer delight to watch our
matches on the all-weather pitch at Dodworth Working Men’s Club
Jane Holliday, Chief Executive Officer of Age UK Barnsley, said: ‘Physical activity is more important than ever for older
people to help with well-being and mobility. This is a great opportunity to celebrate people like Mac who develop
these opportunities alongside those who are discovering new ways of enjoying the sports they love into older age.’
Wendy Lowder, Executive Director Adults and Communities at Barnsley
MBC (left), added: ‘I am so pleased to give this month’s Age Friendly award
to Mac for his passion and commitment in developing cricket as an
accessible sport. Too often people can become disengaged with physical
exercise either due to age or disability. Mac has worked tirelessly to
develop walking cricket in Barnsley, supporting people to re-engage with
the sport and reconnect with people who have a shared love of cricket.
Whether you’re batting, bowling or fielding, it’s a great way to get some
physical exercise and some social time.’
On 2nd June, u3a National Day, Our Bu3a Walking Cricket team played against Doncaster and, as expected, had a
good win, but victories or defeats matter little because it is the enjoyment of playing and of the social environment,
combined with the lack of criticism of poor batting or bowling or of dropped catches, that make Walking Cricket so
valuable to the 60 members of this amazingly successful mixed-sex, mixed-ability group.
This photo shows the Bu3a
team ready to take on (and
beat) Sandbach u3a cricket
team with special guest
Margaret Fiddes (front,
right), the Yorkshire &
Humberside Regional
Trustee with our Sue
Stokes and the Chairman,
Alan Swann, rushed over
from Ardsley to be in the
shot!
22THE ADVENTURES OF THE LONG DISTANCE WALKERS Carol Wood
Fifteen years ago on a weekly walk, one of our group suggested tackling the Coast to Coast long-
distance path. A few were interested and eventually ten of us set off on the train to St Bees in Cumbria
for the start of the walk. We did, as folklore requires, pick up a stone from St
Bees beach ready to throw into the sea at Robin Hood’s Bay. To say the walk was
a baptism of fire is putting it mildly. The Lake District did its soggy best to
dissuade us from finishing. However, we managed the walk despite two weeks
of torrential horizontal rain and mist, and all ended up with soggy boots. One
guy put plastic bags over his socks as his boots were disintegrating.
One stormy day we came across a handwritten sign on a board pointing to a farm offering ‘coffee and scones’ and
‘beware of free-range children'. That sounded great so we trekked down the lane to Ravenseat Farm which is run by
Amanda and Clive Owen with their nine children. We parked ourselves in the barn out of the rain. Amanda and Reuben
brought us drinks and scones, which were gratefully received. Amanda said she almost hadn’t baked as she thought
the bad weather could have discouraged walkers, but experience had taught her that walkers are a hardy bunch. We
are now all avid watchers of their TV programme, ‘Our Yorkshire Farm’ and readers of Amanda's books.
Most of our accommodation on the Coast to Coast was in Youth Hostels, which was a revelation for some of us. A
sense of humour overcame most obstacles and there was always a pub nearby for evening meals. I got a blister on the
ball of my foot on the last but one day but with plenty of padding I made it to Robin Hood’s Bay. What a welcome sight
with a lovely pub overlooking the beach for a celebratory drink or two! My son and his partner were there to welcome
us with hugs and balloons. We threw our stones from St Bees into the sea at Robin Hood’s Bay, as suggested. When
we finally got home it was definitely a case of 'never again'. All our boots were destined for the dustbin.
Two years on, with the memories of the Coast to Coast dimming somewhat, a few of us
decided on other long-distance walks! Since then, we have completed - The Dales Way,
Cotswold Way, Norfolk Coast Path and Peddars Way, The Ridgeway, Northumberland
Coastal path, Yorkshire Wolds Way, Nidderdale Way and the Cumbria Way.
All the walks have had their own qualities and quirks. We met some interesting and fun
people on the way, not least the proprietors of our accommodation. Many were most
helpful by drying out boots and clothing, others less so. Also, some breakfasts were
better than others. Some thought we were quite mad and could not understand what on earth we were doing and
more importantly, why. One lady locked us out. Our boots, coats and luggage were in the garage ready for us and the
courier to start the day. I went back to check on something only to find the doors locked. I did knock but there was no
reply ...... nice!!
Over the years we have seen some wonderful sights, fantastic scenery, ancient buildings,
quaint villages, tons of wildlife, wildflower meadows and field upon field of lovely poppies. On
the Cotswold Way I particularly remember watching a cow pushing her calf with her nose down
the hill towards a farm where their feed was being put out.
We had realised that Youth Hostels were not for us and that B&Bs, pubs or small hotels were our preferred options.
These are arranged for us through a courier company who organise accommodation and transport to take our luggage
from place to place. This allows us to take a small daypack with that day's necessities. Not all the walks were wet, we
have had some lovely sunny, DRY weather at times, although The Dales Way was very WET and misty.
During our adventures we rarely got lost, merely mislaid, and always found our accommodation eventually. The
National Trails are very well signposted, and the walking company provided us with day-to-day maps, instructions and,
vitally, emergency phone numbers should we need help. On one occasion a dispute with the taxi company picking us
up clashed with the time the pub was serving breakfast. The walking company were soon on hand to mediate!
Occasional taxi journeys were necessary as accommodation was not always close to the end
of a particular day's walk, so we often ended up in a small village with just a local pub.
Most of the daily walks were perfectly manageable, giving us time to 'stop and stare', have
an ice cream or a lovely coffee and chat to folk en route.
Happy memories and great friendships. If you’re fit enough to walk a bit, why not copy what
we’ve done?
23You can also read
