 CLEEVE CLARION
No. 49
2 1 s t J u l y 2 0 1 5 - 2 1 s t Se p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5
N e w s l e t t e r o f B i s h o p ’ s C l e e ve U 3 A
MONTHLY MEETINGS
At Woodmancote Village Hall on 3rd MONDAYS, at 2.15pm.
We welcome visitors interested in joining Bishop’s Cleeve U3A.
Monday 17th August 2015
“Traditional Tunes of the British Isles”
by Mike Ledbury
ADMISSION 50p
Refreshments served after the presentation until 4pm
Monday 21st September 2015
RENEWALS MEETING
[Free refreshments & entrance]
Chairman’s Clarion Call
July 2015
I said last time that it is not too soon for the Committee to start thinking
about what we should do when we outgrow our home in the Woodmancote
Village Hall. That time has not yet come – in June we had 85 attendees against a
fire safety maximum of 100 – but in the preceding couple of months we were up
against both that limit and the comfort constraints of the hall. Our total
membership continues to creep up, so we have started looking at the options.
It turns out that there are no obvious solutions to the problem. The
Bishops Cleeve Community Centre is too small, as is St Michael’s Hall: that is
where we moved from! St Michaels Church has been suggested, but although
they have modern audio facilities, the space is not easy to use – all those big
Norman pillars – so we have crossed that off the list. We think that the
Methodist Hall is also too small, but are investigating further. The Tithe Barn is an
obvious alternative and was investigated last year. It does have sufficient capacity
(150 seated) and car parking (probably), but it lacks the audio-visual facilities we
need and also an induction loop system for those of us with hearing aids. It is also
heavily booked during the week. Nevertheless, we are looking at it again.
One interesting new possibility is the impressive new community centre at
Stoke Orchard, built as part of the big new housing development on the old Coal
Board site. This also can seat 150 people in a modern, eco-friendly building. You
can look it up on the internet to get a feel for it. It will not be fully completed and
fitted out until next year but it looks promising. It would have the disadvantage
that those of us who walk to the Woodmancote Village Hall would need to drive
there, increasing the traffic along Stoke Road. But I suspect that no solution will
be perfect – we will have to find the best solution we can and go for it. We will
keep in touch with the committee there to make sure that they meet our needs as
best we can.
In the meantime, if you have a bright idea for an alternative option, just get
in touch with any of the committee – contact details on the back page!
Alan Green
FROM YOUR SECRETARY
July 2015
Several people showed an interest after last month’s open meeting in the
U3A book series “Older and Wiser”. Books in this series cover various aspects of
computing, digital photography and family history. They can be ordered online.
Go to www.wiley.com and type “older and wiser” into the search box. It will then
come up with a list of books from which you can order. Alternatively all books
should be available from bookshops.
U3A members can purchase an ATG Theatre card for £25, a saving of £10
off the standard price. This gives you a series of benefits including priority
booking and savings off tickets in their 38 theatres across the UK. If you are
interested go to “offers for U3A members” in the members’ area of the website.
U3A courses which used to be available on the online courses website are
now available for download from the Resource Centre website. You will need to
be registered with the Resource Centre to access these.
If you would like to play U3A National Chess by email contact the
organiser, Dick Chapman of Watford and District U3A at
dick.chapman@ntlworld.com
I am taking orders for U3A diaries for 2016, which I will order in August. If
you’d like one please let me know. They are £2.00 and come with a dark green
cover.
Liz Reilly:
gen@cleeve-u3a.org.uk
MESSAGE FROM YOUR SPEAKERS’ SECRETARY
Monthly Meetings - If you know of a speaker that will be of general interest to
our members, or a subject on which you’d like to hear about, please contact me.
I’ll be pleased to hear from you.
Joan Hall
 01242 680575 — or at popper.hall@which.net
WE WELCOME THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS
Marjorie Chart ; Norma Leach
Vanessa & Michael Reynolds ; Julia Rice
Christine Richardson ; Susan Richardson ; Hilary Wright
DIANA JONES
It is with great sadness that we have to inform you that
Diana Jones died very suddenly last month after a severe stroke.
She was a founder member of our Bishop’s Cleeve U3A and led
the Solos group from the start, as well as organising the tea rota
at the monthly open meetings for many years,
Our thoughts are with her family and the many friends
she left behind.
RENEWALS FOR SEPTEMBER 2015
Dear Members,
Our U3A has grown considerably lately; so with renewals in September in mind,
we would like to make some small changes to facilitate a smoother and more
efficient procedure.
Renewal forms will be available from the July open meeting, and on the website ready to download, and we would request that the completed forms and
cheques are posted from that time to the address shown.
The Membership Secretaries will be present at the September renewal meeting,
to process any outstanding forms and take payment by cheque or postal order
only.
 The committee have decided, after some consideration, that an additional
£4 will be charged to those members who regularly receive the Clarion
by post.
The Clarion is always available to read on the web-site
www.cleeve-u3a.org.uk
Sheila Gardner, Margaret Merry
(Membership Secretaries)
July 2015
MESSAGE FROM TREASURER TO ALL GROUP LEADERS
We are coming to the end of our financial year on 31st August.
Please could you give me all contributions before then and pay any rent due.
(Do not run any rent payments into the next accounting year please.)
Any expenses should also be claimed before then.
Thank you
Celia Gordon-Smith
VISIT TO THE COTSWOLD WEAVERS WORKSHOPS
The CRAFTY CRAFTERS are having a trip to the Cotswold Weavers
workshops near Lechlade on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th. The cost will be £10
per person but it's possible there will be a small reduction if we can fill the coach.
This outing is open to U3A members and friends. There are a few places still
available.
It is possible to have a lunch provided — but numbers for this could be
limited to 26 because of them having a small dining area. However if everyone
wishes to have this lunch, I am told they may consider erecting a marquee to
accommodate a larger group, which I will have to confirm. The cost of lunch is
£9.20—more details of this once the places on the coach have been filled.
Otherwise members could take picnic lunches. There is no charge for admission
to the workshops — and as a group booking, we will be given tea or coffee on
arrival.
In addition there is a £5 discount on all purchases over £30.
Our coach will leave the lay-by in New Road, Woodmancote at 10 am
and will leave to come back at 3.30pm — which should give everyone chance to
look
around
the
various
workshops.
There is a textile design studio, museum, limestone sculpture, rug and
throw warehouse, exhibitions, shops for clothing etc, all set in some rather
splendid 18th century buildings in the village of Filkins. You can find out more by
viewing
their
website
www.cotswoldwoollenweavers.co.uk
There is lots to see and even if you don't do any crafts yourself it's lovely to see
what other craftspeople do and have a day out too.
Please could you let me have payment by the August meeting at the very latest,
so I can pay for the coach.
Sue Hamer
 672541
sue.hamer@supanet.com
GROUP NEWS
I’ve just been reading my last Group News – sorry for the comment
about the lovely Spring weather (now just a distant memory!). Still time for the
sun to come back and brighten up our Summer – maybe by the time this appears
in The Clarion the sunny days will be back.
No new groups to tell you about this month, but existing ones are going
from strength to strength. Vanessa Reynolds, an experienced patchwork/quilter
has agreed to take over the group from Pat Cornelius as group leader. A big
thanks Vanessa and to Pat for getting the group started.
Natural History, like Topsy, has growed and growed and at the last count
had 23 members. This led to a discussion about the future of the group and
sadly, to preserve the way it tries to involve all members it was felt necessary to
close the group to new members. This is obviously a very popular subject and we
can certainly start a second group but – and this a big but – we need someone to
take on the responsibility of leading the group. You do not need to be a natural
history expert - believe me, you will find plenty of very knowledgeable people
ready to share their expertise (just what happened with the first group) but if you
can use the ‘phone, useful too if you can send emails but not essential, please
take the plunge and come forward. I’m sure Eilish would be happy to talk to you
if you’d like to get more information about what it would involve.
One more piece of information in case you haven’t already picked it up –
the new Bridge group, which alternates on Mondays with Beginners’ Bridge,
meets in the morning from 10 till 12, not the afternoon as reported in last
month’s Clarion.
Most of you will by now have heard of the sudden death of Diana Jones,
leader of the Solos group. Diana must be one of the longest serving group leaders
– taking on responsibility for the group from the very start of Bishops Cleeve U3A
and organising countless trips, visits to the cinema, plays, concerts and whatever
else the group suggested with constant good humour and patience. She also
organised the tea rota for the monthly members’ meeting for many years so was
an active and immeasurably valuable U3A member. How we shall miss her!
Gill
If you wish to join a “membership closed” group, please contact
Gill who will do her best to try to start a new group.
GROUP INFORMATION
ARTS & CRAFTS - CRAFTY CRAFTERS
Contact: SUE HAMER (672541)
Meet 3rd WEDNESDAY 10am - 12 noon in Woodmancote Village Hall.
At the moment we have a full group.
[Visit to Cotswold Weavers Workshop—see Page 5]
ARTS AND CRAFT
Contact: CAROLINE UTTERIDGE (01684 299920) e-mail: utty@talktalk.net
This new group meets at 2pm on the 2nd and 4th FRIDAY each month.
Presently only a small group, but hopefully growing.
There are no set agendas, but a case of sharing ideas of knowledge.
Anything transportable goes! - from knitting, crochet, sewing, card making, beads,
quilling and calligraphy.
New members will be very welcome.
Please contact Caroline for further information.
BEGINNERS BRIDGE
Contact: DAVE ATKINSON (674169)
Meets every 2 weeks on a MONDAY, 2pm — 4pm.
Marie Brain (674121) has kindly offered to host our meetings.
Some variations may be expected when Marie is not available or when the
times clash with the regular monthly meeting. Members will be advised
when alternative arrangements are necessary.
 JUL 27 ; AUG 10 ; AUG 24 ; SEP 7 ; SEP 21
BRIDGE
Contact: SUE BRISK (674006)
This new group meets every 2 weeks on MONDAYS from 10 am — 12 noon,
alternating with Beginners' Bridge.
Please contact Sue for further information.
 JUL 20 ; AUG 3 ; AUG 17 ; AUG 31 ; SEP 14
BOOK CIRCLE (1)
Contact: VI FAIRMANER (673504)
Meet 1st WEDNESDAY at 2pm in members’ homes.
AUGUST 5
“The Sunrise” by Victoria Hislop
Presented by Audrey
SEPTEMBER 2
“An Officer and a Spy” by Robert Harris
Presented by Jane
OCTOBER 7
“Songlines” by Bruce Chatwin
Presented by Mary
BOOK CIRCLE (2)
Contact: EILISH TALBOT (675557)
Meets 3rd THURSDAY at 10am in members’ homes.
Membership currently closed.
AUGUST 20
“Light Between Oceans” by ML Stedman
Hosted by Eilish
SEPTEMBER 17
tba
BOOK CIRCLE (3) - BOOKWORMS
Contact: ANNE LAWRIE (676225)
Meets 4th WEDNESDAY at 2.30 pm in members’ homes.
This group has vacancies.
 AUGUST 26
“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusack
 SEPTEMBER 23
"Noah's Compass" by Anne Tyler
COMPUTER BUDDIES
Computer Buddies support those of us having problems with our computers
or wanting to brush up our skills. Both Jenny and Dave are willing to help
people on a 1-1 basis. (The usual 50p sub applies.)
DAVE OWEN
(699797)
davezero1@live.com
JENNY MACKELWORT H (602286)
j.mackelworth@btinternet.com
ECONOMICS
Contact: TIM POWELL (676919)
This group meets twice a month at 10.30am on WEDNESDAYS at Tim’s house.
FAMILY HISTORY
Contact: WENDY STOW (701303)
This group meets on 4th FRIDAY of each month 11am — 1.0pm
in the Woodmancote (Small) Village Hall.
 JUL 24
"Your Memories" Please bring along your memories
between ages 5-7 years. These can be general, family, friends,
school or games but PLEASE do stick within this age range so
that we all have time to tell our stories.
AUGUST No meeting
FRENCH CONVERSATION
Contact: MARIE BRAIN (674121)
The group continues to enjoy fortnightly meetings usually at Marie's.
Group membership is closed at present.
GARDENING
Contact: LINDA COOLE (674830)
The group arranges outings each month.
Please tell Linda if you would like to come to any of the following visits:
 WEDNESDAY, JULY 29
Rodmarton Manor
1.55 pm
 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26 Spetchley Park Gardens 10.55 am
** For extra details of the visits to these gardens - & Waterperry - see PAGE 19
GERMAN CONVERSATION
Contact: CAROL HARRIS (602872)
This group is for members who have a basic knowledge of German.
Meets twice a month usually on the 2nd and 4th MONDAYS,
10.00—11.30 am at members’ homes.
GREEK DRAMA
Contact: DEBBIE JONES (677423)
deborahjark@aol.com
We have read through and discussed a number of Greek tragedies and look
forward to engaging in further ones. Thanks to the Cheltenham Ladies College for
providing copies. If you would like to join us for one or more sessions, contact
Debbie for details.
I.T. GROUP
Contact: BARRIE HALL (680575)
bladesfan@which.net
Group meets on the 4th THURSDAY at Barrie’s home at 2pm.
It is not a hands on teaching group. Its aim is to share expertise & experiences
and offering mutual assistance. It is intended to provide interest and a stimulus
for those who would like to take on new challenges or whatever members may
wish to raise.
If you are interested please contact Barrie by phone or email.
 JULY 23 ; AUGUST 27 ; SEPTEMBER 24
LATIN
Contact: CELIA GORDON-SMITH (677195)
STAGE Ⅱ
This group meets on the 2nd THURSDAY of the month at Celia's house from
10.00 - 12.00.
AUGUST 13 ; SEPTEMBER 10
STAGE Ⅰ
This group meets on the 4th THURSDAY of the month at Celia's house from
10.00 - 12.00.
JULY 23 ; AUGUST 27 ; SEPTEMBER 24
LOCAL HISTORY (1)
Contact: HILARY SWAN (674825)
The group meets on the 2nd THURSDAY of the month at 2pm.
Membership currently closed.
 JULY 31 ; AUG 14 ; AUG 28 ; SEP 11 ; SEP 25
LOCAL HISTORY (2)
Contact: JOAN HALL (680575)
* PLEASE NOTE: The Group will be meeting at varying venues, times and dates
during the summer months.
New members will always be welcome.
MONDAY, AUGUST 3
2.30 pm Visit to Pershore Abbey
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
2.15 pm Visit to Southam Church
Anyone wishing to visit either of the above please contact Joan Hall - as soon as
possible - for further information on 680575 or popper.hall@which.net
LOCAL WALKS
Contact: SHEILA BROCKMAN (674736).
Local walks starting at 2pm from junction of Millham Road and Station Road
(Woodmancote end) on alternate FRIDAYS.
 JULY 31 ; AUG 14 ; AUG 28 ; SEP 11 ; SEP 25
LUNCHEONS
Contact: DOUG & JUNE BEAUMONT (674197)
 THURSDAY, JULY 23rd
Turtle Bay Caribbean Restaurant,
Pittville Street, Cheltenham
 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26th Orchard Tea Room, Hayles Fruit Farm,
Winchcombe, GL54 5PB
MUSIC APPRECIATION
Contact: STELLA CANEY (676143)
Generally meets at 2.30pm on 2nd WEDNESDAY of the month at a member’s
home.
 AUGUST 12 ; SEPTEMBER 9
NATURAL HISTORY
Contact: EILISH TALBOT (675557)
This group meets on the 4th FRIDAY of the month at 10.0am. The group has
grown to such an extent since it started that sadly it feels it cannot accommodate
any more members. We will endeavour to start a second group but need
someone to act as a contact member. Please see the Information Table at the
monthly members' meeting or contact Gill Tarling.
JULY 24
Prestbury Hill Nature Reserve - Butterflies
AUGUST 28
Mythe Nature Reserve - Tewkesbury
PATCHWORK & QUILTING
* NEW VENUE
Contact: VANESSA REYNOLDS (675748)
This new group meets on the 3rd FRIDAY of the month at 10 am at Vanessa’s
home. For further information, please contact Vanessa.
AUGUST 21 ; SEPTEMBER 18
PETANQUE
Contact: DAVE and TRICIA ATKINSON (674169)
The group plays at the bouledrome next to the Woodmancote Village Hall on the
3rd FRIDAY of the month at 10.30 am.
 NO MEETING IN AUGUST ; SEPTEMBER 18
PHOTOGRAPHY
Contact: KEN ROSS (672874)
The group meets monthly on the 2nd MONDAY at 2.15 pm and aims to
meet all levels of ability and interests.
 AUGUST 10
Lunch, followed by organising of programme
for 2015/2016. Contact Ken for details.
 SEPTEMBER 14
Preparation for our U3A Sept 21st Open Meeting.
Please bring in images taken during the year, on
memory sticks, plus prints 7 X 5, mounted.
PLAY READING
Contact: GILL TARLING (674983)
Meets at a member’s home on the last TUESDAY in the month at
2.30pm – 4.30pm.

POETRY FOR PLEASURE
Contact: KAY DUCK (672474)
Meets on 2nd TUESDAY of the month at 10.30 a.m. in a member's home.
New members welcome.
 AUGUST 11
NO MEETING
 SEPTEMBER 8
Narrative Verse
MORE POETRY FOR PLEASURE
Contact: TRICIA ATKINSON (674169)
Meets on the 4th WEDNESDAY of the month at 2.30pm in a member's home.
New members welcome.
RAMBLING GROUP
Contact: ROY BUTLER (529664)
Roy hopes to organise a walk once a month . The day and time may vary — and it
will depend on the weather. Details will be sent (by e-mail) to those members
who have shown interest in joining this group. If you would like your name to be
added to this list, please contact Roy.
May & June rambles’ reports — see page 17
SINGING FOR FUN
Contact: CHRIS LAMMIMAN (461169)
Meets at the Methodist Church Hall, Bishop's Close at 10.30am on the 2nd FRIDAY
of the month.
SOLOS
The next meeting of this group will be on AUGUST 6th at 2.30 pm at
Anne Lawrie’s house.
For further information, please contact
ANNE LAWRIE (676225) or GILL TARLING ( 674983)
RECENT ACTIVITIES AND REPORTS
LOCAL HISTORY (2)
RICHARD PATE TALK
th
On May 11 , Mrs. Eileen Allen gave us a slide-talk on Richard Pate (1516-1588)
and other ancestors. Eileen is a descendant of Richard Pate on her mother’s side
— he is her 17 times great uncle — and this sparked off her interest in his life. He
was born in Cheltenham, a nephew and namesake of the Bishop of Worcester,
and trained as a lawyer, at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and then took an
active part in the administration of Gloucester. He became an associate and
friend of the diplomat Thomas Chamberlain, with whom he invested money in
quite a lot of ex-monastic property, thus building an astute portfolio of valuable
land and possessions. (The dissolution of the monasteries, promoted by Thomas
Cromwell from 1536 onwards, became a speculation opportunity for some!) In
1547 Richard leased Abbot’s Court Place (Hartbury Manor) in Gloucester, but
lived in Minsterworth before 1559. During his time as the city’s recorder, he
was elected as an MP for Gloucester in the parliaments of 1559 and also 1563-67.
Under Elizabeth’s reign his work load enlarged, and he became law officer for the
Council in the Welsh Marches. He died in 1588, and was buried in Gloucester
Cathedral where a memorial plaque is to be found.
In his later years, alongside other generous legacies, he endowed Corpus
Christi College with property, on the condition that they use some of the money
to found and maintain a school in Cheltenham. The school was subsequently
founded in 1574, and still exists today as Cheltenham Grammar School, as well as
a private junior school - The Richard Pate School. On his tombstone are the
words : ”Patebit Tum Quod Latuit” (what is hidden will be revealed) and this is the
motto of the Grammar School and also of the Old Patesians’ Rugby Football Club.
It was interesting to learn of a local worthy who lived through the
Tudor years, and whose name still lives on today. Thank you to Mrs. Allen for her
research, which is briefly touched on here, but which took a lot of diligent work on
her part!
Kay Duck
May 2015
LOCAL HISTORY (2)
CHASTLETON RE-VISITED
June 2015
Our history group first visited Chastleton House and Garden in September 2010,
and in June 2015, we went again as a much bigger group. This rare gem of a
Jacobean country house and garden was built between 1607 and 1612 in an
unspoiled Oxfordshire valley by a prosperous wool merchant, Walter Jones, to
demonstrate his relative wealth and power. Owned by the same increasingly
impoverished family until 1991, the interiors and contents gradually deteriorated,
but it has remained essentially unchanged for 400 years. This was because during
the Civil War, as a royalist family they were drastically taxed by the
Commonwealth regime, afterwards the wool trade became less profitable, and no
generation was ever rich enough to alter its structure or contents, so making the
house a Jacobean treasure. In 1991, Chastleton passed into the care of the
National Trust, whose aim was to preserve rather than restore - keeping an
atmosphere of gentle decay. Our party was divided into two, and the husband
and wife guides (Roy and Pat) each took a group. We started in the magnificent
great hall where we learned that most of the original furniture and effects have
been conserved. We admired the china place settings and the tiny toasting
glasses, still used till 1991, the decorated ceilings, and the many 16th century
French tapestries used to cover up the crumbly lime plaster walls. In one
bedroom, there is a secret hiding room (previously concealed with a tapestry)
where Walter’s grandson Arthur hid after galloping home from the Battle of
Worcester (1651), hotly pursued by Cromwell’s troops. Wife Sarah laced the
soldiers’ beer with laudanum, and Arthur escaped whilst they slept! The Long
Gallery at the top of the house is the longest barrel-vaulted ceiling in England,
where the ladies took their exercise and where we took in the Cotswold
countryside views. Finally, we saw the huge basement kitchen with its Victorian
cooking range, pewter crockery, and ancient implements, and walked past the
beer cellars to enjoy the Jacobean gardens and croquet lawn. Chastleton was
used extensively in the filming of “Wolf Hall”, where the small stone courtyard
provided dramatic scenes from Cromwell’s miserable childhood, and the interiors
represented Cromwell’s own home, also the Seymour family seat Wolf Hall itself,
inside and out.
Our thanks go to the N.T. guides and to Joan for enabling us all to enjoy the
informal and timeless atmosphere of Chastleton, where “The ordinary becomes
the extraordinary”.
Kay Duck
NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM
A visit to the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire was enjoyed by
43 of our Members on 20th May. A delightful, National Forest site for the all-year
Forces centre of remembrance. An ongoing project of development and additions
to the grounds and individual memorials. With or without direct connections to
those lost in past conflicts, an interesting and worthy venue to visit and revisit.
Sisters Brenda Wilson, Pam Jordan &
Judy Williams, in memory of 2 Uncles lost
at the sinking of the Prince of Wales in
1941.
→
Member
Tony Jordan, in memory of his Father’s Gallipoli
involvement.
←
Shot
at Dawn
→
RAF
←
Women’s
Land
Army →
[Photos taken by various members]
RAMBLING GROUP
May Ramble
On Bank Holiday Monday, May 25th, a lucky
13 of us met for a circular walk from Birdlip, stopping
in Brimpsfield for a coffee break, then on to Caudle
Green for a well earned picnic lunch - and finally
passing through Climperwell and back to Birdlip.
We walked for 7 miles, the weather and —
as before, the company were perfect.
June Ramble
An interesting walk along the river Avon at
Evesham And picking up the Battle Trail to the Battle
site, Obelisk and Memorial tower. This was followed
by a visit to the pilgrims church and a hearty lunch at
the end by the river.
Good weather and of course plenty of chat
and good company.
Roy
[Photos taken by Alan Green]
GARDENING GROUP
KIFTSGATE COURT GARDENS
May 27th
20 members of the Gardening group made a return visit to Kiftsgate
Court Gardens. Our visit was a little too early for the world famous Kiftsgate rose
but we were compensated with the magnificent display of Peonies.
A photographer’s delight!
Group favourites were the spectacular view towards the Malverns, the
peonies and a scrumptious cream tea before heading home. Thank you Linda for
organizing a most enjoyable day with something for everyone.
Katie Higham
NGS — STANTON
Sunday, June 7th
What lovely weather for our latest gardening group outing. About 20 of
us arrived at the village of Stanton for their NGS charity open day. What an
opportunity to see how the other half live! Most of the gardens were absolutely
huge; too big for us to be able to cope with, but I am sure we all got ideas that we
could revise for our own plots. There was room for huge borders which were a
joy to behold and it was such a good time of the year to see them. Also, with our
mix of weathers — sunshine and showers — everything was so colourful and
fresh. We all mixed about, as some people were more interested in certain things
and took more time looking at them, but we kept bumping into each other — and
there was a consensus at ne point that it really was time for tea and cakes — or
perhaps even an ice cream. We had a good natter and soon felt ready to tackle
the remaining gardens. I found myself on my own at one point, so ventured to
the very top of the village, where I was afforded the most incredible view of
Stanton village below me. Stanton Court gardens just went on for ever and I was
so pleased that this open day meant that I could see beyond the gates. One
garden had a lake (no, not a pond) so large that it even had a rowing boat on it.
All in all, a lovely way to spend an afternoon, so deserved after the very
wet conditions on our bluebells foray.
Thank you Linda for arranging it for us.
Pat Hope
GARDENING GROUP VISITS
DETAILS OF GARDENS
 WEDNESDAY, JULY 29
Rodmarton Manor Gardens, Cirencester
Meeting there at 1.55 pm
Admission to the gardens £5.00.
Opening times 2—5 pm
Teas available
http://www.gardenstovisit.net/rodmarton-manor/
 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26
Spetchley Park Gardens, Worcestershire
Meeting there at 10.55 am
Admission £6.00 (concession)
Tea room
Opening hours 11.00—18.00 hours.
http://www.spetchleygardens.co.uk/groupvisits.php
 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 WATERPERRY GARDENS, near Oxford
Coach pick-up points:
Denham Lay-by, Woodmancote — 9.0 am
Lidl’s Car Park, Bishops Cleeve — 9.10 am
Garden entrance £ 5.30
Tea Shop
“Make an occasion of your visit to Waterperry, by treating
yourself to a home baked lunch or tea. All our dishes are lovingly prepared by our
team of expert chefs using locally sourced produce.”
The Gardens
“Waterperry Gardens are a magical place where you are
surrounded by beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers, classical borders, modern
planting, secret corners and long vistas.
Shopping “ Waterperry offers a fantastic opportunity to catch up on some retail
therapy in a unique setting. Our plant centre is housed within the kitchen garden
and yards which made up the ancient manor farm, with the hop, gallery and
museum set in the wonderfully restored farm buildings.”
http://www.waterperrygardens.co.uk/
Current Committee
Chairman
Alan Green
01242 672964
Vice-Chairman
Keith Woodman
01242 679301
Secretary
Liz Reilly
01242 674253
Treasurer
Celia Gordon -Smith
01242 677195
Groups Co-ordinator
Gill Tarling
01242 674983
Membership Secretaries Sheila Gardner
01242 236885
Margaret Merry
01242 262998
Clarion Editor
Rosemary Pullin
01242 321983
Committee Members
Margaret End
01242 672686
June Hall
01242 675711
www.cleeve-u3a.org.uk
Speakers’ Secretary
Webmaster
Refreshments Organiser
Joan Hall
Jenny Mackelworth
Pat Backhouse
01242 680575
01242 602286
01242 517992
NOTE: For Copyright purposes – No items printed in this Newsletter to be
copied or printed in any other publication without reference to the Editor
and/or originator.
*** PLEASE NOTE ***
Copy for the next newsletter must be sent to ROSEMARY PULLIN by
Sunday, AUGUST 30th, 2015
rpullin@talktalk.net or Tel: 01242 321983