THE RETIRED STAFF ASSOCIATION
NEWSLETTER
July 2011
Issue 28
May the sun still be shining as you read this Summer edition of the Newsletter! My
thanks to all authors, old and new, for their contributions. The Committee looks forward
to welcoming members to the AGM in September – please be sure to read the note
below describing the new format for this meeting.
LT (Ed)
Spring Lunch and Talk, 12 April 2011 Sports Pavilion
Ninety-five members enjoyed a healthy buffet lunch and a good deal of ‘catching-up’
chatter before settling down to listen to a talk on The History of Medicine by Professor
Hilary Marland, Institute of Advanced Study. Professor Marland was Director of the
Centre for the History of Medicine at Warwick from 1998 to 2008. She spoke about the
opportunities and challenges of establishing this now-flourishing Centre (CHM) which
has a particularly strong focus on interdisciplinary work and public outreach. In addition
to the seven academic staff, CHM has a ‘large and vibrant postdoctoral and
postgraduate community’ Much of its research is driven by current debates and
challenges in modern medicine, but also embraces a wide range of geographical
areas, including South Asia and Europe, from the early modern period to the present.
Particular strengths include the history of psychiatry, childbirth, global health, popular
understandings of health and medicine, biopolitics and health and ethnicity. The
Centre runs a broad range of academic and public events and Professor Marland
expanded on particular public engagement projects, including the Coventry and
Warwickshire Hospital Projects. This is a diverse series of events organised to mark
the closure of the Coventry city centre hospital in 2006, one of these being a
forthcoming theatre production and debate about ‘The Irish Giant’. There were a
number of questions and some discussion after the talk.
LT
NEW FORMAT FOR THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
As members are aware, the Annual General Meeting and the Autumn Lunch take place
in September – this year’s date is Wednesday 21 September. In order to achieve a
more smooth-running meeting, the Committee agreed the following format.
10.30am Committee Meeting
11.45am Annual General Meeting
12.30pm Lunch
1.15pm Talk
The Committee is delighted to announce that the Speaker on this occasion will be
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nigel Thrift
WALK FROM CUBBINGTON – 4 January 2011
The expected January gloom greeted 15 walkers who assembled in the roads adjacent
to the Kings Head. Leaving the village along an old green lane, we reached the edge of
Cubbington wood, possibly to be excavated in ten years or so for the cutting for HS2,
but currently offering a wide view of the Leam valley. Continuing down to the River
Leam, crossed by a good footbridge, we turned towards Hunningham, then returning
over pasture and arable land to take a circular tour of Cubbington wood before arriving
at the Kings Head for an excellent lunch, having done the four plus miles in quick time.
Malcolm Wilding
WALK FROM BRINKLOW – 7 February
Ten RSA members and five friends/wives/husbands assembled at the Bull’s Head in
Brinklow on a mild but grey and windy morning. Having ordered our meals we set off on
time. We crossed the only stile of the walk onto a road, and a further track brought us
into open country. A path across a field brought us to a large quarry where sand was
being extracted. We had distant views of the active workings and areas now water-filled
and landscaped. We walked alongside a disused conveyer-belt system for several
hundred yards, and then turned away alongside a wood used for rearing game birds.
We reached the furthest point of the walk at a riding stables, and shortly afterwards
passed close to the Brandon speedway stadium. We headed back in intermittent
sunshine towards Brinklow with the strong wind at our backs. Having completed the 5mile route in 2¼ hours, we were soon comfortably seated at our reserved tables in the
pub, and our well-earned lunches arrived promptly.
Chris Hall
WALK FROM BERKSWELL – 10 March
At the beginning of the day, weather conditions were not good. It soon changed to
sunny/cloudy spells with strong blustery winds – perfect for a walk. The car park at the
Bear Inn soon filled with cars carrying 28 walkers. We set off on a circular walk, first to
Benton green, then Coral Green crossing the main railway line, followed by the old
disused line now called the Coventry Way. Despite the usual expectation of mud,
conditions were firm and dry. Passing the very desirable properties at Catchems Corner,
we continued past Berkswell House to Ham Hall Farm, a very old property known for the
sheep which provide milk for a specialist cheese. On return to the Bear Inn, having
covered 5 ½ miles, we were joined for lunch by a further two members.
Janet and Derek Dale
WALK FROM CUBBINGTON – 19 April
Once again, some two dozen walkers gathered near the Kings Head for a circular walk
of 5 ½ miles in a different direction to the January walk. The weather was rather lovely,
and conditions underfoot were so dry that trainers were the favoured choice of some
walkers. Passing through a few residential streets, we reached the footpath which
passes to the rear of Thwaites, where many bright yellow dumper trucks were on view.
After following the margins of arable fields, the lands of Offchurch Bury with its chasers
course was reached, though the ford on the River Leam used by the horses proved to
be a little too deep for boots, and the nearby footbridge was used instead. Crossing the
mill race and the long demolished remains of the water mill, the parkland with its trees,
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more horse jumps and the splendid
Cedar were passed to reach the village
of Offchurch itself with its thatched roof
pub and surrounding houses. Heading
east on the margins of arable fields, we
soon crossed the final stile (of the eight,
or was it nine?) and had the treat of a
skylark over our heads, at a point
scheduled to be the site of a viaduct
carrying 200 mph trains. Once more
crossing the Leam, we returned up the
gentle hill to Cubbington and the Kings
Head, where we were joined by another
two members for lunch. In all an excellent day.
Malcolm Wilding
WALK FROM ALLESLEY – 26 May
For once the weather forecast of showers the previous night proved accurate, and 9
walkers assembled in the rain at the Coventry Hill Hotel. Covered in waterproofs we set
off for the seven plus mile walk, intending to return before the food was removed from
the self serve counter at 1:45pm. Taking
the paths linking Allesley and Brownshill
Green, we circled the Jaguar factory
without even seeing it. The rain continued
and the skies were dark blue. Country
meadows with clover, buttercups and some
wild apple blossom looked very refreshed
by the first rain for a month or so. The rain
stopped as some were diverted by some
(threatening) cows who were overprotective of their calves, the party
eventually re-uniting at Tilbury House Farm.
Reaching the pond, the spring for which is
the source of the River Sherbourne, the
inviting seat was occupied for the
photograph. We headed off to Elkin Wood, then Holly Berry and Harvest Hill, to be
battered by a violent hailstorm until the shelter of some trees was reached. Leaving the
trees reluctantly as the thought of missing the lunch deadline loomed, we continued over
farm land in brightening weather, to the annoyance of another skylark, to reach the hotel
at 1:20pm. Phew!
Janet Dale
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WALK - KENILWORTH CASTLE TO HONILEY AND BACK, 23 June
Some 15 walkers gathered at The Queen & Castle car park and were invited to place
their order for lunch with the staff at the Clarendon Arms before starting out on a 6 mile,
stile-free walk. In spite of threatening dark clouds the weather remained dry and warm
throughout.
The route took us through fields, some of which were full of red poppies, which was a
stunning view as they waved backwards
and forwards in the breeze.
We
stopped briefly to admire this spectacle
and to have a group photograph taken
with Kenilworth Castle as the backdrop.
The next field provided yet another
amazing sight, a sea of blue Linseed
flowers moving like waves on the ocean.
Onwards we reached Chase Wood.
History has it that Queen Elizabeth I
spent a day hunting here during her visit
to Kenilworth in 1575, returning to the
castle in the evening by a torch light procession.
After reaching the Honiley Boot Hotel the route took us back towards Kenilworth and to
the site of The Pleasance. This was once a magnificent recreation area built for King
Henry V and reached by boat across the
great mere from the castle. A timber
framed pavilion once stood on the site but
was demolished by King Henry VIII and reerected within the castle.
Finally the castle came into view and a
most enjoyable and interesting walk
terminated with 11 members enjoying an
excellent meal at the Clarendon Arms.
Dennis and Sylvia Jones
*******
VISIT TO BLENHEIM PALACE – 17 May 2011
Our Spring visit this year took us to Blenheim Palace, a World Heritage site in
Oxfordshire. The palace was built after 1705 as a gift from a grateful nation to the Duke
of Marlborough to reward him for a decisive victory over Louis X1V of France. It has a
Baroque magnificence that English royal palaces were never able to achieve.
On arrival our members soon dispersed to the coffee bar for the usual morning
refreshments. Unfortunately, they were soon disturbed by the sounding of the fire alarm
and were escorted to the safe assembly points. This included the resident family also.
It was soon discovered that the culprit was ‘the butler’ who had burnt the Duke's toast.
Memories of similar incidents back at the University soon returned. Once given the all
clear we were able to reacquaint ourselves with the coffee house.
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The guided tours of the Palace were excellent and very informative. Once again the
magnificent gardens proved equally attractive, especially the maze where a couple of
our members had extreme difficulty in finding the way out.
Another thoroughly enjoyable day in fine dry weather.
Alan Foster
Events Organiser
*******
MUSIC SCHOLARS’ EVENING – 30 June 2011
The annual Music Scholars' Soiree was held on June 29th in the Arts Centre Theatre,
and was well-attended. Comprising both solo and group performances, it was a chance
to show-case the scholars, and to thank the donors who have supported their tuition.
Performances ranged from jazz to opera, and was rounded off with an
extraordinary rendition of the Beatles' 'From Me to You' by Tom Sharp (Doug Gleig
Scholar) which had the audience in fits of well-deserved laughter.
Ruari Edwards, a final-year student who has been a scholar throughout his Warwick
career, thanked donors for their generosity to date, and explained how his scholarship
had helped him to further his musical career while studying at the University.
There are currently 25 scholars, and the aim is to raise this number to 50 by 2015, to
celebrate the Arts Centre's 50th anniversary.
If last night's wonderful celebration of talent is anything to go by, it is an aim well worth
pursuing.
Georgie Hale
COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2010-2011
Steve Van Toller (Chair)
Jean Norman (Secretary)
Colin Brummitt (Treasurer)
Bill Prichard (Membership Secretary)
Joan Cole
Alan Foster (Visits Co-ordinator)
Georgie Hale
Pat Scott
Liz Thompson (Newsletter Editor)
Malcolm Wilding (Walks Co-ordinator)
svanto@ntlworld.com
norman467@btinternet.com
goddardmail@googlemail.com
william.prichard@btopenworld.com
colejoanm@aol.com
joan_and_alan@yahoo.co.uk
georgina.hale@tiscali.co.uk
jimscott1@btinternet.com
liz@palmerston55.freeserve.co.uk
malcolmdwilding-rsa@yahoo.co.uk
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