RETIREMENT CLUB NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2011 No 259
Manton Lane MK41 7PF
Tel: 01234 350681
Dear Friends
FEBRUARY WALK contributed by John Cooper and Ron Stone
Twenty four walkers and two dogs set off from the Duke of Wellington pub car park
for the February walk. The weather turned out much better than anticipated
developing into a sunny day.
We crossed the Raunds, Stanwick Road , and entered a track that lead to a
bridleway. We turned left and made our way down to Cotton Lane (an ancient right
of way) where we turned right heading towards the Meadow Lane, A45 underpass
with the earthworks of the deserted and lost medieval hamlets of West Cotton and
Mill Cotton on our right. Passing through a kissing gate we entered the north end of
Stanwick Lakes.
We followed a pathway until we came to the dismantled, single track railway which
runs through the site. Bearing left and after a short distance right, we eventually
reached the recently reconstructed Staunch Bridge which we crossed over. We were
now on the Nene Way and following the river bank we made our way in a southerly
direction with Crow Hill, Irthlingborough (site of Iron Age Hill Fort) and the Frontier
Activities Camp for the young on our right.
We then turned off the Nene Way. Passing the lock on our right, we crossed over the
ford via a narrow footbridge and entered a bridleway leading back to the southern
end of Stanwick Lakes. We proceeded round a lake where there is an open-air
theatre situated and followed the path until we came to the A45. We crossed over the
road and turned off into Green Lane and then back along the bridleway until we met
the footpath on our right which took us back to the Duke of Wellington.
Notes - The Duke of Wellington public house sits between the primary school built in
1899 and the church dedicated to St Laurence which was built circa 1225 on the site
of an earlier church of which virtually nothing remains. The weather cock on the
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steeple is 157 feet above the ground and was given to the church by a landlord of the
Duke of Wellington in the 1880's.
Stanwick previously Stanwige is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as land
belonging to Peterborough Abbey.
The area now known as Stanwick Lakes has a long history of occupation. Saxons,
Romans and Iron Age people all lived in Stanwick and during the 1980's in the wake
of gravel extraction by ARC, archaeological excavations revealed a wealth of
artefacts including a Roman villa, mosaics, beaker burials with skeletons and grave
goods and many articles of everyday use.
Arriving back at The Duke of Wellington after a walk of approxametely 5 miles we all
enjoyed a hearty meal.
MARCH WALK
The walk on March 9th will be led by Keith Rose (01234 781448). It will start at "The
Three Fyshes" MK43 8ER in Turvey. There is a large car park 60m East of the pub.
The walk will be 5 1/2 miles and is mainly along grass footpaths. There are several
stiles. At the end of January the route was not very muddy.
Please meet at the usual time of 10.15 for a 10.30am start.
FORDHAM ARMS, SHARNBROOK
The next informal gathering at the Fordham Arms, Sharnbrook will be on Monday
March 7th at around 7:30 to 8:00 pm.
MARCH RAeS LECTURE
The lecture on Wednesday March 9th is the Sir John Charnley Lecture sponsored by
ARA. The talk is entitled ‘Bloodhound Supersonic Car’ by Richard Noble OBE and
will take place at ARA with a buffet prior to the lecture at 19.00 for 19.30.
MEMBER CONTACT DETAILS
The committee are collecting contact details to create a database of interested
members of ARC. Currently we do not have this information. Please fill in the form
below and send to Chris Lock, 24 Fountains Road, Bedford, MK41 8NU or email the
information to chris.lock24@gmail.com
.................................................................................................................................................................
Name .................................................................. Tel. No. ....................................................................................
Address ...............................................................
Do you use the Internet? .........................................................
............................................................................ If No - have you requested hard copy?. ..................................
............................................................................ If Yes - Email Address .............................................................
Postcode .............................................................
Are you likely to access the ARA website monthly?................
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Currently Planned Forthcoming Events
AGM, Buffet and Quiz
Please come along on Wednesday 16th March to the
ARA Clubhouse for the AGM and Social Evening. The
doors open at 7.00pm. There will be a short AGM at
7.30pm which will be followed by the Social Event. Wine
and soft drinks will be provided free, but please bring a
dish for the shared buffet. We will be delighted to see you
there!
(Editors Note - Should you wish to refer to the Minutes of
the previous AGM, these were published in the May 2010
Newsletter No 249)
Highgrove Visit
Has now been booked for Tuesday, June 7th. The
planned schedule is to leave from ARA at 9.30am
travelling to Tetbury where there will be a stop for lunch.
The actual tour is booked for 1.45pm and will take about 2
hours looking round the garden followed by time for
tea/coffee etc. and the Highgrove shop. We will leave to
return home at 5pm. The trip will cost £32.50 per head
and since it is limited to only 26 people will be available in
the first instance only to ARA pensioners and partners.
Please phone Chris Lock (01234 353779) to reserve your
places.
Marylyn & Ray’s
Their ‘at home’ will be held in July, probably on Tuesday
5th but speaker and date still to be confirmed.
Annual Luncheon
Now confirmed to be at Woodlands Manor on
Wednesday, October 5th.
One Hundred Years of Aviation March 1911 contributed by John Cherry
2nd
Three Royal Navy officers, Lt Samson, Longmore and Gregory along with
Captain Gerrard of the Royal Marines began their flying training today at
Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, Kent where the Short Brothers have their
factory and the Royal Aero Club has its headquarters and hangers. An
instructor from the club has volunteered to teach the four officers using the
club’s Short S27 aircraft; these are based on the French Farman design.
3rd
Philip Parmelee and his passenger, Lt B. Foulois flew from Laredo on the
Mexico/Texas border, to Eagle Pass, Texas a distance of 120 miles, and
during the course of their flight they received radio messages and also
dropped written messages to the Army units on route.
14th
The Bristol based British and Colonial Aeroplane Company announced
today that the War Office is to purchase four of its Bristol Boxkite aircraft
for the Army Air Battalion.
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17th
The Curtiss model ‘D’ biplane fitted with a pusher-engine and tricycle
landing gear was demonstrated to the U.S. Army today. This is to become
the Army’s aeroplane No 2.
23rd
Louis Breguet today carried eleven passengers for a distance of 3.1 miles
in a large parasol-winged monoplane of his own design.
24th
Today Roger Summer carried twelve passengers on a flight covering 2625
feet in an aircraft of his own design.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Monday 7th March
Informal gathering at The Fordham Arms, Sharnbrook
Around 7.30 to 8.00pm
Wednesday 9th March
March Walk – Meet at The Three Fyshes, Turvey at 10.15 for
a 10.30am start.
Wednesday 9th March
RAeS Lecture ‘Bloodhound Supersonic Car’ by Richard Noble
OBE at ARA 19.00 for 19.30
Buffet prior to lecture.
Wednesday 16th March
AGM, Buffet and Quiz at ARA Clubhouse 7.00 for 7.30pm
Tuesday 7th June
Trip to Highgrove. Please phone Chris Lock 01234 353779 to
book.
Please send any copy for publication to me by the 15th of the month. I will be
delighted to receive any! Chris Lock
Editor:
Chris Lock – Telephone 01234 353779
E Mail chris.lock24@gmail.com
Deputy Editor:
Mary Cook -
Telephone 01234 324618
E Mail mcook@ara.co.uk
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