12.
NEWSLETTER
CHAIRMAN'S NOTES
As the end of 1999 rapidly approaches, I have been looking
towards next year and wondering what to do about our short
holiday in September. The response this year was not
encouraging and now the Durham and Edinburgh holiday may
have to be cancelled for lack of support. There is, of course, a
simple solution for the organisers. If you, our members, do not
want our holidays, then we can save ourselves a lot of work and
stop offering them! ! However, it is not in my nature to give up too
easily and it occurred to me that perhaps we should jump on the
band wagon called the Millennium. In the past I have sometimes
seemed to be dismissive of this event and especially of "The
Dome", but it is a "once in a lifetime" opportunity.
For me, the main objection was the problem of getting there and
back in reasonable comfort, and not being caught up in the 300
coaches which might visit every day. I may now have found a
solution, it runs like this: travel to and from London by coach, stay
in a good hotel for three nights with dinner, bed and English
breakfast, go direct to and from the dome by river boat, have one
other visit in London and some free time, all at a price which I
hope will be acceptable. If you think this idea might interest you,
keep your eyes open for further information. No doubt others will
offer visits which may sound similar, but you know the standard we
Autumn 1999
set arid the people you would be with.
I have to admit that I am getting worried about the future of our
Centre. It is very difficult to get the help we need to keep going and
this is a subject which I shall certainly be addressing during the
year 2000. The world has always been made up of givers and
takers - ask yourselves which category you come into and then
think what you might do about it for the new Century about to
begin. Help comes in many forms and is rarely arduous; it can give
pleasure not only to others but to the helper too. Finally, don't
forget to apply for seats at the Christmas lunch, this is genuinely
one event not to miss, and which is always greatly enjoyed. I look
forward to seeing you there.
Gordon Burgess
MILLENIUM EXHIBITION - AGM 2000
Many people seem to think that an Annual General Meeting must
be a dull and boring occasion. Not ours, which is held each year in
April!! After the easy and quick run through essential business, a
friendly, relaxed atmosphere takes over and social entertainment
begins. Last year members enjoyed a group entertainment after
the style of "Call my Bluff', together with wine and light
refreshments; soup and sandwiches sent them home refreshed
and happy.
Our next AGM will be on 26th April in Millennium year and we
would like to make it special by acknowledging the skills, talents
and general abilities of our members and displaying them for the
interest of everyone. Up to now a number of people have kindly
offered support but not enough to make it really viable.
So come on folks, there must be something you have made,
achieved or even collected during your lifetime - even if its just a
Certificate for Good Handwriting, as one of our members said!!
Please help to make this worthwhile; everyone has something,
perhaps you have written a poem or won a Cup. We can't all be
clever with our hands but surely we all have something to show
which would interest others.
What about that old stamp album, or the special toy you have kept
hidden for years; maybe you have medals or old tools or
instruments to show us. We don't ask you to put your name on any
item, you can remain incognito if you wish. Please call me, Sheila
Burgess, on 01543472025 and tell me how you can help make this
AGM not only special but very enjoyable, as it always is.
NEW MEMBERS
We are pleased to welcome the following new members who have
joined the Centre since the Summer 1999 issue of the Newsletter.
Mrs U. Davies
Bretby Village
Mr R.P. Degg
Mrs J. Garscadden
Mr B.A. Hawkseford
Mr & Mrs C.V.
Lawton
Mrs J.M. Norman
Mrs C. Price
Miss J. Scriven
Miss F. Spreckley
Mr W.P.T. Watson
Stafford
Lichfield
Abbots Bromley
Stafford
Burntwood
Abbots Bromley
Stafford
Lichfield
Marchington
NOTES FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND
BOOKINGS SECRETARY
For several years I have included a few comments in the Autumn
issue of the Newsletter. Some of these have suggested ways in
which my efforts on your behalf could be made easier. I am
pleased to say that these have generally born fruit - almost no
unsigned cheques, and all correctly dated - next year being 'the
MiIlennium' so I shall be looking for '00' or '2000' . I still get a few
of those horrid bits of metal known as staples, which always take
longer to remove than to insert! No more of them please, just like
your credit card payments which ask for no pins or staples! I also
still get a few 'nameless' forms with no telephone number which is
there so that, if I need to offer seats on a coach visit, I have a quick
way of contacting you.
But let me say again that almost always keeping Membership
records and Bookings is reasonably straight forward thanks to your
co-operation. Perhaps I shall carry on for a little longer, if of course
you re-elect me at the AGM!
Many of you will remember that earlier this year I proposed that the
names and addresses only of all Members should be kept in a
computer data base. This has proved to be very successful
because it is far easier to update with changes in Membership or
addresses than it was with the paper based system. I hope that you
have been pleased with the results.
Cliff Ricketts
CHRISTMAS LUNCH
I have had a good number of bookings for this traditional annual
event, but, at the time of writing, we still have places available. In
fact some of our 'regulars' have not yet sent me their form. So,
don't miss this important event in our calendar, which I am sure will
be up to our usual high standard. Send me your booking form and
cheque as soon as possible please.
Cliff Ricketts
NATIONAL TRUST POLICY ON GMCS AND GM FOODS
The National Trust is calling for a moratorium on the commercial
growing of those GM crops which could pose a risk to wildlife and
the environment.
Although it accepts the need for trials to enable assessment of the
risks, the 104-year-old wildlife and conservation charity
emphasised that these should be on a small scale and subject to
rigorous regulation.
All the Trust's new agricultural tenancy agreements will prohibit
farm tenants from growing GM crops without the Trust's explicit
consent.
The Trust's Head of Nature Conservation, John Harvey, said:
"The difficulty with GM crops is that we just do not know the risks. A
moratorium on the commercial growing of these crops is the only
sensible way forward, to allow the risks to be scientifically
assessed.
"It may take one year, it may take ten - there should be no
commercial growing until the scientific judgement is made. In the
meantime we have to balance our concern about the possible
effects on wildlife with the need for trials to establish these risks."
"The charity's commercial arm, National Trust Enterprises, has
decided not to sell or use products labelled as GM, until such a
time as research clarifies the position.
Foods and products labelled as containing genetically modified
ingredients are being removed from sale in the Trust's 127 shops
and 136 tea-rooms and restaurants."
Managing Director of National Trust Enterprises, Inga Grimsey
said:
"We are checking every food product on our shelves and every
ingredient in our menus to ensure they are not labelled as
containing genetically modified ingredients, as defined in recent
legislation. Any GM-labelled products or those containing
ingredients labelled as genetically modified are being removed
from sale."
"We are requesting written assurance from our suppliers that all the
ingredients and goods supplied to us are GM-free. We are not
saying that there is anything wrong with these products but until
such a time as research has clarified the position we feel
customers would rather know what they are buying and
consuming."
STAFFORDSHIRE BORDER COUNTRY RAMBLE FROM GNOSALL
Walking along old railway tracks is not always enjoyable. Some go
on for miles open, flat, and boring. Some prove to be speed tracks
for cyclists who approach without audible warning and nearly mow
you down in the process.
But this old railway that we started on today was different. Nature
had taken over in the thirty odd years since trains ran, and it was
like a path through the woods winding between trees and bushes:
no long vistas - it just unfolded in front of you. In places there were
wonderful odours, honeysuckle as a lady member said. And views
of the surrounding country between bushes of wild roses. The
same lady said it was better than when the trains ran, because
sparks from the engine used to burn down nearby trees and
bushes, but which now thrived intact. At several points were seats
and picnic tables, at one of which we rested. Then came a
complete change of scene when we left the railway to take to
footpaths through the fields - not well trodden beaten down paths
(must be few walkers round here!) but over the cropped grass of
meadows and at one point we walked in single file through over
waist high barley (bit like old pictures of an African Safari) and after
a few more awkward stiles we arrived at our lunch venue.
The Junction Inn lies at what was a junction of canals, overlooking
a wider stretch of water to a Chandler and shops for provision of
the canal boats. We sat outside watching the decorated canal
boats passing, some with tubs of flowers on their roofs, and
occasionally feeding the ducks.
After this peaceful and relaxing time in good company we set off
back along the canal- not by a normal towpath but along mown
grass for a mile, like walking along a lawn by the water. This was
where Telford, the canal builder, had to construct a high and costly
embankment, now overgrown with trees. But occasionally there
were breaks where we were rewarded with views over Shropshire.
As the walk programme said "hills to view rather than climb", so we
saw The Wrekin without scaling its 1500 ft.
And so back to the car park where Eric Tanner formally thanked
Paul for his first walk as leader, which all 15 of us agreed had been
well organised and successful. My thanks Paul for a quiet and
peaceful walk through country new to we N.T. members, and for
laying on such splendid weather.
Ken Brown
JCB - A FLAGSHIP FIRM
The twenty- four of us who visited JCB certainly had a treat - a
marvellous example of a truly well run firm at the forefront of
engineering expertise. The first impressions, however, were not
auspicious. Angela and I arrived an hour early. The entrance door
to a vast, starkly modern, reception hall opened silently and
automatically. A corridor lined with gleaming stainless steel
panelling led to the executive suite. The whole impression was of
"big brother is watching you"! But the feeling vanished when our
guides led us to the sumptuously furnished theatre and showed us
the JCB publicity film. What a story! The young Master . Bamford
being thrown out of the family firm, starting out on his own in a
disused garage in Uttoxeter, selling a highly rudimentary tip-up
trailer to a local farmer for £45. And today, a world leader in
hydraulically controlled machinery. The Rocester-based firm along
(and there are now some five subsidiaries) occupies the biggest
factory building I have ever seen - three and a half miles' walk to
see it all!
MEMBERS OF OUR CENTRE VISIT JCB
It would be idle to try and describe them all, but one or two
processes particularly impressed me - an enormous press, which
must have been over 12 foot long, effortlessly folding great sheets
of steel into perfect box sections, a laser beam cutting onecentimetre-thick steel sheets into complex shapes just like one's
wife cutting out curtains, great long shining steel rods 2 inches in
diameter being friction-welded to bosses (by the simple act of
rapidly rotating one member while pressed firmly against the
other). What was very interesting, as one progressed down the
colossal factory floor, was to see vehicles "taking shape" from
amorphous pieces of metal at one end to the finished, familiar
gleaming yellow machines at the other.
Staff welfare is clearly uppermost in this firm's priorities gymnasium, medical centre with full-time doctor and medical staff,
dental centre, X-ray unit, physiotherapists, a canteen selling a
roast beef and Yorkshire pud. lunch for £1.45, not to mention the
beautifully laid out parkland surrounding the factory. JCB is still
entirely owned by the family. There are no share-holders. The MD
is certainly a very rich man, who also owns three vast estates. But
before the "other half' screams "capitalist exploiter" it should
remember that every shop-floor worker gets an annual Christmas
bonus - currently £ l300!!
G. de Visme
FROGHALL WHARF
A round dozen left Froghall Wharf in perfect walking weather. Off
we went up through Moseymoor Wood and Whieldons Wood, over
a stile and across open fields, with a fine view of the Norman
Tower of Ipstones Church, to the pleasant little village of Foxt and
the Fox & Goose Pub with its interesting garden ornaments.
Across more open fields to a road,
which led onto a Green Lane, more
aptly described as a leafy glade, we
emerged
onto
a
drive
and
subsequently a road up to the Linden
Tree at Ipstones for an excellent lunch.
Fed and watered, our walk continued
through more open fields and leafy
glades to Booths Farm, where there
was a distinct aroma of pigs. This
farmyard led to the head of a steep,
shaded but muddy path and down to
the Caldon Canal, which we crossed
at Cherryeye Bridge. The bridge is
believed to have been named after the
appearance of the men who worked
the red iron ore. The thick airborne
dust gave the appearance of sore
eyes.
Returning along the towpath Cliff
pointed out that the canal
followed the contours rather
than dropping to the bottom of
the valley, to minimise the
number of locks.
SPOTTED ON THE WALK
Passing the copper works we reached the tunnel which connected
the original canal starting point to the wharf.
A most enjoyable, varied walk. Our thanks to Cliff for his
leadership.
Margaret Rowley & Chris Tiffin
FIGURE OF EIGHT WALK FROM MAER
The walk commenced in light rain with eight walkers and soon after
the start we had a brief view of Maer Hall which is situated in a
beautiful park land setting. We stopped for our "coffee break" by a
small timber yard where eight guinea fowl were our neighbours. We
then continued through woodland to Camp Hill, near Baldwins
Gate, where there is reported to be an iron age fort dating back
some 2000 years.
There we found a trailer-mounted telescopic communications mast
used for investigating signal strength, the notice suggesting that
planning approval was being sought for the installation of a
permanent mast.
Soon after we passed a house with a hard tennis court, skate
board ramps, and a car track around a field with a Trabant in the
fields. There we lost George, our leader. A lady was seen knocking
on a window calling George, and we were told to continue. After
about 15 minutes our leader reappeared assuring us that the
husband was also in the house! We then passed by the front of
Maer Hall and saw what a magnificent building it is, with its private
pedestrian bridge over the road leading from the hall to the church.
After five or so miles we were back at the village hall for our well
deserved picnic. At this point we lost four of our group and gained
one, so the afternoon walk of 4 miles was for a party of five. We
passed through some very lush grassland after passing Mount
Tabor Farm (strange name for this location which is relatively flat).
We stopped at a vantage point to view the Hanchurch Hills, with a
herd of young cattle behind us also looking at the view (or was it us
that interested them?). One farm had a row of white baths in the
yard, but they did not look very inviting. Soon after, we came
across four Belfast sinks in a field! The final stretch before entering
minor roads was down a very muddy lane so that our lovely clean
boots became caked in mud and required cleaning before entering
our homes.
It was a very enjoyable day. We are very grateful for the way that
George had organised the day. Thank you very much George.
Derek Jones
RUTLAND WATER & UPPINGHAM SCHOOL
Grey skies that threatened rain could do nothing to dampen our
interest in the two very diverse locations we visited on the 24th
August, in East Anglia. Our smallest county Rutland, was chosen to
accommodate a large reservoir, from 64 possible sites, in 1970 and
work began in 1971 to construct one of the most attractive
reservoirs in this country, to serve the predicted rise of 'overspill'
population from Birmingham and London. The dam was closed in
1975 and a year later water was pumped from the rivers Well and
Nene and the reservoir was full by 1979,
Today Rutland Water has become a recognised beauty site, where
visitors are welcomed at two Visitor Centres, where they can enjoy
many varied sporting interests, such as sailing, fishing, cycling and
walking, plus bird watching or cruising in the Rutland Belle.
Normanton Church, which remained above the water level which
drowned the village, has become an engrossing Museum.
The whole area gives the impression of several inviting lakes,
which we enjoyed viewing from the comfort of our coach, and early
fears of local folk at Rutland Water of being swamped by visitors,
as happened in the early days when fifteen hundred trout
fishermen arrived on the first day of the fishing season and
prevented one local magistrate from gaining access to her home
for two hours, have not been repeated.
Our party at the north end of the reservoir found plenty of interest
at the Visitor Centre and a small aquarium, and we sweltered in the
warmth of the tropical butterfly farm, where beautiful Blue Morpho
and Owl butterflies, unlike the Giant Atlas Moths, regrettably
refused to pose for our cameras. From there we were taken to
Uppingham School where we enjoyed ploughman's lunches in one
of the butteries where the pupils dine. This well known public
school, founded by Robert Johnson in 1584, together with a school
at Oakham, obtained money from many sources including a Royal
Charter from Queen Elizabeth 1st in 1587, which yielded an
income of £266 yearly, At the same time there was a Hospital or
Hospice for old men who were selected from the village, but this
was closed in 1730 and the inmates were taken in by families in the
town at £3 a year!
UPPINGHAM SCHOOL
The Hospital was renamed School House, which made possible
another thirty-two boarders and more income. Johnson came from
an impoverished family, but was astute and intelligent enough to
leave a fortune when he died in 1625 and the pupils numbered
forty. These numbers fluctuated, but were still only forty when
Edward Thring, the second famous headmaster, took on the
headship from 1853 to 1887. This very positive but kindly man, who
came from a well-to-do family, was educated at Eton and
Cambridge and was so imaginative that boarders grew from fortythree to over three hundred. He was responsible for the first
Headmaster' s Conference in 1869, to which Headmistresses were
invited in 1887, though girls did not join Uppingham School until the
20th Century. The Tudor and Victorian buildings are well preserved
and the Chapel and Old School House, now the Library,
handsomely appointed. Our guide, an ex-Housemaster, explained
everything well and had a prodigious memory. Many thanks are
due to Cliff for selecting this entertaining venue and his excellent
timing which our careful driver was able to fulfil.
Audrey WilIiams
SEPTEMBER RAMBLE AROUND DOVE DALE
On a grey September morning, fifteen ramblers plus two dogs,
assembled in the car park at Ham Hall for a 7-8 mile walk in the
Peak District. After counting heads, we then had to decide who was
going to write up the walk, this took a little time, but after George
said that we weren't moving until someone volunteered, this
concentrated our minds, and the matter was settled in the usual
amicable fashion.
We set off along the river Manifold, and then climbed steadily up,
past Castern Hall where we stopped for coffee. Heading across the
fields in the direction of Stanehope, we arrived at the steep, narrow
valley which leads down into Mill Dale. After descending rather
circumspectly, we paused in the main street to admire a
magnificent garden ablaze with flowers.
In Mill Dale at Polly's small shop/cafe/stable? we were able to buy
sandwiches and drinks, which were most welcome. We picnicked
by the river, attracting hordes of ravening ducks, who are obviously
used to being fed by the visitors to this pretty village. Crossing the
bridge made famous by Isaac Walton, we set off, back along Dove
Dale, and after several 'photo opportunities', we crossed the fields
towards Ham Hall, where the lure of tea and cakes provided the
stimulus for a final sprint.
Many thanks to George and Ken for arranging a good day out.
Graham Green
FORGE MILL NEEDLE MUSEUM
AND CROOME LANDSCAPE PARK
On a fine July morning 43 members set off for the visit to Forge Mill
Needle Museum at Redditch. Our guide had come to England 15
years ago from Poland, and the first place she had taken her
children to visit was the needle museum. She "fell in love with the
place", and has been working for them ever since, doing any job
that needed doing. She was a real enthusiast and made our tour
really interesting.
The coils of wire, about the thickness of a little finger, would arrive
and would first be "drawn" cold until it was the required thickness
and then wound by hand on to a drum. This wire would then be cut
into lengths needed for two needles and heated to straighten it.
Both ends were "pointed" on a grinding stone. This was an
extremely dusty job and the workers were paid a large wage - 1
guinea per day - but they quickly developed "pointers lung" and
died young. The centre of this "double needle" was then flattened
on a kickstamp machine worked by the foot, and the holes (eyes)
were made. The two needles were then separated and the eye end
smoothed. The needles were hardened and tempered by heating to
8000 and then cooled when they would be ready to go to the
scouring mill. All the above processes would have been done by
out-workers in their own homes with the use of machinery loaned
by the company. Men, women and children were used and each
process was done by a different family and the needles passed
from cottage to cottage as the process was completed.
At the scouring mill groups of needles were made into bundles,
called packets, along with soap, water and crushed rocks, and
wrapped in cloth and tightly tied.
These packets were put onto tables and rolled backwards and
forwards under heavy wooden flat rollers for several hours, until
they were cleaned. They were then washed and heat dried in
revolving barrels of sawdust. They then had to be polished using a
putty powder and olive oil mixture, and finally washed and dried
again before being sent to out-workers who packaged them ready
for sale. Sewing needles, knitting needles, surgical needles,
industrial needles,
syringes and even fish hooks were made in this way in the 1800's
and early 1900's.
All the mechanical processes at the scouring mill were powered by
a water wheel using water from the river.
After lunch in Pershore, we travelled the short distance to Croome
Landscape Park which was one of Capability Brown's projects and
which the National Trust is restoring to its original state. We walked
round the park with our guide, saw the lake with Canada Geese, a
mallard family and splendid bulrushes and visited the Church,
again being restored. In the Church were tombs of many of the
Earls of Coventry who owned at one time Croome Hall which we
saw in the distance. We also had a lovely view of the Malverns and
Breedon Hill as it was a clear day. We finished our visit with ice
creams and set off back home.
It was a most interesting day's outing and I don't think any of us
who went will ever think of a needle in quite the same light again!!
Thank you Eric.
Rosemary Beynon
WADDESDON MANOR
The morning of September 30th was rather overcast as Trust
members set out for Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury. We
picked up Joe our guide for the day at Rugeley, after our stop at
Lichfield Joe informed us that it would be a straight run to
Waddesdon and we would arrive at approximately 11.30a.m. which
we did thanks to our competent driver. The French style
Renaissance Chateau known as Waddesdon Manor built in the
1870's by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild is breath taking at first
glance as it shone out in the intermittent sunshine as we arrived.
The coach took us on to the beautifully restored stables where we
partook of a plentiful delicious buffet lunch which was pleasing to
all tastes. After lunch the coach then took us up to the entrance of
the Manor where we were welcomed by one of the Trust Guides
and given leaflets and timed entrance tickets for 1.15p.m. Audio
Guides were available for hire describing the history of the Manor.
On entering the Manor we were given a short introduction after
which we were invited to continue through the Manor at our own
pace.
There is an important collection of English 18th century Portraits by
Gainsborough and Reynolds and of Dutch 17th century Old
Masters. There are rooms devoted to Sevres Porcelain and on
view there are Savonnerie Carpets. Also there are Beauvais
Tapestries and Furniture by the best French cabinet makers. The
whole collection is outstanding and has to be seen to be
appreciated and really needs more than a few hours to do it
justice. Then there was the Bachelors' Wing with red walls and red
plush upholstery, filled with beautiful treasures and windows
looking out on to a small enclosed garden. One can imagine sitting
in the Bachelor Wing on a cold snowy day relaxing with a glass of
Rothschild wine from their extensive wine cellar.
Lady Rothschild decided in the early twenties to keep the curtains
drawn and so prevented the sun from damaging the contents of
the Manor which is the reason they have been preserved in such
good condition for future generations to see with of course the help
of the National Trust who have done such an excellent job.
There was not enough time to tour the whole garden before it was
time to leave at 4.00p.m. but we did manage to visit the Rococostyle Aviary where we saw the exquisite Java
Sparrows and other exotic birds and heard the Spectacled
Laughing Thrushes.
Thanks to Joe and Jean for a memorable day out with the National
Trust Centre. We look forward to many more.
Mary M. Ross
THE YORK HOLIDAY - SEPTEMBER 1999
20th September 1999 Dear Sheila & Gordon,
Many thanks for another wonderful holiday. York was an ideal
venue and didn't involve too much travelling. We were sorry,
though, that one member fell in Ripon cathedral (before we even
reached York) and injured her ankle. We hope she has fully
recovered now. The Monkbar Hotel close to the city walls was an
excellent choice even though we did get over heated in the dining
room, but of course there is no truth in the rumour that some were
seen, after dinner, running scantily clad through the streets of York
trying to cool off!
We appreciated our free day meandering through the ancient
streets, ambling along The Shambles, walking the walls, visiting
the beautiful medieval Minster and discovering something of York's
history. The Jorvik Viking Centre was fascinating and was the
highlight of my day.
Our trips were many and varied. My own personal lasting
memories are of the Salvias and Penstemons in the 'Autumn
garden' at Newby Hall: the peaceful, tranquil atmosphere of
Ampleforth Abbey and its splendid architecture; (the monk who
took us round looked very young - am I getting old?), the amazing
detail in the collection of 'miniature rooms' at Nunnington Hall; and
the delightful Yorkshire villages we travelled through on the way.
Eden Camp was, for me, the big surprise. Why would we want to
queue to go into a P.O.W. camp? But this was definitely a war
museum with a difference and an experience that I shan't easily
forget. Our escape route was meticulously planned and executed.
Perfect timing, perfect weather and of course good company.
Thank you again for all the planning and organisation which made
everything so easy for us.
Beryl Freeman
P.S. Denis asks "Does this qualify us for a discount off "next year's
trip?"!!!
NOTES MADE DURING FOUR DAY VISIT TO YORKSHIRE
Introduction to Yorkshire at Ripon, cathedral city of York Dales.
Tall and graceful.
Had to wait until afternoon to enter as a degree ceremony was
being held.
St. Wilfred built first church here in 672. Its treasury houses the
Saxon "Ripon Jewel". Underneath high altar lies the small Saxon
crypt - very impressive. Choir portrays 500 year old wood carvings.
Afternoon to Newby Hall a magnificent Adam house in extensive
grounds. On to Monkbar Hotel, an extended refurbished comfy
hotel near to Minster and Monkbar(gate) .
Early Friday morning, York Minster, a building of earthly beauty
and heavenly spirituality. Always view De La Zouche chapel, the
rose window with the magnificent bosses in that transept. Some
designed (after fire) by Blue Peter viewers. Sun streaming through
all stain glass windows. York Minster is the largest mediaeval
structure in U.K. Took 252 years to build. Admission free.
Then by train to Harrogate, a pretty half hour run, to visit an old
Walton-on-Hill friend. Glorious weather: we strolled through
Harlow, the northern horticultural centre - acres of gardens and
woodlands.
Saturday another journey across Vale of York to Ampleforth Abbey
and College.
Feel quite honoured to be visiting. Whole complex of buildings Abbey Church, Main Hall Central Building, School linked by
cloister walk. One can't fail to be impressed by modern 1988 style
of Main Hall, splendidly blending in every way with older
architecture. A short guided tour started in Main Hall on spot where
stood house given by Anne Fairfax of Gilling castle to her chaplain
in 1793. Later 1802
Benedictine monks re-founded their community, dissolved by order
of Henry VIII. School houses spaced over vast area. Whole estate
comprises 3,000 acres. Includes own farmland and some land
rented to Forestry Commission. Visit to Abbey church - modern
Gothic. Tour commenced in Lady Chapel. Here our monk-guide
gave us a brief homily on importance of Virgin Mary to Christian
living, which I thought was unnecessary. But we were in
Benedictine place of worship. Several were disappointed not to
see any school rooms. Thought of Cardinal Hume. Lunch at Black
Swan, Helmsley - Yorkshire ham!
Helmsley is a high village with huge market square - shops,
houses, hotels and church. Afternoon to Nunnington Hall, another
great N.T. property in delightful grounds. Sunday - no Minster, no
N.T. houses. To Eden Camp, six acres of living history of Britain
and Europe at War. Originally a P.O.W. camp and Army camp.
Rather emotional, especially if you have been in H.M. Forces or
Civil Defence, yet makes one proud of Britain's war effort and
horrified at Nazi treatment of prisoners - military and civil.
Last meal at homely hotel. Good Yorkshire Sunday lunch. Enroute
for home in S. Yorks our last stop was Brodsworth Hall. A large
Victorian house which has gradually declined this century. In
hands of English Heritage. Beautiful grounds.
Talked to several Yorkshire folk who regularly visit to enjoy
gardens.
A first class four days at good hotel in glorious weather.
M.M. Lightfoot
HOLIDAY TO YORK
Thank you, Sheila and Gordon, for organising the Autumn break to
York. What a wonderfully diverse holiday it turned out to be. From
Ripon Cathedral and York Minster to the quiet beauty and serenity
of Ampleforth. The immaculate splendour of Newby Hall and
Gardens ( I especially liked the tapestry room) to the faded
grandeur of Brodsworth Hall and its lovely partly restored garden.
The Carlisle Collection of miniature rooms at Nunnington Hall were
amazing and had to be seen to be believed. Eden Camp, originally
a Prisoner of War Camp built in 1942, now turned into a unique
museum transporting you back to civilian life during World War II.
So our warmest thanks to Audrey and Norman Williams, and
thanks also to Sheila and Angela for the coffee arrangements, and
to Mrs Hornblower and her team for a memorable evening. It was
amusing to hear afterwards the comment of a couple of members
of the WI choir: "If we had known this was going on in the hall we
would have joined you!" (and perhaps joined our Centre?).
Guy de Visme
HOW THE ROMANS DESIGNED THE SPACE SHUTTLE
The US Standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4
feet, 8.5 inches. That's an exceedingly odd number. Why was that
gauge used?
Because that's the way they built them in England, and the US
railroads were built by English expatriates.
Why did the English people build them like that?
Because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built
the pre-railroad tramways, and that's the gauge they used.
Why did "they" use that gauge then?
Because the people who built the tramways used the same jigs
and tools that they used for building wagons, which used that
wheel spacing.
Why did the wagons use that odd wheel spacing?
Well, if they tried to use any other spacing the wagons wheels
would break on some of the old, long distance roads, because
that's the spacing of the old wheel ruts.
So who built these old rutted roads?
The first long distance roads in Europe were built by Imperial
Rome for the benefit of their legions. The roads have been used
ever since.
And the ruts?
The initial ruts, which everyone else had to match for fear of
destroying their wagons, were first made by Roman war chariots.
Since the chariots were made for, or by, Imperial Rome they were
all alike in the matter of wheel spacing.
Thus we have the answer to the original question. Specs and
Bureaucracies live forever. The United States standard railroad
gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches derives from the original specification
for an Imperial Roman army war chariot. And the Imperial Roman
chariots were made to be just wide enough to accommodate the
back ends of two war horses.
Now the twist to the story ... There's an interesting extension of the
story about railroad gauge and horses' behinds. When we see a
Space Shuttle sitting on the launch pad, there are two big booster
rockets attached to the sides of the main fuel tank. These are the
solid rocket boosters, or SRBs. The SRBs are made by Thiokol at
a factory in Utah. The engineers who designed the SRBs might
have preferred to make them a bit fatter, but the SRBs had to be
shipped by train from the factory to the launch site. The railroad
line to the factory runs through a tunnel in the mountains. The
SRBs had to fit through that tunnel. The tunnel is
slightly wider than a
railroad track, and the
railroad track is about
as wide as two horses'
behinds. So
a
major
design
feature
of
what is arguably the
world's most advanced
transportation system
was determined by the
width of a horse's
arse!
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