Salisbury u3a's News: April 2017

OUTINGS AND EVENTS NEWS – APRIL 2017

Salisbury & District U3A – www.u3a-salisbury.org.uk

SUDELEY CASTLE and GARDENS

Thursday 17^th August 2017 – Booking Now

Located in the heart of the Cotswolds, Sudeley Castle and Gardens has played an important role in England’s history for over 1,000 years. The castle rooms and exhibits contain treasures from Roman times to the present day. Outside, the castle is surrounded by a breathtaking 1,200 acre estate and ten award-winning gardens. The centrepiece is the Queens Garden because four of England’s queens – Anne Boleyn, Katherine Parr, Lady Jane Grey and Elizabeth I – once walked on the original Tudor Parterre. The Pheasantry at Sudeley houses a collection of 16 rare and endangered species of birds from around the world as part of their programme of breeding and conservation. Sudeley is also the only private castle in England to have a queen buried within its grounds: Katherine Parr, the last of Henry VIII’s six wives lies in the beautiful 15th century chapel of St Mary.

Tudor history at Sudeley is rich – following the Wars of the Roses (1455-87), Henry VII granted the castle to his uncle, Jasper Tudor, who held it until his death in 1495 when, as he left no children, it reverted back to the monarch and became one of Henry VIII’s royal residences when he ascended the throne in 1509. He and Anne Boleyn visited in July 1535 when he met with Thomas Cromwell at Winchcombe Abbey to plan the dissolution of the monasteries, and Anne investigated the relic of Holy blood at nearby Hailes Abbey. Following Henry VIII’s death in 1547 Sudeley passed to his son, Edward VI, who granted it to his uncle, Thomas Seymour. Thomas married Katherine Parr (Henry VIII’s 6th wife and widow) and moved into the castle with their ward, Lady Jane Grey. Charles I found refuge here during the Civil War (1642-46) when his nephew Prince Rupert established headquarters at the Castle. Following its ‘slighting’ on Cromwell’s orders at the end of the Civil War, Sudeley lay derelict for nearly 200 years. George III visited to admire its ruins. In 1837 Sudeley was rescued by the wealthy Worcester glove-makers, brothers John and William Dent, who began an ambitious restoration continued by their nephew, John Coucher Dent, when he inherited the castle in 1855. Sudeley is now the home of Elizabeth, Lady Ashcombe and her son, daughter and their families who are committed to the continued preservation of the castle, its treasures and the ongoing restoration and regeneration of the gardens.

Exhibitions include The Six Wives Exhibition in the 15th century West Wing which houses replica Tudor costumes from David Starkey’s TV series The Six Wives of Henry VIII. The Katherine Parr Exhibition showcases rare copies of original books written by Katherine Parr, the first queen to have her work published. The exhibition also features her love letters to Thomas Seymour and the eye-witness account of the discovery of her body at Sudeley in 1782. These, together with items from her tomb, help to illustrate David Starkey’s film The Life and Loves of Katherine Parr, Queen of England and Mistress of Sudeley, which is shown alongside the exhibition. A special Tudor Physic Garden, part of the new Herb Garden Walk, has been developed to reflect the vast knowledge of herbal healing from many cultures over thousands of years as interest in natural remedies increases.

Cost: £28 (£16.50 to HHA members) to include entry, coach and driver's gratuity. Add £10 for an art tour (limited to the first 10 people to apply and unsuitable for those with mobility difficulties) to view paintings by artists such as Van Dyck and Rubens amongst others from the family’s private collection from 2:30-4pm or £5 for a garden tour (limited to the first 20 people to apply) from 2-3:30pm.

Coach Pickups: 8am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8:15am at Salisbury Millstream Coach Park OR 8:30am at London Road Park and Ride. There will be a comfort stop en route. Our Grosvenor/Taylor's Coach will leave Sudeley at 4:30pm.

WADDESDON MANOR and CLAYDON HOUSE

Wednesday 26^th July 2017 – Booking Now

Waddesdon Manor, in the Aylesbury Vale, was built in the Neo-Renaissance style of Loire Valley châteaux between 1874 and 1889 for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild (1839–1898) as a weekend residence for grand entertaining. The Manor embodies an eclectic style: the towers are based on those of the Château de Maintenon, and the twin staircase towers, on the north facade, although inspired by the staircase tower at the Château de Chambord, also featured the then unparalleled luxury of being glazed and ornate. The structural design of Waddesdon was not all retrospective however. Hidden from view were the most modern innovations of the late 19th century including a steel frame, which took the strain of walls on the upper floors, to permit the layout of these floors to differ completely from the lower floors. The house also had hot and cold running water in its bathrooms, central heating, and an electric bell system to summon the numerous servants.

Once his château was complete, Baron Ferdinand installed his extensive collections of French 18^th century boiseries, Savonnerie carpets, Gobelins and Beauvais tapestries, furniture, Sèvres ceramics, and books, as well as English and Dutch paintings and Renaissance treasures. Works were acquired for their exquisite quality and fine provenance. One of the highlights of the collection is the extraordinary musical automaton elephant, dating from 1774 and made by the French clockmaker H Martinet. Of the ten surviving examples of the Sèvres pot-pourri vase in the shape of a ship from the 1760s, three are at Waddesdon, including one with a very rare scene of a battle connected to the Seven Years' War. Other collections include Limoges enamel, arms and armour, maiolica, medieval manuscripts, prints and drawings. The Grade I listed gardens and landscape park were laid out by the French landscape architect Elie Lainé and statuary, pavilions and an aviary added. The Proserpina fountain was brought to the Manor at the end of the 19th century from the Palace of the Dukes of Parma in northern Italy: the Ducal Palace of Colorno.

James de Rothschild (1878–1957) bequeathed the house and its contents to the National Trust and it is now administered by a Rothschild charitable trust overseen by Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild.

Claydon House looks fairly ordinary from the outside, a pretty but plain, classical box. Step inside, though, and you are in one of Britain's greatest interiors. Claydon was designed in 1757 for the Verney family by Luke Lightfoot, a genius carver of the rococo style: the light, frothy, curvy designs that swept across Europe in the late 18^th century. This is fantasy architecture featuring birds, leaves, lions' heads, all carved with twirling joy by Lightfoot. He also designed a heavenly Chinese Room, crammed with bells, pagodas and a Chinese tea ceremony room. On show too is Florence Nightingale's bedroom; she was a relation of the Verneys.

Coach Pick Ups: 7:45am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8am at Salisbury Millstream Car Park OR 8:15 am at London Road Park and Ride. We will have a comfort/coffee stop en route and arrive as Waddesdon Manor opens at 11am. We will leave Waddesdon at 2pm to travel to Claydon House. Our Grosvenor/Taylor's Coach will depart Claydon at 4:30pm for Salisbury.

Cost: £24 to National Trust members to include coach, driver gratuity, and entry to both properties and gardens. If you are not a National Trust member you will need to pay entry on arrival at each property.

THE WATTS GALLERY – ARTISTS' VILLAGE

and LOSELEY HOUSE & GARDENS

NEW DATE – Tuesday 20^th June 2017 – Booking Now

Watts Gallery - Artists' Village, a unique Arts & Crafts gem nestled in the Surrey Hills, invites you to engage with history and art at the newly opened Watts Studios, and to discover the permanent collection of Victorian paintings and sculpture in Watts Gallery before visiting the De Morgan Collection, on long term loan to the Artists' Village. Founded in 1904 as the only gallery in the UK devoted to a single artist, Watts Gallery offers a unique insight into the life and work of George Frederic Watts OM RA (1817–1904) and his Scottish wife, the designer and artist Mary Watts. Widely considered to be the greatest painter of the Victorian era, GF Watts was a portraitist, sculptor, landscape painter and symbolist, whose work embodied the most pressing themes and ideas of the time, earning him the title England's Michelangelo. The Artists' Village carries on the Wattses' legacy of Art for All with its historic and contemporary galleries, working Artist in Residence, conservation studios, and an extensive learning programme. You may also like to enjoy a quiet moment at Grade I listed Watts Chapel and explore the woodlands and grounds before browsing art for sale in the Contemporary Gallery, along with a wide selection of gifts with 10% off for our group in the Watts Shop. Please wear comfortable shoes as there is a 10 minute uphill walk to Limnerlease and Watts Studios, a 10 minute walk to the Chapel, and no wheelchair access.

Loseley House was built in the 16^th century by Sir William More from honey-coloured stone reclaimed from the Cistercian Abbey of Waverley at Farnham and is still occupied by the More-Molyneux family. Features of the House include the Great Hall containing George IV’s coronation chair, panels carved for Henry VIII’s banqueting tents, and work by Grinling Gibbons, England’s finest ever woodcarver. The Drawing Room ceiling was commissioned for a visit by James I, the fireplace, carved from a single monumental block of chalk, is to a design by Holbein, the cushions on the maid of honour chairs are reputed to have been worked by Queen Elizabeth I, and the perfectly preserved 16c Wrangelschrank cabinet is inlaid with pear wood, pine wood, rosewood, beech and sycamore. The hand carved bed and pelmet in Sir More’s room depicts a boar hunt. Five centuries of portraits document the More-Molyneux family. The 2.5 acre Walled Garden is divided into rooms including the main reason for our visit, the Rose garden with over one thousand Old English Rose bushes which should be in full bloom and scent, the Flower Garden, and the serene White Garden that contrasts spectacular, showy, blooms with lush yet subtle silver and grey foliage. As well, there is the Herb Garden, the Organic Vegetable Garden planted with unusual varieties, the Kitchen Garden which houses Loseley's collection of Garden Organic Heritage Seed Library plants and, just outside the walls, the Wild Flower Meadow.

I am advised the public tea rooms at both locations are small and can get congested with long, slow queues at busy times so I am offering options for reserved morning tea/coffee and biscuits and a buffet lunch at Watts Gallery, and afternoon tea at Loseley to avoid the crowds. You are, of course, very welcome to bring a picnic and/or to take your chances in the tea rooms if you prefer to purchase your own food or drinks.

Cost: £30 (£21 with National Art Pass or £21.50 with HHA membership or £12 with both National Art Pass and HHA membership) to include coach, driver gratuity, entry to both venues and a 45 minute tour of Loseley House at either 2:20 or 2:40pm (no free flow). Add £3 to include tea, coffee and biscuits in the Old Kiln on arrival and/or £9 to include a 1pm Buffet Lunch at the Watts Gallery (sandwich platter with fruit selection, crisps, home made cakes and elderflower cordial or water) and/or £7.50 to include afternoon tea or coffee and two fruit scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam at 4pm at Loseley.

Coach Pickups: 8am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8:15am at Salisbury Millstream Coach Park OR 8:30am at London Road Park and Ride. Our Grosvenor/Taylor's Coach will leave Loseley House at 4:30pm.

WEST GREEN HOUSE GARDENS and THE VYNE Thursday 11^th May 2017 – Booking Now

Our original trip to Sandham Memorial Chapel has been cancelled as they couldn't accommodate us until very late in the afternoon. As there is no electricity in the Chapel, the paintings would have been hard to see and we would have been home very late. I will try to organise a future visit.

West Green House Gardens, created by acclaimed garden designer and writer Marylyn Abbott, is one of England’s finest manor house gardens, marrying neoclassical style with contemporary design. Home to the West Green House Opera Season, it has been featured in The Telegraph's Best Walled Gardens to Visit, and seen on BBC2's Gardeners' World and Best Bakes Ever. The Gardens offer four seasons of beauty, contrast and inspiration with a special and distinctive sense of place, as well as a touch of humour. A grand water staircase provides a focal point to the Nymphaeum Fountain designed by architect Quinlan Terry. The magnificent Walled Garden, faithfully restored to its original lines, is entered through an arbour of wisteria. An allée of apple trees divides the elaborate potager featuring fruit cages, annuals and vegetables from the signature perennial borders. Beyond the walls the Lakefield is carpeted in spring with fritillaries and daffodils and embraces one of England’s most eclectic collections of garden follies. A path leads from the serenity of the lake to the Paradise Water Garden and contemporary Garden of the Five Bridges with a serpentine ribbon of Iris Sibirica crossed by chinoiserie inspired bridges. It meanders on through a woodland glade to the terraced Theatre Lawn surrounded by tall tapestry hedges.

The Vyne was built between 1500 and 1520 for Lord Chamberlain William Sandys, one of Henry VIII’s most trusted courtiers. It is an E-plan house of diapered red brick with stone dressings bought in 1653 by a successful barrister, Chaloner Chute, who commissioned alterations including a classical portico by Inigo Jones' pupil John Webb to the north front – one of the earliest for an English country house. Further changes were carried out from 1770 by Chaloner’s great-grandson John, including a remarkably dramatic classical Palladian staircase. There is a Tudor chapel with important contemporary stained glass (bring your binoculars to see the detail) and encaustic tiles (1512) from the Antwerp workshop of Guido de Savino, and fine linenfold panelling in the Oak Gallery, carved with badges and devices. There is a Gothick ante-chapel containing the tomb of Speaker Chute and a suite of drawing rooms with Rococo ceilings and Italian damask hangings. The Vyne holds an inscribed Roman ring as well as a lead tablet that speaks of a curse on the one who stole it. JRR Tolkien was asked to comment on it as an expert on Anglo-Saxon history, including its connection to a mine fabled to have been dug by dwarves, and a few days after began writing Lord of the Rings. The grounds contain large woodland and a wetlands nesting site which is populated by swans and common redshanks. There are woodland, wetland and parkland walking trails.

Cost: £11.50 to include coach and driver gratuity. National Trust Members enter both properties free. Non National Trust Members will need to pay entrance at each property. Coach Pick Ups: 8am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8:15am at Salisbury Millstream Car Park OR 8:30am at London Road Park and Ride OR 9am at Amesbury at the bus stop by the car park opposite the library. We will leave The Vyne at 4:30pm.

THE WALLACE COLLECTION

Thursday 13th April 2017 – Booking Now

The Wallace Collection is a national museum which displays works of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the 4th Marquess. It was bequeathed to the British nation by Sir Richard's widow, Lady Wallace, in 1897. Displayed at Hertford House, one of the family's London properties in the nineteenth century, the Wallace Collection presents its outstanding collections in a sumptuous, but approachable manner which is an essential part of its charm.

In every category of art represented in the Wallace Collection's twenty-five galleries there are works of the highest quality and historical significance. It is probably best known for over seven hundred paintings and drawings by artists such as Titian, Rembrandt, Hals (The Laughing Cavalier) and Velázquez, and for its superb collections of 18th century French paintings, porcelain, and over five hundred pieces of unique furniture, probably the best to be found anywhere outside France. Perhaps less well known is that the Wallace Collection features one of the finest groups of over two thousand princely arms and armour from Europe and Asia and splendid medieval and Renaissance objects, including Limoges enamels, maiolica, glass and bronzes. Sculptures number over four hundred, and the miniatures more than three hundred. There are also hundreds of medieval and renaissance time period artworks as well as impressive works by goldsmiths.

From beautiful jewellery to Sèvres picnic plates, the shop features a wide selection of gifts, many especially commissioned, as well as some of the best art publications. The shop stocks guidebooks and an exciting range of publications on the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.

During our visit the courtyard restaurant will be occupied by Sky Arts filming their Artist of the Year series so you'll need to go out of the museum to purchase food or drinks. As the Collection is conveniently located in Central London just a few minutes walk from Oxford Street, Baker Street and Marylebone Village, there are lots of popular restaurants and coffee shops nearby.

Free guides and floor plans (including large print), a choice of audio guides for £4, wheelchairs, magnifying glasses, torches, and badges for free entry to the one-hour Highlights tour at 2:30pm are all available from the Public Information Desk. A What's On Today information screen is also worth a look. A cloakroom is available to check your coats, bags and umbrellas, and/or to collect a gallery stool. There is access for wheelchair users to all public areas, including the galleries, library, education studio and lecture theatre. There is a lift to all three floors. Public toilets are on the lower ground floor under the restaurant.

Cost: £14 to include coach and driver's gratuity. Entry to The Wallace Collection is free.

Coach Pickups: 7am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 7:15am at Salisbury Millstream Car Park OR 7:30am at London Road Park & Ride OR 8am at Amesbury at the bus stop by the car park opposite the library. Our Grosvenor/Taylor's coach will stop at Fleet for a comfort stop, arrive around 11am at the Wallace Collection and leave there at 4:30pm to return to Salisbury.

PAYMENTS, REFUNDS AND RECEIPTS FOR OUTINGS

From 10am At Meetings: Cash or cheques payable to Salisbury U3A. One cheque can cover as many people as you like, separate cheques for each outing please.

By Post: If you can't attend the monthly meeting or prefer to book by post, please email Margaret for a booking form. Otherwise, please post your cheque with destination, your name, home and mobile phone numbers and pick up point on the reverse to Margaret Vacha, 1 Grasmere Close, Salisbury SP2 8DG.

Cancellations/Refunds: Full refund if cancelled more than one month before the outing. Cancellations less than a month before a trip are only refunded if we have a waiting list and can resell your place.

Refunds: If you are due a refund, may I ask please that you do not deduct refunds from payments for other trips. I will pay out refunds in cash or by cheque separately. Accounting for each trip is so much easier if there is no cross-over in payments or refunds between outings.

Receipts: No receipts or tickets are issued for Salisbury U3A trips. I do acknowledge all postal bookings by email or phone call.

Personal Record: May I respectfully ask that you keep a diary note of your coach pick up point and time, that you have paid, and what you have paid for please.

Reserves: Reserving outings in advance is no longer possible. Outings can only be booked with a full payment and, if you can, a booking slip or a note giving all your contact details and coach pick up point.

Any questions, or to cancel your place, or to change your pick-up point after booking:

Please contact Margaret at margaretvacha@hotmail.com or 01722 335586 or 07845 870512

SOME EXTRA TRIPS AND EVENTS

FROM OTHER LOCAL GROUPS

Our goal is to offer as much to as many people as possible. If your organisation, group or society are offering a trip or study day or event and you would like to fill your coach or boost your attendance,

we are very happy to advertise your outing to our members.

WATERCRESS LINE and JANE AUSTEN'S HOUSE MUSEUM

Saturday 8th April 2017

Our local National Trust invites you to join them for a day out to celebrate the bi-centenary of Jane Austen. After a ride on the Watercress Steam Railway from New Alresford to Alton, we will rejoin the coach for the short journey to Chawton Village to visit Jane Austen's House Museum - a feast of nostalgic memories. There will be time for coffee in the railway café and lunch can be taken at Cassandra’s Cup tea rooms (01420 83144) or The Greyfriar pub (01420 83841) in Chawton. Or you can bring a picnic and eat in the garden, weather permitting. The visit to Jane Austen's House is on a free flow basis with a limit of twenty four people in the house at any one time, so we will have to proceed fairly slowly. The small Museum has a film and the garden is delightful. Jane revised and wrote her novels here and the story of her family and their life here is beautifully set out on the ground floor and in the bedrooms. Please note: Chawton House, the home of her brother Edward, and St Nicholas Church are ten minutes’ walk away. Sadly, Chawton House is not open on Saturdays. The Leader for this outing is Shirley Reeves on 01722 501130. www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk Please remember to bring your National Art Fund Pass on the day if you have one.

Coach Pickups: 8:45am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 9:15am at Salisbury Millstream Coach Park. The return arrival time in Salisbury will be about 5.45pm. Cost: £27.50 (local National Trust Member) or £30.50 for non members or £24 (Local NT member and National Art Fund Member) or £27 (non members who are National Art Fund Members) – Please send your cheque payable to National Trust Salisbury and a SAE with your name, address, landline, mobile, email address and choice of coach pick up to Mrs Shirley Reeves, 10 Avon Terrace, Salisbury SP2 7BT.

SAVANNAH JAZZ BAND at SALISBURY JAZZ CLUB

7pm for 8-11pm on Friday 14^th April 2017

People from four counties and beyond meet every month in the Stockman's Lounge at the Salisbury Auction Centre on Netherhampton Road, Salisbury SP2 8RH to dance or just sit back and listen to live jazz and watch the dancers. Don't worry about coming alone as you are very welcome to join our U3A table. Admission is £10 payable at the door and student card holders pay £5. For more information or to be put on the club's mailing list, you can contact Wendy Lawrence on 01672 564241 or lawrence@jazz4us.fsnet.co.uk For a full list of bands appearing January to June 2017, the Club's website is www.southwilts.com/site/salisbury-jazz-club

BLACK COUNTRY LIVING MUSEUM

Wednesday 26^th April 2017

Sarum U3A invite you to take a step back in time as we visit one of the UK’s largest open air museums. Brick by brick, over 50 houses, shops, workshops and public buildings have been dismantled and rebuilt to create an early 20^th century village. Enjoy a trip on the tram to explore the canal side village where you can meet and chat to the costumed characters. Experience the sights, sounds and tastes of the past, from glass cutting to sweet making.

Coach Pickup: 8am at London Road Park & Ride. We will leave the Black Country Living Museum at 4pm and arrive back in Salisbury at approximately 7pm.

Cost: £33 to include coach travel, driver gratuity, admission to The Museum and a short introductory talk. The organiser is Angela King on 01980 622069 or 07826 613819 or kingangela.6@btinternet.com Payment is by cheque only made payable to Sarum U3A Visits Account. No cash. Please write Black Country Living Museum on the back of your cheque and send it with your name, landline, mobile and email address to: Angela King, 13 Beverley Hills Park, Boscombe Down, Amesbury, Wiltshire. SP4 7LH.

TEA DANCE

Friday 28^th April from 2-5pm

at the Banquesting Hall, Salisbury Guildhall

with live music featuring Sandy Ince, ‘Sticky Toffee Jazz’

and John Challenger, Assistant Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral

Entry donation tickets: £10 (£8 to Friends)

Available from: Friends’ Office, 33a The Close, Salisbury – 01722 335161

or on the door In aid of Friends of Salisbury Cathedral, Charity no: 243439

Home-made cakes, tea, music & a good time – open to all ages – everyone welcome!

GUNWHARFE QUAYS PORTSMOUTH

Wednesday 24^th May 2017

Sarum U3A invite you to enjoy a day out at Gunwharfe Quays, Portsmouth and visit The Spinaker Tower, HMS Victory or the Mary Rose Exhibition, or you might like to enjoy the retail shopping outlet with many restaurants to choose from, or how about a boat trip around the harbour with views of naval ships, historic buildings and fortifications.

Cost: £12 to include coach and driver gratuity. Payment by cheque only (no cash) made payable to Sarum U3A Visits Account. Please write your name, landline, mobile, email and destination on the back of your cheque and send it to Angela King, 13 Beverley Hills Park, Boscombe Down, Amesbury SP4 7LH – 01980 622069.

Coach Pick Up: 9am at London Road Park & Ride. The coach will leave Gunwharfe Quays at 4pm and arrive back in Salisbury at about 6pm.

CREATING A WILLOW SCULPTURE WITH CHARLOTTE MORETON

Saturday 17^th June from 10am to 4pm

Sarum U3A invite you to a Study Day in Laverstock Village Hall when Charlotte will teach us the techniques necessary to create a willow hare to take home. All materials are provided. Cost: £45 – Please send your cheque made payable to Sarum U3A with your name, landline, mobile and email to Maureen Pardy, 35 Bishops Mead, Laverstock, Salisbury SP1 1RU – 01722 504295.

WINE TOUR TO MACON AND BEAUJOLAIS

Saturday 23^rd September to Sunday 1st October

Sarum U3A invite you to visit many vineyards to taste and maybe buy the wine, eat delicious food and enjoy the Maconnais region. Cost: £895 includes all travel by executive coach, ferry crossing, 3*/4* hotel half board, all excursions and entrances, and Andy our tour guide. To express interest, book or for further information, please contact Maureen Pardy on 01722 504295

LAST MONTH'S SALISBURY U3A OUTING

Your comments are always very welcome and much appreciated!

SWINDON STEAM RAILWAY MUSEUM and/or UP TO 70% DISCOUNT SHOPPING OUTLET and/or NATIONAL TRUST HEADQUARTERS and LYDIARD HOUSE, PARK and GARDENS -- Thursday 9^th March 2017

We started the day with a visit to the Steam Museum of the Great Western Railway. This, together with the neighbouring large shopping mall are housed in the large old GWR works. The route round the museum took us into a series of large halls, each showing a function of the Works with large scale photographs, videos and a few artefacts. The Foundry, Pattern Shop, Carriage Shop, Machine Shop and Boiler Shop explained how the precise engineering was used in the construction of the locomotives. We then had the chance to go round and under the Caerphilly Castle to see a finished product. However my favourite was changing the signals in a signal box. A good museum, though it seemed a bit bare of artefacts. Others spent a successful time in the shopping mall, with a wide range of large chains and smaller outlets. The cavernous spaces of the original Works set off the outlets very well. Eleven of us had a delicious meal together at Carluccio's in the Mall. In the afternoon we travelled to Lydiard Park where we were shown around a few of the rooms on the ground floor. Our very knowledgeable guide gave us a lot of details about the history of the house and the rather unconventional history of the family living there. It was too early for the Walled Garden to show many flowers, but the teas were a welcome distraction. The church had a wealth of historical features, including the original box pews and a beautiful colourful west window. All in all a very good day. …Christine Hill

I've long been aware of STEAM (the Great Western Railway museum) in Swindon, and have been meaning to visit it ever since I moved to Salisbury several years ago. Part of the reason for not doing so is that I've had to drive to Swindon a few times, and don't enjoy it. So I jumped at the opportunity to visit with our U3A. It's so much nicer when someone else does all the work for you. We duly arrived at the museum. Some members of the group without an interest in railways went off to the designer outlet next door, but (after a quick inspection of the vital facilities), I went straight in to the museum. It occupies one of the workshops of the former railway works. Visitors follow a specified route through, and there's little scope for free wandering. However, the result is that you do get to see everything. And very interesting it is, too. There are a number of TVs among the initial displays running short loops of film of former works employees describing their work, and these are fascinating.
On, then, to the bit I particularly wanted to see: the retired GWR locomotives. Two had special interest for me. There's a clean inspection pit under 4073 Caerphilly Castle which allows you to look up and see, for example, the driving cylinders and the tender's water scoop. The other was 6000 King George V. This has a special place in my heart because, about 45 years ago, it and 4472 Flying Scotsman double-headed a steam special on which I rode. After the museum, it was on to lunch at Carluccio's where a group of us ate together. Discovering a common interest in whisky with the gentleman seated to my right ensured no shortage of enjoyable conversation. After lunch, we went on to Lydiard Park. This was less to my taste, though more so to some people on the trip. It's a stately home with only a few overly-ornate (in my opinion) rooms open, and an awful lot of portraits on the walls. Ho hum. And the tea shop had NO FRUIT CAKE! Fortunately, I'd brought my Kindle and a bottle of water, and was happy to retreat to the coach for an hour or so's reading before departure. The book I read was Raw Spirit by Iain Banks. More about whisky - is there a theme developing here? (Actually, it's amusing even if you have no interest in the ostensible subject matter.) …Peter Trebilcock

Another lovely, sunshine day out – so nice that we had afternoon tea outside. Sue and I had tea and cream cakes while Mick was very pleased with his cheese scone, two big wedges of cheese, pickle, and a mug of tea – all for less than £5! … Mick Chaplin, Sue Evans and Margaret Vacha

SALISBURY TRUST FOR THE HOMELESS

AFTERNOON SHOWS with TEA & CAKE

with Christine and Peter Padwick

Wed 19 Apr: The History of the Smallest Room.

The Romans, castles, Hogarth, the pot, Hitler, Thames, Bazalgette, Dick Whittington, Bronco, John Simpson, AA Milne, Edward Hopper & more

Wed 3 May: Schooldays

Joyce Grenfell, uniform, dinners, reports, Eton, the Cane, Lewis Carroll, Eric Morecombe, friends, the ABC, Laurie Lee, playground games & more

Wed 28 Jun: The Brides in the Bath & Other Tales

Dick Turpin, bigamy, Spilsbury, poison, aliases, Broadmoor, forensics, the trial, motive, an undelivered letter, hangings, fingerprints, Epping & more

Wed 27 Sep: The 1940s

Vera Lynn, evacuees, Churchill, sirens, the London Olympics, rationing, gas masks, bombsites, Lord Haw-Haw, shelters, doodlebugs & more

Wed 18 Oct: The Great Train Robbery

Ronnie Biggs, Leatherslade Farm, the gloved signal, the Monopoly board, Scotland Yard, the sentencing, escapes & captures, plastic surgery & more

Wed 29 Nov: All Things Banned & Censored

BBC, 'Psycho', George Formby, Jane Russell, adverts, tombstones, Eartha Kitt, cricket, Lionel Bart, DH Lawrence, 'Hair', the Crazy Gang & more

Wed 6 Dec: The 1950s

National Service, Doris Day, 'Housewives' Choice', ITV, Korea, Bill Haley, Suez, Elvis Presley, 'Under Milkwood', Tom Lehrer, skiffle, Goons & more

Each show bristling with music, laughter, songs & facts

2.45 for 3pm: The Salvation Army Church, 16 Salt Lane SP1 1EE

£5 on entry. Gordon 01722 504295 for details or just turn up.

HAPPY APRIL EVERYONE!

THE WALLACE COLLECTION

Thursday 13^th April 2017

Cost: £14 to include coach travel and driver gratuity. Entry to The Wallace Collection is free.

Coach Pick Ups: 7am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 7:15am at Millstream Coach Park, Salisbury OR 7:30am at London Road Park & Ride OR 8am at Amesbury bus stop by the car park opposite the library.

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COACH PICKUP .................................................. Please complete and return with your cheque for £14 payable to Salisbury U3A to: Margaret Vacha, 1 Grasmere Close, Salisbury SP2 8DG ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

WEST GREEN HOUSE GARDENS and THE VYNE Thursday 11^th May 2017

Cost: £ 11.50 to include coach and driver's gratuity. National Trust members enter both properties free with a valid membership card. Non National Trust members will need to pay entrance fees at each property.

Coach Pick Ups: 8am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8:15am at Millstream Coach Park, Salisbury OR 8:30am at London Road Park & Ride OR 9am at Amesbury bus stop by the car park opposite the library.

NAME ........................................................................................................................................

LANDLINE …........................................................................

MOBILE .........................................................................................

EMAIL ….........................................................................................................

COACH PICKUP ..................................................

Please complete and return with your cheque for £ 11.50 payable to Salisbury U3A to: Margaret Vacha, 1 Grasmere Close, Salisbury SP2 8DG

THE WATTS GALLERY – ARTISTS' VILLAGE and LOSELEY HOUSE & GARDENS

Tuesday 20^th June 2017

Cost – Please tick ONE of the following and please add carefully before writing your cheque:

꙱ £30 to include coach travel, driver gratuity and entry to both venues plus a 45 minute tour of Loseley House

꙱ £21 (with National Art Pass) to include coach travel, driver gratuity and entry to both venues plus a 45 minute tour of Loseley House

꙱ £21.50 (with HHA Membership) to include coach travel, driver gratuity and entry to both venues plus a 45 minute tour of Loseley House

꙱ £12 (with National Art Pass and HHA Membership) to include coach travel, driver gratuity and entry to both venues plus a 45 minute tour of Loseley House

PLUS any or all of the following

꙱ Add £3 for morning tea or coffee and biscuits on arrival at the Watts Gallery

꙱ Add £9 for lunch (sandwich platter with fruit selection, crisps, home made cakes and elderflower cordial or water) at 1pm at the Watts Gallery

꙱ Add £7.50 for afternoon tea or coffee and two fruit scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam at 4pm at Loseley House

Coach Pick Ups: 8am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8:15am at Millstream Coach Park, Salisbury OR 8:30am at London Road Park & Ride.

NAME(S) ...........................................................................................................................

LANDLINE …........................................................................

MOBILE .........................................................................................

EMAIL ….........................................................................................................

COACH PICKUP ..................................................

Please complete and return with your cheque payable to Salisbury U3A to:

Margaret Vacha, 1 Grasmere Close, Salisbury SP2 8DG

WADDESDON MANOR and CLAYDON HOUSE

Wednesday 26^th July 2017

Cost: £24 to National Trust members to include coach, driver's gratuity and full entry to both properties and Claydon House Garden. If you are not a National Trust member, you will need to pay entry on arrival at each property.

Coach Pick Ups: 7:45am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8am at Millstream Coach Park, Salisbury OR 8:15am at London Road Park & Ride.

NAME ..............................................

LANDLINE …........................................................................

MOBILE .........................................................................................

EMAIL ….........................................................................................................

COACH PICKUP ..................................................

ARE YOU A NATIONAL TRUST MEMBER? ….................................

Please complete and return with your cheque for £24 payable to Salisbury U3A to: Margaret Vacha, 1 Grasmere Close, Salisbury SP2 8DG

SUDELEY CASTLE and GARDENS

Thursday 17^th August 2017

Cost – Please tick ONE of the following and please add carefully before writing your cheque:

꙱ £28 to include coach travel, driver gratuity and entry

꙱ £16.50 (with HHA membership) to include coach travel, driver gratuity and entry

PLUS ONE of the following if you wish:

꙱ Add £10 for an art tour from 2:30-4pm and limited to the first 10 to apply and not suitable for those with mobility

difficulties

꙱ Add £5 for a garden tour from 2-3:30pm and limited to the first 20 to apply

Coach Pick Ups: 8am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8:15am at Millstream Coach Park, Salisbury OR 8:30am at London Road Park & Ride.

NAME(S) .............................................................................................

LANDLINE …........................................................................

MOBILE .........................................................................................

EMAIL ….........................................................................................................

COACH PICKUP ..................................................

Please complete and return with your cheque payable to Salisbury U3A to:

Margaret Vacha, 1 Grasmere Close, Salisbury SP2 8DG

Blog Archive

Contributors

Friday, 21 April 2017

Sci-Tech Group Talks Extra 26th June

Wednesday, 19 April 2017

Fly a Glider

CREATING A WILLOW SCULPTURE

Wine Tasting Tour Sept 23rd

Tuesday, 4 April 2017

OUTINGS AND EVENTS NEWS – APRIL 2017