| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Coordinator: | |
| When: | Details are posted on the Events page of this Website, and included in the monthly Bulletin |
| Venue: | Venue varies |
| Cost: | Each Trip or Visit is priced separately |
After difficulties encountered with transport on our visit to Port Sunlight I have been researching and visiting other local Coach Companies to find a reliable service for our future trips. This is still ongoing as I still have one or two more companies to investigate.
We welcome MARJORIE PLANT who has volunteered to join our little team of trip organisers, and she is considering the possibility of doing a theatre trip in the near future ..so WATCH THIS SPACE !
In light of information received from u3a Headquarters I had a meeting with our team of Trip Organisers to consider the issues raised and recommended procedures concerning taking members on trips and visits…and we concluded that there were only very minor alterations that we could make in order to comply.
Finally, please contact any of us if you have suggestions as to the trips/ visits that you would like us to organise in the future.
Hazel Glover is leading the ‘Trips & Visits’ Group that the Committee has set up. She would like to compile a data base of members interested in them and who would like to be informed about upcoming events. If that is you, please contact Hazel Glover by clicking on her name, above, or see her at Open House on a Wednesday morning.
Hazel Glover, Simon Haas, Carol Hogan and Marjorie Plant.
Forthcoming events
Reports of Recent Visits
Our Visit to the NATIONAL JUSTICE MUSEUM
On a dull and dreary day in February we set off by train to visit the National Justice Museum in Nottingham where we had a guided tour with a very competent and knowledgeable guide, who described the history of the building which had served as a prison and Courthouse since the 18th .century.
During the “trial” Simon, Sue and Lorna volunteered to testify as witnesses, and the rest of us formed the jury. We found the Defendant guilty, which agreed with the real life verdict!! There was so much more to explore at the museum including an interesting section dealing with transportation.
After our visit some of us took refreshments at the nearby Pitcher and Piano which is a really interesting cafe set in an old Church, retaining spectacular stained glass windows.
This was a great day out and gave several members the opportunity to see how easy and convenient it is to travel by train.
The Amazon Fulfillment Centre at East Midlands Airport
On Monday 17th November, nine u3a members visited, and after a short introductory video we walked the process, seeing first how incoming items are labeled so their location is always known by the computer system; next, how incoming parts are stored in pods: 2500 robotic storage compartments about 12 feet high that move around on their own.
When a customer order is received, the relevant pod goes to an operator's station, a light shines on the relevant storage compartment from the item is picked. It then gets wrapped and the customer's name and address label applied and off the item goes to the customer. At peak times, this fulfillment centre processes about one million items per day.
The tour lasted one and a quarter hours during which we walked about 1.5km. We found the tour very interesting, and were amazed at what we saw, helped by a guide who
was very lively and informative.
Simon Haas
Visit to Port Sunlight
On a cool damp morning in September we boarded our coach in Uttoxeter and made our way to Port Sunlight. This is a village created by the owner of the soap factory…Lord William Lever…to provide housing for his workers.
We had a conducted tour of the area and were impressed by the garden layout of the houses which were mainly constructed in blocks of four, each block having been designed by a different architect so the appearances were totally different, The village provided a theatre, a church, railway station, Post Office…sports facilities etc as well as a hospital and medical care, and allotments where residents were encouraged to grow their own vegetables. There was provision for a Pension and a Fund which provided Holiday Pay. A truly enlightened employer..!
Later in the day members were free to explore further in the Museum, and step inside one of the houses which stirred memories for many of us as to how “ things used to be". A break in the day allowed some of us to sample delicacies in the cafe.
A very special part of the day for many of us was the opportunity to view wonderful examples of paintings, furniture and ceramics exhibited in the LADY LEVER GALLERY (a museum created by Lord Lever in memory of his wife).
During February a small group of members went to see the annual Pantomime performed by Denstone Players, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable visit and it was great to see so many involved in this event, not only performers but those making costumes and sets, sound and lighting operators, makeup artists as well as front of house staff and other administrators…truly a COMMUNITY EVENT. Well done Denstone! This was our FOURTH visit to the Panto…so here’s hoping we’ll be there again next year.
On 5th November, thirty of us went off to Chester for the day.
We set off from Uttoxeter at 8 15am on a bright DRY day and arrived in the city without any delays.
Some of us visited the Cathedral and Roman Amphitheatre, while others walked the walls or simply
wandered through the fascinating streets admiring the architecture…one member took the opportunity to visit her sister who lives in Chester….and of course some indulged in a bit of Christmas shopping.
On November 12th six u3a members visited the RAF Museum at Cosford. With such a large array of aeroplanes, it proved to be very interesting. There was a simulator of the Red Arrows; your view was as from the cockpit with another Red Arrow only six feet away!
In the background of the photo is a black and white, German V2 ballistic missile. Sheila Siegler (in the photo) was in charge of a team some time ago that restored this for the museum and kindly gave us a talk on the V2 itself and its restoration. Simon Haas
We got back into gear on 15th February when fifteen members opted to support the Denstone Players with a visit to their annual Pantomime, which this year was Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates.
We were met at the door by a member of the Drama Group who directed us to our specially reserved seats…so we felt very welcome…and particularly because we were mentioned several times by actors during the performance.
It was a wonderful evening, action-packed with a cast of 40, and great acting with modern music we all recognised that had us clapping and tapping our feet!
The costumes were superb…a credit to the villagers of Denstone who spend many months creating these innovative outfits. It truly is an event which appears to involve the whole community - it seems you missed a good time - oh yes you did!
See photos to the right and below.
New Vic Theatre - At the end of the year (2023) nine of us went to the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle to where they were entertained by the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir - there were about forty of them and they made a beautiful sound. Members travelled by “car share” and it transpired to be a very successful evening. Simon Haas
Kedleston Hall
On Monday 4th December, after a deluge of snow during the weekend 39 of us set off to Kedleston Hall.
Several members had visited previously, but as with all National Trust properties there so always something to see that we hadn’t noticed before, which was true of Kedleston, an 18th. century House designed by Robert Adam.
The furniture and carpets are superb and each room was decorated especially for Christmas with garlands and a tree in each room. We were fascinated by the many tree “ornaments” made by their volunteers from old newspapers etc.
Inside the hall is a museum full of items collected during the Curzen’s time in India…..a vast collection, and we marveled at the vast amount and size of items which had been transported to England.
Refreshments in the cafe included mince pies, mulled wine and hot spicy apple juice…very welcome on such a cold wet day.
We arrived back in Uttoxeter mid-afternoon, before dark, expressed our appreciation to Trevor our driver for his patience in driving the whole day in pouring rain!
Hazel Glover Carol Hogan
Gallery
