The University of Leeds Ladies' Club
Autumn 2025
September outing to Harewood House
Message from our President, Mrs. Judith Partridge:
ULLC Newsletter
Monthly Newsletter - September 2025
Dear Ladies,
Welcome to the September edition of the monthly newsletter which I hope you will enjoy reading.
HRH The Duchess of Kent
It was with great sadness that we learned of the recent death of HRH the Duchess of Kent at the age of 92.
Her Royal Highness was the fifth and longest serving Chancellor of the University of Leeds from 1966 – 1999 and during her Chancellorship she spent several years as Patron of the University of Leeds Ladies’ Club. In addition, from 1975. she was Patron of the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition, ‘The Friends’ of which a number of members of the Ladies’ Club are also members.
She was a much loved and highly respected Chancellor of the University and for those of us who had the privilege of seeing her at various events on the campus, and in Leeds, and of meeting her in person, however briefly, her death has cast a shadow.
The members of the University of Leeds Ladies’ Club send their sincere condolences to HRH the Duke of Kent, and to all the Kent family, in the loss of such a charming and most gracious lady.
Subscription
As we are starting a new academic session and therefore a new year for the Ladies’ Club, I have to inform all members that subscriptions are now due.
The subscription this year will be £10 as before to cover the administrative costs of the Club.
The Club Treasurer, Angie Robinson, has asked me to let you know how you can pay.
You may pay by bank transfer, BACS, to the Ladies’ Club account at Lloyds Bank - in the name of ‘The University of Leeds Ladies’ Club’
It would be very helpful if you could let the Membership Secretary, Margaret Bradbury, know if you have paid by BACS. by email
Because of the changes to the level of banking charges at Lloyds Bank, Angie has requested that you do not arrange to pay by cheque.
However, if you prefer not to pay by Bank Transfer, you may pay in cash to Margaret Bradbury at any of the regular Club meetings, including the monthly coffee mornings at The Golden Beam. For further details please contact Margaret or any other member of the committee.
Forthcoming Events
‘Drop-In’ Coffee Morning
Tuesday 14th October at 10.30am onwards at the Golden Beam restaurant on the Otley Road in Headingley.
As usual, this will be a ‘drop-in’ session for which there is no charge. Coffee/Tea and other drinks are available to purchase and for those who wish to stay on and have lunch afterwards this also can be purchased, again at own cost.
For those who do not know the Golden Beam, it is a very friendly and welcoming Pub/Restaurant. There is free parking with a couple of blue badge spaces and all the buses up Headingley Lane stop outside (except the X84 to Otley and Ilkley which is a limited stop service and does not drop off until West Park). .
A History of Puddings.
Thursday 6th November at 1.30pm for 2pm
A talk on the History of Puddings will be given by Robert Gee (our technical guru!)
at the
Headingley Golf Club
on Thursday 6th November at 1.30pm for 2pm.
The cost will be
£10, to include tea/coffee and a hot pudding, with custard/cream.
For more information, see below under August newsletter.
Christmas Lunch
Thursday 11th December 12.30pm for lunch at 1.00pm
The annual Christmas Lunch will be held at the
Headingley Golf Club
on
Thursday 11th December at 12.30pm for lunch at 1.00pm,
Back Church Lane, Adel LS16 8DW
The cost will be £25 for a two-course lunch followed by tea or coffee and mince pies.
Flyers for booking both events will follow shortly.
News of Members
Jeanne Pritchard has sent me the following report of a visit to the ‘Wild Uplands as part of the current Bradford City of Culture Programme.
She writes….
Here's an idea for a fair-weather day. ' Wild Uplands' is part of The Bradford City of Culture Art programme. It is on till Oct 12th near Haworth at Penistone Park and it's free. Haworth is nearby for cafes and at least 2 Pubs for coffee and or lunch.
We recently spent the afternoon walking in the hills and moorlands enjoying these Art installations in the amazing Yorkshire countryside. Make sure you have a windproof jacket as it gets quite breezy out there on the moors. Takes about an hour to get round comfortably and there is plenty of parking available.
Jeanne sent me some photographs for inclusion but unfortunately, I have not been able to reproduce them in the newsletter but details of the programme are available on the Bradford City of Culture website at https://bradford2025.co.uk/programme/wild-uplands/
PS The Turner Prize finalists are exhibiting at the Cartwright Hall. I highly recommend. Free but book. There is a cafe. (Admin.)
News of Groups
Book Group 2 - September 2025
Book Group 2 met on 25th September. They discussed John Steinbeck’s book East of Eden. Numbers were somewhat depleted due to holidays and various medical and other appointments but the members enjoyed an interesting discussion about the merits, and demerits, of the book. Thanks go to Jean for her hospitality.
The book for October is Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift.
Garden Group - August &September 2025
August.
Those of us not undertaking the challenges of high season holidays in August shared a meeting indoors, the overcast world of a suburban garden in Leeds being somewhat uninviting. We spent several happy hours together exchanging reports on any summer growing successes we had enjoyed. As is often the case we wandered down unplanned routes to talk about a variety of garden related issues. It was surprising to discover that only one of us had come across the red lily beetle
and witnessed its dire effect on the plants from which it takes its name. Although no live specimen was to hand, laptop and iPhones were. Having looked at some images of this bright red beetle all would-be exterminators are now on the lookout.
September.
Golden Acre Park was our venue in September, and happily the weather was favourable for taking a circuitous route to the outdoor cafe for refreshments. It was clear that in many areas of the park the drought of the summer had taken its toll on some of the planting schemes. Many of the herbaceous displays were largely showing more seed heads than blooms, but autumn tree colour had not yet started to show. Nevertheless, we passed a pleasant afternoon together, and perhaps took home some inspiration for what we might do in a corner of our own gardens.
Heather Harrison
And Finally….
I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter.
The next newsletter will be dated 31st October…. but will it be a ‘Trick or a Treat’?
If you have any items for inclusion, please could you let me have them by no later than 28th October.
My contact details are by email or text/phone.
Take care and keep safe
Carole
Welcome to the August edition of the Newsletter. I hope you are all keeping well and that you have been able to take advantage of the beautiful weather we have been having.
At the AGM in June, we welcomed a new President and a revised committee as follows:
Committee 2025/26:
Officers:
President - Mrs Judith Partridge
Vice President - Vacant
Hon. Secretary – Mrs Moira Wallace
Hon Treasurer - Mrs Angie Robinson
Hon. Membership Secretary - Mrs Margaret Bradbury
Hon. Minutes Secretary - Dr Diana Wetherill
Other Committee members; Miss Diana Bell, Mrs Carol Gleisner, Mrs Tina Irving, Mrs Gill Lydon, Mrs Carole Tabbron.
For further information see under: About Us.
To see images of the event look under: Programme/Summer
At the AGM it was announced that two members of the 2024/25 committee had decided to stand down (Mrs Candace Arbor and Mrs Jean Williams) which left two vacancies. Since then, 1 new member has agreed to join the committee (Mrs Jeanne Pritchard).
Our thanks go to those members who have left the committee this time for their support and valuable contribution to the proceedings of the committee through the years. Thanks go also to Jeanne Pritchard for agreeing to join us this academic year. I hope you will enjoy your time as committee member.
This leaves one vacancy. We are a very friendly group who meet approximately 5 times a year to decide on the programme and any other policy issues that may arise.
If you, or any other member, feels that they would be interested in joining the committee and would like further information please do ask President Judith or any member of the current committee for information.
The minutes of the AGM will be distributed in due course.
Subscription:
Please be aware that the Annual Subscription from 1st September is now due. The subscription for 2025/26 will remain at £10 and this sum may be paid in the following ways:
In cash to Margaret Bradbury at any of the ULLC events.
By cheque: payable to The University of Leeds Ladies’ Club and to be sent to Mrs Margaret Bradbury.
By Bank Transfer: Sort Code details in your email. (The University of Leeds Ladies’ Club)
Please let Margaret Bradbury know if you have paid this way. You will find her address and email address in your private email.
Website:
The website continues to attract attention and our thanks go to Joanne Fox, who is our amazing ‘Webmaster’, for all her hard work in maintaining the site. It is well worth visiting regularly for news and information.
Simply type
universityofleedsladiesclub.co.uk
into your search bar and you are there.
Details of Forthcoming Events:
As is now our custom, we will be holding the monthly
Tuesday Drop-In Coffee Mornings
at 10.30am at The Golden Beam (Wetherspoons),
Otley Road, Headingley LS6 1BL
on the following dates:
Tuesday 10th September
Tuesday 8th October
Tuesday 12th November
Tuesday 10th December
Thursday 9th October – Talk
The Headingley Golf Club, Back Church Lane, Adel, Leeds. LS16 8DW.
1.30pm for Talk at 2pm.
by Chris Madeley, author of The Cones Series of Books For Children.
Chris’s wonderful series of children’s books cover a wide range of topics in the construction industry, energy, and transport sectors, bringing these exciting projects to life, for children of Primary school age. Based in Leeds, local partners have included the Headingley Stadium and Leeds Children’s Hospital, and outside the region, extends to the new Everton Football Stadium, and the electrification of the Transpennine route. The titles are carefully researched, and beautifully illustrated, and Chris’s obvious passion for the work she does, provides the audience with an opportunity to enjoy a most informative, and entertaining presentation.
£7 per person, payable on the door, to include refreshments. Members are requested to pay cash, please. No cheques.
Bookings should be made with our Events Secretary, Mrs. Moira Wallace, via Email: or by phone/text.
Please note that for Catering purposes, attendance must be booked no later than 30th September.
November – Date to be confirmed – Talk by Robert Gee
‘Puddings’
Details to be advised in due course
December – Christmas Lunch
Because of the new catering arrangements at Headingley Golf Club we have been unable to secure a confirmed date for a Christmas Lunch as yet. However, we are working very hard to agree a suitable date and will advise members as soon as possible when information is available, in order to avoid any possible diary clashes at this very busy time of year.
Reports from Groups
I have not received any reports from the groups for August as usually there are no meetings in the month due to holiday commitments.
News of Members
As members are aware, Layinka Swinburne died recently. Her funeral was held on Tuesday 12th August. President Judith represented the Ladies’ Club at the funeral, accompanied by several other members. Mary Lance gave a most moving tribute during the service in honour of her and Layinka’s almost 50 years of friendship. A Sympathy card was given to Layinka’s relatives on behalf of the club.
Please refer to the previous newsletter for more information about our distinguished former member.
Our Vice-Patron, Jill Dilks, has recently had a new knee and we wish her a very speedy recovery.
I have not received any other news of members and I hope that that means that you are all keeping well. However, for all those of you who are suffering from any health problems, as always, we send our very best wishes for a successful outcome.
President Judith has asked me to let you know of some forthcoming events in the Leeds which may be of interest to members.
The Heritage Open Days
are coming up. September (12-21). The Leeds area has a full programme of very interesting events on offer. Details can be found on the Heritage Open Days website, or from the leaflet available in public libraries.
The Abbey House Museum
at Kirkstall has two current exhibitions which literary lovers might find tempting:
Literature In Leeds: Prose, Poetry and Plays. (July 1 2025 - March 8 2026)
A community display celebrating Leeds writers, from historical fiction, to thought-provoking poetry, and plays written for the stage and screen.
Story Time: (January 2025 - December 31 2025)
Children's books, then and now. Are you sitting comfortably? Uncover a love of reading, in this family friendly exhibition.
Finally, I hope that you have found this newsletter of interest.
The next newsletter will be sent out on 1st October and if you have any items for inclusion please let me have the information by no later than 28th September to give me time to compile the necessary paperwork.
With best wishes,
Carole