The University of Leeds Ladies' Club
Autumn 2026
RIP delightful long time member of ULLC and of our Garden Group, Vanessa. A tribute to follow.
University of Leeds Ladies’ Club
Monthly Newsletter - September 2026
Above, a picture of our harvest lunch, held at Headingley Golf Club.
Forthcoming Events
A talk by our own Dr. Diana Wetherill entitled:
‘Life as a Police Surgeon’
To be held at
The Headingley Golf Club, Back Church Lane, Adel, Leeds. LS16 8DW
on
Thursday 12th November 2026 at 1.30pm for 2.00pm
£9.00 per person payable on the door to include refreshments
(Please note that for catering purposes, attendance must be booked by no later than Friday 6th November 2026)
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 you may pay by bank transfer, BACS, to the Ladies’ Club account at Lloyds Bank
It would be very helpful if you could let the Membership Secretary, Margaret Bradbury, know if you have paid by BACS.
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 at any of the regular Club meetings, including the monthly coffee mornings at The Golden Beam. by
For further details please contact Margaret or any other member of the committee. (See your newsletter by email)
Earlier This Month:
Drop-In’ Coffee Morning
Tuesday 13th 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). Further information is on the Home page.
The History of Cakes
Thursday 8th October at 1.30pm for 2pm
A talk on the History of Cakes by our good friend, Robert Gee, who never fails to both inform and entertain, at the Headingley Golf Club on Thursday 8th October at 1.30pm for 2pm.
The closing date for bookings is Friday 2nd October so, to avoid disappointment, if you wish to attend and have yet to book, please let Moira know as soon as possible that you wish to attend.
The cost, payable on the door, will be £9, to include a free raffle, tea or coffee….and Cake!!
News from Members
I have received from Tina Irving, a copy of a letter from Maria White, the Community Fundraiser at St. Gemma’s Hospice, with thanks for a donation made from funds collected at the May ‘Book Swap’ meeting.
Members may remember that this collection was made in memory of Tina’s late husband, David, who was cared for by St. Gemma’s over a long period of time both at home, as an outpatient and, on occasion, as an in-patient.
The sum collected was £96.70 and I quote from the letter from the Hospice as follows:
Dear Mrs Irving,
On behalf of the patients, volunteers and staff at St. Gemma’s Hospice I would like to say a huge thank you for your recent donation.
Your support means that we can continue caring for people with life-limiting illnesses in Leeds, both in the Hospice and at home, so please pass on our sincere thanks to each person who helped to make this donation possible.
With your incredible support we are able to keep providing the highest quality of care to our patients and their loved ones when they are facing one of the most difficult times in their lives. Last year we were able to help over 3000 families, and with your incredible support, we can continue to provide vital care for local people who ned it most.
With thanks and best wishes from everyone at the Hospice.
Gillian Roche has advised me that, in addition to the Light Night Leeds in the city centre, there is to be a “Light Night Leeds” on the Campus on 28 and 29 October from 6pm to 9.30pm. Admission is free.
There looks to be a most interesting programme for this event on the campus and full information is available from ‘stage@Leeds’
News of Members
I am pleased to hear that Irmgard Tailby is recovering well from her operation and we look forward to seeing her again at a ULLC event in the very near future.
Heather Strachan has recently moved to live nearer to her son and his family. She was a very enthusiastic member of the club and attended most, if not all, of our events. We will miss her and send all our very best wishes to her for happiness in her new home.
Lorraine Harding has advised me that Militza Srivastava has moved to a care home, Garden House, still within the confines of St. Monica’s, the retirement complex in Bristol where she lives. This is so that she can get the care she now needs. She is well-supported by her family as well and we send her all our good wishes.
Tina Irving is due to move house, after what has been a very difficult and sad year for her. To her also we send our very best wishes for happiness in her new home.
Members will be saddened to hear of the death of Vanessa Hinton, a very longstanding member of the Club. (See above and below) She has been in poor health for some considerable time. Her funeral was held at Adel Church on Monday 21st September and a number of current ULLC members attended. We send our condolences to Mark and all Vanessa’s family at this sad time.
News of Groups
Book Group 1 – September 2026
We’ve been absent from this Newsletter for too long, but now, rather shamefacedly, I’m going to let you catch up with us.
This summer we’ve read (and discussed) Helen Dunmore’s Zennor in Darkness, Anne Tyler’s Breathing Lessons and in August Ruth Prawer Jhabvala’s Heat & Dust, all of them interesting and worth a read, if not quite worthy of our unanimous praise.
For September we had chosen the somewhat alarmingly titled Flesh by the English/Hungarian novelist David Szakay. We’d had fun trying to pronounce his name. Less fun though in reading the book. Joanne introduced us to the writer and his own approach to its generation as well as a flavour of critics’ reviews, most of them claiming it to be novel of genius. We didn’t agree. We enjoyed an interesting talkative time, starting off by wondering what these critics had seen that we hadn’t, and so why the book came to be awarded the 2025 Booker prize. We did a lot of deconstructing, basically psychologically analysing this taciturn, inexpressive, inarticulate masculine protagonist to whom things just happened. You’ll have to read it to discover why the book’s title is Flesh. His was always willing.
Our hostess, Mary, provided us with a delectable spread, as we gossiped while putting the world to rights.
Our next read will be Thunderclap by the Observer’s art critic, Laura Cumming.
(For more about Book Group 1's reading, please visit the Gallery page)
Book Group 2
Book Group 2 met on 24th September when their book of the Month was ‘The Other Bennet Girl’ by Janice Hadlow.
After a brief introduction, discussion followed on the merits, and demerits, of the book. It seemed most of us had liked it but to varying degrees. Some felt it over long and perhaps included too much. But most of us appreciated the writer's skill in echoing Austen’s voice.
Our thanks go to our hostess for the excellent refreshments.
The group will next meet at the end of October when the Book of the Month will be Gabriel's Moon by William Boyd. (The first of a trilogy of spy novels set during the Cold War).
Garden Group Report August – September 2026
In August we looked at the history of the commercial cultivation of the banana, from the late 1800’s in South America to the present time. Although there are many banana varieties, the original commercially grown banana was the Gros Michel, reputedly delicious. Unfortunately, it was produced in monoculture plantations which in the 1950’s and 60’s were affected by a fungal disease resistant to fungicides.
An alternative had to be found, and it was, in a greenhouse in Derbyshire. The bananas we buy today are from clones of the plant obtained and nurtured by Joseph Caxton at Chatsworth. He named the fruit after his employer, William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire. The Cavendish variety of banana is the only one suitable for lengthy transit as it doesn’t spoil en route, but lessons have not been learnt.A Cavendish banana monoculture was established in various parts of the world and the fungal disease is back, first affecting crops in SE Asia and South America where most of the fruits are grown. Enjoy your bananas while you can!
In September we made a virtual visit to La Gomera (Canary Islands) Botanical Garden, thanks to lovely photographs taken by one of our members on holiday some time ago. A projector and large screen were used for the first time, a move up from a monitor screen, and a major leap from the A4 pages of information sticky-taped to the fireplace twenty years ago.
I also have to report that on 21st September those of us able to do so met at Adel Church for the funeral of Vanessa Hinton, for many years a regular and knowledgeable member of Garden Group.
Below is an image taken from the programme for her funeral.
And Finally….
I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter. The next newsletter will be sent out on or around 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, by email.
Best wishes,
Carole
Monthly Newsletter - July 2026
Dear Ladies,
Welcome to the July 2026 edition of the monthly newsletter.
Dates for your diary
Tuesday 11th August at 10.30 am at the Golden Beam, Otley Road, Headingley. (See front page)
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.
As this is such a popular event in the calendar, we have booked additional dates for coffee mornings on the second Tuesday of each month until December. The dates booked are
Tuesday 8th September,
Tuesday 13th October,
Tuesday 10th November
Tuesday 8th December,
all at 10.30am.
Members will be pleased to know that the Autumn schedule of meetings is almost finalised and you may wish to add the following dates to your diaries
.Wednesday 16th September – Harvest Lunch
Members may well remember the annual Harvest Lunch which formerly opened proceedings for each academic year with a lunch at University House. With the advent of the Covid virus in 2020 it became impossible to hold any events in University House and sadly, this remains the situation to date. However, we have made a booking for a revised Harvest Lunch which will be held in the dining room at
Headingley Golf Club on Wednesday 16th September.
Here is the flyer, with full details. A Booking Form, has been sent by email and members are asked to reply to the Club Secretary, Mrs Moira Wallace by no later than 31st August.
Please note that, as the Golf Club is a commercial enterprise, payment must be made in advance. Full details of payment methods will be included in the booking form.
Note from admin. Pictures from this event can be viewed in the Gallery.
Thursday 8th October – Talk by Robert Gee on the History of Cakes
Above is a picture of Robert's previous talk. We got crisps!
This talk will take place in the TV Lounge at the Headingley Golf Club.
Once again, we have managed to secure the services of our old friend Robert Gee, who will give us his latest talk, this time on the History of Cakes. This will be accompanied by refreshments (yes, you guessed it…tea/coffee and Cake!) plus a free ‘Cake Raffle’ during the course of the afternoon. As always, Robert’s talk promises to give us all a very enjoyable afternoon .
Here is the flyer for the event:
‘The History of Cakes’
To be held at
The Headingley Golf Club, Back Church Lane, Adel, Leeds. LS16 8DW
on
Thursday 8th October 2026 at 1.30pm for 2.00pm
£9.00 per person payable on the door to include refreshments
.……and a free cake raffle!
Bookings should be made with Mrs Moira Wallace
(Please note that for catering purposes, attendance must be booked
by no later than Friday 2nd October 2026)
Thursday 12th November – A talk by Dr Diana Wetherill on her Life as a Police Surgeon
This talk will take place in the TV Lounge of the Headingley Golf Club.
Member and former ULLC President, Dr Diana Wetherill, has agreed to give a talk on her very varied life as a Police Surgeon. This promises to be a fascinating and enlightening talk and I am certain we are assured of a most interesting afternoon.
Further details will be sent out in Mid-October. So do keep an eye on your inbox.
Thursday 16th December – Annual Christmas Lunch
Above is an image of a previous one at this venue.
This will be held in the Dining Room at the Headingley Golf Club.
Details are being finalised and more information will be sent out in due course but do put the date in your diary. Diaries at Christmas fill up so quickly and we would hate anyone to miss out on what is always a most enjoyable start to the Festive Season.
News of Members
I have heard that Anne Mark has had an operation on her hand and is encased in Plaster for the time being. We hope that this is not too painful and debilitating and send all our good wishes for a speedy recovery.She has my personal good wishes as I too have had a problem with my hand. After a fall in mid-July, I broke my left hand and have also been encased in Plaster. Thankfully I have now been released from my plaster cast/cage and have a brace and splint which is much easier to handle.
am pleased to say that I have not had any new information about member’s illnesses, so can only hope that everyone is keeping fit and well and enjoying the beautiful sunshine, though perhaps not at the level of heat we have had.
To all our members who have on-going health issues, or have family members with health issues, we send our very best wishes for better health in the future.
News from the Groups
Garden Group Report May – July 2026
Vine Weevil
Garden Group meetings have continued to take place each month, and have been well attended. The business of the meetings has been conducted in informal discussion. Gardening problems, successes and advice feature prominently. The challenges are endless. We took a few minutes to learn how to identify vine weevil, although one or two of us couldn’t bear to even look at a picture of this most unwelcome destroyer of potted plants. Remembering the flowers we used to see growing on roadsides and in fields directed our thoughts to the hobby of flower pressing. Having been given a small press recently it inspired me to look closely along the hedgerow to the side of the Otley Road, walking towards Lawnswood Cemetery. Red clover, ‘eggs and bacon’, cow parsley, daisy, dandelion, speedwell, ragwort and, walking in the opposite direction towards the work at Lawnswood roundabout, beautiful red field poppies, thanks to the disturbance of long untouched ground allowing seeds to germinate.
Although the recent heatwaves have given gardens and gardeners a hard time, roses seem to have thrived. We’re determined to thrive too, and find that tea and cake help enormously.
Heather Harrison
Post Script from keen member Margaret Bradbury:
Dear Heather, Thank you for your GG afternoon on 3rd August, always enjoyable with lovely cake and the interesting talk on bananas. Later, an advert flashed up from Waitrose on my phone, that the bananas you buy help build schools!
Every banana, as well as Fairtrade since 2016, is now a Foundation banana with every 2p spent going back to growers!
Book Group 1
We met in August to discuss Ruth Prawer Jhabvala’s Heat and Dust, a novel set in India during the final decades of the British Raj.
The photograph below left, taken in India in 1923, offers a fascinating visual contrast with our own gathering. It shows an outdoor meal in the world that Jhabvala evokes: European colonial society enjoying the comfort and privileges of life in India, with Indian servants attending in the background. Against this seemingly idyllic setting, Heat and Dust explores the more complicated darker realities beneath the surface — the divisions of race, class and culture, and the problematic relationships between British and Indian society.
Two outdoor gatherings. Compare and contrast. Our pot luck meal was clearly superior. The puddings and chocolates were excellent too.
Our latest and future reading can be found in the Gallery on our ULLC Supports Reading page.
Book Group 2 – July 2026
The Book Group met on Thursday 30th July when they discussed their book of the month, The Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys.
The book had a mixed reception as a few of us liked it very much, more appreciated it but didn’t really enjoy it. However, our thanks go to Val for her lucid introduction.
Thanks go also to our Hostess, Anne, who kindly agreed to host the meeting despite having had an operation on her hand and now sporting a large plaster cast. She was aided admirably by her husband, Alan, and our thanks go also to him for hosting a most enjoyable afternoon.
The group agreed not to meet in August because of the current incapacity of some members and the holiday arrangements of others. The next meeting will take place on Thursday 24th September when the book of the month will be The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow. This has been proposed as a pleasant easy read. I suggest that if you want to cheat you can watch the excellent BBC TV adaptation on the BBC I-Player!
Christine Roy
And Finally....
Members will be aware from the June newsletter that at the AGM in June, President Judith stepped down. As is the custom at the end of the AGM, the new committee for 2026/27 was announced and there are now two important vacancies for 2026/27 and those are for a President and a Vice-President.
If you feel that you would be interested and perhaps would like to explore taking on one of these roles, please ask any member of the committee, who will be pleased to explain what the roles involve.
As we will be without a President or Vice President for the foreseeable future, the committee has established a number of sub-committees to arrange and organise all the forthcoming social events so that the year can proceed with as little disruption as possible.
Offers to help the Committee are always welcome, and we are keen to follow up on any interest to assist in a more "bite sized" way, for a one-off event, or meeting.
The committee are a very friendly and relaxed group who meet about 5/6 times per year, Meetings are always accompanied by tea and cake! The members are a shining example of effective collaborative working, and with the Autumn programme of events now in place we are looking forward to an enjoyable Autumn term.
If you feel you may be interested in finding out more about the committee, or the roles of President and Vice President, why not come along to the next committee meeting to find out what it is all about. This will be held at the Headingley Golf Club on 3rd September, time to be confirmed.
If you would like to know more about the Club in general, please visit the website on:
universityofleedsladiesclub.co.uk
I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter. The August newsletter will be sent out at the beginning of September. If you have any items for inclusion, please could you send the details to me by no later than 28th August.
Best wishes,
Carole
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