The University of Leeds Ladies' Club
Summer 2024
Monthly Newsletter - April
Dear Ladies,
I hope that you are keeping well, that you all had an enjoyable Easter holiday despite the weather and are looking forward to the summer, when hopefully we may see some more sunshine and warmth.
On 21st March, we had a most enjoyable talk by Dr John Cruickshank on the history of ‘Spinning through the West Riding’ in the pre-industrial period. The talk was very well received and made us realise just what hard lives our ancestors had endured and how lucky we are to live in the present day.
Please see picture in the March newsletter below..
On 15th April, we enjoyed a most interesting, enlightening and entertaining talk by Patrick Titley on ‘How TV works….and sometimes doesn’t’. Patrick regaled us with stories from his career as a TV director and producer and the amusing, and sometimes not so amusing things, that happen in the making of TV programmes. I think we all left with a new respect and admiration for the hard work, and the complexity, involved in the making of tv programmes which always seem so effortless and which hitherto we have taken for granted.
As we enter May we have the following events arranged:
Forthcoming Events
On Tuesday 14th May from 10.30am onwards, we have our usual Informal Coffee Morning.
This will be held in the Library at The Golden Beam on the Otley Road as in the past two months. We hope as many members as possible will be able to attend. As this is a drop-in session no payment is required in advance, just pay for what you have on the day.
The Golden Beam is situated in the former Elinor Lupton building on Otley Road and there is a car park at the rear plus on street parking in the area. The buses travelling on the Otley Road/Headingley Lane all stop outside. These are the No’ 6, 8, 27, 28 and the limited stop X84, although do check with the driver on the X84 that he/she will allow you to alight outside the Golden Beam.
If you park in the car park, please note that you should register your car number plate at the Bar to avoid any possible parking fines.
Please note also that the June coffee morning will be held at The Golden Beam on Tuesday 11th June at 10.30am
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Wednesday 29th May 2024 – Annual Spring Lunch – 12.30pm for 1.00pm
As many members will be aware, we have had some difficulty in securing firm bookings for our events in the last couple of months. However, the situation has now been resolved and I am pleased to be able to announce that we will be holding our Annual Spring Lunch in the main dining room at the Headingley Golf Club on Wednesday 29th May at 12.30pm for 1.00pm.
The meal will consist of two courses with choices at each course plus tea or coffee. The cost will be £20 per person. A Flyer and Booking form were sent out on Saturday 27th April and booking forms should be returned to me at the address shown on the form.
Annual General Meeting
We have booked the TV lounge at Headingley Golf Club for the morning of Monday 17th June from 10.30am for the Annual General Meeting.
Further details of the meeting will be sent out at the end of May.
News of Members.
Moira Wallace has now had her hip replacement operation and, I understand, is back at home and recovering well.
I understand also that Mary Donovan is recovering at home from a very nasty fall and subsequent spell in hospital.
To both Moira and Mary, and for any other members who are ill or recovering from illness, we send our very best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
Garden Group
Heather Harrison has sent me the following report of the recent meeting of the Garden Group.
Our February meeting gave us opportunity to discuss and share views on several writers, including James Rebanks and Dara McNulty, whose works reflect aspects of the past and present natural world. Although we have a common interest in gardens, we also look at the wider world of wild and cultivated plants.
In March we considered some of the traditional vegetables grown in allotments and vegetable plots in the garden. Root vegetables such as the much-maligned turnip gave rise to lively discussion in the light of Renaissance recipes, Baldrick of Black Adder fame, Government exhortation to consume them in the absence of other options, and school dinners.
The talk in March was mainly about non-edible plants. We looked at the work being carried out by three researchers, William Milliken based at Kew Gardens, Chris Thorogood at Oxford Botanic Garden and Kelsey Byers at the John Innes Centre. Byers' work involves plants which attract pollinators by their smell, as demonstrated by the foetid smelling Rafflesia of Indonesia.
She is also working on varieties of oil seed rape used as fodder crops. Greater yield could be assured if it can be discovered which variety attracts the most pollinators. The current and future use of plants as natural remedies continues to drive plant hunting by Milliken and Thorogood. Regrettably the knowledge of indigenous people in this regard is declining, as is their number.
For more on this subject go to BBC iPlayer Sounds, Start the Week 04 Mar 2024, Kirsty Wark with Chris Thorogood, Kelsey Byers and William Milliken
And finally!
A date for your diary,
I do realise that it is rather early to be planning for Christmas, we haven’t even had summer yet! However, I think we are all aware that venues get booked up very far in advance.
Accordingly, we have made a provisional booking for a Christmas Lunch, again at the Headingley Golf Club, on Monday 16th December.
Details of menus and costs will be circulated (much) nearer the time but if you would like to make a note in your diary it could avoid any potential clash in the festive season.
The next newsletter will be sent out around 31st May. If you have any items for inclusion, please could you let me have them by no later than 28th May.
I hope you have enjoyed reading the newsletter and I hope to see you at some, or all, of the forthcoming events.
Carole
Monthly Newsletter - March 2024
Dear Ladies,
Welcome to the March newsletter and may I wish you all a very Happy Easter!
Report of the talk on 21st March.
On 21st March, 30 members and guest enjoyed a most interesting and enlightening talk on ‘Spinning in the West Riding’ which was given by Dr John Cruickshank.
The talk focused on the ‘industry’ before the industrial revolution. We heard all about the development of spinning which, pre-industrialisation, was carried out at home, the original ‘cottage industry’. Dr Cruickshank’s talk led to a number of questions about the industry and also a number of members related anecdotes about their ancestors who had used many of the crafts in their own family lives. A very interesting and enjoyable afternoon.
Forthcoming Events
Tuesday 9th April 2024 - Informal Coffee Morning from 10.30am onwards
In March, following the closure of the Lawnswood Arms, we held our first coffee morning at the Golden Beam on the Otley Road in Headingley. this first meeting at the Golden Beam was well supported and I have had very positive feedback about the venue. Therefore, arrangements have been made for us to continue to meet at the Golden Beam on the second Tuesday of each month.
Accordingly, the April Coffee Morning will be held in the Library at the Golden Beam on Tuesday 9th April from 10.30am onwards.
As before, this is a drop-in session and no payment is required in advance, just pay for what you have on the day.
The Golden Beam is situated in the former Elinor Lupton building on Otley Road and there is a car park at the rear plus on street parking in the area. The buses travelling on the Otley Road/Headingley Lane all stop outside. These are the No’ 6, 8, 27, 28 and the limited stop X84, although do check with the driver on the X84 that he/she will allow you to alight outside the Golden Beam. If you park in the car park, please note that you should register your car number plate at the Bar to avoid any possible parking fines.
I hope as many members as possible will be able to attend and I look forward to seeing you then.
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Monday 15th April 2024. “Television – How it works….and sometimes doesn’t!”
An illustrated talk by Patrick Titley, a former TV producer and director and also a visiting Professor at the University of York, who will share with us his experiences of working in television and of the people he has met.
Patrick is an experienced series producer, and single- and multi-camera director. He’s worked on a wide variety of programmes – drama, documentary and entertainment, and he’s directed live shows on every terrestrial channel. He’s won several awards, including a BAFTA and an RTS, and he’s been a senior executive at a major broadcaster. He is also an experienced trainer in single- and multi-camera techniques; and has been a Senior Lecturer on the ScreenSkills accredited BSc in Film and Television Production at the University of York.
Recent credits:
Susan Calman's Antiques Adventure : True North for Channel 5; (TX Nov 2021)
Today at the Great Yorkshire Show: Daisybeck for Channel 5 (TX July 2019)
Carols at Christmas: Daisybeck for Channel 5 (TX Dec 2019)
This talk will be held at Headingley Golf Club at 2pm. A Flyer and Booking Form was sent out on 22nd March with a closing date of Tuesday 9th April. Bookings should be made with Gillian Roche at the address shown on the booking form.
To avoid disappointment may I suggest that, if you wish to attend, you send your booking as soon as possible.
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Spring Lunch.
In previous years, members will remember that we have held an annual Spring Lunch at the end of March or in early April. I send apologies that this year we have not been able to make an arrangement as yet. It has proved to be very difficult to obtain a booking at a suitable venue and so the ‘Spring’ Lunch may have to become an early summer Lunch.
I am trying to make a booking in the near future for perhaps a date in May and will let you know as soon as possible. Watch this space!
AGM
The Annual General Meeting is held, normally, at the end of June. At the moment, I am waiting for confirmation that we can hold the meeting at Headingley Golf Club, as before, but I will not know the outcome of my request until later this month.
I am also investigating alternative venues and, once again, I will let you know as soon as possible so that you can put the date in your diary.
Do watch your inbox for further information.
Reports from the groups.
Book Group
Thursday 28th March 2024
The March 2024 meeting of Book Group 2 was held at the home of Jennifer Milligan with a full complement of members.
The book this month was ‘Death at La Fenice’ by Donna Leon. It was the first of the Donna Leon books, which are set in Venice and general consensus was that it was a most enjoyable book.
We agreed that this book was easy to read and was quite amusing in places. The descriptions of Venice were excellent and depicted the misty, mysterious, atmosphere of the city very well.
Our thanks go to Jennifer for hosting the meeting and for the usual delicious tea and cake.
And finally!
Spring inevitably brings discussion about what is to happen in the next academic year and, in particular, the membership of the committee for the new year.
The committee has a membership of 12 of which 6 places are for members who hold offices (such as President, Treasurer etc) and 6 who do not hold any office but provide advice and support at meetings. These positions are open to Full and Associate members of the Club and are usually held on a three-year basis, although that is flexible.
A couple of the current committee members are coming to the end of their time on the committee and we need to look for their replacements.
Can You Help?
We are a very friendly group, with enjoyable meetings, which always include cake! If you think you would be interested, and would like to know more, do please get in touch with me and I will do my best to answer any queries you may have.
The next newsletter will be 30th April. If you have any items for inclusion, please could you let me have them by no later than 28th April.
I hope you have enjoyed reading the newsletter. Take Care and Keep Safe,
Carole