The University of Leeds Ladies' Club
Autumn 2022
The University of Leeds Ladies’ Club
Delayed Newsletter - November 2022
Welcome to the November edition of the monthly newsletter, which I hope you will enjoy reading, and my apologies for the delay in distribution. I have been without broadband for over a week but, thankfully, the problem has been resolved now and I am back online.
Christmas Lunch
A gentle reminder that we are holding a Christmas Lunch on Wednesday 14th December, as advertised earlier in the October newsletter (see below) where you can view the menu.
The closing date for bookings is tomorrow, Wednesday 7th December so, if you are planning to attend and have not booked yet, please contact Gillian Roche by tomorrow and she can confirm if there are any spaces left. If there are spaces available, you will need to send her your completed booking form together with your cheque to arrive no later than Thursday 8th December as she will need to notify the Golf Club of final numbers and menu choices by that day. Gillian’s details are in your email and on the home page..
We look forward to seeing you all on the 14th.
**********
Subscription
Just another gentle reminder that, if you have not yet paid your subscription, Margaret Bradbury, the Membership Secretary, would be pleased to receive your cheque. If you prefer you may pay by bank transfer, BACS, to the Ladies’ Club account at Lloyds Bank .
It would be very helpful if you could let Margaret Bradbury know if you have paid by BACS.
If you prefer to pay by cheque, please make your cheque payable to
‘The University of Leeds Ladies’ Club’ and send it to the Membership Secretary, Mrs Margaret Bradbury.
Events
Talk by Ann Lightman.
On 3rd November 36 members enjoyed a talk by Ann Lightman on the history of Lawnswood Cemetery which was held at the Headingley Golf Club. We send our thanks to Ann for giving us such an interesting insight into both the history of the buildings and grounds but also into the lives of several of the famous people who are buried in the cemetery.
Lawnswood Coffee Morning
December’s coffee morning was held this morning (6th December) at the Lawnswood and I hope all those who attended enjoyed the occasion.
The next coffee morning will be held on Tuesday 10th January 2023 at 10.30am onwards at the Lawnswood Pub/Restaurant, Otley Road, Adel.
As before, we have arranged for a section of the restaurant to be reserved for our exclusive use for as long as we wish to stay. Coffee/Tea and other drinks are available to purchase at own cost 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 Lawnswood it is a very friendly and welcoming Pub/Restaurant and we will have sole use of one, private, section of the dining room. There are no steps to this section of the restaurant and it can be accessed through the main doors at either end of the building. There is plenty of free parking with a number of blue badge spaces and for those travelling on public transport, the Numbers 8 and X84 buses stop outside.
As this is a ‘drop-in’ session there is no need to book in advance but I hope as many members as possible will be able to attend. I and other members of the committee will be there to welcome you all. If you would like more details please don’t hesitate to get in touch, my contact details are at the end of the newsletter.
**********
Forthcoming Events
The committee is in the process of organising a programme of events for the Spring and I hope that as many members as possible will be able to attend. Flyers for the events together with booking forms will be sent out nearer the time.
Sadly, the Lady Mayoress’ Tea Party has had to be discontinued, as there are no facilities for us to have a fund-raising coffee morning for it. We regret the loss of the Town & Gown connection as we cannot use University House any more, due to the costs involved.
The Lawnswood coffee mornings are to continue on the 2nd Tuesday of each month and reminders of the dates will be in each month’s newsletter.
A visit to the Special Collections at the Brotherton Library is being organised for the end of February/early March. This would involve a talk for about 40 members, viewing the Collection and refreshments at a reasonable cost. Details of dates and times to follow.
********
News of Groups
The Garden Group.
The Garden Group meeting in October gave us opportunity to consider such issues as whether my hydrangea, which had originally produced blue flowers, could be persuaded to cease producing pink blooms and revert to the original colour, without resorting to chemical treatment. We are waiting to see whether my addition to the compost of substantial amounts of coffee grounds will have the desired effect. We also gave yet more thought to the question of how to encourage an orchid to live to bloom another year. A number of methods, failures and successes indicate that this could be an ongoing challenge.
Confusion of the seasons and unpredictable weather frustrating practical gardening led me to think that we should do something to raise our spirits at the November meeting. To this end we conducted a short experiment to test the virtue of findings of research recently published in 'Scientific Reports' that birdsong can boost our mood for up to eight hours. A CD of British birdsong being conveniently to hand there was no need to venture out into the garden. There was varied success in identifying the songsters, but everyone recognised the cuckoo and a duck! This jollied us up no end, but as yet I don't know how everyone felt eight hours later. (Research - King's College, London)
We also gave thought to the findings of other researchers whose work featured in a recent edition of 'Animal Behaviour'. We watched a short video recording of white-tailed bumble bees playing with wooden balls, apparently for no gain other than to enjoy doing so. This added to evidence that bees' minds are much more complex than previously imagined. It was observed that like many animals and birds, younger bees played for longer than adults, and male bees played for longer than females. 'Just like men!' I heard several present mutter. (Research - Queen Mary University, London)
We shall no doubt listen to the birds and look at the bees with new insight and appreciation. I have to say that I find it delightful that seemingly ever busy bees take time out to do something entirely for pleasure. We followed suit and moved on to the afternoon tea and cake.
**********
Book Group II.
Book group II met on 24th November and I have received the following report from Christine Roy.
Our book for November was Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche which proved to be a popular choice. The story set in eighties Nigeria, America, England and more contemporary Nigeria was sometimes rambling and overlong but we seemed to be agreed that this in no way detracted from its merits. Jean introduced the book and gave us some helpful background historical information about Nigeria, a country about which most of us confessed to be quite ignorant. The love story at the centre of the novel was engaging but we all found the light shone on race, cultural differences and the UK’s colonial legacy was the best aspect of the novel, even if some times uncomfortable reading to a reading group consisting of “mature” white women! We discussed the individual characters and the depiction of race and culture focusing in particular on hair, dinner parties but make no apologies for the way we moved on to a more widespread discussion of past and present immigration and colonialism. I am grateful, personally for the incentive to read more commonwealth writers as I have tended to avoid these until now.
Many thanks to Jean for not only hosting us but introducing the novel so soon after her return from NZ. A considerable amount of cake was consumed.
Thanks, too, to Jennifer for telling us that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is presenting the first of the Reith Lectures on Radio 4 at 9 AM on Wednesday 30th November on the subject of freedom of speech. It will also be available on BBC Sounds
**********
I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter and my apologies once more for the delay n sending it out. Hopefully, broadband permitting, the next newsletter will be sent out on 31st December. If you have any items for inclusion, please could you let me have them by no later than December 28th.
Prior to that there will be another issue of the Christmas and New Year Quiz which I hope to send out sometime around the 17th/18th of the month.
Take care and keep safe and well,
Carole
Monthly Newsletter - October 2022
Welcome to extracts from the October edition of the monthly newsletter from President Carole, which I hope you will enjoy reading.
Report of EGM on 11th October 2022.
On Tuesday 11th October (prior to the monthly coffee morning) an Extraordinary General Meeting was held to approve the recent changes to the Constitution in respect of the introduction of Associate Membership to the ULLC.
I am pleased to say that this was passed unanimously and that the new Constitution has now been implemented, indeed our first Associate Member has already joined our ranks. Greta Earnshaw joined us last week and we extend a very warm ULLC welcome to her. We hope that she will enjoy her membership of the Club.
Subscription
Just another gentle reminder that, if you have not yet paid your subscription, Margaret Bradbury, the Membership Secretary, would be pleased to receive your cheque. If you prefer you may pay by bank transfer, BACS, to the Ladies’ Club account at Lloyds Bank you will find details in the email version of the newsletter.
It would be very helpful if you could let Margaret Bradbury know if you have paid by BACS.
The Club Treasurer, Angie Robinson has asked me to emphasise that, if you prefer to pay for your subscription, or any social event, by cheque you should make your cheque payable to ‘The University of Leeds Ladies’ Club’ in full and not ULLC.
The automated system at the bank cannot recognise ULLC as a payee and therefore rejects the cheque.
If you wish to pay by cheque, please send it to the Membership Secretary as follows:
Forthcoming Events
Ann Lightman’s Talk on Lawnswood Cemetery – “Beyond the Chapels”
See the home page for a picture of Lawnswood Cemetery. There is an other image and further details included in the September letter, which you can find below this one.
Bookings have gone well but there are still a couple of places remaining as we go to press with this newsletter. If you would like to attend and have not booked, please get in touch with Gillian Roche by no later than Tuesday 1st November to see if there is still availability. Please do not turn up on the day without booking in advance as the Golf Club can only cater for pre-booked attendees.
Lawnswood Coffee Morning
Tuesday 8th November at 10.30am onwards at the Lawnswood Pub/Restaurant, Otley Road, Adel.
As before, we have arranged for a section of the restaurant to be reserved for our exclusive use for as long as we wish to stay. Coffee/Tea and other drinks are available to purchase at own cost 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 Lawnswood, it is a very friendly and welcoming Pub/Restaurant and we will have sole use of one, private, section of the dining room. There are no steps to this section of the restaurant and it can be accessed through the main doors at either end of the building. There is plenty of free parking with a number of blue badge spaces and for those travelling on public transport, the Numbers 8 and X84 buses stop outside.
As this is a ‘drop-in’ session there is no need to book in advance but I hope as many members as possible will be able to attend.
Please note that the December Coffee Morning will be held at the Lawnswood on Tuesday 6th December to avoid a clash with the Christmas Lunch which will be held the following week.
**********
Christmas Lunch
Arrangements have now been finalised for the Christmas Lunch which will be held on Wednesday 14th December, as advertised in previous newsletters.
A copy of the Flyer and the Booking Form are attached to the covering email to this newsletter but you can view them below.
Final numbers attending have to be given to the Golf Club on Wednesday 7th December so, if you are planning to attend and to avoid any possible disappointment, please send your completed booking form and cheque or details of your payment by BACS to Gillian Roche to arrive no later than Tuesday 6th December. Gillian’s details are on the Flyer sent to you by email.
We look forward to seeing you all on the 14th December.
**********
Future Events
Your committee are currently in the process of organising several events for the Spring term, in addition to the regular monthly coffee mornings. More details will be circulated in due course so…Watch This Space!
News of Groups
Book Group 2 met on Thursday 27th October 2022 and their convenor, Chris Roy, sent me the following report:
We seem to have adopted a policy of selecting one classic book each year and our book this month was Silas Marner by George Eliot. A heartfelt thanks to Jennifer for providing a detailed and interesting introduction to the novel by outlining the ways in which George Eliot’s own life foreshadowed many of the themes of the novel. We were given a better understanding of how Eliot was able to provide such a perceptive portrait of both the villagers and the country gentry. The contrast between rural and industrial societies was explained as were the themes of rejection and alienation.
It was interesting that even those of us who had found the 19th Century style quite challenging had enjoyed the book. One interesting observation was that the language eventually draws the reader in. Arising from that discussion another gratifying point was that even where individuals had struggled with a particular choice of book, all were agreed that such a wide-ranging choice was good and ensured that books we might never have chosen for ourselves were read and discussed.
Apologies had been received from Jean, still enjoying a family visit to NZ. Also missing was Val who is recovering from a nasty cold and was altruistic enough not to share any germs with the rest of us.
Many thanks to Tina for hosting us and for the delicious cake.
Words of the Month
A few more ‘new’ words for your delectation and delight.
According to my information they were all coined in the last 8 years and the answers may not be what you might think, unless you have young people in your family!!
Silvertail Someone who is socially prominent or who displays social aspirations (first coined in Australian or New Zealand in 2014)
Peak Very Bad / Bad Luck (English street slang from 2015)
Algocracy A social system governed by computer algorithms (coined 2018)
Twinning A fashion trend for wearing the same clothes at the same time as friends or family (coined 2020)
And Finally….
I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter. The next newsletter will be sent out on 30th November. If you have any items you would like me to please could you let me have them by no later than November 28th.
My contact details are on your email.
Take care and keep safe
Carole
invited all members and prospective members to the
Annual Harvest Lunch
On
Wednesday 21st September 2022 at 12.30pm for 1.00pm
Held at
The Headingley Golf Club, Back Church Lane, Adel, Leeds. LS16 8DW
****
Extracts from the Monthly Newsletter: September 2022
Forthcoming Events:
AGM. and ‘Drop-In’ Coffee Morning
Tuesday 11th October at 10.30am onwards at the Lawnswood Pub/Restaurant, Otley Road, Adel.
As advised previously, there is to be an Extraordinary General Meeting of the ULLC at 10.30am at the Lawnswood Arms Hotel. This EGM is to formally accept the changes to the Constitution which were discussed and agreed at the Annual General Meeting in June 2022.
You should have received all the necessary paperwork from Gillian Roche and the meeting will take place immediately before the regular Coffee Morning at the Lawnswood Arms. It is not anticipated that the meeting will last longer than 15 minutes as there is only one item on the agenda.
It would be appreciated if as many members as possible could attend in person but, if you are unable to attend, you may, for this occasion only, send in your vote (accept the amended constitution/do not accept the amended constitution) in advance of the meeting.
This must be in the form of an email or letter - telephone calls will not be accepted - and must reach the Secretary, details as shown on the paperwork previously circulated, by 10 October. The replies will be counted at the meeting.
The normal coffee morning will start as soon as the meeting concludes. Coffee/Tea and other drinks are available to purchase at own cost at the bar 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 Lawnswood it is a very friendly and welcoming Pub/Restaurant and we will have sole use of a private section of the dining room. There are no steps to this section of the restaurant and it can be accessed through the main doors at either end of the building. There is plenty of free parking with a number of blue badge spaces and the number 8 bus stops outside.
********
Talk on Lawnswood Cemetery
‘Beyond the Chapels’ Lawnswood ‘A Hidden Gem’
To be held at Headingley Golf Club on Thursday 3rd November at 2.00pm
Members are invited to attend a talk by Ann Lightman on the history, and famous occupants, of Lawnswood Cemetery. As advised in the August newsletter, this is a rescheduled talk which was arranged originally for 2020 but had to be postponed due to the Covid pandemic.
£7 per person payable on the door, to include refreshments.
Please note that for catering purposes, attendance must be booked by no later than Thursday 27th October 2022
Ann is a member of the Friends of Lawnswood Cemetery and regularly gives talks to groups in and around Leeds and West Yorkshire about the cemetery and the famous, and sometimes infamous, people buried there.
Further details are on the Flyer and Booking Form attached to the covering email to this newsletter.
********
Christmas Lunch to be held at the Headingley Golf Club on Wednesday 14th December
Details of the Christmas Lunch are being finalised and a Flyer and Booking Form will be sent out as soon as possible.
We anticipate that the format will follow the same pattern as last year and it is hoped that as many members as possible will attend,
so that we may start the Festive season in style.
*****
The Garden Group
A meeting of the Garden Group has taken place and Heather Harrison sent the following message
Apologies for failing to report on the Garden Group held in August. I confess that I lost the plot, being distracted by being very busy in my own plot attempting to salvage those vegetable plants which were managing to keep a hold on life despite the weather. The meeting was marked by the consideration of the results of our Plant your Pants project.
Two members presented their retrieved items for assessment. The experiment revealed that perhaps the microbial activity in the soil was reduced by lack of moisture. There was also some concern that a label describing a garment as 100% cotton would seem not entirely true. Microbes don't include manmade fibres in their diet. Or do they? A third member has been unable to locate what she buried in her garden. We await further news.
Our September meeting was another opportunity to discuss a range of issues. There seems to be a never-ending list of successes and failures, questions and answers to consider. However, we felt we should congratulate ourselves on being at the forefront of research into soil health as we discovered that the Ambridge farmers were about to follow our example and ‘Plant their Pants’…ULLC 1, The Archers 0
Best wishes
Heather
*******
The Cottage Road Cinema Group
The next ‘Senior Screening’ will be on Thursday 6th October at 2pm. This will be the newly released ‘Mrs Harris Goes to Paris’.
‘Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris’ is a 2022 historical comedy-drama film set in the 1950’s and directed and produced by Anthony Fabian. It is the third film adaptation of the 1958 novel Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico. The film stars Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Lucas Bravo, Ellen Thomas, Rose Williams, and Jason Isaacs and enjoyed strong box office results in the United States. It was released on 30th September 2022.
********
Book Group 2
Book Group 2 met on 29th September. They discussed the book The Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz. As the date of their meeting was after the closing date for inclusion in this month’s newsletter a report will be included in the newsletter at the end of October.
********
Words of the Month
Lappet: The flap of a garment or headdress
Integument: A skin, shell or rind
Penelopise: To delay and play for time
Yaffle: A green Woodpecker
********
And Finally….
I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter. The next newsletter will be sent out on 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.
Take care and keep safe.
Carole