The University of Leeds Ladies' Club
Autumn 2023
University of Leeds Ladies’ Club
Monthly Newsletter - December 2023
Dear Ladies,
Welcome to the December edition of the monthly newsletter, the last of 2023. We hope that you all had an enjoyable Christmas and that you are keeping well and looking forward to the New Year. I start this newsletter with news of forthcoming events and some dates for your diary.
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Forthcoming Events
‘Drop-In’ Coffee Mornings
The popular ‘Drop-In’ Coffee Mornings continued throughout 2023 and we have arranged to continue the occasions at the Lawnswood Arms in January and February 2024. However, we have been informed that the Lawnswood Arms is to close at the end of February. The restaurant will become a ‘Hickory Smokehouse’ outlet and will no longer be able to offer us the facility to hold our coffee mornings there.
The committee has considered this issue very carefully and we have decided to pursue holding our coffee mornings at The Golden Beam in Headingley Lane. It is a Wetherspoon"s pub, which serves coffee and meals all day, and has several areas which could be held for us to use. There is parking on site and in the adjacent roads plus the buses along Headingley Lane/Otley Road all stop outside. However, it possible that we may have to change the day of our meetings as the pub has other bookings at the same time on the second Tuesday of the month. I am hoping that it will not be necessary to do this but I will let you know what arrangements we have been able to make in the next newsletter at the end of January.
Meanwhile, we will continue to meet at 10.30am at the Lawnswood Arms, Otley Road, Adel on the second Tuesday of each month, unless otherwise advised. The first such meeting will be on Tuesday 9th January 2024, followed by the second (and possibly last) meeting on Tuesday 13th February 2024.
As before, a section of the restaurant will be reserved for our exclusive use. 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. 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. If you would like more details please don’t hesitate to get in touch, my contact details are on the email which accompanies this newsletter.
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A number of other events and meetings for the Spring term and beyond are in the planning stage. Further details will be sent out as dates and timings are finalised. Watch this space!
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News of Members
2023 has been a year of very mixed news about members. A number of members, or their families, have suffered serious illness through the year and I am pleased to report that, as far as I am aware, they are now all recovering well.
I know that we have several members with long term health issues and to them, and to all our members, I send all our best wishes for better health in the future.
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Sadly, I have to report that we have lost several very long-standing members through the year. Maureen Ross, Gudrun Hopper, Julie (Juliet) Sleeman.
Also, I have just learned of the death of Pat Schwarzenbach who died at her home in Lichfield on 11th December 2023.
Attached to your email newsletter is notification of the funeral details, to which any member would be very welcome. The ceremony will also be live streamed so anyone unwilling/unable to travel can still attend, if they wish. Details of the link are on the attached pdf invitation.
To all Pat’s family and to all our members who have lost loved ones this year we send our most sincere condolences.
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On a happier note, I am delighted to report that we have gained several new members this year, including two who live some miles away, in Cheshire and Lancashire, but who are willing to brave the Pennines to come to some of our meetings. To them, and to all our new members we send a very warm welcome and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
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News of Groups
Book Group II met on 21st December at the home of their convenor, Christine Roy.
The book under discussion was Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym, which had been enjoyed by all. At least one member (me!) had not read any Barbara Pym before this book but I am certainly encouraged to look for others by this author in the new year.
After the discussion, Christine served us a buffet lunch at which where we were treated to a veritable feast of festive goodies.
Our thanks to Christine for the delicious lunch and also for convening the group all year. She works tirelessly for us, organising the meetings, purchasing the books on our behalf and generally keeping us all up to date with what is happening within the group. It is very much appreciated by all involved.
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And finally -
I hope you have enjoyed reading this and all the other newsletters through the year. As you know I can only include news and other items that are sent into me for publication so please do keep sending in anything you think may be of interest to other members.
The next newsletter will be sent out on, or about, 31st January 2024. Please let me have any items for inclusion by 28th January 2024.
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As we come to the end of 2023, I would like to express my personal thanks to all the members of the committee for their advice, support and friendship throughout the year and to all of the members of the Club for your continued support and encouragement.
I hope you have enjoyed the past year as much as I have and that you will join me in looking forward to what I hope you will feel is an interesting year of ULLC events in 2024.
With my best wishes for a very Happy and Healthy New Year.
Carole
Monthly Newsletter - November 2023
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 reminder that the Christmas Lunch will be held on Wednesday 13th December, as advertised earlier in the month. We look forward to seeing you all on the day.
The closing date for bookings is Wednesday 6th December so, if you are planning to attend and have not booked yet, please contact me by 6th at the latest so that I can confirm if there are any spaces left. If there are spaces available, you will need to send your completed booking form and cheque, or alternatively, let me have your booking by email, together with details of your payment by BACS, to arrive no later than midnight on Wednesday 6th December. My address and email details are on the Flyer.
If you are posting your booking form in the next few days it would be very helpful if you could also let me know by email that you are doing so, just in case your booking does not arrive by post in time. The vagaries of the postal service at the moment leave much to be desired and mail seems to be taking much longer to reach its destination.
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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.
The amount is £10. 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. Her email and postal address is on your emailed newsletter.
f 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,
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News of Members
Sadly, I have heard that our former member Julie (Juliet) Sleeman died on 7th November at her home in Scotland. Julie was a ULLC member for many years and acted as President in 2002/3 and also as Assistant Treasurer from 2007/8 to 2008/9 and Treasurer from 2009/10. I am sure that many members will remember her and be saddened by her loss.
I have not been informed of any new illnesses amongst members and I hope that this is the case. To all our members who are suffering ill health in any way we send our best wishes for a speedy recovery.
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Events
Talk on the History of Pies.
Held at Headingley Golf Club on Thursday 16th November. See October newsletter below.
36 members and guests enjoyed a most interesting and entertaining talk by Robert Gee which also included a free raffle of – you guessed it - Pies! There was quite a selection of savoury and sweet pies in the raffle which I hope were enjoyed by all the winners.
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Lawnswood Coffee Morning
December’s coffee morning will be held on Tuesday 5th December at the Lawnswood Arms as before.
We anticipate that the next coffee morning will be held on Tuesday 9th January 2023 at 10.30am onwards, once again at the Lawnswood Pub/Restaurant, Otley Road, Adel.
However, there is some doubt as to whether the Lawnswood will remain open after February as it is due to be taken over by a new company and to undergo some refurbishment. Therefore, it may be that we will have to find another venue for the coffee mornings from February, if only as a temporary measure. I will keep you informed.
As before, at the Lawnswood, 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.
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Forthcoming Events
The committee is in the process of organising a programme of events for the Spring. 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 longer any 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 Coffee mornings are to continue on the 2nd Tuesday of each month and reminders of the dates (and venue) will be in each month’s newsletter.
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News of Groups
Book Group II.
Book Group II met on Thursday 30th November when the book reviewed was Anna of the Five Towns by Arnold Bennett.
The general opinion was that members had enjoyed the book in fact several were encouraged by this book to explore other titles by Bennett. The next book will be Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym and we hope to have a report in the next issue of the newsletter.
As always, we received excellent hospitality from our hostess for the afternoon and our thanks go to Candy for the lovely cakes.
I have not received any reports of meetings by the other groups this month but I hope to have some updates for the next issue.
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University News
It has been announced that the current Vice-Chancellor, Prof Simone Buitendijk, is to relinquish her post on 31st December 2023. She had held the role since 2020.
A global recruitment competition will be held to identify a permanent successor but, in the interim, Professor Buitendijk will be replaced as Vice-Chancellor and President by the current Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Hai-Sui Yu.
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I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter. 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. My contact details are in your emailed version of this letter.
Take care and keep safe and well,
Carole
Monthly Newsletter - October 2023
Welcome to the October edition of the monthly newsletter, which I hope you will enjoy reading.
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.
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. Her contact details will be found in your email.
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Forthcoming Events
Lawnswood Coffee Morning
Tuesday 7th November at 10.30am onwards at the Lawnswood Pub/Restaurant, Otley Road, Adel.
The Lawnswood Arms was thought to be closing for refurbishment in November. It will not be closing until February next year now, however please note that the next coffee morning will be held on Tuesday 7th November, as previously advertised.
This earlier date also avoids any possible clash with the talk on ‘The History of Pies’ which will be held at Headingley Golf Club on Thursday 16th November - see below.
As previously, we have arranged for a section of the Lawnswood 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. Some members enjoy staying on and buying lunch afterwards.
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 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 5th December to avoid a clash with the Christmas Lunch which will be held the following week.
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A Talk on ‘The History of Pies’ by Robert Gee
This talk will take place at 2pm on Thursday 16th November at the Headingley Golf Club. The cost is £7 (payable on the door) to include refreshments and a ‘free’ pie raffle. Many of you will be familiar with Robert, who acts as our IT Guru whenever we have a talk at the Golf Club, and you will know also that he is a very entertaining speaker. The afternoon promises to be a most lively and interesting event...and there is a free pie raffle so you may even go home with a nice pie for your tea! Also, if you know of any member who is not on email but who you think may be interested in the talk, please could you pass on the information to them.
This flyer for the talk was sent out several days ago and the response so far has been good. Therefore, as numbers are limited, early booking is encouraged to avoid any possible disappointment. Please let me know, by my email address, if you would like to attend and I will add you to the list.
Christmas Lunch
Arrangements have now been finalised for the Christmas Lunch which will be held on Wednesday 13th December, as advertised in previous newsletters. A copy of the Flyer and the Booking Form will be sent out in the next few days.
Final numbers attending have to be given to the Golf Club on Wednesday 6th 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 arrive no later than Tuesday 5th December. Details of where to send the form and to whom are on the Flyer.
We look forward to seeing you all on the 13th December.
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Future Events
Your committee is 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!
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News of Members
We send our best wishes to Gillian Roche as she continues her recovery at home. Get Well Soon!
Several members attended the funeral of Gudrun Hopper on 20th October, the day after what would have been her one hundredth birthday. The funeral was held at Lawnswood Crematorium where we learned a great deal of Gudrun’s early life in Norway both during and just after the second world war, and also of her life in Europe and England since then. It was good to meet with her family and her many friends from Leeds and all over Europe She was a remarkable lady and we send our sincere condolences to all her family.
Gudrun qualified as a dentist twice, once in her native country, Norway, then again in England, when she settled here after her marriage.
Gudrun’s family have requested that, if any of our members have any specific anecdotes about Gudrun – she was a very strong personality! – they would be pleased to hear them to include in a book of memories. If you have anecdotes and memories of Gudrun, please send them to me at my email address and I will be pleased to pass them on.
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News of Groups
Book Group 2 met on Thursday 29th October 2023. I received this report from Christine Roy
Our book this month was Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson, set in London between WW1 and WW2.
Although we could see faults, I think the overall verdict was that it was a good read. Most of us have read several Kate Atkinson novels and have found most of the enjoyable. The plot is convoluted but, like all Atkinson novels, cleverly done. Also, as usual, they plot does not strictly follow a linear design. Several Atkinson themes such as the ignoring of child abuse and the fate of missing girls about whom no one really cares.
There are many characters and we felt that even the least important of these were skilfully drawn. Some readers had found the literary allusions and French language a nuisance and a couple considered that the rambling nature of the narrative spoilt the novel as a whole. The ending deliberately ties up the lives and deaths of all the characters but it is quite clear that this is intentional.
There were only seven of us as both Anne and Candy were on holiday.
Many thanks to Jean for hosting us at short notice and for the delicious apple cake.
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Garden Group
The Garden Group has met several times over the summer and I have received the following report of all their meetings from Heather Harrison, as follows:
In June we discussed, amongst other things, the discovery by researchers at Tel Aviv University that some plants cry when they are stressed. Wilting or newly cut plants produce up to 35 sounds per hour, whereas well hydrated and uncut plants make only about one per hour. Most of us are unable to hear such very high frequency sounds, but it is thought that mice and moths and some other small animals may be able to hear them. Air bubbles forming or popping in leaves and stems may be making the sound. We also wondered if we should grow more night scented flowers as, in a recent study, moths have been shown to be more efficient pollinators than bees. For this reason, we should be more accepting of bramble patches which are an important food source for moths.
In July, our member Audrey Sharp gave a fascinating talk about the life and work of Charles Waterton, born in 1792 at Walton Hall Wakefield. For a time he managed his uncle’s slave plantations in British Guiana, but turned to exploration in the land beyond as far as Brazil. He was a taxidermist and preserved many animal specimens and back at home he established the first nature reserve. He was very much a man before his time, believing that the natural world should be protected. Sadly, we were all left rather downhearted as Waterton’s concern for nature was not maintained by his son. The Hall survives as a hotel.
August saw those of us not taking a holiday away from the fair city of Leeds taking tea and cake in my garden. We were lucky with the weather, and had a pleasant afternoon outdoors.
In September we were indoors again. The main topic of conversation concerned the development of Bodington Fields. The area now comprises Bodington Manor houses; the Bodington Cycle Centre, Brownlee Centre, Triathlon Centre and Sports pitches; and Bodington Football Hub. Our main focus however was the development of perimeter land and a large area of land bounded by the Ring Road. This area has been developed as part of a natural flood management scheme, stretching from Malham to the River Aire in Leeds Centre. There has been extensive planting of tree saplings and sowing of meadow flower seeds. The large pond is also serving as an "Ark" for young native crayfish (rescued from Meanwood Beck) for eventual release into safer waters. There is more on this online if you search on Bodington Fields.
In October we turned our attention to our own gardens, as we had a Q&A session. We all agreed that we had more questions than answers, but are motivated to keep going with plant pots or gardens in the hope of eventual success.
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 for inclusion, please let me have them by November 28th.
Take care and keep safe,
Carole
Monthly Newsletter - September 2023
Welcome to the September edition of the monthly newsletter which I hope you will enjoy reading.
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 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. The details for this are in your email. It would be very helpful if you could let the Membership Secretary, Margaret Bradbury, know if you have paid by BACS.
If you would prefer to pay by cheque, please make your cheque payable to , ‘The University of Leeds Ladies’ Club’ and send it to Margaret. You will find her address in the email sent out to you.
Report on the Harvest Lunch
The traditional Harvest Lunch was held at the Headingley Golf Club on Wednesday 20th September at 12.30pm for 1.00pm. This event is always the start of our programme for the new academic session and a very good lunch was enjoyed by 28 members. This total was much reduced at the last minute by several members having to cancel through illness, most notably by contracting the new Covid strain. We wish them all well and hope that they are now recovering.
Forthcoming Events
‘Drop-In’ Coffee Morning
Tuesday 10th October at 10.30am onwards at the Lawnswood Pub/Restaurant, Otley Road, Adel.
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 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 the number 8 bus stops outside.
Martin House Children’s Hospice.
Thursday 19th October at 2pm
A talk on the work of the Martin House Children’s Hospice by Duncan Brownnutt will be held at the Headingley Golf Club on Thursday 19th October at 2pm.
This will follow our usual format of tea/coffee and cakes.
Bookings should be made by Wednesday 11th October.
This promises to be a most interesting talk and.as places are limited, we recommend early booking to avoid any possible disappointment.
A History of Pies
Many of you will be familiar with Robert, who acts as our IT Guru whenever we have a talk at the Golf Club, and you will know also that he is a very entertaining speaker. The afternoon promises to be a most lively and interesting event...and there is a free pie raffle so you may even go home with a nice pie for your tea!
Please would you let me know if you wish to attend the talk. Also, if you know of any member who is not on email but who you think may be interested in the talk, please could you pass on the information to them.
Christmas Lunch
to be held at the Headingley Golf Club on Wednesday 13th 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.
News of Members
It is with regret that I report the death of our Honorary, and oldest, member Dr Gudrun Hopper. As many of you will be aware, Gudrun was to celebrate her 100th birthday on 19th October and we had invited her to mark this landmark occasion by joining us as our Guest of Honour at the Harvest Lunch. Sadly, this was not to be as her health deteriorated markedly in just a few weeks and she passed away on 11th September.
Gudrun qualified as a dentist twice, once in her native country, Norway, then again in England, when she settled here after her marriage.
Gudrun’s family have requested that, if any of our members have any specific anecdotes about Gudrun – she was a very strong personality! – they would be pleased to hear them to include in a book of memories. If you have anecdotes and memories of Gudrun, please send them to me at my email address and I will be pleased to pass them on.
News of Groups
Book Group 2
Book Group 2 met on 28th September. They discussed John Steinbeck’s book Of Mice and Men. However, 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.
And Finally….
I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter. September seems to have been a very quiet month for news and I hope that is because members have been keeping well and possibly enjoying holidays and the lovely weather of early September.
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