The University of Leeds Ladies' Club
Autumn 2024
Newsletter
November
Photo: Joanne Fox
Diary Dates
Thursday 28th November 1.30 for 2.00 at Headingley Golf Club
‘Reflections on the Development of the University of Leeds – from Gothic Revival to Brutalism’: Robert Sladdin, former Director of Estates, University of Leeds
Tuesday Drop-in Coffee Mornings (10.30 am at the Golden Beam (Wetherspoons), Otley Road, Headingley LS6 1BL
10th December
Dates from January 2025 onwards to follow
Monday 16th December: Annual Christmas Lunch at 12.30 for 1.00pm at Headingley Golf Club
Reminder: Bookings, menu choices and payment have to be made by Monday 9th December to Moira Wallace, Club Secretary. (All details on recently circulated forms)
Thursday 23rd January: Talk at 1.30 for 2.00 at Headingley Golf Club
A talk on Women and Bathing in Classical Times by Dr Giacomo Savani (Department of Ancient History, University of Leeds) Details and booking form to follow
Further to the Ribbons article in October Newsletter:
Gill Moore writes: Looking at the names listed on the Ribbons sculpture I realised we have had talks about two of these women. In autumn 2010 (when I was President) we had a talk about Isabella Ford, a Suffragist who lived in Adel, given by Janet Douglas, formerly principal lecturer in Politics in the School of Cultural Studies at what was then LMU. We also had a talk about Lizzie Deignam (Olympic Cycling Silver Medalist) given by her mother Carol Armistead in March 2014. This talk was arranged by Moira Wallace, a neighbour of the speaker.
CENTENARY TEA
As members will be aware, 29th October 2024 was the centenary of the formation of the University of Leeds Ladies’ Club (ULLC). This momentous occasion was marked on the exact 100th anniversary by a “sparkling” Afternoon Tea held in the Jacobean Suite of the Weetwood Hall Hotel, attended by 53 members and their guests. The afternoon began with a glass of Buck’s Fizz when members could mingle and greet friends old and new. We then sat down to a delicious tea of finger sandwiches, warm savouries, scones with jam and clotted cream and assorted small cakes, together with tea or coffee.
Our President, Mrs Carole Tabbron welcomed everyone to the celebration, especially vice-Patron Mrs Jill Dilks and long-standing member Dr Layinka Swinburne, who is now over 90 years old. The President then announced apologies for absence from several members including Patron Professor Dame Jane Francis and vice-Patron Mrs Margaret Roberts. Mrs Tabbron sent our good wishes to those members who were unwell and unable to attend.
The President then outlined the history of the Club and mentioned that one of the founding members was Miss Elinor Lupton, an ancestor of HRH The Princess of Wales, who had been an active member of the club. Mrs Tabbron had written to inform the Princess of Wales of our forthcoming centenary. She then read out a charming letter from the Princess’s private secretary, written on her behalf, wishing us well for the future.
The President expressed her thanks to those who had helped organise the celebration - Mrs Gill Lydon, Mrs Angie Robinson and Dr Diana Wetherill - and particularly Dr John Lydon for producing the splendid souvenir booklet for the tea. Thanks were also due to the staff at Weetwood Hall. Mrs Tabbron drew attention to the display of photographs of past events in the room, which many members had provided.
The President said that, as far as we are aware, ULLC is the only university ladies’ club still in existence. Over the years, the Club has changed and adapted, but we currently have 90 members, only slighter fewer than the 102 members who attended the inaugural meeting in 1924. Mrs Tabbron then proposed a toast to “the future of the University of Leeds Ladies’ Club”, which was drunk with a glass of Prosecco.
She invited vice-Patron Mrs Dilks to say a few words and to cut the celebration cake. Mrs Dilks told us that she had been a member of the Club for over 50 years and she thanked those who, over the years, had served as President, many of whom were in the room.
Mrs Dilks then cut the magnificent cake, which was beautifully decorated with the University coat of arms and ribbons of maroon and green, the University colours. A piece was given to everyone, which brought the afternoon’s proceedings to a close. DMW
Gardening Group: In October we paid an informal visit to Harlow Carr Gardens on a day when by chance the sun shone in a blue sky and the autumn colours were glorious. We fortified ourselves with refreshments in the recently opened Harrogate Arms Cafe, which is now part of the Gardens, before setting off in small groups to admire the variety of planting schemes and colours which seemed never-ending, all pathways leading to a different view and stunning colours. The fruit and vegetable gardens and the alpine house were also well worth a close look. With so much ground to cover some of us only met others in our party when we reassembled at the cafe for a late lunch. After this further nourishment those of us with time to do so enjoyed investigating what was on offer in the nursery and the shop, and then home.
Our November meeting was a return to the usual format. We started with a quick review of a number of recent articles about matters such as the negative impact in the place of origin of plants being imported across the world to feed interior design fashion. We then looked at photographs of Animals in my Garden. The creatures featured ranged from slugs and snails to foxes, taking in dragonflies, red lily beetles, hens and many others on the way. This gave opportunity for identification and decision as to what was or was not a desirable garden presence, and why. Tea and cake and further conversation brought the meeting to an end. Heather Harrison
Book Group 2: The feature of our book group that I most appreciate is that we rarely, if ever, agree about our chosen book. This was certainly the case with our October book Autumn by Ali Smith. Many thanks to Jennifer who had the difficult task of introducing a book with little obvious plot and a distinctly fragmentary and non-chronological nature. As usual, Jennifer more than rose to the challenge. The one thing I believe we did all agree on was the brilliance of the descriptive writing, especially the descriptions of nature. On all other aspects there was clear division. The literary device of repetition of phrases which impressed some of us irritated others almost to screaming point. This was most apparent at the beginning of the chapter describing the atmosphere in the times immediate post Brexit. Some loved the allusions to the history of the UK such as the Profumo affair while others certainly did not enjoy this. The references to the only female pop artist Pauline Boty evoked a similar response. Response to the creation of the main characters was similarly divided. I don’t know what we will do if we ever find a book we all agree on. Probably a complete lack of any discussion and, therefore, consumption of more cake! Christine Roy
And Finally………
If any members face transport difficulties in attending Club events, they are advised to contact Carole Tabbron or a committee member who will then try to arrange a lift for them (text/phone 07504 001895 or email g.c.tabbron@gmail.com)
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If you haven’t yet seen the photographs taken by Joanne Fox at the very successful Centenary Tea then do go to the University of Leeds Ladies’ Club website. You may well see yourself there!
https://www.universityofleedsladiesclub.co.uk
Reminder: the closing date for payment of the 24/25 membership subscription is 31st December after which membership will be deemed to have lapsed (excluding of course life and honorary members). Payment details in earlier newsletters. Any queries should be made to Margaret Bradbury, Membership Secretary
October 2024
President in the Club’s 100th Year: Mrs Carole Tabbron
To the University of Leeds Ladies’ Club
(originally known as the Ladies’ Tea Club)
Congratulations!
Diary Dates:
Tuesday Drop-in Coffee Mornings
(10.30 am at the Golden Beam (Wetherspoons),
Otley Road, Headingley LS6 1BL
12th November
10th December
Thursday 28th November :
Talk at 1.30pm for 2.00 at Headingley Golf Club
Back Church Lane, Adel, Leeds. LS16 8DW
‘Reflections on the Development of the University of Leeds – from Gothic Revival to Brutalism’:
Robert Sladdin, former Director of Estates,
University of Leeds
£7.00 per person payable on the door to include refreshments
Bookings should be made with Mrs Moira Wallace (refer to your email for her details).
(Please note that for catering purposes, attendance must be booked no later than
Thursday 21st November 2024)
Monday 16th December:
Annual Christmas Lunch at Noon for 12.30 at Headingley Golf Club
(flyer and booking form to follow)
Details of Spring Programme Events will be in the November Newsletter but one date to save is Thursday 23rd January when Dr Giacomo Savani (University of Leeds) will be giving us a talk at Headingley Golf Club at 2pm. Details next month.
The November newsletter will include a report on the Centenary Tea to be held on 29th October, 2024 – and there will be photos on the website.
Reports from Groups:
Book Group 2:
Our book for September was ‘The Last Testament’ by Sam Bourne.
On the whole this book had not been a popular choice. I had the ‘privilege’ of introducing it and was one of the few who had actually enjoyed it as a good thriller, although well aware of the aspects others had not liked. Sam Bourne is the pseudonym of the journalist Jonathan Freedland who is known for his weekly Guardian column and his Radio 4 series ‘The Long View’. He is certainly well qualified to write a novel focused on the dangerous politics of the Middle East and, although written some years ago, the references are surprisingly contemporary. Unusually, two of us had abandoned reading the novel. Criticisms included the large number of characters, many with names unfamiliar to the English reader. The plot was convoluted and the introductory section set in New York, unconvincing. None of us liked the female protagonist.
Many thanks to Jennifer Milligan for hosting us. I can’t think of a better place to have been on such a wet and windy afternoon. It was lovely to get back together again after our break over the summer although we were missing both Anne Mark and Carole Tabbron who had sent apologies.
Christine Roy
The book chosen for October by Book Group 2 is appropriately ‘Autumn’ by Ali Smith (the first book in her Seasonal Quartet)
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Setting up a second Gardening Group:
As yet no-one has volunteered to coordinate a second group but maybe….…….? Please let Carole Tabbron or a committee member know if you are interested in doing this. The demand is there.
News of Members:
Welcome to Mrs Trisha Underwood (Adel) who joined the Club this month.
Reminder:
24/25 subscriptions (£10) should be paid by December 31st (see earlier newsletters)
Newsletter September 2024
Diary Dates:
Tuesday Drop-in Coffee Mornings
(10.30 am) at the Golden Beam (Wetherspoons), Otley Road, Headingley LS6 1BL
8th October
12th November
10th December
Bus stop nearby. take Numbers 1, 27, 8 or 6
Tuesday 29th October
Centenary Afternoon Tea at 1pm,
Weetwood Hall Hotel (Jacobean Suite) LS16 5PS
Thursday 28th November
A Talk by Robert Sladdin,
former Director of Estates, University of Leeds
Monday 16th December
Christmas Lunch
Details:
Centenary Afternoon Tea:
Bookings for the Tea have now closed, and I am delighted to say that we are fully booked. As you are aware, we are restricted on numbers, and so I have now established a ‘Reserve’ list for those members who wish to attend but whose bookings came too late to be included. I have acknowedged all the confirmed bookings. In addition, I have advised each additional person if they are on the waiting list and also their position of the list. We have six weeks to go before the event and I have no doubt that within that time there will be some changes. Therefore if you have booked and your booking has been acknowledged, and you subsequently discover that you are unable to attend after all, PLEASE could you let me know as soon as possible so that I can offer your place to another member.
I am looking forward to seeing you all at the Tea and I feel certain that we will have a most enjoyable, and memorable, celebration of our 100th Anniversary.
With best wishes, Carole
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Talk: Thursday 28th November
This will be held at the usual time of 1.30pm for 2.00 at the Headlingley Golf Club. Refreshments will be served followed by a talk by Robert Sladdin, the former Director of Estates at the University. The talk is entitled:
‘Reflections on the Development of the University of Leeds – from Gothic Revival to Brutalism’
The campus of the University of Leeds contains a number of listed buildings from tombstones in the former Woodhouse Cemetery (now called St George's Field) through Gothic revival buildings such as the Great Hall to the Brutalist Roger Stevens building below:
Robert will take us through the many developments at the University through over 100 years, many of which we have ourselves witnessed as students or members of staff. The talk promises to be a most interesting follow-up to the Centenary celebrations at the end of October.
Further information will be sent out at the end of October so watch for the details from Carole in your inbox.
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Annual Christmas Lunch
This will take place on Monday 16th December at 12 noon for 12.30 at the Headingley
Golf Club. Details and booking forms will be sent out at the end of October/beginning of November.
Garden Group Report September 2024
This month we spent some time on flower identification, based on photographs taken in my garden. This was both entertaining and useful, and perhaps inspired some future planting. We then moved on to refreshments and further conversation, and made plans for our Harlow Car Gardens meeting. See below.
A second Garden Group?
I’m now into my 20th year as Garden Group Co-ordinator and have very much enjoyed being part of such an interested and friendly group of ladies, both active gardeners and the armchair variety. The membership has been restricted by accommodation at my home which is where meetings usually take place. Most of the current members have taken the 20 year journey with me, so along the way it’s only been possible to welcome the occasional new member. I haven’t found it easy to turn down a request to join, and so think that it could be time to find out if someone else would like to set up a second garden/ing related group.
Members of the existing group have now reached the stage at which many do limited gardening/have a gardener but are still interested in horticulture. As the years have passed we have embraced matters beyond our domestic gardens to include global issues affecting plant life of all kinds. Outings take place less often these days, but powerpoint compensates! Our basic format for meetings has always been a talk, often with photos, interrupted and/or followed by discussion. I have often been asked what we talk about in Garden Group. The topics seem endless, although there is some agreement that I could go back to the beginning and start again. Memories flagging and a new take on forgotten subjects?
The picture below was taken on one of our outings.
( I take the view that any new group should be organised according to the convenor’s interests and those of her members. It may be that someone would want to establish a group of more active gardeners wishing to share knowledge about practical home gardening.)
Heather Harrison
Any person interested in becoming the co-ordinator of a second Garden Group should discuss this with Carole Tabbron or a Committee Member. It is not necessary to actually wield a spade!
Stroll around Roundhay Park – Tuesday September 17th
Thirteen members of the ULLC met at Tropical World Café, with perfect weather for a stroll. After coffee and a chance to catch up we set off together. Members were free to walk at their own pace or to sit and enjoy the colours of Canal Gardens, which at present are stunning. The highlights were the Wooden Sculptures beautifully crafted by Shane Green, a local artist. The two adjacent to Canal Gardens have replaced the carved Totem Pole which was funded by a bequest from Mary Hill, a local resident and park lover. The Totem Pole became unsafe and was removed.
After crossing into the main park, we passed the Mansion House with stunning views of the parkland, the cricket pitch, Hill 60 and Waterloo Lake. As we walked round the Upper Lake we saw two further sculptures, but did not venture from the lake to see the other six, which make up the official Sculpture Trail. Perhaps a future walk?
Art Roundhay supported by The Garden Room at Roundhay and Friends of Roundhay Park provided an interesting diversion in The Mansion Conservatory. Discussions took place about which art styles we preferred, and we enjoyed the chance to see the work of local artists exploring different mediums, textures and colours. The theme was nature and landscape inspired by the beauty of Roundhay Park, the Yorkshire coastline and Yorkshire landmarks.
At the Specialist Gardens we were interested to see the new Yorkshire Air Ambulance Reflection & Remembrance Garden, a place for those affected by the work of YAA to remember and reflect on their experiences, or in memory of loved ones. The central installation is a yellow metal pergola which reflects the blades and colours of YAA. It was designed for the Harrogate Spring Flower Show 2024 by Kate Smithson.
As we enjoyed a light lunch back at Tropical World Café, we discussed the history of Roundhay Park. This is well documented and although the park is managed by Leeds City Council, by the decree of Charles Thackray and the Nicholson family, Roundhay Park belongs to the people of Leeds.
Cath Potts.
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Website:
The Club website has been updated with information for 24/25. Thank you, Joanne.
Club Subscription;
A reminder that the subscription (£10 for 24/25) was due from September 1st. Membership will be deemed to have lapsed if the subscription is not paid by 31st December 2024 (unless an Honorary/Life Member, of course!).
By cheque: payable to The University of Leeds Ladies’ Club and to be sent to Mrs Margaret Bradbury, Membership Secretary,
Please let Margaret Bradbury know if you have paid online. Refer to your email newsletter for bank details and for her address.