The University of Leeds Ladies' Club

Spring 2025

Diary Dates

Tuesday Drop-in Coffee Mornings (10.30am at the Golden Beam, Otley Road, Headingley LS6 1BL)

Photo: Joanne Fox

8^th April

13^thMay

10^thJune

 8^th July    

12^th August

9^thSeptember

14^th October

11^thNovember

      9^th December (TBC)

Visit the Gallery to see more photos taken at The Golden Beam – and many other places too!

March 2025 Newsletter

‘Informal’ Spring Lunch, Thursday 8^th May (80^th Anniversary of VE Day)

Murgatroyds Fish and Chip Emporium, Yeadon.

(Details have been circulated and numbers taken. Any queries should be made to Carole Tabbron. Payment is on the day.)

As members know, the catering arrangements at the Golf Club are changing. It is therefore not possible to confirm any new dates there before a discussion has been held with the incoming caterers. 

It is hoped to hold the Annual General Meeting at the Club sometime in June.  

Best wishes to Andrew and Tracy who have catered so well for the Ladies’ Club.

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Talk given by Robert Gee on 20^th March 2025

Many thanks also to Robert Gee who gave us such an enjoyable illustrated talk on The History of Crisps.  He covered their invention in great detail (even Richard 111 was there with his pre-potato version).  We learned much about production, takeovers and sneaky marketing techniques – and quite a few unwholesome facts along the way. As Carole said in her thanks, none of us will ever look at a packet of crisps in quite the same way again!  It was a good afternoon, with some vivid ‘crisp moments’ being re-lived (particular thanks, Gill L, for the tale about those unforgettable blue twists of salt). 

Gillian Roche has come across a book which might well become your indispensible guide to entertaining:  ‘The Crisp Sommelier: The Ultimate Guide to Crisp and Drink Pairings’ by drinks expert and C4 Sunday Brunch presenter Neil Ridley (£12.99, Bloomsbury, 2024) 

‘In his new book he dives into the subtle art of elevating crisps’ flavour profile by matching them with the perfect drink.  British tapas are looking up’ (Guardian) 

Book Group 1

Perhaps it is time that you heard from Book Group 1. We do still exist and don’t keep our activities secret from you all because of any spooky or otherwise nefarious goings on. It’s just that our convener is a tad lazy!

 Our book for February was Hilary Mantel’s A Memoir of My Former Self: A Life in Writing.  And what a feast of writing it was. Mary Lance had suggested the book and so gave us an insightful introduction to the woman many of us hadn’t read until we were onslaughted by the success of her Cromwell trilogy, which, of course, had been on everyone’s reading list. We could well have gone on talking about the book far into the night, each of us wanting to draw attention to some aspect of her brilliance which had struck us and we wanted to share. The book is a collection of her writings over four decades – for newspapers and periodicals, her Reith lectures, her prize-winning essays, her film reviews, her erudite book reviews. One of us had even re-watched a few of the films she had reviewed, viewing them in a new light. She covers such a range, from politics and religion to perfume and cricket, the craft of writing history and her own history. What emerges is a portrait of her life in her own words, as she puts it: ‘messages from people I used to be’. 

We can all thoroughly recommend you read this illuminating Memoir! Choose one piece of writing at a time: there are 70 of them. Treat yourselves to one a day! 

We’re going to change track next month – and how! We’re going to read Graham Norton.

Gillie Andrews

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 The Golden Beam 

Confession: I am a bit of a Wetherspoons aficionado. This is not only because of the prices, scampi, nice plates and Ladies’ Club coffee mornings - but also because of their ‘preservation’ of some landmark buildings.  I think they have done much to keep these buildings relevant today whilst also linking them to their past. The Golden Beam is perhaps a case in point:  

The construction of this Grade 11 listed building, with its elements of Egyptian Revival and Art Deco styles and Portland stone facing, began in 1912.  The Sunday School was completed in 1914 but the outbreak of the First World War delayed the completion of the Christian Science Church itself until 1934. 

Leeds Girls’ High School purchased the building in 1986 and used it as a theatre and music centre, naming it The Lupton Centre after Elinor Lupton, a school governor and benefactor (and also an active member of the University of Leeds Ladies’ Club.)  She is remembered in the Lupton Room at The Golden Beam.

Leeds Girls’ High School put the site up for sale in 2010 following their merger with the Leeds Grammar School. The building remained unoccupied from 2010 to 2020.   It was included in the 2018 Heritage at Risk Register by Leeds Civic Trust and was given ‘vulnerable status’.  

After some controversy Wetherspoons eventually opened in 2021, naming the pub The Golden Beam after the painting by Atkinson Grimshaw (1836-1893) who had lived at nearby Cliff Road in Headingley.

Many internal features survive.  The original church organ façade has been retained and re-purposed as a feature fireplace.  The bar area is the original auditorium.  JW 

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Book Group 2

Our February book was Staying On by Paul Scott, written in the last year of his life and as a conclusion to his Raj Quartet.  Jean gave us a comprehensive introduction to the novel and we began with nostalgic memories of reading the Quartet and watching the ITV serialisation ‘The Jewel in the Crown’.

‘Staying On’ covers only four months from January to April in the lives of Lucy and Tusker who have stayed on in India after the Raj.  However, by the use of various devices such as letters and conversations, we learn much more about their past lives and marriage.  The plot revolves around the terminating of the lease of their house, an annexe to the adjacent hotel owned by Mrs and Mr Bhoolabhoy (Ownership and Management!).

There are many tragic aspects to the novel, including Tusker’s death. We see how a 40-year marriage has apparently faded as has the British Empire in India.  However, we realise by the end the true nature of their feelings for each other. 

The tragedy is irrigated throughout by the absolute laugh-out-loud humour.  Scott is brilliant at writing succinct descriptions which give us the essence of the characters by highlighting certain characteristics.

I think I am right in saying we enjoyed the discussion. 

Christine Roy

And Finally….

A reminder that Adel Players are presenting ‘Separate Tables’ by Terence Rattigan on Wednesday 23^rd to Saturday 26^th April at 7.30 pm at Adel Memorial Hall, Church Lane. All tickets are £10.  To reserve tickets (which are selling fast!) email boxoffice@adel-players.org.uk

Postage

I have been reminded by a club member that postage costs rise across the board on April 7^th 2025. A standard 1^st class letter will rise from £1.65 to £1.70 and a standard 2^nd class from 85p to 87p.

She also thought that members might like to know that it is still possible to exchange non-barcoded stamps for barcoded ones by using the Royal Mail’s ‘Swap Out’ scheme.  A form can be printed at home (Royal Mail website) or picked up at a Post Office.  (Christmas stamps and special stamps with pictures do not need to be exchanged)

 January 2025 Newsletter

University Gryphon presented to the University of Leeds Ladies’ Club

by Vice Patron

 Mrs Margaret Roberts

Photo: Joanne Fox

Diary Dates

The University of Leeds Ladies’ Club

invites all members and guests to a rescheduled talk by Dr. Giacomo Savani entitled : 

‘Women and the Baths: Ancient Medicine, Hydrotherapy,

and The Female Body in Renaissance Italy’

To be held at

Headingley Golf Club, Back Church Lane, Adel, Leeds. LS16 8DW on

*WEDNESDAY 19^TH FEBRUARY 2025*

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£7.50 per person payable on the door to include refreshments

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Bookings should be made with the Ladies’ Club Secretary, Mrs Moira Wallace, on the separate booking form attached to your email letter.  

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Please note that for catering purposes, attendance must be booked no later than 

Wednesday 12^th February 2025.  

Thursday 27^th February: Talk at 1.30 for 2.00 at Headingley Golf Club

‘My Life as a University Chaplain’:  The Revd Melvyn Kelly

Thursday 20^th March: Talk at 1.30 for 2.00 at Headingley Golf Club

‘The History of Crisps’ with samples! : Robert Gee

(Many members will remember his very enjoyable talk on The History of Pies in 2023)

Details and booking forms for the above two events will be circulated nearer the time (and subject to confirmed availability of the venue).   

Details of any other forthcoming events will be included in the February newsletter

 Mrs Margaret Roberts

Margaret Roberts centre, with President Carole, right and husband Colonel Alan Roberts.

Photograph Joanne Fox

Dear Ladies,

We are sorry to announce that our Vice Patron, Mrs Margaret Roberts, has decided to resign from the club.  She is now 93 years old and, as many members will remember, has served the club in the role of Vice Patron since 1990, for which we are very grateful.  Together with her husband, Colonel Alan Roberts, former Pro- Chancellor of the University, she has encouraged and supported the Ladies’ Club in an exemplary fashion.

She has been a most welcome guest at all our functions, and we were very disappointed that she was unwell at the time of the Centenary Afternoon Tea and was therefore unable to join us on that very special occasion.

The club is also very grateful to her, and to Colonel Roberts, for their most generous donations of the bronze University Gryphon statuette (see above) and the bell with which we start all our proceedings.  I am sure that whenever we see these gifts they will serve to remind us of Margaret’s sterling contribution to the life of the club over so many years.

We will miss her at our meetings and functions in the years to come and we send her all our very best wishes for the future.

Carole Tabbron

News of Members

‘I have heard from long-standing member Ann Stephenson  that her husband, John, passed away last Sunday (19^th January).  He was 91. 

Through Ann, John has been a stalwart supporter of the Ladies’ Club for many years but is perhaps better known to some of our members as a leading member of the committee of LUOSA (the Leeds University Old Students Association) to which so many of our members belong.

In the meantime, we send our most sincere condolences to Ann, and all her family, at this sad and difficult time.’

Carole 

Extracts: The History of the University of Leeds Ladies’ Club:  Gillian Roche 2005

Interest Groups:

‘Whilst the Club generally focused its efforts on constructing an annual programme suitable for all its members, attempts were made over the years to encourage and develop special interest groups. A Theatre Group and a Bridge Group came and went, a Swimming Group never even made it to the pool, and a Flower and Floral Decoration Group died in the bud, but the Book Club, started by Mrs Joy Thody in 1966, continues to thrive, meeting on a monthly basis. …... This group was joined in 1985 by the Gardening Group (now the Garden Group), thanks initially to the work of Mrs Margaret Ward, where members who were keen gardeners and lovers of garden history could exchange cuttings and ideas.’ 

Mrs. Heather Harrison has run the Garden Group for nearly 20 years but has limited space. Consequently the  Club would still like to set up a second Garden Group.  Is there is any member keen and willing to co-ordinate it? 

Proposals for a Theatre-going Group are currently being considered by the Committee.  If you think you might be interested in this then please let a committee member know.

Local groups

‘Local groups, as they currently exist, arose out of the Jubilee Project in the Golden Jubilee year of 1974/75. ….Under the Jubilee Project there were early expressions of interest from members living in Adel, Pool, Alwoodley, Bramhope, Headingley and Roundhay.‘ By 1976 the Adel Group was flourishing, the Bramhope Group was meeting periodically and members in Alwoodley and Roundhay were still attempting to get together. At the 1976 AGM it was reported that there were now groups in Adel and West Park and, by 1984, the Roundhay Group had been established’

After all these years the Adel and Roundhay Groups still meet up locally and eat cake ….and there is also now a monthly coffee group open to all members at The Golden Beam. See above. If you have not yet been along, you might want to give it a try.  (Lifts can be arranged.)

The history of the Club up to 2005 is on this website under the tab: About Us

January Report from Book Group 2

Our November Meeting was cancelled due to an unexpected snowfall so Muriel Spark’s Loitering with Intent was carried over to the December meeting.   Val Milner gave a clear and concise introduction to a novel, which is full of autobiographical reference and brittleness.  The rather ‘bookish’ and perhaps over-clever approach dimmed the enthusiasm of most of us.  Discussion was necessarily brief as Christine Roy’s traditional and splendid Xmas buffet awaited us!

We are looking forward to reading Barbara Pym’s An Academic Question at the end of January.  Considerable delight in Barbara Pym was sparked by our reading of  Excellent Women  in 2022.

The book chosen for February is Staying On by Paul Scott (often seen as a conclusion to The Raj Quartet). JW