Gill Bauer, joined us in September with a very interesting demonstration on “Smiling Yoga”. Gill told us that it was started in India in 1995 and that 100 laughs is equal to 10 minutes of cardiovascular exercise. Gill demonstrated various moves both with the face and body on how to become relax and then store the happiness by tapping the forehead. She also encouraged the audience to participate which was very entertaining – as the saying goes “Laughter is the best medicine”. Gill will be returning in 2026 to show us more moves to help mobility and to improve fitness.
In August our speaker was Joanne Larner who spoke about “Richard III”. Joanne explained that Richard III was born in Fotheringhay Castle in Northumberland on 2nd October 1452 the youngest son of Richard, Duke of York and Cecily Neville. His family were deeply involved in the War of the Roses. Richard became King of England on 26th June 1483 until his death in 1485. His reign was marked by controversy and conflict and his rule ended with his defeat and death at the Battle of Bosworth Field. The precise location of his burial place had been a mystery but in late 2012 a skeleton was uncovered by archaeologists in a Leicester parking lot. Following genetic testing it was confirmed that in fact the skeleton was that of Richard. It was moved and he is now buried in Leicester Cathedral.
Pauline Martindale joined us in July with a talk entitled “My Volunteering Adventures following 2012 London Olympics”. She told us how, following an assessment driving test, she joined the Transportation Team and covered both the main Olympics and the Paralympics. As she found it so enjoyable she has continued volunteering at various sporting events in the UK and abroad. In 2018 at the Special Olympic European Games held in Hamburg she was selected as an International Line Judge in Badminton and has since covered this position at events held in Austria, Belgium, Germany and Malta.
10th June 2025
Chris Truran A Funny Thing Happened on My Way to the Old Bailey
Chris recalled the humorous side of his job as a Scene of Crimes Officer (SOCO) in the Metropolitan Police Force and the various pieces of evidence criminals leave behind. A particular amusing example was given in respect of a criminal who sliced off the top of his thumb whilst committing a crime. As you would expect the criminal was found at the local hospital where he was reunited with his thumb.
13th May 2025
Marion Pettet
A View from the Stalls Marion explained that ballet originated in the Renaissance court in Italy where aristocratic weddings were lavish celebrations and that ballet dancers were mainly men. Interest then spread to France and in the late 17th century Louis XIV founded the Academie Royale de Musique (the Paris Opera) which emerged the first professional theatrical ballet company and it then spread to other nations, including London’s The Royal Ballet in 1931. She told us that all stories can be created into ballets.
8th April 2025
Paul Westgate & Maggie & Ludo the dog Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Paul was joined by two deaf ladies and their pets Ludo and Abel. Paul explained that a hearing dog can provide a deaf person with a newfound sense of independence and confidence and the four breeds of dogs especially suitable for this task are Cocker Spaniels, Labradors, Miniature Poodles and Cockapoos. The Hearing Dogs Charity (PAWS) is supported by 3,100 volunteers and 220 paid staff.
11th March 2025
Sandra Sparrowhawk
How to Tie Scarves
Sandra, a Colour and Style Coach, gave a very interesting demonstration on how to wear scarves. Members brought along their own scarves and joined in following Sandra’s instructions.
11th February 2025
Ian Kirby The Mitford Sisters
Our speaker was Ian Kirby who spoke about “The Mitford Sisters”. David Freeman-Mitford 2nd Baron Redesdale and his wife Sydney Bowles were an aristocratic couple living in Northumberland who became particularly well-known in the 1930’s for their six daughters. The first born, Nancy, became a novelist who lived in France much of her adult life. The second daughter, Pamela, was known as the “country girl”. The third child was a son named Thomas who supported British fascism. Diana the fourth child left her first husband for the British fascist Leader Sir Oswald Moseley. The fifth child, Unity had an adulation of, and friendship with Adolf Hitler, which was widely publicised. She shot herself in the head just after Britain declared war on Germany, surviving but with permanent brain damage. The sixth child was Jessica, who, unlike the rest of her family was a Communist and the last child was a daughter named Deborah who married the 11th Duke of Devonshire and managed Chatsworth House, one of the most successful stately homes in England.
14th January 2025
Tricia Gurnett
RNLI
Tricia Gurnett joined us for a talk entitled “Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). She opened her introduction with the background on how she became interested in the RNLI and then continued to tell us that the Institution was founded in 1824 by Sir William Hillary whose vision was to save lives at sea. Today in the UK and Ireland there are 238 Lifeboat Stations, the busiest being The Tower Lifeboat Station in London. Tricia explained that the service is supported mainly by volunteers and donations and today’s running costs amount to £524,000 daily. There are more than 5,200 volunteers supported by more than 4,000 shore crew and station management. On its 200th Anniversary in 2024 they announced that they had saved 146,277 lives since their inauguration.
10th December 2024
Christmas Lunch
We welcomed members and many guests on this special occasion with some outstanding raffle prizes to be won. We were entertained by over 20 ladies from Hutton Ladies Choir who sang carols old and new. The ladies all wore Christmas jumpers and were led by Betty, wearing shoes that lit up and Susanna was their accompanist. The group, who meet on a Wednesday, have about 30 members and was started some 40 years ago in one of the member’s homes and she is still with the group. They now meet in Bardwell Community Hall. It was a wonderful start to the Christmas festivities.
12th November 2024
Sharon Gould
‘Who is H?’ We were pleased to welcome Sharon explained that H was her second child, a daughter named Heather. Heather was born in hospital in 1976 and it was discovered that she was Down Syndrome, which in those days was addressed as Mongol. Sharon found this very difficult to accept until a visit by her Doctor who told her to treat Heather as a “normal child”. With patience Sharon found various ways to entice Heather to grow up normally. At the age of 16 Heather joined the local Tesco Store and is still there today – 26 years later. She went on to live in her own accommodation where, in her late 30’s, she met a male neighbour who had autism. They became a couple and, with both families and medical advice, they got married. They became Mr & Mrs Scott and have been happily married for 8 years.