South Solihull u3a Local History Group 1
INTRODUCTION
We have 32 enthusiastic and friendly members who visit a variety of places of interest in the area, each organised by one of our members. The monthly activities include visits in our locality and occasional talks, with an annual group meal held each January. The days of the week on which we organise events vary.
We have 32 enthusiastic and friendly members who visit a variety of places of interest in the area, each organised by one of our members. The monthly activities include visits in our locality and occasional talks, with an annual group meal held each January. The days of the week on which we organise events vary.
ACHIEVEMNETS TO DATE
Once a year, we try to get together with Local History Group 2 to undertake a visit further afield. In the past we had a very enjoyable and informative day at Bletchley Park. In 2020 we planned a joint group visit to Arbury Hall and Maxstoke Castle which were unfortunately postponed due to the pandemic. Annually we plan a programme of events and different members volunteer to organise each one (this has proved to be a very successful system since the group was established). We use public transport, whenever possible, or car share on other occasions. Prior to the Covid pandemic, in 2019, the group experienced several excellent guided tours. These included: Electric Theatre in Birmingham; St Mary’s Church and Old Court House in Warwick; Harvington Hall; Edgbaston Cricket Club and the Birmingham & Midland Institute. We enjoyed a talk on ‘Warwickshire and the Holbeche Family’ by Laurence Ince. Our events frequently incorporate tea and cake which prove popular with our members!
Once a year, we try to get together with Local History Group 2 to undertake a visit further afield. In the past we had a very enjoyable and informative day at Bletchley Park. In 2020 we planned a joint group visit to Arbury Hall and Maxstoke Castle which were unfortunately postponed due to the pandemic. Annually we plan a programme of events and different members volunteer to organise each one (this has proved to be a very successful system since the group was established). We use public transport, whenever possible, or car share on other occasions. Prior to the Covid pandemic, in 2019, the group experienced several excellent guided tours. These included: Electric Theatre in Birmingham; St Mary’s Church and Old Court House in Warwick; Harvington Hall; Edgbaston Cricket Club and the Birmingham & Midland Institute. We enjoyed a talk on ‘Warwickshire and the Holbeche Family’ by Laurence Ince. Our events frequently incorporate tea and cake which prove popular with our members!
THOUGHTS FOR FUTURE EVENTS
The members of our group never run out of ideas for new places to visit, events to attend and talks to listen to. Future ideas include
Maxstoke Castle
Arbury Hall
Birmingham Oratory
Lord Leycester Hospital
Backstage tour of the Hippodrome
Walking Tour of Birmingham
A tour of medieval Coventry
Nuneaton Museum and Church
Bus trip to visit Herbert Art Gallery exhibition during year of culture
Polesworth Abbey in Tamworth
Leamington Spa Pump Room and Church
Aston Hall at Christmas
Kenilworth Walk to include Abbey Fields
Severn Valley Railway
The members of our group never run out of ideas for new places to visit, events to attend and talks to listen to. Future ideas include
Maxstoke Castle
Arbury Hall
Birmingham Oratory
Lord Leycester Hospital
Backstage tour of the Hippodrome
Walking Tour of Birmingham
A tour of medieval Coventry
Nuneaton Museum and Church
Bus trip to visit Herbert Art Gallery exhibition during year of culture
Polesworth Abbey in Tamworth
Leamington Spa Pump Room and Church
Aston Hall at Christmas
Kenilworth Walk to include Abbey Fields
Severn Valley Railway
Local History Group 1 – Meeting on Zoom during Lockdown May 2020 – June 2021
Our last event pre-Covid lockdown was in February 2020 at St Swithin’s House in Barston. The group have used this venue many times for outside speakers but on this occasion, we tried something different – two members researched famous people from the Midlands, George Elliott and Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, and gave a presentation over tea, coffee and cake. This was a departure from previous years and went down well – “We must do something like this again” we said, little did we know what was on the horizon due to the pandemic and lockdown.
With the shock of lockdown, we had to cancel many visits which had already been organised, such as Maxstoke Castle, Lord Leycester Hospital, Asbury Hall and Kidderminster Carpet Museum – our lovely group were disappointed not to be meeting up.
May 2020 saw the advent of our first Zoom meeting. With trepidation, as it this was new technology for most of us, 19 members came online for a virtual coffee and “Chat about VE Day”. Everyone was delighted to see others in the group and there were many reminiscences of VE day celebrations both past and present. Building on the success of this first Zoom, we had monthly online meetings from May 2020 through to June 2021.
We know that the U3a is a ‘learning organisation’ and this is definitely the case for our group. All of us learning how to access Zoom (using both video, audio and mute); many members researching and giving monthly talks on local places or local historical characters; several members produced PowerPoints or shared photographs on screen (sometimes with musical accompaniment); we enjoyed quizzes and shared personal memories and experiences. With an average attendance of 20 members (26 on two occasions) the group flourished.
To give a flavour of the Zoom member’s talks we enjoyed - they ranged from places such as: Berry Hall; Malvern Park; Solihull Workhouse; Maxstoke and Elmdon to local historical characters such as: Muntz and Bird families; Ernest Wilson; Lady Byron; Joseph Chamberlain and Horace Brueton. We shared You Tube videos of Knowle in the 60s and many photographs provided by one of our members.
Local History Group 1 – Meeting Together and Flourishing! January 2022
September 2021 saw 8 members of Local History Group 1 meet, at Hatton Lock Café’, ‘face to face’ for the first time in 18 months for coffee, chat and planning for the future. What a joy it was to see each other!
In May 2021, Linda had given an excellent Zoom presentation on Elmdon Park, so the group decided it was worth a visit. In early November Linda led us on a guided walk around Elmdon Park and later in the month we gathered for morning coffee before viewing the Elmdon exhibition at the Core in Solihull.
On December 8th, after a 22-month break, the group returned to St Swithin’s in Barston for an afternoon of tea, coffee, cake and individual reminiscences from our younger days; these ranged from the very local, Solihull, to the much more distant, Algeria.
We started 2022 with our annual meal at the Wilson Arms, kindly organised by Jenny, where 16 members had an enjoyable lunch.
What does 2022 hold for Local History Group 1?
So many ideas, ranging from a visit to the Serbian Orthodox Church in Bourneville to a trip to see an exhibition at the Herbert Gallery in Coventry. Our group continues to thrive!
September 2021 saw 8 members of Local History Group 1 meet, at Hatton Lock Café’, ‘face to face’ for the first time in 18 months for coffee, chat and planning for the future. What a joy it was to see each other!
In May 2021, Linda had given an excellent Zoom presentation on Elmdon Park, so the group decided it was worth a visit. In early November Linda led us on a guided walk around Elmdon Park and later in the month we gathered for morning coffee before viewing the Elmdon exhibition at the Core in Solihull.
On December 8th, after a 22-month break, the group returned to St Swithin’s in Barston for an afternoon of tea, coffee, cake and individual reminiscences from our younger days; these ranged from the very local, Solihull, to the much more distant, Algeria.
We started 2022 with our annual meal at the Wilson Arms, kindly organised by Jenny, where 16 members had an enjoyable lunch.
What does 2022 hold for Local History Group 1?
So many ideas, ranging from a visit to the Serbian Orthodox Church in Bourneville to a trip to see an exhibition at the Herbert Gallery in Coventry. Our group continues to thrive!
