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Summer Newsletter 2007

The year started with an update on the National Forest by Penny Wilkinson, their Tourism and Promotions officer who also enjoys living in Repton.  It was interesting to see the extent of the planting that has already been completed and the ‘growing’ evidence of the changing landscape!

Philip Heath’s journey in South Derbyshire took us to a number of unusual locations as well as some such as Bretby Hall and the Newton Park Hotel with which we were already familiar.  With all of them he expanded our knowledge through his detailed research and understanding of the history behind the places as we see them today.

Eric Flounders gave an enthralling talk on the history of the Cunard Shipping Company and was unusual in that he used no slides for a subject that would seem to be set up for them.  He traced the start of the company as a ‘low cost’ shipping line for immigrants to Canada and the USA, through the risky but rewarding mail shipping market to the Atlantic luxury liner market to its current position in the cruise market.

 April saw the return of David Tideswell.  He covered the story of a couple of Blue Tits through the building of their nest, the laying and hatching of the eggs, and the taxing job of feeding the brood before they could fly the nest.  His photographs of the nest and the chicks added greatly to the talk.

At the February meeting we had our AGM.  The Officers are, Chairman – Peter Rainey, Vice Chairman – Alan Webster, Secretary – Hazel Blackhall and our Treasurer is Martin Wimbush.  We had a very successful year last year with Alan Webster and David Guest putting on a much appreciated programme of events that meant we continued to make a profit over the year.

Village Party

The Village Party on Monday the 7^th May is not in our printed programme but is being run under our auspices with support from the Parish Council.  Please make as effort to bring the family to the Mitre Field for a fun afternoon. 

Subscriptions 2007 

Subscriptions for 2007 are now overdue. If you have not yet paid your subscription please send it to Wendy Bateman, 2 Shakespeare Meadows, Repton, DE65 6SB. Subscriptions remain at the same rate as last year, £6 per household, £3 per individual.  

Future Programme 

TUESDAY   MAY 1^st   (Please note the date change because of local elections) “Stories of the Severn – from source to the sea” This talk was to have been given by Diana Perowne who would then have been our guide on the subsequent coach trip. Regrettably Diana has had to cancel both because of ill health but has arranged for Pam Powis to take her place. Pam lives in Shrewsbury and is a very experienced guide for the Severn Valley and beyond. She will  include the geology of the area and the significance of the river in terms of the iron industries in and around Ironbridge and will highlight some of the other river towns. As with previous “Talks and Walks” this will be a stand-alone talk and so will still be of interest even if you are not going on the coach trip. 

SATURDAY   MAY 5^th   The coach leaves Repton Church at 8a.m for the Severn Valley and Pam will join us at our coffee stop at Telford Services on the M56. After visiting the Iron Bridge and Much Wenlock there will be a stop at Bridgenorth for a town walk and lunch. There is a variety of eating establishments in the town and to give maximum choice no specific place has been booked. After lunch those who have booked to do so will travel on the Severn Valley railway to Bewdley. Pam will accompany the coach with those who are not travelling by train to Bewdley. There should be time for a short walk round the town for everybody before the coach leaves at 5p.m arriving back in Repton at 7-7.30p.m. There is currently a short waiting list for this trip. 

THURSDAY JUNE 7^th   Keith Grainger will be conducting another wine tasting, this time featuring the wines (red, white and fortified) from the Roussillon region of Southern France. Tickets are available for this popular event-£7.50 for members and their guests, £9.50 for visitors. 

SATURDAY JUNE 30^th   “Brooklands and  Wisley”. The coach will leave Repton Church at 8a.m for the RHS Garden at Wisley to drop off those who have booked to see the garden before travelling on to Brooklands. The coach will leave Brooklands at 5p.m and return via Wisley to Repton for about 8.45p.m. There are restaurants, coffee shops etc. at both venues. Information leaflets are also available at both venues and so guides have not been arranged. The coach is full for this event but there is no waiting list at present. 

THURSDAY JULY 5^th.    Evening visit by car to the inland port at Shardlow. After a look round the Heritage Centre John Manners,  the Shardlow Heritage Trust Chairman, will take us on a walking tour round this very interesting piece of local canal history. Tickets are available-£3 including light refreshments at the end of the tour. Meet at the Heritage Centre at 7.30p.m. Lifts can be arranged. Directions and map will be issued with tickets. 

For further details of all of the above please ring Alan Webster on 01283  701838