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January 2009
The speaker was to have been Nicholas Clark on the subject, "Rail Around India. The committee sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and disappointment that this will cause. Newsletters which would otherwise have been distributed at the meeting will be posted. Glynn Nixon December 2008 We are planning a new Video Group aimed at the production of digital videos, exploring the use of digital video cameras (or camcorders) and video editing software on computers. The group will be open to all members of the U3A who would like to take part in this art form.
...or all 3! There would be scope for scriptwriters, designers and other creative people as well as 'techies' so don't feel excluded if you are non-technical. The plans are tentative at the moment but we need to know if there are possible group members and equipment will have to be purchased so if you are interested in joining this group, please contact Clive Blackmore There will be no meeting until February 19th, 2009, when the subject will be "Summer bulbs". As usual the group will meet at the Maypole Hall, Paganhill, at 2.30 p.m. Mary Newman & Phyll Smith
I am putting up a christmas tree in St Laurence Church on behalf of the U3A Quilters, Crochet and other craft groups. It's on the first week in December. Freda Bonner-Barlow
Photo from Paul Hansford
It has been another very good term with lots of enthusiasm within the group, They always seem to surprise me with the standards that are produced. Once the creative juices begin to flow, the pictures and calligraphy achieved are very good indeed. Our next term starts on 6th February 2009 and runs until 17th April 2009. A ten week term but please note that there will not be a class on 10th April as it is Good Friday. The fees are the same as last year £10:00 for the term. Have a wonderful NEW YEAR Betty Dunnachie is having a meeting in her house in early January to see if she can get a new French group up and running. If you are interested in attending, please let me know. Mary Newman If anyone would like to submit one or two photos on the subject of "Christmas", we might get some of them onto the branch website, in a kind of virtual exhibition. Please send pictures to me as soon as possible. This is open to any U3A members. There will be a meeting of the Photography Group at my house on 16 December at 10.30 am. We can look at the photos, and possibly think about making cards from our own pictures. Current and future members, please let me know whether or not you will attend. Anyone who needs directions, just let me know. Paul Hansford This group has met twice - by the time you read this it will have held its third meeting. We are still getting to know each other and each other's tastes in music. So far we've ranged from Bach to Tom Jones and back, via classical guitar and full symphony orchestra. The whole musical world is out there, for us to explore - do join us if you can! Vera Chapman With U3A Singers gathered from Chipping Campden, Stroud, Pershore, Worcester and Malvern all converging on St. Peter's Baptist Church in Worcester, it proved to be an extremely memorable day. Thanks to the Director of Music of each Choir, we had all been practising hard prior to the meeting, getting notes right and also to a certain degree, the phrasing. This meant that when' we all met up for the first time at the final choir practice, it would be just a matter of putting the polishing touches to the five set pieces. After lunch each choir performed its own programme all of which was of the usual high standard. Then followed the massed choirs singing the two Elgar Anthems and three Gilbert and Sullivan arrangements. May we never lose sight of this - we sing together for pleasure! Having said that, singing in a large choir of over 150 voices is a grand experience. We may flounder in the rehearsals of such great works, but each voice takes encouragement from other similar voices around. Therefore let us never give up on these great events so that we forever enthuse for the benefit of our smallest choir. Well done Stroud! The hard work always pays off in the end. We cannot all be nightingales or song thrushes or blackbirds. Our own garden may boast a robin, some sparrows and perhaps some starlings; but the dawn chorus - wow! - Now that's singing for pleasure - for the songsters and the ones listening alike. Seriously though Ladies and Gentlemen, we are always looking out for tenors and basses to join us. So if you enjoy singing, especially in four part harmony, contact your U3A Singers Group and hide not from us any more. Instead - SING FOR PLEASURE !!!!! Julian A Stephens Happy Feet walkers are now walking. On a beautiful sunny day ten of us walked from the Edgemore down to Washbrook, by Dories Mill, along the valley and up to Huddinknoll Hill. Here we had fantastic views of Painswick and Gloucester. Our second walk was from the Tudor Arms. It was led by Jim and Caroline, again on a beautiful sunny morning. Fourteen of us set off along the towpath and walked to Splatt Bridge, we then walked back to Slimbridge through the fields. On route Jim told us when and 'why the canal was built and how the Cam Arm was developed to link with the coal wharf on the A38. He also explained to us how on the arrival of the railways the canal company decided to open the canal for day and night which necessitated building homes for the bridge keepers. These are now the Grade 2 listed Doric columned houses built by the bridges. We are now looking forward to our next walk and hoping the weather will again be kind to us. Margaret Clawley
On one of the few fine days in September the Gardening Group arranged a visit to Batsford Arboretum and Sezincote gardens. These two places are very close to each other near Moreton in Marsh. The original owner of Batsford Arboretum travelled extensively in oriental Asia and was obviously influenced by landscapes in China and Japan. A large Buddha and several very oriental looking statures reflected his taste. It holds the national collection of Japanese flowering cherries, and bamboos were everywhere. After a pleasant lunch sitting in the warm sun we crossed the road to Sezincote, although we could have travelled hundreds of miles from Japan and China to India. The house was built in 1810 for the owner who worked in India for many years (The Royal Pavilion in Brighton was modelled on it.) A huge central dome glistened in the sun and minarets were dotted around the perimeter of the roof. The beautiful Orangery curved around the Persian Garden of Paradise with fountains and canals. We strolled around the immaculate gardens enjoying the views created by the famous landscape gardener, Repton, before downing a welcome cup of tea. We all agreed it was a lovely day out and our thanks are due to Phyllis Smith who organised it all, even down to the wonderful weather! Mary Newman Well- by the time this newsletter is published we will have had our AGM celebrating Solo's 10th anniversary - what more can I say! It is still a great surprise to me just how Solo has taken off. One thing it indicates is the real need for similar groups in the U3A to be started. Retirement and solo living can be a very lonely experience. At the beginning of September I moved to the McCarthy & Stone Retirement Apartments in Nailsworth. The flat is relatively spacious and I have a fine view of the Theescombe valley. The move was relatively stress free - but I did have a lot of help and it made me wonder just how people manage when they have no one to give them a hand. The settling down period will take time but I am sure it was the right move - for me. Princess Anne visited on the 17th October to officially' open the complex' - and so, we now have the royal seal of approval. There are several apartments still unsold and I reside on the third floor in solitary splendour. Nailsworth is a great little town and I am so lucky to have landed here. Shops are all around including the library and Lloyds chemist, plus and a big plus - the bus station which is opposite the site. So, how lucky can you get? My new address is 33 Maple Tree Court, Old Market, Nailsworth. Rita Shepherd Tel: 01453 834116 I will be stepping down as editor following the publication of the January 2009 issue. After 3 years, 18 issues - and next years 80th birthday! - I think it is time for a change and perhaps new ideas. So, if anyone is interested in becoming the new editor, please contact me or any committee member. Ted Bishop - Tel: 01453 767905 PS. Many thanks Ted from all of us for your tireless efforts to bring us a first class newsletter PPS. We are delighted to report that Clive Blackmore has volunteered to take on the editorship of the newsletter Chairman's Report for the AGM - 2/10/2008 This year has not seen a great deal of change in Stroud & District U3A. We've had our usual social events - the Christmas Dinner, the Group Leaders' Lunch, we had a coffee morning for New Members instead of our previous afternoon tea; and our tea party in June. One change of course, was the move to St. Laurence's Hall for our monthly branch meetings as we'd outgrown the Maypole Hall - at these meetings we usually have 90 - 100 people attending - a good attendance, of about a quarter of the membership 7 and that's an encouragement to visiting speakers who know their efforts will have a worthwhile response. Our Speakers Secretary, Paul Hansford, has given us an interesting series of speakers this year and I believe next year's programme is already well filled. Thank you Paul, from the committee and all our members. I must say thank you, too, to all the committee members - you've been wonderful - again! - supportive to me and the branch always hard-working and enthusiastic to keep Stroud's U3A on track. A special thank you is due today to Audrey Bishop, our incredibly well organised treasurer who is stepping down after four years, but with the admiration and affection of us all - thank you Audrey. Audrey and her husband, Ted, are an amazing team. They've worked together in business for years, and then accepted the double challenge of the U3A - Audrey as treasurer, and Ted as editor of our newsletter. It was with sadness that I heard the other day of Ted's decision to end his role after the January issue of the newsletter. So, if there's anyone who feels ready to take on the role - please let us know! A major, and I might say, perennial preoccupation of the committee is how we measure up to the ideals of the U3A - I have reflected some of this in my chairman's letters in the newsletter throughout the year. Our study groups, or interest groups, tend to be recreational rather than academic, but it is up to us, our members what you/we choose to learn and how, and for how long. I hear groups being described as clubs or classes, and neither term should be applicable. It's great to share an interest or activity with a group of people that we like and with whom we feel comfortable - is the challenge of learning still there? - is your sense of curiosity, of wonder, being stimulated and satisfied? - Only you, as individuals, can i answer these questions; the committee will probably be seeking answers to similar questions next year! It's the learning that matters! As you are probably aware, the question of finance is on all of our minds at the moment - both in the wider world and in the U3A. Good speakers cost money for their time, and their travelling expenses. In order to maintain the quality of our speakers and to keep up with current charges the committee feels that we need to ask you to pay £1.00 for tea or coffee and biscuits, and hope this will be satisfactory to you. Finally, thank you to you for being here today, for being Stroud & District's U3A, and for your support and friendship. Have a good U3A year! Ruth Langley - Chairman Money Matters Times are Changing There will be no December meeting for Money Matters Starting in the New Year our group meetings will be on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 10:00 am (changing from the 3rd Tuesday). Our venue remains the Wesley Rooms, St. Albans Church, Parliament. Glynn Nixon There will be a break of three weeks over the Christmas period. The last meeting in 2008 will be 17th December and we will restart on the 7th January, 2009. As from January we will be collecting £10.00 in advance every four weeks. This will ensure that we should be able to pay our way in spite of fluctuations of numbers. Mary Newman October 2008 The TaiChi group is now up and running. This new group is proving very popular and new members are welcome. The tutor is a qualified instructor. For further information contact In the September/October Newsletter we included a questionnaire on the back of the Membership Renewal form asking members whether there were any suggestions for new groups and whether there were any volunteers to lead new groups. Possible groups were also discussed at the mens meeting below. Click here to see the resultant list of group suggestions and the groups which have possible leaders. On October 28th we held a meeting of men members of the U3A to discuss the reasons why there is such a low percentage of men represented in the Stroud branch. We gave a presentation of the background of the U3A and the need for there to be a more representative group of men. There following a lively discussion during which a number of suggestions were made for the committee to take up. With a bit of luck we may also see a couple of new groups coming out of the meeting. Stroud U3A Meets
In addition we had a fascinating look at the history of the Stroud & Swindon starting from its early days when building societies were administered by local lawyers and accountants and the 'Stroud Provident Benefit Building Society' was run from a firm of solicitors in Rowcroft - not far from the present Head office. We also looked at the differences between banks and building societies, where the Stroud and Swindon gets its cash and how it lends it. We recalled the days, not so long ago when there was a standard mortgage rate throughout the land and you saved for your deposit with a building society and then obtained your mortgage from that society. The consensus from the group members was that this was an excellent, informative talk by a likeable, no nonsense professional. Equity Release
I certainly know a lot more about the subject now than I did before this presentation. Thank you Virginia for taking the trouble and steering us through a knotty subject. Glynn Nixon September 2008 Those who were present at the July meeting may recall that we had a short discussion on the possibility of starting a croquet group. Thanks to Noreen Menendez this possibility has been upgraded to a probability. More information will be made available shortly so watch this space. Bernice Boss Our group reformed last year after a break when the previous organisers "retired". Anne McQuire and Joan Day had done good organising for over 16 years, during which time several quilts were made for the CLIC charity. We continued to meet informally before rejoining U3A. To make it available to those who have other (U3A) commitments we meet twice monthly alternatively morning and afternoon, at various venues, so we get to see each others houses, and often the bed quilts and hangings many have made. Those currently in the making, both during our meetings and at home we see anyway. All work in sessions is by hand, though many use machines at home. Some members are new to patchwork or quilting or have not done any for a long time. One of the functions of the group is to bring and share ideas and techniques. Problems can be shared and there can be swapping of materials. Group Quilts are another aspect, sometimes these follow a specific design, or as at the moment when we are beginning making a "Quillow" for each member of the group. They are called "Friendship Quilts", where each person makes a square of their own choice of pattern and material. It is always surprising how well these random squares can blend together. Judy Quick We have carried on working together; enjoying each other's company and producing amazingly varied 'homework' poems on odd themes! 'Night' poems were very successful and 'Things I Haven't Done', We also had a try at keeping poetry notebooks, with varied success! Attempts to have a lunch meeting with the Bristol U3A Poetry Workshop have failed; we all seem too busy to find a suitable time but we shall try again in the Autumn. We did enjoy reading at the Summer Tea to such a receptive audience. Please ask us again! Sheila Simmons On behalf of myself and the committee we would like to thank Linda Duffet for all her efforts over the last 6 years. Mary Newman There are actually two separate groups. One meets on the first Tuesday and the other on the Third. This is great fun for me as the two groups are so different and we do different things. Both groups have enjoyed studying individual poets this year as well as reading poems on different themes. One group had a rewarding session on Ruth Pitter (led by Virginia) and we have studied Louis McNeice, W.H.Auden and Irish poetry. It really is sheer pleasure sitting together and reading poetry! It's lucky not everyone wants to do it! Sheila Simmons July 2008 Playreading for Performance Group We went to read our current play at a nursing home in Gloucester last month as one of our members has a sister who lives there. It was a nice room but as it was a very hot day we decided to use the patio entrance as our stage. There was a lovely breeze entering which made it quite bearable. I had to stand for the whole of the play and one of the residents was most concerned for my welfare and called out constantly for me to come and sit down. It was a story of a dressmaker who was always making wedding clothes for brides but never seemed to have time for her own, much to the dismay of her fiance. She lived with an aging father and was overly concerned for his welfare. Eventually the father ran away and got married and so left her free for her own wedding. Quite a reversal of the usual story. We seemed to be well received and they provided tea for us. Betty Nash Looking through a U3A Newsletter, I noticed an advertisement for a Nile Cruise at a reasonable price so Bill and I decided to book it. Although by the time we booked the price had gone up, we were glad we took advantage of the offer. We boarded a 5 star ship at Luxor and were given one of four suites - very spacious. We also had a Guide to ourselves as we were the only people on board who booked the package. We lazed on the top deck waiting to go through the Esna Lock which took seven hours as only two ships can go through the lock at one time, taking half an hour. The ships are box-like in appearance so that when moored several can moor alongside enabling the passengers to walk through each ship to get on shore. There was a small swimming pool which was always cold but Bill and I braved every day. While moored at Esna we noticed people queuing outside a bakery - two people with bags of bread emptied the contents onto a wall, presumably to cool it and one went away and left his bread for quite a long time; he came back later to retrieve it. We were told that the punishment for stealing is so severe, robbery is very rare. We visited the Valley of the Kings where there are 26 tombs. We looked over two - Ramses IV who reigned for seven years and Ramses III who reigned for 32 years - this one was obviously much longer with more chambers. The coloured hieroglyphics and drawings were cut into alabaster and completely covered the walls. The temperature was about 100 degrees but a dry heat so you did not perspire.
We watched a Sound and Light Show at the Philae Temple one evening having arrived by boat under a starlight night. This temple was removed from its original place as the area had to be dammed and the Russian support helped with the removing and rebuilding in a different place and the building of the Aswan high dam. We looked over Lord Kitchener's Garden which is an Arboretum of rare palms and rare trees - we spotted some hoopee feeding on the ground. We went by boat around the Cataract Islands which is a beautiful area - we spotted several kingfishers which were black and white, also an osprey sitting on a mast. We visited a Nubian Village and were told that villagers always help one another. If one of them gets married, people help them with costs but the has always to be repaid. A Nubian woman has to marry a Nubian man, but a Nubian man is allowed to marry a foreigner. We both appreciated a week of hot weather, an escape from the cold weather in England. Margaret Adams Don't become a victim of the many direct-mail, telephone and computer scams that are about. If you think you have been a victim of a scam or suspect a scam, call Consumer Direct for clear practical consumer advice on 08454 04 05 06 or www.consumerdirect.gov.uk To reduce unwanted mail, register free with the Mail Preference Service on 08457034599 or www.mpsonline.org.uk To reduce unwanted telephone sales calls, register free with the Telephone Preference Service on 0845 070 0707 or alternatively on www.tpsonline.org.uk With thanks to the Cirencester Branch of U3A June 2008 U3A Photograph Competition 2008 At the June meeting members voted for their favourite pictures entered for the competition. In a very close vote the winner was Roy Embleton, with a photo of the reflection in a canal in Venice (below). In second place was Ursula Lambert’s picture of an octagonal house, also reflected in water, and third place was taken by Margaret Adams’s photo of a pack-horse bridge. Of the 40 pictures entered, all but nine were given at least one vote, and eight photos were given 8 points or more, indicating a good general level of entries.
Paul Hansford May 2008 Six people have so far contacted me and we have arranged to meet on the 4th Friday of each month at lO.30am. Our first gathering was scheduled for the 24th April at Cam Peak. If interested in joining the group, please give me a ring: As mentioned in last month's Newsletter, Trevor Portlock has retired from running this group and Alice Campbell and Kay Finch have kindly agreed to take over. The group meets once a month at various venues. For more details please contact Alice Campbell on 01453 840245 or Kay Finch on 01452 770800. At present there is only one French language group in our branch. John Giles organises us, and I do my best to teach. The group is large - twelve to fourteen members - and there is no room for any more. John and I are often asked by people who would like to be put on our waiting list, but there is no waiting list. There is obviously a need for another French Group, and this is an appeal for someone to volunteer to form one. The leader need not be an expert, as we found when we formed a group to learn Italian. We had no Italian speaker to teach us, but we enthusiastically learned to a competent standard, using an Italian course. 'Buongiorno Italia!' I would be pleased to discuss this with anyone who would like to join such a group, and, better still, someone who would be willing to co-ordinate and lead it. Tel: 01453 872297 Barbara Moreton April 2008 On Wednesday (23rd April) our Computer Club moved from the Library to Park Junior School in Stonehouse. We are also changing day & time for our convenience and so that we can use the School's computers after the pupils have gone home. The following summarises the revised arrangements:
We decided to move since the Library only had 5 computers and, if all were working on the Internet, they were depressingly slow. I tried lobbying our County Councillor for changes to improve the situation. She was keen to help but any improvement was clearly going to take some time. At our new venue, we will have 16 computers, all with fast Internet connection. So we should be able to make some inroads into our waiting list. The Club has been running since 20th October 2006 and we have held 60 sessions, 28 of them in the Library. Jim Dickson 21-Apr-2008 We have been exceedingly lucky with the weather lately on our Friday walks. The members vary from time to time averaging fourteen. We do not normally travel very far, but during August we travelled to Mallard Pike in the Forest of Dean and had an enchanting walk through the forest and around the lake picnicking nearby and not far from the 'Go Ape' activity. We visited the Tortworth Estate, which is near Leyhill Prison and saw the Tortworth Chestnut, which is 800 years old - an amazing tree. The Victorians also gazed in wonder at it, as there was a plaque on the gate inscribed at that time. We walked to Saul Junction from Frampton along the canal where there were lots of houseboats and we called at the Chapel on our return for a light lunch, only £3, which included soup, bread, cheese and liquid refreshment. We are having a guided walking tour of the historical houses on the green at Frampton on Friday 15th February 2008. Our guide will be Rose Hewlett and the tour will take about 1 3/4 hours. Should anyone like to join us, please get in touch with me on 01453 763902. We shall have a light lunch at the Chapel afterwards. Margaret Adams On the WB Yeats trail and other Experiences in Ireland
We flew to Ireland via a cheap Fly-Be flight and spent 3 nights in a centrally-based, modestly-priced B&B in Temple Bar enabling us to walk everywhere. As we are interested generally in Irish literature and history we did not restrict ourselves to Yeats sites. However, we first satisfied our thirst for the poet by visiting the Yeats Exhibition at the National Library, the Abbey Theatre, Trinity College and the Writer's Museum. We also saw The Book of Kells where the 1916 Easter Rising took place, Bewdley's Tea Shop, the remains of the Bog People in the National Museum, Dublin Castle and St Patricks Cathedral. In the evenings we enjoyed watching 'Private Lives' by Noel Coward at the Gate Theatre and thrilled to 'Riverdance' at the Gaiety Theatre. We loved the vibrant nightlife of Dublin, where you can experience a wide range of pubs and restaurants offering superb Irish food and live traditional music. After hiring a car, we set off for Galway. On the drive across the country, we were lucky enough to spend one night near Athlone with an Irish friend who took us to see her family's peat bog and the various local saints' shrines. Next day, to the south of Galway we visited 2 of our most important Yeats locations: Coole Parke and Thoor Ballylee. It was a beautiful day to walk the park and the visitors' centre offered a fascinating insight into early 20th century Ireland, Yeats and Lady Gregory. Having settled into a Galway town B&B we set off early next morning to sail over to the Aran Islands. We chose to make Inishmaan our destination because of its literary connections. It was like stepping back into the Gaelic past as the island was only sparsely populated, peaceful and undeveloped. The cottage, where J M Synge, the Irish playwright who wrote Playboy of the Western World lived for long periods of time and Yeats visited to get away from modernity, was certainly frozen in time, with an amazing curator who looked like a simple rural worker/wife and had the knowledge and passion of a PhD graduate. It was another clear, sunny day and we walked the 5 km circuit of the island, barely meeting a soul. The following day we toured around Connemara. The mountainous landscape is awe-inspiring yet the region also offers historical interest in the medieval castle of Aughanure and the visitors' centre at Letterfrack. We struggled to the top of Errisbeg Mountain near Roundstone and were well rewarded by the stunning views from the top. Then carne the highlight of our holiday - 5 nights in Sligo, staying in a superb B&B owned by a delightful couple. The unbelievably beautiful countryside featured in so many of Yeats' poems was all around us: the Isle of Innisfree on Lough Gill, Ben Bulben, Glencarr Waterfall, Dooney Rock, and Hazelwood. We also visited Yeats' grave at Drumcliffe and the Gore-Booth connections at Lissadell House; the list is endless. In Sligo town we explored the Yeats visitor centre and school, the ancient abbey, the two cathedrals (Anglican and Roman Catholic) and the Famine memorials. This area was particularly badly hit by the Potato Famine. In the evenings we attended poetry readings, folk concerts and again threw ourselves into the local traditional music scenes in the pubs. On our last day in Sligo we drove over to Riverstown to see the impressive Folk Museum. We had been told that there was a weekend music festival in full swing there and by that time we had become truly hooked on live traditional sessions. We weren't disappointed; groups of musicians had gathered all over town and were in the pubs and on the 'diamond' (central crossroads of any small plantation town) and the local townsfolk warmly welcomed us wherever we went. We finished the day by stopping off to explore Carrowmore megalithic barrows, gazed at Knocknarea mountain and finished off down by the coast at StrandhiII where the National Surfing Championships were reaching the finals. We could not have asked for a more varied, entertaining and enjoyable summer break. If you like stunning scenery, a wide range of interesting historical buildings, friendly locals and safe but lively evening entertainment, this is for you! Catherine Lillington Visit to Compton Verney
We were welcomed, given an introductory talk about the house and the art collection and were then free to roam. The house itself, designed by Robert Nash, was interesting enough, but the fact that it was acquired by the Peter Moores Foundation in 1993 and restored and converted into an art gallery made it even more fascinating. The first two floors were given over to Italian and German paintings and artefacts (plenty of Vesuviuses erupting all over the walls) and the third to British portraits and some charming and curious remnants from a bygone age in this country. This secluded and beautiful place was a real joy to those who went and we owe Angela Palmer a big thank-you for introducing it to us. Mary Newman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The group will be educational in accordance with the U3A ethos and, of course its activities will be shaped by its members and could take the form of:
At our September meeting we enjoyed an excellent talk by Simon Whitwham - a main board director of the Stroud & Swindon Building Society. The talk, coming as it did during the period when the 'Credit Crunch' was hotting up gave us some insight into the causes of the banking problems. His inside view of the way that the regulators worked was also interesting.
In our October meeting, one of our members, Virginia Novarra, gave us an excellent and well researched presentation on the ins and outs of Equity Release and how you could receive a lump sum or income from the value of your property. The presentation covered the technicalities and pit-falls of the subject and was followed by an instructive question and answer session.
The temples were fantastic, particularly the Karnak Temple. There were 134 columns which were divided so that the Pharoah could walk in a straight line through them and through the line of sphinx on to the Luxor Temple and on to the Nile. Apparently it took 2000 men to work on a column which they did for 24 hours without stopping.
Two friends and I (all retired English teachers) indulged our love of the Irish poet W B Yeats, by taking a 12 day holiday to visit sites connected with his life and poetry in Ireland. We chose to go during the end of July / beginning of August because this is when the Yeats International Summer School is held annually in Sligo, an essential venue on our itinerary.
On Sunday, 4th November, we left in dull, misty weather for Compton Verney. We drove in and out of fog but by the time we arrived in mid morning, the sun was shining and it was a perfect autumnal day to enjoy the Capability Brown landscaping all around the very splendid house.
