25 FU3A intrepid members and 3 dogs undertook a pleasant 4 mile walk on
Saturday morning of the 6th of November. Led by Clare Clayton and Bob Reeve
the walk had to be hastily re-routed due to some submerged footpaths
following heavy rains earlier in the week.  However the new route gave good
opportunities to see some beautiful landscape views across Dorset’s “green
and pleasant”.  As well as taking in the Spetisbury Rings and the remnants
of Spetisbury Railway Station part of the long defuncted Somerset and Dorset
Joint Railway (closed in 1956). But now part of a local restoration project.
Most members retired to the adjacent Café – “The Shack” for some well earned
coffee and cake – very nice too.  An excellent morning all round with some
fair weather too.

Keith Banks

Wednesday 27th October saw members of group H5 Wessex Railways in the Verne Prison on Portland. But not because we had transgressed in any way.

 We were there at the end of a morning spent at the north of the island, an area where railways played an important role in commerce and industry and Henry VIII constructed an artillery fort, part of the chain of forts, the “King’s Device” programme, to protect against invasion from France and the Holy Roman Empire and to defend the Portland Roads anchorage.

Despite the poor, drizzly weather and the best efforts of 4 way traffic lights controlled roadworks on the approach to Portland, eleven members of the group, as well as Monty, John Mullett’s dog, met as arranged in Portland Castle car park before 10.30. After our thirsty drive we were ready to sample the on-site coffee shop but, oh dear, “sorry love, staff shortage. Coffee shop doesn’t open until 11.00”.

Hmmm. Going well so far. Nothing daunted, there was plenty of time for those who wished to tour the Castle itself. If you could see past the Halloween decorations, the interior is well preserved and with an excellent commentary on a gratis audio device. Well worth the visit.

Next, a short walk across the road to visit the remains of the foot of the Merchants Incline where a gravity operated, cable railway system enabled huge blocks of stone from the quarries on the top of the island to be lowered to the quayside close by the Castle in Castletown for onward shipment by sea.

The incline closed when war came in 1939 and never reopened. By then, road transport supplanted its usefulness.

By now, chilled by a stiff breeze and occasional drizzle, we drove up the zig-zag Verne Common Road which crosses the top of the steep section of the Merchants Incline. After a quick stop to look back down the incline, we drove up to the traffic lights controlled tunnel entrance to HMP the Verne. Abandon hope etc etc. But we weren’t there to do “porridge”. Oh no, we were there for something more substantial than porridge at the Jailhouse Café. It’s run by EXPIA which employs prisoners to run the premises, teaching new skills which will help offenders on release to find a job.

This is EXPIA’s mission statement.

The food is inexpensive and don’t expect haute cuisine. It’s on a par with a good roadside caff, soup and a roll, jacket potatoes, paninis and wraps. There are also daily specials too but a little more expensive £9.00.

After a good chat over lunch, the sun had decided to make an appearance which enabled us to go outside to experience the magnificent view across Weymouth Bay laid out before us from our lofty perch.

And here awaited a real surprise. It sounded as if helicopters were buzzing around in the air above Portland Harbour. But wait, what is it? Is it a helicopter? Is it a plane? Well, a bit of both really.

Its official designation is a “tiltrotor” aircraft. The US Navy Bell Osprey presumably being trialled by the Royal Navy. A second aircraft was buzzing around over Weymouth Bay.

Many thanks to Chris Lepine for the above photo.

After this excitement, a passing visitor was asked to take a group photo which appears at the head of this report. Lo and behold, she turned out to be a soon-to-graduate photography student! You couldn’t make it up could you!

We then dispersed to do our own thing. Some went to Portland Museum at Easton and some to the Tout Quarry Sculpture Park and Nature Reserve, really well worth a visit. Then home. A good day!

This was another successful event for the u3a.

With a live band, a good selection of food to share and a jolly atmosphere, we danced the night
away. Everybody took to the dance floor and although we only had29members in attendance ）the floor was comfortably busy when we were all up.

My thanks go to the members who offered to help namely Anne and Kenneth Hutton, Kay Weeks, Jenny Bass, 
Margaret and Derek Holden and of course Ray Brearley. 

Although not many takers in the scheme of things I do think it is an important non-profit, social
event to keep on the calendar for future years.

Jo Brearley -organiser.

Well I think this trip got our 2021/22 events diary off to a flying start.

We all met on the Quay at 11am in  Poole on a perfect day. We managed to fill the whole top deck of the boat.   We motored up Poole harbour and on to the River Frome entrance to Wareham.  The sun shone, the sky was blue and we glided along the river bank through thick reed beds, meadows and moored boats looking out for many different birds.

It was interesting that we could spy the Tower of the old church in Wareham some way ahead but it seemed to constantly move.   Sometimes on the right of the boat and sometimes on the left as the river curved around many bends

We docked on the quay at Wareham and had an hour and half to spend exploring this small pretty town. Some people went around the town others explored the ancient church and others had a G&T on the balcony of the restaurant on the banks of the river !!

We returned to the boat and began our leisurely  way back towards Poole.   We stopped about half way back and docked at a small pier where our delicious fish and chips were delivered to the boat.   We took off again and enjoyed the very welcome food  whilst gliding back to Poole Quay for 2.30pm

I think a lovely day was had by all

Angela Larcombe

[sings] ‘Didn’t we have a lovely time the day we went to….’

Athelhampton

Okay, not quite the place you were expecting me to say, but it’s true, we did have a lovely afternoon at Athelhampton House and Gardens. After the high winds and driving rain of the night before, it was a blessing to see the Tudor house basking in autumnal sunshine. And just wonderful to have a Tea at the Museum visit for the first time since March 2020.

Our guide for a tour of the house was Owen, who quickly revealed that he had worked there for many years and knew it and its history very well. He interlaced stories and facts in a clear and often amusing way and showed us some rooms which have not previously been open to the public. Now under new ownership, parts of the house are being renovated and there will be more to see on future visits.

Our group was particularly interested in the priest’s hole, concealed behind the paneled walls of the West Wing sitting room. This secret room was a good size, not the claustrophobic space one has come to expect of a priest’s hole, but the floor level is below the water table, guaranteeing wet feet, or more, for any unfortunate person sequestered there. There was also a narrow spiral staircase leading to the first floor and what had been three bedrooms, now the library.

Although Athelhampton House has the reputation of being one of the most haunted houses in Dorset, Owen confessed to having never seen a ghost, though he knew people who said they had. In the upstairs library, he told us the sad tale of a wife deceived and the grey lady who roams what was once her bedroom. None of our group admitted to seeing her; we were much more interested in reports of a magnificent fireplace behind one of the bookcases. As a Grade 1 listed house, no alterations can be made until permission is given, so we may have to wait a little longer to see it.

Downstairs again, we visited the former service range, parts of which have been converted to a dining room and a sitting room used by the previous owners. Together with the Elizabethan kitchens, this area is being restored and will be open to the public in due course.

The interior of the house was rather chilly, so it felt warmer to be back outside in the sunshine to conclude our tour. Some of the group was fascinated to hear how enforced closure during lockdown had facilitated the installation of a ground source heat pump and the owner’s plans to make Athelhampton ‘carbon minus’ in the near future.

Many of us chose to take a walk in the gardens before returning to the Visitors’ Centre to enjoy a well-deserved cuppa and cake before the journey home. I do believe I heard of one group’s plans for a little carpool karaoke on the way home…

[sings] ‘Singing a few of our favourite songs as the wheels went round.’

(with apologies to Fiddlers Dram ‘Day trip to Bangor’, 1979)

Pam Small

On a surprisingly sunny day 24 members of the Discovering Wessex group visited Sculptures by the Lakes, on Friday October 15th. 

This 26 acre sculpture park is set in tranquil Dorset countryside just south of Dorchester, surrounded by beautiful lakes, rivers and streams.  Members were able to walk around freely and view 117, sometimes monumental, sculptures set in a natural environment rather than  in a museum or gallery.

Many also partook of snacks and drinks etc in the Café by the Lakes, where most of the ingredients were grown on site.  The general consensus was an very enjoyable day out.

Keith Banks