2013

Post date: Jul 16, 2013 11:05:23 AM

September 17th - MEMBERS' MEETING 1.00 pm Council House.

Despite malicious rumours to the contrary, the Members' Meeting is definitely taking place as arranged, so we welcome all members wishing to attend or non-members who are interested in joining. FREE

February 13th - Conducted coach tour of Derbyshire including the Dams

This is particularly good for people not too mobile as you can still enjoy the beautiful sights of Derbyshire. We will be touring the Dams via Beeley Moor, Baslow, Calver, Froggett Edge and Haversage. This wonderful Derbyshire scenery is a sight to behold. A tour not to be missed!!

March 1st - Stamford and Rutland Water

Stamford with the magnificent buildings and superb markets, is the finest stone town in England. On this day, there will be a farmers market where everything is auctioned off with such a diverse range of goods from rusty old farm implements, lamp posts, cattle trucks and lovely pottery. On our way back, we will visit Rutland Water with its beautiful Wild fowl.

March 14th - Retford and Lakeside

The lovely old town of Retford holds an excellent market clay every Thursday and has an award winning butchers shop. After lunch We will proceed to Lakeside Village which is an exciting and fast growing shopping complex situated just outside the town centre at Doncaster.

March 30th - Easter Bonnet Parade and Buffet

Once again the Easter Bunny will be out and about and hopefully lots of you will be coming along with your Easter Bonnets for the annual parade. Great dance music, lots of fun and a sumptuous buffet. Gentlemen, we need you to!! The more the merrier whether you can dance or not.

April 11th - Oxford

Oxford, as an ancient university city, is both timeless and modern. Its 'dreaming spires' and tranquil college quadrangles with lively arts venues, bustling shops and fashionable restaurants. One of the most beautiful cities in England.

April 17th - Burleigh House

Burleigh is one of the largest and grandest houses of the first Elizabethan Age. Built and designed by William Cecil, between 1555 and 1587, the main part of the House has 35 major rooms on the ground and first floors, and more than 80 smaller rooms. Visitor facilities include the Orangery restaurant, gift Shop, gardens and beautiful walks around the historic parkland laid out by Capability Brown and still occupied by a herd of fallow deer. Price includes admission to the state rooms, treasury exhibition. parkland and gardens.

May 4th - Spalding Tulip Festival

Probably the Last chance to see this historic Parade in its current format due to Council cuts The Parade Starts at 2 pm with a dazzling Flower Queen Royal Float with specially commissioned trumpet Fanfare for Spalding. More excitingly designed breath-taking floats decorated with thousands of hand-pinned tulip heads to entertain, delight and surprise you. Colourful marching bands, live music performers & street entertainers The theme for 2013 is "Let's Celebrate". Don't miss out on this Great event.

May 20th-24th Holiday in Paignton

Great 5 day holiday in the lovely resort of Paignton. Come and join the friendly group of holiday makers who will make sure you're never on own. The hotel is the Shearings Esplanade situated 10 minutes walk from Paignton town centre and minutes away from Paignton Harbour. There are stunning views across the Bay from the sun lounge and bar. Local attractions include Kent's Cavern, Paignton Zoo, Torre Abbey, Not a Meadows, Cockington Village and the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway. The whole area is nice and flat so is very suitable for those with mobility problems. There will be two day tours exploring the beautiful Devon countryside. Sorry only twin or double rooms left.

June 7th - Stamford and Rutland Water

Market day in the historical town of Stamford then onto beautiful Rutland Water.

June 26th - Well Dressings

This ancient custom is unique to Derbyshire. The first stop is Youlgrave which can trace its tradition back to 1829. Each year, about 150 people are involved in producing their wells. There is a free continuous film show in the Village Hall of about 30 minutes duration and plenty of places to eat. Litton is the next stop with just two wells, but a fantastic display by the children of Litton school. Every pupil takes part, from the 4 year olds to 11's All are dressed in the Victorian era with caps and waistcoats for the boys, to frilly aprons and hats for the girls. They do traditional dancing round the maypole plus English Country dancing. We will then feast on home made cakes and drinks in the Village Hall (included in the trip price) before venturing on to the lovely town of Tideswell and its 5 wells. There is a flower festival in St John the Baptist church, and some lovely displays in the other church. A most memorable trip.

July 6th - Wisbech Rose Fair

Once again, we will be visiting this fantastic event in Wisbech. It is particularly good for people Who aren't very good on their feet, as all the stalls etc are very close to the area Where the coach is parked and the parade takes place. Coaches come from all over the country it is so popular. When the parade is moving, rose petals are thrown over the watching public and the whole atmosphere is like a lovely village carnival. The displays in the churches are incredible and all done by flower arranging groups from miles around. Local people man most of the stalls selling home grown fruit and veg plus lots of plants and craft items. Not to be missed.

July 13th - Barnsley's Annual Mayors Parade

Barnsley's Mayor's Parade with floats, stalls and music.The procession Starts at 12 noon and

includes over 32 entries and 1,000 participants who will walk, drive and dance through the town. In addition to this, there is the great Barnsley Market where you may pick up many a bargain.

July 22nd - Warwick with a stop at Coventry Cathedral

Visiting Warwick is a friendly and a memorable experience. Visit Warwick Castle, Britain‘s Greatest Medieval experience view the fine timber framed buildings, the military museums and the wide variety of attractive parks and gardens. On the way, we will be stopping at the magnificent Coventry Cathedral A total unique sight.

August 2nd - Glenn Miller Dance

Masson Mills Dance the night away to Glenn Miller and more, including food and cheap bar! 7.30pm to 10pm.

August 7th - 183rd Bakewell Show

Derbyshire's premier agricultural & horticultural show with something for everyone. Horses, show jumping, cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, pigeons, poultry & rabbits. Children's beach with a Punch &Judy show, Floral Art, Horticulture, W I. Food & Farming with dairy and meat product competitions, craft marquee and lots of trade stands. A wonderful day out.

August 8th - Bullring Birmingham with a stop at Litchfield

Lichfield is a city that's steeped in heritage with a most magnificent cathedral and wonderful buildings. The Bullring is the premier destination for shopping in the Midlands with 160 stylish stores, cafes and outdoor market.

August 27th - Emmerdale Country

Although the current Emmerdale is now filmed on a closed set this tour will take you to the original locations dotted around West Yorkshire as well as a few sites featued in the modern Emmerdale. You will visit the market towns of Otley and the beautiful village of Esholt in West Yorkshire 'Hotton' as well as ‘Emmerdale Village' where you can stop at the inn that was once used as the 'Woolpack' in the popular TV Series. You'll also be able to drive past the farm near Leathley where Emmerdale farm was originally shot.

September 10th - Whitby

A favourite with most people, this small fishing town has so much to offer, with one of the most picturesque ports in England. Whitby and its harbour are dominated by the clifftop ruined abbey. The narrow alleys and quaint streets climb down to the busy quayside with its harbourside houses and small shops filled with crafts, curios and antiques. From these centuries old streets 199 steps lead up to the parish Church of St Mary, It’s churchyard is famous for providing the setting which inspired Bram Stoker to write his classic novel Dracula

September 16th. Bakewell Mkt, Dance & Cream Tea.

This will be a very interesting trip which is divided between the famous Bakewell Market in the morning, then on to Peak Village to get all your bargains. earlier this year, we held the dance & cream tea here which was extremely successful and so has been requested for a second time.

September 17th - Members Meeting

1:00pm Ballroom of the Council House. There will be many stalls and a couple of guest speakers. One very interesting but controversial one, will be on the subject of ‘Dying with Dignity'. There are only 200 people allowed in the ballroom due to health and safety reasons so please book your tickets early.

September 23rd - Liverpool

Liverpool has a world class cultural offer, with more museums and galleries anywhere outside of London. The city is also a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and known worldwide as the birthplace of The Beatles. Take a ride underwater on the Yellow Submarine, or simply look for bargains in the many lovely boutiques and shops.

October 8th - Castle Howard

Castle Howard is a magnificent 18th century house, with an 80ft painted and gilded dome which houses many impressive collections. Several period films have been made in this great house. Price includes entrance

October 30th - Trentham Gardens

With 60 timber lodges housing amazing shops, cafés and restaurants and a lovely friendly village atmosphere. The award-winning Trentham Garden Centre, is MASSIVE and offers a huge range of indoor and outdoor lifestyle and gardening products. If you would like to visit the award winning gardens the group price will be £3.50 extra but please let the office know

November 14th - Leeds

From stylish shopping and decadent dining, to contemporary arts Leeds is abundant with things to do.The compact city centre is easy to explore, and boasts breathtaking architecture like the Leeds Town Hall, and the Victoria Quarter. Our fantastic attractions offer something for everyone, with heritage alongside world-class museums and galleries such as the Royal Armories Museum, Leeds Art Gallery and Leeds City Museum. The best bit is, most of the attractions are free, so you can enjoy a day full of memorable and enriching experiences without breaking the bank.

November 29th - Melton Mowbray Christmas Market

There is entertainment all day starting at 10.0am with live local performances from schools, choirs, bands and local artists. Christmas market, street entertainment, quality local produce. Melton is only a short journey away to visit this lovely small town with its old fashioned shops and cattle market.

December 5th - Christmas at Chatsworth House

In the magnificent setting of Chatsworth once again we take a magical journey around the lower floors of the house, complete with beautifully decorated trees, snow and sleighs, in the festive celebration of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Each year has the ‘wow’ factor and this one seems to be even better than the last. We will stop at Chatsworth Garden Centre for a bite to eat and a look at

December 10th - Christmas Dinner

This year once again the Christmas Dinner will take place in the highly regarded Stadium Leisure on Nottingham Road New Basford where 130 of us enjoyed this excellent event last year. This will be a four course meal with all the trimmings. There is a choice of five starters and five main courses. The entertainment will be an artist plus Bingo and a chance to have a dance around to shake down your lovely dinner. The party will be in a private room where there is only room for 130 people, so first come first served. A non returnable deposit of £5.00 when booking, as the Forum has to pay this up front to book the room and the balance to be paid by 18th November. You must bring your Christmas Dinner ticket with you to gain entrance.

December 16th-20th Tinsel and Turkey

This year we have at last been fortunate enough to get in at the fantastic Queens Hotel Llandudno for our five day break. Brilliant fun from start to finish. There are two trips included in this holiday which will get us all in the mood for the Festive Season to follow. Book early to reserve a place.