18th October 2006.
From Computers to Cuirasse. Speaker: Lt. Col. Malcolm Hill

At the October meeting, we had an enjoyable talk from Lt. Col. Malcolm Hill (Brecon U3A), entitled 'From Computers to Cuirasses', a personal reminiscence.
Lt. Col. Hill grew up in a naval family, and spent much of his formative years in Malta. When he announced his intention of joining the army, he was greeted with incredulity and derision; naval personnel tend to talk of their army counterparts in derogatory terms, describing them as 'pongoes' ('where the army goes, the pong goes').

However, he joined the 9th Hussars, and trained at Sandhurst. Having voiced his intention of studying for a degree, he found that in most regiments, rivalry for army-sponsored university places was intense. However, there was less competition for members of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, so he transferred to RAOC, studied at Shrivenham Military Academy, and pursued a post-graduate course at Oxford.

At that time computers were becoming fashionable. He attended a computer course at Bicester, and developed an inventory control system on an early computer called LEO1. Such a system was then becoming essential as the end of conscription meant at the army no longer had a ready (and cheap) supply of clerical labour.

He spent several years in Northern Ireland, during which time ha acquired a working knowledge of Irish politics. His only contact with the IRA came when a car bomb wrecked a nearby house. The main effect on the Hill household was the disappearance of the family cat. The creature was found under the wardrobe, and took three days to emerge.

Soon after, Major Hill was posted to London Central, with responsibilities for supplying regiments in the London area, the guards and household cavalry taking precedence in all things. This was followed by postings elsewhere.

On promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, he was posted back to London Central as head of department. His new responsibilities included involvement in the Royal Tournament at Earls Court. Over the years he had become knowledgeable in the design and production of the various items of military uniform, operational and ceremonial.

Dave EDWARDS

15th November 2006
The life and times of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Speaker: Ross Goff

At the November meeting we were treated to a talk on Isambard Kingdom Brunel, by Ross Goff. Last year, Brunel came second in a television poll of 'Great Britons', no mean feat considering the opposition (he was beaten by Winston Churchill). He was one of the foremost engineers of the 19th century, and achieved much in his 53 years. The epitaph that appears on his family tomb is 'He Has Raised his Monument by His Own Public Works'. It was inscribed for his father Marc Brunel, but applies equally to the son.

His father was a successful engineer in United States before moving to Britain to make his name (and his fortune) mass-producing an improved design of pulley block for the British Navy. The younger Brunel was born in 1806, educated in Hove and Paris, and at the age of 21 became resident engineer for his father's construction of a tunnel under the Thames at Rotherhithe. He submitted a design for the Clifton suspension bridge, but financial restraints meant that the bridge was not completed until after his death.
He designed and built dock complexes in many parts of the country, including Cardiff and Bristol.

In March 1833, Brunel was appointed chief engineer of the Great Western Railway. His work on the line that linked London to Bristol helped to establish Brunel as one of the world's leading engineers. Brunel used broad gauge (7 feet) on the line instead of standard gauge (4 feet 8½ inches). However standard gauge eventually won the day, since it was used to a greater extent.

Brunel was also a pioneer in ship design. He designed several - each of them was the largest in its day, and each included new ideas, such as an iron hull and a screw propeller. Brunel was for many years the victim of poor health, brought on largely by overwork.On 15th September 1859, he died, and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery.

Dave EDWARDS

21st March. 2007
A tour of the Historic Buildings of Usk (also the Rural Life Museum).

Website link: The official site of the town of USK

 

16th May 2007 Cardiff Castle.

"History Group visit to Cardiff Castle"

*please click the image above to access a photo slideshow of our visit to Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Castle is one of Wales's leading tourist attractions. Situated in the very heart of the capital, alongside city centre shopping and the magnificent Bute Park, the Castle's enchanting fairytale towers conceal an elaborate and splendid interior.

Contained within its mighty walls is a history spanning nearly 2,000 years, dating from the coming of the Romans in the first century AD. After the Norman Conquest, the Castle's Keep was built and a number of Medieval fortifications and dwellings followed.

The Castle fell into the possession of many noble families, until, in 1766, it passed by marriage to the Bute family. The 2nd Marquess of Bute was responsible for turning Cardiff into the world's greatest coal exporting port. The Castle and the Bute fortune passed to his son John, the 3rd Marquess, who by the 1860's was reputed to be the richest man in the world

From 1866 the 3rd Marquess employed the genius architect William Burges to transform the Castle lodgings. Within gothic towers he created lavish and opulent interiors, rich with murals, stained glass, marble, gilding and elaborate wood carvings. Each breathtaking room has its own special theme, including Mediterranean gardens and Italian and Arabian decoration.

As well as visiting the spectacular interiors, visitors can enjoy the Castle grounds, where peacocks, ducks and geese wander freely, and enjoy a break in the Castle Tea Rooms which offers a warm welcome for coffees, light lunches and afternoon tea.

Website link: http://www.cardiffcastle.com

 

18th July 2007 Gloucester Docks.

Our History group had a successful day out to Gloucester Docks where regeneration of the area is taking place. Our members were blessed by the only hot sunny day for days and went off to explore the museums, docks, a boat trip on the waterways, tea rooms and not forgetting the shops. A most enjoyable day out as well as educational.

Photo: Gloucester Docks Main Basin, Lock and Barge Arm

*please click the image above to access a photo slideshow of our visit to Gloucester Docks

The Main Basin was the original terminus of the ship canal from Sharpness, opened in 1827. Here cargoes were transferred to smaller craft which passed through the lock and continued up the River Severn to the Midlands. The Barge Arm was also an early feature to accommodate small vessels bringing goods for local distribution.

Website link: http://www.gloucesterdocks.me.uk/gloucester/docks.htm

 

History Group visit to Bristol

The History Group visited Bristol in April and was given a guided tour around the Medieval parts by Philip Budd and his wife. Don't be misled by the group picture taken by our chairman, Glenice - it wasn't just "The More Stalls" that the group came to see as she illustrated in another shot where everyone is looking at a Coat of Arms!

*Click the photograph above to access a slide show of history group visit to Bristol

 

10th Anniversary Pageant 2005

*Click the photograph above to access a photo album of the
10th Anniversary Pageant

Never, in an auditorium as the choir hall, could so many, applaud so loudly, as they did on the occasion of Brian Hopkins recitation of some of Sir Winston Churchill's speeches.

Listening to Churchill's words still brought back the strength of feelings and emotions that he intended to impart to the Nation, during our darkest hours.
Thank you Winston, thank you Brian.

 

 

A day out at Sudeley Castle and Gardens

The sun was shining as our driver headed towards Sudeley Castle and Gardens in the Cotswolds. On arrival we had morning tea, then we were off on a tour of the Castle, what a wonderful sense of history you feel as you wander through the various rooms and displays, only stopping every now and then to listen to the historical stories and tales related by the Castle guides and protectors. Lunch, then a tour of the Church and beautiful gardens, where I was one of the fortunate ones to have our gardening convenor with me, Norma Shreeve, who kindly pointed out all the different plants and shrubs (nice to have green fingers!). This was a joint outing for our History and Gardening groups, thank you Iris and Norma for giving us a memorable day.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswold Hills, Sudeley Castle is steeped in history. With royal connections spanning a thousand years, it has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England's past. The Castle was once the home to Queen Katherine Parr, following her marriage to Sir Thomas Seymour, and Lady Jane Grey. Henry VIII, Ann Boleyn and Queen Elizabeth I, all visited Sudeley. King Charles I stayed here and his nephew, Prince Rupert, established his headquarters at the Castle during the Civil War.

Today, Sudeley is the home of Lord and Lady Ashcombe and the Dent-Brocklehurst family. They are dedicated to its continued restoration and the regeneration of the gardens, with particular emphasis on conservation and sustainability.

Below is a selection of photographs from our trip to Sudeley.

*Click the photograph above to access a slide show of Sudeley Castle and Gardens

 

St Mary's Parish Church Caldicot

At a meeting we were given a talk on St Mary’s Church, Caldicot, by the local historian, Ross Goff. He informed us that the church is the oldest functional building in the parish and it is believed there was a wooden structure on the site as early as the 10th century.

*Please click images below for larger photographs

There are three local churches called St Mary’s, the other two being in Portskewett and Rogiet and this causes some confusion.The Caldicot church has some fine stained glass windows and in particular, the Kemp window is visited by people from far and wide. Ross is arranging for a tour of the church by the History Group some time in May when we look forward to seeing some interesting ecclesiastical artefacts.

Iris Price.

For a full history in detail of St Mary's Parish Church Caldicot please "click here"

 

Llanthony Secunda Manor

Much has been said about the U3A website but this month I urge you to visit the BBCi Website (Wales, South East), there is a Link button to this site on our Home page. The site contains a lot of information about Caldicot.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Llanthony Secunda Manor and the visit is detailed on one of the web pages. The Manor dates back to the 12th century and predates Caldicot Castle.

There is also an article by Ron Stewart on the history of Caldicot plus a comprehensive index about Caldicot, past and present. These web pages are of interest to all residents and of particular interest to anyone interested in local history.

 

Tewksbury Abbey

Our History group with Tewksbury Abbey in the background

On the 17th March the History Group visited the scene of the battle of Tewksbury where they were addressed by historian, Chris Goodchild.

The battle was between the Yorkist force of some 5000 men under Edward IV and 6000 Lancastrians led by Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI, who was a prisoner in the Tower of London. The reason for the battle was about the succession to the throne.

Both armies had made forced marches to reach Tewksbury on 3rd May 1471 and suffered privations on the way, but prepared for battle on the following day. The battle raged for most of the day and it was artillery of the Yorkist forces, firing stone cannon balls, that had proved the decisive factor and the Lancastrian forces were made to flee, many of them into the Abbey. Henry VI and his heir, Prince Edward were executed and many of the Lancastrians were butchered. Such was the carnage that the site was known as 'Bloody Meadow' ever afterwards.

It was hard for the group to stand in that meadow and imagine the savage events of that day.

Iris Price

The History Groups recent visit to St. Donats Castle (Atlantic College)

St Donat's Castle stands above the Bristol Channel in the southern part of the Vale of Glamorgan and is on the side of a steep wooded valley. The building of the castle began about the year 1180 and continued to grow, mainly through the influence of the Stradling family who occupied the castle from 1298 to 1738. The property passed through a number of owners until it was bought in 1925 by William Randolph Hearst, the American newspaper magnate. Hearst's association with St Donat's is probably best remembered through his mistress, the film star of the day, Marion Davies, but it must also be remembered that he spent large sums of money restoring the castle and bringing it up to the fine building it is today.

The history of St Donat's, like that of so many other old castles, is a fascinating one, but equally fascinating is its modern day function as the site of the Atlantic College. The College has some 330 pupils aged from 16 to 19 years from no less than 76 countries and has its origins in NATO, which had seen how people from different nationalities who studied together very soon became reconciled with other points of view. From the concept the United World Colleges was created and the first college opened in Wales in 1962 with the aim of international understanding through education. The syllabus is not only academic but includes humanities and community service, which encompasses Social Work, Environmental Activities and the running of the Life Boat Station. The crews, although manned only by teenagers are credited with saving over 200 lives since 1962.

In 1971 the college discontinued the GCE A Level syllabus and changed to the International Baccalaureate, which has a much broader scope from the purely academic subjects. A further six colleges have opened in various parts of the world with the same international outlook. Dare we hope that with this and many other international initiatives, there is a likelihood of greater understanding between different countries of the world at some time in the near future?

 

© Caldicot and District U3A mmviii