10 August 2017 – Trip to Crosby

Beautiful sunny day in Crosby – famous for Another Place – a piece of modern sculpture by Sir Antony Gormley. It consists of 100 cast iron figures facing towards the sea. The figures are modelled on the artist’s own naked body.

After visiting the local Wetherspoons (a converted cinema) we headed for the beach where Sandra and Chris did the “fandango”:

After a nice walk down the beach we relaxed with ice creams.

We broke the journey home by stopping in Liverpool and Sue gave Adrian a masterclass in how to use his new smart phone.

3 August 2017 – Trip to Chetham’s Library

For once we didn’t have the usual sunny weather this Thursday, but that didn’t stop us having an enjoyable visit to Nando’s (a first for most of the group) and a visit to Chetham’s Library, the oldest free public reference library in the United Kingdom. The library holds more than 100,000 volumes of printed books, of which 60,000 were published pre-1851.

In the summer of 1845 Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels studied together in Chetham’s Library. We sat at the desk where they developed their philosophies and politics.

                  

 

27 July 2017 – Trip to Holmfirth

We made our way to Victoria Train Station only to find there was a replacement bus service between Manchester and Stalybridge. We took the tram to Piccadilly so we could travel directly and in the meantime as a consolation the meat-eaters had a Gregg’s sausage roll (other sausage rolls are available).

Holmfirth is reached by taking a short bus ride from Huddersfield and became well known as the filming location of the BBC’s situation comedy Last of the Summer Wine.

       

Some of the party went on a 45 minute sightseeing tour, while the rest of us had fish and chips and relaxed in the village.

On the way back, in Huddersfield, we spotted an old fashioned sweet shop as well as an interesting sign.

          

 

 

20 July 2017 – Trip to Rochdale

We made our way by train and tram and met up in Rochdale town centre. The trip included a meal at The Baum – really excellent food – and a visit to the Rochdale Pioneers Museum and the Touchstones Art Gallery and Museum.

At the Rochdale Pioneers Museum, a short walk from The Baum, we enjoyed films narrated by Mr Cholmondley-Warner. We also enjoyed some short films about Gracie Fields in the Touchstones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The day was finished off with a refreshing drink in the cafe at the Touchstones, although we didn’t approve of the misplaced apostrophe in the sign about “Tip’s”.

   

 

 

13 July 2017 – Yorkshire Sculpture Park

We had another great day out at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, although a lot of walking was involved.

          

The picture on the left is looking a bit “peaky”, but we enjoyed walking around looking at the new sculptures and even got time for a bit of tree hugging and feeding a family of ducks.

Although we took a taxi to the Park we discovered there was a bus back to the centre of Wakefield. Unfortunately, Chris lost his tickets and the Lost Property Office was closed. We hope they are found and returned to him.