News Bulletin - August 2026
Hello Centre Members,
Unfortunately, we had to cancel our talk on 14th July, due to a family bereavement, but we hope to invite Jess back to deliver her Bravo November talk next year. And, we look forward to seeing you at our next talk – The English & Gardening by Danny Wells on Tuesday 11th August.
Our next walk, is around Norbury Junction on Thursday 13th August. Cathy will be leading this walk, which starts and finishes at the Junction Inn. And, of course, you are welcome to join us for lunch afterwards.
On Wednesday 15th July, as a slight distraction from the England match, some of us visited Uttoxeter and enjoyed a very informative guided tour of this historic town, with refreshments afterwards at the Museum of Uttoxeter Life. Thanks to Ruth for organising this. Our next visit is to Biddulph Grange Gardens, on Friday 18th September, Judith has arranged a 2-hour guided tour, led by Head Gardener; Paul Walton, so be sure to book in good time to ensure your place.
Nigel Holmes
on behalf of your committee
TALKS
Danny qualified as a history teacher and spent many years working in community development and education for local authorities, Oxfam, Save the Children Fund and other smaller community organisations.
His talks are an eclectic mix of social and cultural history, with Victorian and early 20th century British history taking precedence. Art history and gardens feature strongly as do personal places of interest-the Derbyshire Dales, Staffordshire Moorlands, the East End of London and Norway.
Gardening continues to be hugely popular in modern day Britain. This talk – sub titled A social history of an English obsession – explores the development of gardening and the meanings and symbolism invested in gardens. The focus is Georgian and Victorian England and the first half of the 20th century.
Other talk dates for your diary
Sleight Of Mind by Peter Turner on Tuesday 8th September
Passionate About Penguins by Rodney Paul on on 13th October
Magic of Pantomime by Dean Nixon on 10th November
All talks start at 2:30 pm at Walton Village Hall.
WALKS
Norbury Junction – 4.5 miles – Thursday 13th August
(with an easier short walk option)
This figure of eight walk, starts and finishes at the Junction Inn, adjacent to the Shropshire Union canal. The pub doesn’t open until 12:00, but if you need to access a toilet on arrival, you can use the facilities at the Wharf Tea Room (over the bridge on the opposite side of the canal), providing that you make a small purchase from the tea room or shop.
We should complete the first loop before midday, so if you want a shorter walk, you can get a drink at the tea room, before returning to the Junction Inn for lunch. The route is mainly flat, on dirt tracks and quiet roads with one stile, two short steep inclines, one tunnel (about 20 yds long) and a short section of main road.
The second loop continues along the towpath, under the canal bridge, then after approximately ½ a mile there’s a steep incline adjacent to ‘High Bridge’, leading to the A519, opposite Loynton Moss. We then need to cross the bridge carefully (no footpath) facing the oncoming traffic, and paying attention to Cathy’s instructions. We then follow a dirt track, between fields and young woodland, to meet a surfaced track where we turn right. After a hundred yards or so we’ll pause to look at the remains of the historic moated manor, eventually returning via a short flight of steps, back up to the canal bridge, for a well-deserved lunch.
After lunch, if anyone would like to look at the historic church on the way home, please let Cathy know, and she will try to arrange to open it for us.
Meet: in the Junction Inn car park at 09:45, ready to depart by 10:00.
Sat Nav: ST20 0PN – W3W: ///trendy.operating.overtones
Terrain: Mixed (as described above) – boots or strong shoes recommended for the second loop.
Lunch: 13:00. Please let Cathy have your menu choices by Monday 6th August.
Organiser: Cathy Evans.
Other walk dates for your diary
Brewood – on Wednesday 23rd September
Please remember that you join our walks at your own risk, and are responsible for your own safety. Leaders will indicate the difficulty of the walk so walkers can make an informed choice on whether or not to join in. Appropriate clothing and footwear should be worn.
VISITS
The gardens at Biddulph Grange were created by James and Maria Bateman in the mid 19th century. The National Trust took over the property and gardens in 1991 which became their largest restoration project.
The highlight of this visit is a guided tour (lasting approximately two hours) by Head Gardener, Paul Walton, who has been at Biddulph for 30 years. We will be taken on a tour of the world in miniature including a Scottish Glen, Egypt and China.
There is a series of connected compartments, bordered by topiary hedges, with colourful planting throughout the year. Theology meets geology here with a unique display of fossils and geological layers according to the Biblical days of creation, a fascinating journey through time.
Paul will be telling us about his personal journey as a gardener while guiding us around this amazing garden. September is the perfect time to see the dahlia walk, but in addition, Paul will show us the Chinese temple and the Cheshire Cottage. We will see the Egyptian Garden with the Egyptian god of botany. The stumpery is probably the oldest and largest in the UK and the plant and tree collection includes wellingtonias, monkey puzzle trees and the oldest golden larch in Britain.
This promises to be a fascinating visit so do come and join us if you can. Please note that the garden contains many uneven steps, narrow paths, slopes and dark tunnels, so sensible footwear is essential.
Meet : Biddulph Grange car park, Grange Road, Biddulph at 10.15am with tour commencing at 10.30am Sat Nav: ST8 7SD
Lunch: The Tearoom, approximately 12.30pm.
Price: £5 please remember to bring your NT membership card or volunteer card, otherwise you will be charged the normal admission fee (£14) on the day.
Booking Deadline : Tuesday 15th September
Organiser : Judith Carder
Note: All visits must be paid for in advance.