ROSSENDALE AVIATION SOCIETY
ON Wednesday, November 6, the members and guests enjoyed an excellent evening with the well known Aviation Historian Aldon Ferguson.
Aldon has visited the Society on several occasions and for this visit his subject was ‘D-Day Operations’ covering the land, sea and air operations of that momentous day in 1944.
Aldon opened his presentation with a look at the build up to the invasion with the movement of aircraft to the South of England and the practice landings at Slapton Sands in Devon, all undertaken in the utmost secrecy.
On the day itself the first in action were the men of the Parachute & Glider Pilot Regiments seizing control of key points, such as Pegasus Bridge immediately followed by the landings on the Normandy Beaches.
Aldon illustrated his talk with contemporary photographs and maps, along with more recent images showing many of the key sites today, various museums and, most poignantly, several of the cemeteries of the Allied War Dead.
All in all a very informative and thought provoking evening.
On Wednesday, November 20, we welcomed Aviation Photographer Steve Grimshaw who was due to show a selection of photographs taken at home and overseas.
Steve is a microlight pilot and uses his craft as a platform for aerial photography and has
●● Rossendale Ramblers: Autumn joy, Ramsbottom also chartered light aircraft and helicopters as photographic platforms when overseas.
Another excellent evening and all are always welcome.
Meetings take place at Haslingden Cricket Club and commence at 8pm.
ROSSENDALE PROBUS CLUB
A NOVEL approach to the dissemination of history was provided by Nick Burton when he paid us a welcome return visit to present to an appreciative audience his description of ‘Cromwell’s Northern Journey’, one of the final chapters to be written about the English Civil War.
Nick interspersed his account of the events leading up to the decisive Battle of Preston in August 1648 with his own present day walk westwards from Ottley in Yorkshire via Skipton, Gisburne, Clitheroe, Longridge and, finally, to the site of the final conflict at Walton-leDale.
In spite of having marched his New Model Army from Pembroke to Yorkshire to win the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644, Oliver Cromwell then undertook to intercept the 24,000 Royalists marching south from Carlisle with his 11,300 men.
Nick’s photos highlighted the nature of the landscape and natural obstacles which needed to be overcome, along with the legend that Cromwell spent the night on a table in Stoneyhurst School in full armour as a precaution against a Popish assassination attack!
With their resources stretched over considerable distances, the superior numbers of the Royalists offered little advantage and they were comprehensively defeated at what is today a retail outlet car park.
On Wednesday,
Grotto, The Night Before Christmas and Frozen prior to our next big event and Curator Ken under the weather, we were fully represented at the ceremony by President Ken, committee member Ken and librarian Barrie.
Competition couldn’t have been stiffer, with our good friends at
AS the culmination of Bacup Pride as runners manyup.yearsofactivity and, in particular, the Very many thanks to all recent 5-6 wherein an our supporters and keep influx of Lottery finance on coming! enabled ambitious Next up: Saturday, projects to be effected December 7. and significantly increase our footfall, we were more than delighted to receive the news on Thursday, November 14 that we had in fact obtained first place in the ‘Community Group of the Year - Bacup‘ section of RBC Community Awards 2019 at the ceremony at Waterside Whitworth.
With prime mover Wendy and her helpers busily engaged at the
NAT creating Santa’s
November 27, we look forward to a musical offering from Brian Furness on ‘Glenn Miller’, 10am to 10.30am.
All are welcome.
BACUP NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY ROSSENDALE RAMBLERS
THE sun continues to shine for our group, so on Wednesday, November 13, 23 ramblers enjoyed a somewhat challenging 11 mile walk from Weir, including Thieveley Pike, at almost 1500 feet.
Although hazy at this point, the skies cleared.
We had lovely views as we crossed Deerplay Moor en-route to historic
Crown Point and back via Water and the old coal mining area of Grimebridge.
Then, on Saturday, November 16, exactly the same number of walkers turned out for our two-hour pub walk from Ramsbottom, through colourful autumn woodland and along the River Irwell.
After the walk, 22 of those walkers congregated for social and lunch in the Railway pub.
Superb!
Coming up, on Sunday, November 24 we have another of our very popular six mile walks, this time starting in Hawkshaw.
The walk will include Two Brooks Valley, Holly Mount, and Redisher Woods, as well as some mud and plenty of stiles!
You are more than welcome to join us, but please do not come in your best trainers.
Finally, on Wednesday, November 27, we are in Copster Green, in the lovely Ribble Valley, for a 10 mile walk that will cross Dinckley Suspension Bridge, recently rebuilt after being badly damaged in the storm and floods of Christmas 2015.
These walks are free, but after three walks with us we invite you to join The Ramblers at a cost of only £3.05 per month for an individual (£4.10 for joint membership).
Further information about Rossendale Ramblers can be found on our Facebook page and on our website, www.rossendaleramblers.co.uk.
Alternatively, you can contact us via secretary Glyn on 01706 561 042, or by email to glynbr45@ gmail.com.
●● Volunteers plant the crocuses