Here is some feedback from our members on activities offered by Cambourne & District u3a!
- Allsorts visit to Jordans Mill, Biggleswade in May 2024
We had an enjoyable visit and heard the fascinating story about the people and events behind the last working flour mill in Bedfordshire from Bill (William Jordan the 6th).
His family has had a connection with the mill for over 150 years. The family have had to be enterprising and adaptable to keep the mill operational through good times and bad (eg two fires in the late 19th century).
An underwater turbine powers the mill with driveshafts and belts running throughout the building. The more efficient reduction rollers are used rather than traditional millstones.
Bill was the drummer in a band touring California in the 1960s when he came across the toasted cereal ‘granola’ and the start of the wholefood revolution. He developed a granola bar in his mother’s kitchen onsite and sold it in the UK through health stores and premium grocery outlets eg Harrods. The product range extended and became mainstream but until 2000 it was all from the original family mill.
Jordans is now a global brand and owned by Associated British Foods. The mill is now a heritage centre with a restaurant, shop and gardens in a scenic location on the River Ivel. The antics of the swans and their cygnets on the mill pond provided much entertainment.
David N
- Two comments on the Bury St Edmunds Trip, May 2019
1) My retirement last year has given me time and opportunity to learn more about history and beautiful places I never knew about before.
Our visit to this wonderful theatre not only taught me about the history of the building itself but also how theatre fitted into social history and its meaning to different classes in the past.
Our guide, Rory, shared his knowledge and enthusiasm in such detail that I could feel the atmosphere of long ago performances and how the community of Bury St Edmunds benefits from having a busy, vibrant theatre. It offers a variety of entertainment, from local dancers to Noel Coward, Shakespeare and Julian Clary, amongst many others! We heard about outreach work with, for example, schools, and agencies helping those struggling to overcome addiction, which I found inspiring.
Lunch at the Greene King restaurant was delicious, followed by a visit to St Mary’s church, where I saw the tomb of Mary, Queen of France, which was moved there from the Abbey after the dissolution of the monasteries. Mary was Henry V111’s favourite sister. The stained-glass windows were stunning and the side chapel, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the raising of the Suffolk Regiment, was impressive and touching.
I met some members of our U3A for the first time, and I even fitted in some retail therapy!
A great day out (only slightly marred by the weather) and I shall return to visit the Cathedral and the Abbey, the Moyse’s Hall museum and maybe the smallest pub: The Nutshell. - Caroline A
2) This was an enthralling and fascinating visit to the Regency Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds. The guide was a real enthusiast who first gave us a brief background to the theatre whilst we enjoyed our refreshments then brought the visit to life by involving all of our senses. The smell of the Georgian days cleverly bottled for us, everything from sweaty clothing and horse manure to lily of the valley. We sat in the posh seats, once reserved by servants, whilst their wealthy masters went to dinner and returned for more entertainment, We climbed up stairs to the gallery, down stairs to the pits enjoyed by the poor and lounged on the sofas in the green room. To be on the stage was an enlightening experience too. The actors so close to the audience they could chat to one another, possibly whilst dodging half eaten fruit, thrown by disgruntled members of the audience.
From the theatre we enjoyed time to explore Bury St Edmunds for ourselves. Beautiful churches and gardens for some, cafes and shops for others and I believe a beer garden might have appealed too! Thank you Fran for an excellent study visit.