2025:
A pictorial record of our activities:

January started with what is becoming an annual tradition, a walk to Egleton to blow off the Christmas cobwebs enjoyed by seven members.

Thirty-eight members met up for our post Christmas lunch at the excellent Rutland Water Golf Club.

A lovely social occasion.

January ended with a walk at Empingham. It was overcast but at least it stayed dry and we were lucky enough to see some newly born lambs.

In January, seventeen members were introduced to Qi Gong by local teacher Jim. We all enjoyed the session, with some members looking to continue to practice.

At our monthly meeting 32 members heard about the fascinating history of Rockingham Castle

Chrissie in the recovery postion (1).jpg

February started with members benefitting from a training session from Heartwize, in line with the proposed resolution " Bystanders can be lifesavers"

12 members travelled by train to Ely where we had a tour of the beautiful cathedral and visited the Clothed in Glory exhibition.

Our February ramble from North to South Luffenham.

At our February meeting we were entertained by John Noble who had been one of the torch bearers for the 2012 Olympics, carrying the torch in Leicester.

In March ten members travelled to Peterborough Cathedral to see the Longest Yarn

At our March meeting we learnt about chocolate and enjoyed a tasty sample.

We ended the month with a visit to St Edmunds at Egleton where we learnt about the history of this church.

We started April with 14 members taking part, on a lovely sunny day, in a treasure trail at the beautiful village of Barrowden followed by lunch at the Exeter Arms.

We then enjoyed social sixes at three venues in Oakham.

A hardy group set off on a very windy morning for a walk under John O Gaunt viaduct with coffee in a sheltered garden at Burrough Court.

Our April meeting speaker was Paul Reid, dresser to the stars who told us entertaining stories of what his job involves.

In May, nine members enjoyed lovely weather for our annual walk through the bluebell woods at Barnsdale.

We also had lovely weather for our visit to Cambridge Botanic Gardens where we had an interesting tour and saw the jade vine in flower.

We also enjoyed good weather for our May Ramble from Manton.

In May we were lucky enough to enjoy a visit to le Blanc Foundry where Hywel Pratley, sculptor of the statue of the Queen in Oakham, showed us round and explained the processes an how Oakham's statue came about. A truely wonderful visit.

In June members enjoyed our annual visitt to Ferneleys to play crazy golf and enjoy lunch and ice cream.

June ended with four groups meeting for social sixes, each led by a committee member, enjoying coffee, a chat and getting to know each other.

In July we enjoyed our summer outing. We visited the beautiful St Peter's church in Lowick where we had an interesting tour.

After our visit to the church, we went to the Snooty Fox for a lovely lunch and then visited Drayton House, a Grade 1 listed buiding, a mile outside Lowick and not normally open to the public, as it is a private home. We enjoyed a fascinating tour of the house before heading back to Oakham.

In August nine members enjoyed a lovely sunny walk at Ridlington while thirteen members enjoyed a guided tour of the Stained Glass Museum at Ely. At our monthly meeting we were tempted by 3 decadent desserts prepared in 45 minutes by our speaker, Gail.

In September we enjoyed a lovely lunch and afternoon playing petanque at the Wheatsheaf and also a walk along the Oakham Canal.

September ended with a lovely walk around Ketton, with views of the quarry, the River Chater and the packhorse bridge. In October we enjoyed the first of our winter craft sessions, where we made handbag charms and also a walk at Rutland water with lunch in Edith Weston.

In November we had another craft session, making Christmas cards, enjoyed social sixes and visited Coventry Cathedral and Guildhall. Our President laid a wreath at the Remembrance Service.

Mistress Mary showed us around the medeival guildhall before lunch in the undercroft. We then toured the old cathedral before moving into the new cathedral, built in the spirit of reconcilliation.