CERRSA
EAST MIDLANDS
NEWSLETTER MAY
2016
CONTENTS
1. Past Outings
2. Future Outings
3. Contacts
Past Outings
a)
March.
Derby Velodrome
On Monday
14th March 14 stalwarts gathered at Derby Velodrome, the outside of which our
guide Ros Ticklebank informed us, was decorated in Gold, Silver & Bronze to
signify the Olympic Medals.
We all met at Cafe 42 (why 42 ? read on) in the foyer for a
complimentary coffee before the tour commenced.
Ros, our guide, works for Derby CC who own the velodrome
complex. She explained that it is 1 of only 8 velodromes in the UK and is the
only one that is multifunctional. In addition to the cycle track & its
associated cycling facilities, the complex incorporates a 140 station Gym,
members of which may use either of 2 other gyms in Derby City. There is a room
fitted out with 20+ static training bikes whose "load" can be varied
by the individual user, and while training there is a large screen on which
appropriate videos are shown. There are also various other rooms with
"sprung" floors that can be used for all kinds of exercise classes or
may be hired as meeting rooms according to demand.
The central "well" of the arena can be curtained
off so that staged shows &/or
pantomimes can be staged. When
these occur, the cycle track can continue to be used, except during a
performance. The seating capacity for theatrical events is 5000.
At all other times the central area is laid out to
accommodate 12 Badminton courts together with the "D" at one end
which has a sprung floor so that it may be used for such events as weight
lifting, boxing & wrestling, or indoor bowls, which was in progress when we
visited. The "D" at the other
end is raised up & is an assembly point for pre & post team cycling
discussions etc.
The velodrome has a spectator capacity of 1600 which would
seem small until you consider that the cycling facility is designed more for
training & fitness purposes rather than competitions that the other non
multifunctional velodromes are designed/used for.
For those interested in statistics, the cycle track is 250m
in circumference on the shortest "Racing" line but 350m at the
upper/outermost edge of the track. Each piece of the Siberian Spruce track was
fixed by hand driven nails (250,000 of them) and if the pieces were to be laid
end to end, they would stretch over 35 miles. The steepest angle of the track
is at 42 degrees -- hence the name of
the Cafe in the foyer!
The specialist Bicycles that are used on the track have a fixed
gear so it is by the use of leg speed and strength that they are accelerated or
stopped. They do not have any breaks! The bikes weigh 7.5 kg or less and are
made of aluminium &/or carbon fibre.
As our tour progressed, we were fortunate to witness the GB
Youth (under 18) team go through their pre- training chat on the raised
"D" end and then warm up as a team of 7, gradually getting faster and
faster. Ultimately they did a series of
high speed laps where the lead rider would only do 1/2 a lap before swinging up
the steep banking only to rejoin his team mates at the back of their group. It
was a most impressive sight with which to conclude our tour.
Our thanks to Derby
City Council and in particular to our guide Ros Ticklebank for the tour.
The majority of the group adjourned across the road to the
Hungry Horse pub for an enjoyable lunch.
b) CERSA Visit, Thursday, 7th
April 2016 – Erasmus Darwin House
19 members, led by our doughty organiser Ralph Chapman,
visited the Erasmus Darwin House and Museum in Lichfield. Those coming from the
far reaches of the East Midlands may have feared that like Columbus’s men, they
would travel so far west as to tip over the edge of the world, but they bravely
ignored that peril and came anyway.
We were treated after coffee to an excellent introduction to
the life and achievements of Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802) one of the most
remarkable minds of the English enlightenment. The talk was given by Stuart
Harris, a friend of Ralph’s – they were both pupils of Chesterfield School, as
was Erasmus himself – and it was a clear and learned
exposition sprinkled with wit and wry humour. Stuart, a trustee of the museum,
is an acknowledged expert on Erasmus Darwin, and does much to perpetuate
knowledge of his subject, having
published volumes of his poetry, which fell out of fashion
in the nineteenth century but which is now being appreciated anew.
Stuart began by outlining Erasmus’s family history, which
included a link by marriage and friendship to the Wedgwood family and, amongst
other distinguished members, his grandson, the eminent Charles Darwin. He then
proceeded to summarise the astonishing achievements of Erasmus. A practising
medical doctor, He was a poet, philosopher, a radical, liberal thinker, an
inventor and a prolific paterfamilias, siring 14 children in two marriages and
a liaison with Mary Parker, a children’s governess.
His poetry was the vehicle for his thoughts on a wide range
of subjects, including zoology, cosmology and climatology. His works include
The Loves of the Plants, Zoonomia, the Botanic Garden and Cosmologia. In these
he foreshadowed modern theories of evolution, particularly natural selection,
He was also a precursor of feminism,
being a strong proponent of girls’ education.
With luminaries of the Industrial Revolution such as Josiah
Wedgwood, James, Watt and Matthew Boulton he was a member of the avant -garde
Lunar Society (which met at full moons), exchanging scientific and technical
ideas and developing the means of exploiting them.
His inventions include a steering linkage for carriages,
later used in cars, a horizontal windmill for increased power and efficiency,
and an early flushing water closet, which might have inspired his grandson
Charles to write the Origin of Faeces? And a mechanical flying bird.
It is amazing in these days of narrow specialism, especially
with the clear divide between the sciences and the arts, to contemplate such an
extraordinary polymath.
That Stuart was able to summarise all of this and more in a
brief hour is a tribute to his love of his subject and his depth of knowledge
on Erasmus’s life and works.
It was an educational and thoroughly enjoyable visit. Our
thanks are due to Ralph and Stuart for making it so.
Allan Lloyd
c)May -The Royal Oak. Car Colston
After there were insufficient
numbers to go ahead with Ian Godson’s planned farm visit he rearranged a visit,
on the recommendation of his 4 year old grandson, to The Royal Oak for skittles
and lunch. 10 couples attended with 5 couples playing skittles and the others
barracking (loudly) and giving the players encouragement or abuse. The husbands ran scared and were not prepared
to give the wives a chance to beat them so the teams were mixed up with husbands
and wives not playing on the same team. The teams were – John B.,
Danuta G., Paul C.,
Irene C., and Roger McM., as one team and
Pat B., Ian G., Ann C., Ralph C., And Carol McM., as the other. To save some degree of embarrassment to one team
and gloating by the other I shall not say which was team A and which was team B
but sufficient to say that team B won very easily and convincingly by 111 to 99
shots. A challenge for a rematch at some later date was not forth-coming. After the match we adjourned for some liquid
refreshment (!) and lunch which was excellent and very well organised to ensure
that there was no scrambling for meals as they were delivered. Clean plates and a bit a chat followed before
it was time to head for home. An excellent day’s outing in excellent settings
and compliments to Ian’s grandson for recommending the pub ( how many does he
actually know about !!). Thanks also to
Ian for organising the day which may well be repeated at some future date.
