Talks Review
Speaker review for December 2023
We went out on a real high for our last meeting for the year. We had enjoyed Fool’s Gold on
Zoom during lockdown and today they had travelled down all the way from County Durham
to entertain us. They were even better in person!
We were welcomed with hot drinks, mince pies, biscuits and chocolates while we waited for
the performance to begin. Dean was busy taking pictures and Andrew prepared a picture
montage for the newsletter.
Carol and Steve entertained us with musisc, singing and stories throughout the afternoon.
Songs and stories were backed up with animated videos, movie clips and pictures on a large
screen. Santa’s sleigh and reindeer slowly sliding off a snowy roof was priceless.
They sang old favourites including In the Bleak Midwinter, Walking in a Winter
Wonderland, Silent Night, Let it Snow, Do they know it’s Christmas? and many others.
It was a great show, with a little learning on the way. St Nicholas is the patron saint of not
only bankers but merchant sailors, archers, children, pirates, butchers, and even repentant
thieves!
Did you know, the most famous Christmas song “White Christmas” was recorded in just 9
minutes?
We also know why tea towels mysteriously disappear during December and what happens to
them, which nicely led us into Away in a Manger.
There was audience participation starting with us all shouting “Humbug!” and joining in the
carols. Particularly poignant was the story of Christmas in the trenches in 1914 and the
football game that ensued, while we all joined in with a medley of popular songs from the
time.
Members left with a sense of Christmas around the corner having had an enjoyable
afternoon’s entertainment. Hopefully they will come back again!
Speaker Review for January 2024
Ken Moore returned to Scunthorpe u3a to a packed hall to talk about the Dickin Medal,
awarded to animals for inspiring feats of bravery and courage, the animal equivalent to the
Victoria Cross. He was once again very entertaining and informative. He started his
research when he discovered stories of Pigeon Billy who flew on Lancasters and found
that Bletchley Park has a room dedicated to pigeons.
It was Maria Elisabeth Dickin, philanthropist, social reformer and animal welfare pioneer,
who founded the PDSA Dickin medal. The first medal was struck in bronze in 1943,
inscribed with “For Gallantry” and “We also Serve” surrounded by a laurel wreath, with a
striped green, brown and pale blue ribbon. It is the highest award to animals. She founded
the Peoples’ Dispensary for Sick Animals in Ilford where some of the heroic animal
recipients are ceremonially buried. Ken informed the members that this has been officially
awarded 75 times to 32 pigeons, 38 dogs, 4 horses and 1 cat.
Ken related some of the stories of the heroes such as Simon the Naval Cat, who was
honorary “Able Seacat” on HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze River incident of 1949 when
he survived a hit from artillery shelling and raised morale and dealt with a rat infestation
aboard ship. Simon even had fan mail. He was awarded the medal in December 1949 but
sadly died before he got it.
Pigeons were a vital part of communications during World War 2 such as Pigeon Gustav
who flew the first report of Normandy landings back to Britain and was part of the RAF
Pigeon service. The modern film “Valiant” is based on Gustav and can be viewed in the
Waddington Heritage Centre. Other notable pigeons who received the Dickin medal were
used to exchange messages for example between Eisenhower and his Field Marshall, and
some even parachuted in to exchange messages.
Registered Charity Number 1191994
Three of the equine recipients of the medal were Olga, Regal and Upstart who were
involved in assisting after the bombing in WW2 in places such as Tooting, where Regal
twice rescued people from burning stables. They were awarded the medal in 1947. In
1953 a horse called Reckless carried ammunition to the front line in the Korean War and
brought wounded back. Reckless was recognized in 1953. Altogether 16 horses were
involved in Central London during WW2.
Seven War dogs rescued people trapped during the London Blitz, saving hundreds of
people. They were equipped with dog boots with leather pads, for example Jet of Lada
which won 4 medals for saving the lives of over 50 people trapped in bombed buildings
and led the Victory Parade in June 1945. In 1947 the rescue mission at the Whitehaven
Pit Disaster was assisted by dogs, Jet, Prince and Rex. There is a Jet memorial in
Calderstone Park in Liverpool. Judy, the Pointer, was the only dog to be an official
prisoner of war near Malaysia. One notable dog was Antis and his owner a Polish pilot
who rescued the dog in Germany and made his way to Britain. Antis became the
squadron mascot and watched the planes out and back into the British airfield warning
people of impending air raids. Antis also flew 31 missions and was wounded twice.
Another medal recipient, Bamse, has its own website and a bus pass! Bamse rounded up
crews from the pubs and its gold medal is now in Montrose Air Station Heritage Museum.
More recently Treo was decorated for work with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in
searching for arms and explosives in Afghanistan. Ken recommended David Long’s book
“The Animals VC. For gallantry or Devotion” for more information. There is also more
information at the Bomber Command Memorial in Lincoln where Ken is a guide. A very
interesting presentation which was thought-provoking and illustrated the sacrifices some
animals made for humans in times of strief
Speaker Review for February 2024
What you missed at the February Meeting - Judith Proctor
Keith Hanson RVM (Royal Victorian Medal awarded by the Sovereign for personal services
to the Sovereign and the Royal Family) was a very eloquent speaker, where he entertained
80 people with details of the history, contents and use of the crown jewels.
He spoke about his time as a Yeoman Warder/Beefeater from 1997 and gave an insight into
how he came to be employed at the Tower of London after serving in the Armed Forces. He
became the Chief Exhibitor of the Crown Jewels holding that position for 17 years, during
which time he was responsible for the security and presentation of the crown jewels.
The jewels first arrived at the Tower of London in 1303 having previously been in
Westminster Abbey. There were some mishaps along the way. In 1649 after Charles I’s
execution, Cromwell had precious stones removed and sold and gold melted down. In 1660
Charles II had the jewels remade in the same style and restored to the Tower. In 1671 some
were stolen but recovered.
Up to 1967 the jewels were stored in the Wakefield Tower. Then tourism gathered pace and
the jewels were moved to the Waterloo block for ease of access. Tourists would descend 57
steps to the lower chamber, where they were secure behind a 2-ton door, view the jewels and
ascend the steps, which was not accessible for everyone.
In 1986 they were re-located within the Tower. The jewels were put in individual cases where
tourists did not have steps to contend with and moved along a travelator which Keith called a
“line of anticipation” and not a queue.
The crown jewels consist of jewels and plate some used only for coronations and state
occasions such as state opening of parliament. St Edward’s Crown was used in 1953 at Queen
Elizabeth 11’s coronation and again in 2023 for Charles 111. The crown weighs 5lbs with 434
precious stones. The Imperial State Crown is used at the state opening of parliament.
The Royal Maces are a seventeenth century weapon and were used for clearing a pathway for
the sovereign. The Sergeant at Arms travelled in a coach in front of the sovereign with the
mace sticking out of the window to clear a path. The mace is laid in the House of Commons
every day at the dispatch box to signify a royal representation in Parliament.
The solid gold orb weighs 3lbs and the 2 sets of bracelets for the coronation, made of gold
and gifted to the Sovereign, by the Commonwealth, are engraved with all the countries of
the Commonwealth.
Among the jewels is a jewelled Sword of Offering with 2280 diamonds inlaid in gold, and a
scarab with 1000 diamonds and sapphires forming flowers of each country. There is a
Sword of Spiritual Justice, a Sword of Mercy and amulets with holy oil used at the
coronation.
The Cullinan diamond, from the Kimberley mine in South Africa, was gifted to the King of
England by PW Botha as reparation for the Boer War. It was shipped to England in a secure
safe then sent by post to Amsterdam for cutting! 9 stones were made out of this diamond
including a 530.2 carat white flawless diamond.
The Queen Consort Crown is platinum and houses the Kohinoor diamond, a 105.6 carat
stone said to be cursed. In 1849 the Treaty of Lahore gave this diamond to Queen Victoria.
Plate includes salt and spices containers, 5 Maundy dishes, flagons, punch bowl, bottles and
labels and christening pots. Prince Albert designed the christening pot in use now by the
Royal family, which contains water from the River Jordan.
Keith’s talk was a comprehensive look at the Crown Jewels complete with excellent images of
each jewel and explanation of it use. It will certainly be interesting to see some of those
mentioned at the next state opening of Parliament.