7th November 2025

 

           Dear All,

After swimming on Monday the “10 Turning Points in European History” topic was 1584 the assignation of William of Orange at Delft. It was a time of tension between Catholics under Philip II of Spain and the Calvinists of Northern Europe championed by William Prince of Orange. The assassination lead to the Spanish Armada and 80 years of on and off conflict.

Before the session 3 of us were interviewed for a U3A publicity film so the next stop will probably be Hollywood!

We started to work on the fallen tree on Tuesday morning but it will take a few more sessions. Mary-Ann and family returned from Tenerife with mixed experiences as although the weather and beaches were fine they all seemed to have had tummy trouble.

Kate and I led the walk that we had recced last week from Cottenham via Rampton. There was a good turnout and reasonable conditions for walking. It was a typical fen walk with plenty of long straight flat stretches but we had improved it by cutting through Rampton and taking in the thatched church where a group were decorating and gave us a short talk about the church.

 

 

The Chequers, Cottenham

 

 

The Gothic House, Cottenham

 

 

High Street Cottenham

 

 

Thatched Cottages, Rampton

 

 

Desirable Residence, Rampton

 

 

All Saints, Rampton with Thatch

 

The Biography subject today was Joseph Johnson (1738 –1809) he was an influential 18th-century London bookseller and publisher. His publications covered a wide variety of genres and a broad spectrum of opinions on important issues. He was a Dissenter who held weekly dinners for friends who sat and discussed topics until the early hours Guests included Joseph Priestly, Mary Wollstoncraft, Richard Price, Benjamin Franklyn and Thomas Paine. Printing was just getting going he was very influential in propagating the opinions of Dissenters. He is yet another important historical character who is hardly known today.

 

 

Joseph Johnson

 

I harvested the first pot of Sweet Potatoes this week and they look promising.

 

 

Sweet Potatoes

 

There was excitement in the village yesterday as when we got up there was no water. This affected the whole of Over and Swavesey so the schools and Preschools were all closed.

The reason why the letter is early this week is that Kate and I are taking a short break in Edinburgh from tomorrow until Tuesday.

 

 

Best wishes

 

Mike & Kate