U3A Syston and District Visit
Throughout the year we have ‘one off’ events arranged by members. On Thursday 19th June James Gunn took us on a fascinating walk through Leicester’s Cultural Quarter and this was a perfect opportunity to see my heritage and familiarise myself with the City’s manufacturing wealth and the beautiful architecture we can still see today.
We met close to Rutland Street and in sight of what was the ‘Odeon’ cinema built in in 1938. Despite being modernised to create three screens in the 1970’s, it closed in 1997 but reopened as ‘Athena’ and remains a wonderful example of Art Deco design. The iconic and much heralded Curve Theatre close by was finished in 2008 and cost (in the end) £61 million, has no traditional backstage area, audience seating of 969 in main theatre and a structure comprised of steel and glass.
Remember buying Cherub brand for your children’s socks, underwear and night clothes? Beginning with a £300 loan, Arthur Foister Limited began in 1903. With business success they moved premises several times from Morledge Street ending in the impressive building whose frontage is on Charles Street and formerly owned by Kendall the umbrella and rainwear manufacturer. Sadly Cherub brand ceased to exist in 1990’s.
We have lots of street murals around Leicester and one by Smug (Sam Bates) made a particular impression due to it’s scale and detailed design and created freehand using aerosol paints in 2017. Another street mural which is eye catching is of a Magpie, bobbin, button and needle representing Leicester’s garment industry. There are more beautiful examples to look at around the Cultural Quarter and street information boards enable you to see buildings of interest for yourself.
A must to mention is Leicestershire ‘Butchers hide, skin and fat company’ whose sign above the entrance remains. One assumes this may have been a tannery supplying Leicester’s prodigious boot and shoe industry. One can imagine the smell especially in summer.
We saw St Georges Church designed by William Parsons and completed in 1827 costing £16,000. In 1911 the spire and most of the Church was destroyed by fire which started behind at R. Rowley & Co Ltd hosiery manufacturer. The Church was rebuilt during 1912-13 and is a Grade 2* listed building.
Syston and District U3A members enjoy diverse events including Tai Chi, Croquet, and Jewellery making in addition to 40 regular group activities from Ambling to Ukulele. Interested in finding out more? Look on Youtube for our video (Syston and District u3a), visit our website (https://www.systonu3a.org.uk), or phone 0300 102 1381. Join us for a great welcome, lots of fun and enjoying something different, whilst making new friends at our monthly social meeting every second Wednesday from 10am at Syston Community Centre. Join your local U3A and see you there.
Jill Kempton-Hayes
Publicity
Syston & District U3A
https://www.systonu3a.org.uk
