16 of us donned our high-vis jackets and protective goggles and set off with our guides in two groups to explore the Dennis Eagle industrial site in the Heathcote Industrial Estate. We were there to learn about in particular the electric refuse collection vehicles (eRCVs) for which they have become justly famous.
These behemoths of the waste collection galaxy are impressive indeed!
They are absolutely state of the art and are being snapped up by public and private sector organisations all around the country. Dennis Eagle also sell into the Netherlands, Belgium and a few other EU countries; and are now eating into the US and Canada markets.
We asked about the cost of these vehicles. Typically they go for about £450,000 - compared with £230,000 for a diesel vehicle. But the savings on the electric vehicle are considerable, making the payback period just 7 or 8 years. And of course there are many other environmental benefits, including noise reduction.
We also asked whether they were developing hydrogen powered vehicles. Dennis Eagle are not convinced. They are watching what others are doing, but they see that the costs are much, much higher. And there are serious supply chain challenges. So they think this is an unlikely direction for them to take in the foreseeable future.
The site is amazingly extensive and we were well impressed with all that is being done there in Heathcote. Dennis Eagle is a company we can be very proud to have as a local one!
Eight of us completed a 4 mile walk through the Warwickshire countryside. The walk started well, confidently crossing the River Avon past some interesting remains of an old watermill. However we soon found ourselves lost in a wood. The direction of the path was not clear. After much discussion and consulting the map Richard discovered the path had been obstructed. The stile was overgrown and there was some barbed wire placed across the route of the path. Bravelly the 8 intrepid walkers cleared a path and carried on. Soon another adventure began as we had to cross a field with a herd of very unfriendly bullocks who were looking at us in a very menacing way.
We made it safely across the field and continued until we found ourselves at Little Lawford Ford and you can see a photo of the group discussing options as it was too deap to wade through. We found a bridge just around the corner and were able to get back across the river and made it back to the Old Smithy in time for lunch, the most important part of the walk!
It’s June so MIRTH goes on its annual outing. This year the destination was Oxford.
After a smooth journey on the coach, we were delivered to the Ashmolean Museum.
After a quick coffee break, many of us enjoyed a tour of the Museum with an expert guide.
First, we were introduced to the history of the museum. It opened as Britain’s first public museum and the world’s first university museum in 1683. (It moved to its current site in Beaumont St in 1894)
We then spent about an hour being introduced to the wide range of treasures housed in the building from ancient artefacts to 19th century impressionist paintings.
The highlight of the afternoon was Tim’s walk. Tim has spent some time in Oxford whilst his son studied there and shared his considerable knowledge with us. He took us around some of the famous colleges and sights.
After the walk, I managed to visit Keble Collage Chapel and see the famous painting “The Light of the World” by Holman Hunt. This is the earliest of the three versions of this painting by Holman Hunt. (You can see a photo of the painting at the bottom of this post.)
Others enjoyed leisurely lunches, shopping and visiting their old colleges or simply spent more time in the Ashmolean. Too soon it was time to get the coach back home but I think we all agreed it was a jolly day out.
Todays mainly dry walk took us from the Fox and Hen and back in time for lunch. Soon after setting off we passed a sign for Bascote Heath Underground station, not sure what zone this is in but must be 8. We walked about 4 miles in total. First passing through Ufton. We continued on to the HS2 works where they are constructing a bridge over the Grand Union Canal to carry the HS2 railway; old infrastructure vs new. We stopped a while, all boys (young and old) like to watch diggers at work. As some one once said “I love work, I could stand and watch it all day”.
We continued along the tow path and passed a barge towing a small barge “Chip”. This small barge houses the owners wood turning workshop.
Returning across the fields the path seemed to disappear and for a while and it looked as if we were heading in to a field corner with no way out. Graham even began to doubt Richard’s directions, he should have known better as we approached the corner the path passed through the hedge and over a small bridge over the stream so rule no 1, never doubt Richard’s directions.
After the walk we returned to the Fox and Hen for a well deserved lunch, it was good to be joined here by some other members who could not make the walk.
Following lunch at the Rugby Tavern around 20 MIRTHers enjoyed an afternoon trying Lawn Bowls courtesy of the Lillington Bowls Club ( https://www.lillingtonbc.co.uk/ ). The weather remained dry and our coaches were able to introduce us to the basics of the game. To help us get used to bowling they set out what could be described as a crazy bowling course with targets and obstacles.
After this we played a short game in groups of six. We managed with varying degrees of success to get the balls close to the jacks. At one point Terry had to get the tape measure had to come out to check who was closest.
A lot of fun was had by all, who knows perhaps some MIRTH members will follow up with more tuition.
Only four walkers today but we had a dry walk. The walk started in the centre of Shottery. Soon passing the primary school dates back to 1848 but we felt the building was much older. As we took a team photo outside the school there was some discussion as to if the local lass Anne Hathaway (Shakespear’s wife not the Actress) might have attended the school.
We passed the racecourse and then into the town. The walk then took us alongside the canal where we paused to watch a nesting Swan organising the eggs in the nest.
After 4 miles we arrived back at The Bell pub in time for lunch. All was going well until halfway through his pie Richard was wondering why he could not see any chicken in his pie and realised they had given the mushroom pie by mistake. He reported that the pie was still good.
After lunch at the Flying Standard, 11 of us settled in for a one-hour guided tour of the Coventry Transport Museum.
Our loquacious tour guide kept us on our toes by singling out individuals to interrogate with leading questions (i.e. none of us fell asleep 😉).
We saw a truly impressive array of bicycles, motorbikes, cars and other vehicles. All testament to the importance of Coventry over many years to the growth and decline of those industries in the area. On a positive note, Jaguar still has a strong presence in the area and the new Jaguar gallery shows how the marque has developed.
Most exciting of all – for Pete at least – was the open-top bus used in 1987 to celebrate winning the F.A. Cup … and the F.A. Youth Cup (now how many of us knew that?!).
Some 50 of us sat attentively at the feet of Prof Alan Millard to hear him talk about “King Solomon’s Gold: Fantasy or Fact?” We came in hope – that we might walk away with some gold in our hands [Ed: really? … really!?!! You knew this was a MIRTH event 😳 But … wait till you hear the end! ].
Prof Millard told us of the very large quantities of gold which King Solomon received, including 3.9 tons from the Queen of Sheba; and 21.6 tons annually (worth over £1 billion in today’s money. And bear in mind that the Bank of England currently has something over 300 tons of gold reserves.)
He took us through the extensive evidence which exists. He told us of the quantities listed in the bible in 1 Kings 10 and 2 Chronicles 9. He showed us beautiful pieces – gold cups, bracelets, anklets, funerary masks … He told us of the impressive temple areas plated with gold – including the amounts in the Temple of Solomon.
But just when we thought Solomon had a lot, Prof Millard informed us that the Egyptians took it all, and a subsequent Pharaoh Osorkon gave far more just in his gifts to the gods. While the rulers of Persia accounted for close to 7,000 tonnes.
At the end of his talk, questions flowed. And a key one was ‘Where is the gold now?’
Prof Millard’s answer? “If you have a gold ring, you may have some of it in there!” – because gold is continually recycled – melted down, re-crafted, removed, re-worked – down through the ages. [Ed: so we might have walked away with some of Solomon’s Gold after all!]
The second MIRTH Xtra event took place at Warwick Adventure Sports on Thursday the 14th March.
Eight intrepid Mirthers were given a real treat. David Harkness who is not only a regular member but also a fully qualified instructor and safety officer opened up the world of Clay Pidgeon Shooting for us. Expert tuition was delivered in a friendly and humorous way.
The clays were fired in a number of ways either towards us, away from us or across the range to simulate the flight of birds or the run of rabbits.
We soon established that pigeons and Rabbits are quite safe in Terry and Mel’s gardens but are in real danger if they go near Ian Roberts or Pete Chambers. Ian won the good natured competition and Pete was a strong runner up.
A really big thanks to David for running such a professional and fun event!
For the second month running it was raining for our walk. This time we were walking around Long Itchington. Five hardy souls set off, first we were walking on tarmacked paths so I thought my boots might stay clean but Richard soon led us off onto muddier and wetter paths across fields. After a while we were walking on the old railway route connecting Southam and Rugby before dropping down onto the canal.
We were almost back to the cars when the footpath was flooded as the stream had burst its banks. One of our members sensibly attired in wellingtons helped us find the best route through.
On arriving back Terry pointed out the blue plaque for the inventor of time travel apparently he will live in Long Itchington in some 75 years time (see photos below)
Once back we retired to the Blue Lias Inn for a well-earned lunch and to dry out.
MIRTH 