Glossop Guild  for  enquiring minds

Glossop Guild: Summer Programme 2026

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The Guild is offering a number of trips in May, June and July this summer, from visits to Museums and an Art Gallery to a wildlife walk and a geological field trip. We hope you will find an event to interest you- and tide you over until the autumn courses begin!

 

Section 1 gives an overview but there is further information for each trip in Section 3 below

Some of the trips have a limit on numbers and fixed costs, so we are asking you to book and pay in advance. Please see below for how to book and pay.

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Section 1 - OVERVIEW:

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1. Fri 1st May, 11-1pm plus lunch, 1-1.30

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People’s History Museum, Spinningfields, Manchester: Focus on the Chartists and the development of Trades Unions, including banners

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Getting there: public transport: train to Manchester and no.1 free bus

Facilities: Exhibitions, small café, lunch area for prebooked groups, shop

Museum tour guide: 1 hour talk followed by tour of gallery; max 16 participants.

Course leader: Diana Cavanagh: Course reference: SUMMER 1

£13 each participant, booked and paid in advance

 

 

2. Tues 19th May, 10.30-3.30pm, including lunch period

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Visit to AVRO with Frank Pleszak: talk and chance to explore aircraft built at the factory, including accessing cockpits and viewing models.

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Getting there: car share (directions available); 12-16 participants

Facilities: parking, exhibition; lunch area; shop. Course leader: Mike Webb: Course reference: SUMMER 2

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£30 each (not including lunch) booked and paid in advance

 

 

3. Tues 2nd June 7.30 pm(talk) and Mon 8th June (field trip)

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Rocks of the High Peak: with Pete Webb, professional geologist

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(a) Talk at Bradbury House; (max 28).

(b) Field trip, time and venue confirmed at the talk, max 16 participants, Course leader: Mike Webb: Course reference: SUMMER 3

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4. Tue 30th June, 10.30-3.30pm including lunch period

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Nature walk with Mike Webb identifying upland flowers and breeding birds, hopefully curlews, on this ‘Higher Level Partnership’ farmland

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Getting there: car share to area above Monks Road, parking on side road, ending at Sally Hodgson’s Farm. Facilities: lunch area at farm, outdoor safety guidelines provided

No fee. Course leader Mike Webb. Course reference: SUMMER 4

 

 

5. Fri 10th July, 11-3pm including lunch break

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Visit to Whitworth Art Gallery, with Frank Vigon, to see and appreciate items from their collection and the visiting Hokusai/ Hiroshige exhibition

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Getting there: public transport (train and bus no.147 to Oxford Road)

Facilities: Exhibitions; café; lunch area inside and benches in garden; shop; portable seats available. Course leader: Diana Cavanagh. Course reference: SUMMER 5

£15 (max 15) booked and paid in advance.

 

 

Section 2 - HOW TO BOOK AND PAY

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Each visit has a course leader and a reference number. Make your booking by email or telephone call to the course leader (Diana or Mike) then pay the Guild by bank transfer, giving the course reference number. The Guild’s bank details are:       Name: Glossop Guild  branch number: 30-13-32   account number: 0068 3526

For example: To book the May 1st visit: contact the course leader Diana Cavanagh, email: d.l.cavanagh66@btinternet.com  or  Tel: 01457 853906, then pay £13 by bank transfer to the Guild (details above) giving the course reference: SUMMER 1

Another example: To book the AVRO visit on May 19th : contact the course leader Mike Webb, email: mwebb.surrey@gmail.com   Tel: 01457 865819, then pay £** by bank transfer to the Guild (details above) giving the course reference SUMMER 2

 

 

Section 3 - FURTHER DETAILS OF THE TRIPS

 

Fri May 1, 11-1pm: People’s History Museum, Spinningfields, Manchester

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The newly refurbished Museum showcases the long and ongoing struggle for equal rights in society and employment. Our visit will focus on the Chartists and the development of Trades Unions. Our Museum tour guide will give an introductory talk, (about 50 minutes) followed by a tour of the exhibition including the fascinating collection of trade union banners. Besides the cafe there is a lunch area for pre-booked groups such as us, where we eat can chat over our own sandwiches if we wish. It is ours for 30 minutes.

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Getting there: 9.52 train from Glossop to Manchester Piccadilly, then number 1 free bus to Civil Law Courts in Spinningfields. We will meet in the foyer area at 10.45

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The Museum is fully accessible and there will be some additional chairs available during the tour. May 1st is of course International Workers Day!

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Tues May 19, 10.30-3.30pm: visit to AVRO with Frank Pleszak

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From 1911 the AVRO Aircraft Company was one of the biggest aircraft manufacturing companies in the world, building both military and civil aircraft such as the Lancaster bomber and the Vulcan bomber. The Museum hosts a wide range of items, including two complete aircraft, several different cockpits- which visitors can access- models of aircraft built by AVRO, and information displays about the company.

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The tutor for the day is Frank Pleszak, who is a designated leader for visiting groups. After an initial talk, he will provide guidance on what can be seen, more detail on the range of items on display and on the Museum’s plans for an extension.

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The group will meet at 9.45am on Glossop Town Hall car park to arrange car sharing and provide guidance on the best route. The Museum has a large car park (fee included in entrance charge) and a café, where meals and snacks are available throughout the day. Frank will meet us at the entrance at 10.30.

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Tues 2 June, 7.30pm at Bradbury House; Rocks of the High Peak with the geologist Pete Webb, with an optional field trip on Mon 8 June, 10am-5pm.

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Pete Webb is a highly experienced geologist who has worked with the Guild before. He has a gift for presenting geological matters in accessible terms and has lead memorable field trips, including one to a working quarry. He usually brings rock samples with him for members to examine.

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Pete is willing to lead a field trip on 8 June for those interested. Details will be discussed at the lecture. It will involve car sharing (a maximum of 4 cars because of space restrictions at the sites) and short climbs at one or two of the sites.

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We will meet at 10am at Glossop Town Hall car park. There is no charge for the field trip but Mike and Pete need to know the numbers (max 16) in advance.

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Mon 30 June, 10.30-3.30 pm, including lunch period, Nature Walk with Mike Webb and visit to Sally Hodgson’s Farm in the afternoon.

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The area above Monk’s Road round Sally Hodgson’s farm benefits from her Higher Level Partnership status, which gives protection to wildflower meadows and rare or endangered breeding birds such as curlews. The morning’s walk will be done at a slow pace with stops and starts to enable flowers to be seen and, hopefully, birds to spotted and identified. There are 2 limited rising ground areas and 3 stiles.

 

After the walk we will enjoy our sandwiches and drinks at Sally’s farm. She will then present details of how she nurtures the wildflower meadows, assists with the breeding of upland birds and the high level of care for her farm animals.

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We will assemble at Glossop Town Hall car park at 10.30 to arrange car sharing. There is no charge for this visit.

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Fri July 10, 11- 3pm: Visit with Frank Vigon to the Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Road, Manchester

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The Whitworth Art Gallery is now part of Manchester University and has expanded its facilities. As well as its own collection, it hosts a wide range of travelling exhibitions. This year the Whitworth is hosting a visiting exhibition of works by 2 major Japanese artists, Hokusai (we will all recognise ‘The Wave’!) and Hiroshige with his atmospheric depictions of everyday life in traditional Japan. Frank will illuminate chosen works for us in his inimitable style, getting us to see such works afresh.

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Getting there: 9.52 train from Glossop to Manchester Piccadilly, then bus number 147 from Fairfield St to Whitworth Gallery. Alternatively, walk through to Oxford Road for one of the many buses along Oxford Road. We will meet at 10.45 in the foyer.

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The Gallery is accessible and has folding chairs available. There is a shop and a large café. Outside there are picnic areas and several dedicated gardens as well as a sculpture trail.