The October meeting of the North Notts Association of National Trust Members featured an engaging talk by Alan Kershaw, a retired anaesthetist, who spoke about the History of Anaesthesia. His presentation traced the development of pain relief from ancient times, beginning with the use of opium derived from poppies, which was found to calm and ease pain.
Over the centuries, other natural substances with similar properties were discovered and began to be used to alleviate pain in medical treatment and surgery – a significant improvement on the old practice of ‘grin and bear it’! The talk concluded with a lively question-and-answer session, sparking discussion about the modern use of such drugs.
During the summer months, the Association organises visits to various places of interest, while the winter programme features a series of talks. Meetings are held at The Crossing, Newcastle Street, Worksop, usually on the third Wednesday of each month from October to April at 7.30pm. Speakers cover a wide range of topics, including historic properties, wildlife, notable figures and significant events. Plans for next summer’s visits are currently being finalised, with details to be confirmed soon. The forthcoming talks are as follows:
- Wednesday 10th December: Crown Jewels – Keith Hanson RVM
- Wednesday 21st January: Dangerous Women of Nottinghamshire – Adrian Gray
- Wednesday 18th February: The Seed of Kings – The Bloodline – Mike Ogden
There are a range of payment options to suit members’ interests. Full membership costs £32.00 for a single member or £58.00 per couple, which includes seven talks and five outings (outings are individually priced). Alternatively, a basic subscription of £6.00 (single) or £8.00 (couple) is available, with each talk attended costing £7.00. Visitors – including non-National Trust members – are welcome at all talks for £7.00 per session. All funds raised go towards supporting National Trust projects. Application forms to join the Association can be downloaded from the website, and those wishing to stay informed can join the mailing list for updates on future talks and visits.
For more information, email nthnottsntassoc@gmail.com or visit http://www.nthnottsntassoc.org.