January - February 2005 Newsletter
The January Meeting
I 'll take that one -
dispelling the myths of civilian evacuation 1939-45
Dr. Martin Parsons Chairman of Evacuee Reunion Association
and
President of the International Federation of Evacuee and War Children
Tuesday, 18th Jan 2005
St Paul's Parish Rooms at 2.00pm
Wokingham U3A
Chairman: Len Smith 01344 775517
Secretary: Colin Mitchell
Membership Secretary: Gordon Wall, 55 Priest Avenue, Wokingham, RG40 2LT 0118 978 6021
Editor: Paul King
Registered Charity No: 1049995
WEBSITE www.wokinghamu3a.org.uk
E-group sign-up: wokinghamu3a-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Chairman's Notes
Unfortunately for me, I have missed the last two monthly meetings for various reasons, but I am given to understand that both were well attended with good speakers. I am now looking forward to seeing a good crowd of you at the Christmas Celebration.
Twice a year, a Regional Chairmen's Meeting is held at Wokingham for all the chairmen from the Thames Valley Region to enable us to swap ideas. I was able to tell them about our success with our MOTO groups and the recent Freshers' Fair and there was much note taking and requests for details of what we had done, so hats off to all concerned.
Please remember that it is the AGM in February and we do need some new blood on the committee. It is not an onerous task to be on the committee and is, in fact, very enjoyable where one has the opportunity of working with pleasant colleagues towards the smooth running of our U3A.
Last month, I did publicise the E-group we have started and a few people have signed up we could do with more. The object of the exercise is to enable members to air their views and for committee and group leaders to understand what the membership is thinking. I am asking Paul to include signing up details again so please do sign up. Come on in the water's fine!! May I now sign off by wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year.
Len Smith
Postal Voting for AGMs
There is no provision in Wokingham U3A's Constitution for postal voting at Annual and Special General Meetings. The Committee has considered whether to propose the introduction of postal voting and decided not to proceed with it. Colin Mitchell, Hon. Secretary
Who runs this U3A?
In short - YOU DO! The U3A as a whole and the individual groups are operated by the members for the members and it is getting very close to the time of year when the organising committee is elected. Some members of the present committee will be standing down at the AGM and we need other members to come forward and fill the vacancies. Elsewhere in this newsletter you will find a nomina-tion form - please use it to re-nominate an existing committee member or nominate a new one. More importantly, why not ask a friend to nominate you?
You can nominate or stand for ANY committee position but those that we particularly need to fill are:
Honorary Secretary. The present secretary, Colin Mitchell, is standing down and will seek nomination as Vice Chairman.
Membership Secretary. The pre-sent membership secretary, Gordon Wall, will be pleased to introduce someone to this vital role.
Committee Member. The present committee operates with one vacant place and the new one would welcome an additional person.
Colin Mitchell, Hon. Secretary
Newsletter Feedback
The newsletter is for all the members of Wokingham U3A. I am keen to receive your views on the newsletter - what you don't like, what you do like, would you like more of some things/ less of others? The diary pages attempt to cover all the activities of the U3A over the following two months. Does it meet your wishes or is there something you would like changed. Please drop me a note or email to give me your views.
Paul King
If you know of any member who is ill please inform Marion Povall on 0118 978 6240 so that she can contact them.
Group News
Now that the dust has settled on the Freshers' Fair and many of the new groups have established their meeting dates and programmes it is time to thank again the indi-viduals who so kindly undertook to organise the start-up meetings. Most of them have agreed to continue to be the telephone contact for their group although they will not always be the group leader. All the groups except Needlecraft are able to accept a few more members. A few particular notices for specific groups:
Calligraphy and Needlecraft and Craft groups cannot take more members at present. Art Painting cannot take more members at present but a waiting list is being kept with a view to running a bigger group from March.
Chess Join this small friendly group and acquire a new skill.
Spanish Beginners see diary for details.
Ten Pin Bowling Costs £3.25 per person for an hour. This includes shoe hire but not coffee. There are only four mem-bers playing at the moment. Unless more join it will probably stop. Those playing scored 40 - 100 points and that indicates a beginner level, so if you would like to try your hand then ring John H Webb and join them on 12th January.
Nutrition This group has changed its subject to Health & Well-being and Betty Hughes now has a programme up to next July.
Books (A) Joyce Bird has taken over as Group Leader from Eileen Wilkins - Thank you Eileen.
Whist This group would like to beg or borrow two folding card tables and would welcome more players and beginners.
Patchwork and Quilting This group meets on the third Monday but arrange the time and place to suit themselves. They would welcome some others but please ring Janet first for venue and time. If there is anyone who would like to specialise in 'Black-work' (embroidery) Pauline Riocreux has the name of a bit of an expert.
Petanque or Boules This is another group that meets as and when arranged by the indi-viduals. Ring Ken for details.
Handbells or Belle Plates This group is willing to start a Beginners Group if enough members would like to join. Ring Beryl to show your interest.
Computer Skills A survey of requirements for this group is being undertaken. Ring Pauline if you would like to be included. Volunteers to help those less experienced are needed too.
Out and About There were a lot of members grouching that MOTO had lots of outings that weren't available to those not in a single situation. Where did they all go to? The dozen currently meeting are planning some friendly sessions to get to know one another before they launch into more exciting activities.
Where to take the Grandchildren This group is aiming at creating a publication that should be helpful for all grandparents but it needs more input from you. Tell Jan about any activity and the age for which it is most suitable, and the cost.
Portuguese Two members would like to learn this language - for holidays, to begin with. Is there anyone who could help to start a group who has a little knowledge of the language? Are there any other members who would like to learn?
Walking One of the most popular groups - but some people would enjoy it on another day of the week or a different week of the month. Please contact Pauline if you are one of those. Also some members would like a longer more ambitious outing - are there any others? Please let Pauline know.
Woodworking, Marquetry There is a move afoot to get this group started but it will have to be in warmer weather as it will probably take place in a garage where the tools and woodshavings are kept. Contact Rosemary Jenkins or Richard Downing to find out more.
Modern Greek Is there anyone with a little knowledge of Modern Greek who would like to take over the lesson plans and notes prepared by Peter Horth and start a 'Holiday Greek' group. This was a very popular group for several years.
Notice To All Group Leaders Please let Pauline have a brief summary of your group situation - full/waiting list/breaking up, whatever. As members join they wish to know if there is a welcome for them in your group. Some groups, I am aware, already have waiting lists but if the list is more than half a dozen we might think about starting a new group.
Playreading. Joan Bulpitt. will be hosting a start-up meeting on Thursday morning 13th January at 1030. Contact Joan If you are interested in joining. This won't necessarily be the day/week of future meet-ings. If you have had some experience of this activity please come to the meeting and help to get things under way. Pauline Riocreux (Groups Coordi-nator)
Earth Sciences Group The Earth Sciences Group has been re-convened for 2005 and the first meeting will be held on Thursday, 6 January, starting at 2.00pm at Woosehill Community Hall, when the subject will be "The Earth's Structure". Meetings will be held on the first Thursday of each month and topics will appear in the diary. Enquiries to Roy Borlace.
Meeting for New Members The next meeting for new members will be held on 31 January 2005 at the Friends' Meeting House, Denton Road, at 10.00am. Any new members who have been unable to attend a recent meeting will be most welcome to come along. Please ring Gill Borlace if you are coming.
PPL (Phonographic Per-formance Limited) Licence Renewal Wokingham U3A has renewed its PPL Licence for a further year. This licence allows our groups to use recorded music for their activities.
E-groups
For all those members who have access to e-mail we have decided to offer an opportunity to commu-nicate their thoughts about our U3A to each other, and to learn what others may be thinking by setting up an e-group The system is very safe from spam as the e-mail addresses are not listed anywhere publicly. It is desirable that signed up members should have up to date virus pro-tection on their machines. To sign up to become a member of the group please send a blank e-mail to wokinghamu3a-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. You will then receive back from Yahoo an e-mail asking you to confirm your wish to become a member. When you have done that you will receive another e-mail giving you an e-mail address for you to com-municate with whenever you wish to make a contribution. If, perish the thought, you decide you don't want to continue there is an "unsubscribe" address at the bottom of any e-mails received.
Copy date for the next issue is Friday 21st January
Sixty Years Ago
Having given you extracts from the diary of my aunt, Hilda Mary Todd Bates, for 1939, the year WWII broke out, I thought it would be interesting as this year is the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII to have extracts from her diary for 1945.
January 1st. Hard frost this morn-ing. Win rang up to wish us a Happy New Year. Took Joan a large egg as it's her 30th. birthday. She and little Philip were still in bed. They had seen the New Year in, and Philip, who thought the bells on the wireless were in honour of Mummy's birthday, insisted on the cake being cut there and then! [This was the Joan Pridham referred to in the Nov/Dec. 2004 newsletter. In the intervening years since 1939 she had married her fiancé, Clive, and he was now serving in the forces overseas. R.]. Called in at Deeks and wished them a Happy New Year, and took Felicity an egg; she was in her playpen. Christine had had a message from Spencer, he's back at H.Q., [long time readers of the diary will remember that Spencer was Christine's American Army husband. Christine and Felicity came on a visit to England from America in May/June 1951. See May/June newsletter 2001. They came on another visit in May/June I953 when Spencer was stationed in Frankfurt. See May/June news-letter 2003. R.]. Bought a very pretty collar and cuff set and darned a pair of stockings. The men of the D. Day troops are starting to come home on leave. Some arrived tonight.
January 2nd. Not quite so cold. Still too dark at 8.30. this morning to see without the electric light, and there's the Minister of Fuel and Power threatening to cut off the electricity if too much is used between 8 and 10.pm., the peak hours. Took 'bus to Richmond and used the five shilling (25p) book token Rosemary gave me for Christmas to buy Green fingers Again by Reginald Arkell: a book I shall thoroughly enjoy. This afternoon I went to the chiropodist, who also treated me to radiant heat and massage.
January 5th. I must be more sensible and economical with the clothing coupons. There's plenty of pure knitting wool in the shops now, and I've no coupons left to buy any.
January 7th. Philip had a lovely time playing 'miners' today. Told me he was going to dig a coalmine in the garden with his hammer.
January 8th. Ground covered with snow this morning. No post.
January 30th. Thick snow on the ground and bitterly cold. Mrs. Head had a burst pipe. I couldn't leave the old lady there in misery so brought her to our house where she stayed until February 6th.
February 15th. Met Edna ('Podge') at 2p.m. at Hammersmith Broad-way and I bought myself a very smart blue Utility costume and a pair of gloves. Edna bought a grey diagonal tweed costume from C & A Modes, and Mrs. Pridham [Joan's mother. R.] bought herself a black costume and black hat from Pon-tings. [long time readers will also remember Edna('Podge')a friend of my aunt's. This shopping expedition was before 'Podge's' marriage to Alfred in 1948. The marriage did not last and they divorced in 1953, after which 'Podge' emigrated to Canada. There must have been a new issue of clothing coupons to allow for such a shopping spree! R]
February 17th. Dull, mild and breezy. Seems as though the war must soon be over. Germany is being hammered by us, the Americans and the Russians. At 5 o'clock this afternoon Jim suggested that we go to the cinema. So we went to The Ritz to see Waterloo Road and My friend Wolf.
February 24th. Got up at 6a.m. Caught the 9.05 from Paddington to bath for 'Mig's birthday [my cousin Margaret. R.]. Arrived Bath station at 12 noon, where my dear 'Mig', looking charming in a light blue costume, was waiting for me. This evening we all went to dinner at the Sedan Chair: home of Beau Nash. Good food.
February 25th. My dear 'Mig's 15th. birthday. She was so pleased with everything, it was a Joy to see her. Caught the 5.45p.m. train home. Stood all the way from Bath to Paddington. A gleam of light was two young fellows, one Air Force and the other Army . Joining in their conversation I felt interested and longed to be young again. Jim was at Paddington to meet me and very glad I was to see him. Felt chilled and miserable by the time we got home.
Rosemary Goldschmied
U3A Summer Schools There will be two National U3A Summer Schools in 2005. These highly popular events are open to any member of U3A and the out-line information for them is:
SUMMER SCHOOL NORTH. Tues 28th June to Fri 1st July, University College CHESTER
Courses available:
Architecture 1 - Medieval Chester & 19th century Manchester Architecture (Medieval Builders and Buildings)
Cinema History (A Century of Cinema)
Creative Crafting Fun
Creative Writing
Literature - The Real Thing Local
History - In and Around Chester
Science - "The Smallest Show on Earth" - A look at the building blocks of matter
Storytelling Walking with a Seeing Eye.
SUMMER SCHOOL SOUTH. Tues 19th July to Fri 22nd July, University of Gloucester CHELTENHAM.
Courses available:
Art History - Great Northern Euro-pean Artists
Botany
Craft - Card making
Digital Photography & digital image processing
Drawing - learn how to draw Family History - A Wider View
History - The Life & Times of Lenin
Literature - Innocence and Experience
Opera - Masterpieces of Twentieth Century Opera
Oral History - Living History
Philosophy - Mind and Consciousness
Poetry - The Revival of Poetry in America
Russia - Language and Life.
PRICES. For either school the costs are:
Full Board - £242 for complete school
Standard day rate - £85 or £50 for complete school (the £85 rate includes lunches and is not available for some courses).
Any member interested in receiving more information on the schools, together with an application form, should send me a stamped addressed envelope (suitable for folded A4 paper) saying which of the two schools they are interested in.
Colin Mitchell.
Science, Environment and Industrial Heritage
The U3A Science and Technology Network will be running its third three-day seminar open to all U3A members in August 2005: this year's theme is 'Science, Environ-ment and Industrial Heritage'. The seminar will be held at an Envi-ronmental Study Centre in Aber-gavenny, Monmouthshire, from 8th to 11th August 2005 and cost £145 per person (full board). Any member interested in receiving further information should send me a stamped addressed envelope.
Colin Mitchell
U3A Explores Science at the Ri
The very popular U3A Science Day at the Royal Institution will be repeated on 11th April 2005 from 1.30 to 5.15pm. There will be three speakers covering Mathemat-ics, Imaging Immune Cells and Life Beyond Earth.
COST - £12 including tea and biscuits.
Book directly by writing to The Third Age Trust, 19 East Street, Bromley BR1 1QH including a cheque for £12 per person payable to The Third Age Trust. For more information on the day send me a stamped addressed envelope. Colin Mitchell.
Jazz Appreciation Holiday
There will be a Jazz Appreciation Holiday to Perugia from 6th to 11th July 2005. Further details from Bob Jonesof Reading U3A
South East Area U3As Summer School
A further Summer School is being arranged by the South East Area U3As and is planned to take place in Chichester from 22nd to 25th June. Further details from Edna Wright, Sophie Deakin-Smith or Mary Russell .
Creative Writing Day
A Creative Writing Day will be held in Ware, Hertfordshire on 9th March 2005. Further details from Maggie Smith,
U3A Archives Study Group
The U3A National Office hopes to start an Archives Study Group in the spring of 2005. This will be based in London in the first in-stance and is intended for U3A members with a serious interest in archives. Anyone interested should contact Daphne Sirett
For contact addresses and telephone numbers for names appearing in this version please refer to your printed newsletter
Letters Page
Starting with the next issue of the newsletter we will be having a letters page. Letters from members on subjects of interest to other U3A members are welcome. The letters will be included at the editor's discretion and may be edited for space reasons. If you would like your letter to be included please let me have it by Friday 21st January. If you are sending it by email (the preferred method) please include the letter in the email text - i.e. do not send it as an attachment.
Paul King
The February Meeting
Annual General Meeting
followed by
India
Talk by Gwen Barton
Gwen is very well travelled, accompanying her husband, who worked as a consultant civil engineer
concerned with water supply in 3rd world countries.
An Indian friend helped them to plan the holiday of their dreams in Rajistan,
taking in Delhi, the Taj Mahal and the desert area and much else.
Illustrated with slides,
Gwen tells the tale of their trip, including humorous incidents.
Tuesday, 15th Feb 2005
St Paul's Parish Rooms at 2.00pm