WOKINGHAM

NEWSLETTER MAR-APR. 2005

The March Meeting

English Style Bell Ringing

Last year the tower bells at All Saint's Church were restored and rehung following several years of fundraising. As this only becomes necessary about once a century, it was quite an event! To celebrate this, John Harrison will speak to us about the history and evolution of bell ringing, and may be able to arrange a visit to the tower for those who are interested, at a later date.

Tuesday, 15th Mar 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 The Christmas Celebration, Christmas itself, New Year and here we are well on the way through January with the evenings already becoming lighter. The Christmas Celebration went well and I believe was enjoyed by everyone and I must thank Joyce Bird and all who contributed by helping or performing. I do hope you had a happy and enjoyable festive season.

By the time you read this the AGM will be upon us and I hope you will all have made the effort to turn up to enable the business to be transacted.

You may recall I have been encouraging people who have access to e-mail to sign up to our e-group, it gives members an opportunity to air their views and other members to respond. It does work, we had an instance recently where a member was able to make his views known and for committee members to react, so please sign up. The address for signing up is in the information panel. There is nothing to be concerned about so why not sign up so that we can get the numbers up to a critical mass.

A new U3A year is upon us and I thought you would be interested to know that the latest revealed membership number was in excess of 550 and we have in the region of 70-75 interest groups.

Best wishes to all of you for 2005.

Len Smith

Group News

For further information about groups you can call a telephone contact given below, or listed in the diary, or contact Pauline Riocreux

Art - Painting. The new group has begun with fortnightly meetings in January, February and March 2005. Contact Barbara Carter for further informa-tion and details of the programme which looks at the basic principles of various art mediums.

Computer Skills A programme is being arranged for a small group of beginners who have undertaken basic familiarisation training. It will commence in March 2005 and consist of a block booked series of meetings (weekly) to improve understanding and confidence with word processing, database, spreadsheet and internet use Contact Pauline Riocreux More advanced skills are studied in the Computer Group main programme (Brian Pettitt 978 3824).

Ten Pin Bowling This group has decided to close as the numbers are too low for it to be viable.

Play Reading The first meeting was held in January and Sheila Stokely agreed to act as telephone contact. It was agreed that meetings would be held on 2nd Tuesday of the month in the evening A few more members would make wider choice of plays and some men would be welcomed. Phone if you are inter-ested.

Technology in the Home There will be a start-up meeting on Monday afternoon 7th February at 2.30pm. This group will replace the Weather Watching group that has come to the end of its programme. Those who signed up for Technology will be kept informed. Others are welcome to join. Much of the programme is likely to be repeats from previous years' dis-cussions and outings.

Music Appreciation - Don Gardner has taken over as group leader from Stephanie Bishop and the group will meet in the Friends Meeting House in future. This means that there is room for more members to join. Music programmes are planned around a theme to include a variety of classical music.

Walking Some members would like walking on a different day. Contact Pauline if you are interested or if you yearn for longer walks in good company

Jigsaw Library The library has decided to close as some members have moved so that it is too small to be viable. The stock of jigsaws will be passed to charity shops.

Tai Chi can accommodate some new members. Beginners are welcomed. They would be able to learn the exercises first and then gradually join in with the others over a period. This is a very graceful exercise and we are lucky to have a skilled instructor. Contact Brian Bird for further information.

Natural History Joy Herman would like it known that she is not running a Natural History group but acting as a liaison for the Emm Brook Conservation movement. Please telephone her for information about events and training.

MOTO Two The first meeting of this new group took place on 21st January at the Friends Meeting House, Denton Road. Keep watching the Diary for future events.

French for Fun is a new group of advanced French speakers who wish to brush up their conversation skills. They will not be studying grammar. This is not for the faint hearted but they would welcome one or two whose ability is of a similar standard. Contact Pat Rigg if you think you are up to it. They are meeting fortnightly (in the main) on Thursdays at 2.00pm and their March meetings are 3rd, 10th and 31st March

Snooker Two This group has space for a few more members. All are welcome including beginners who will be encouraged. For more information please ring John H Webb.

Copy date for the next issue is Friday 1st April

Ballroom Dancing We have had a kind offer from a friend of one of our members to provide some instruction for modern ballroom dancing and there is a possibility that a group could be formed if there is sufficient support. Obviously the Group's structure and finance will have to be decided once the level of interest has been gauged. So if anybody is interested please contact Peter Harms or Barbara Goddard

Starting Family History This new group aims to help anyone who wants to start tracing their family history but hasn't a clue where or how to start. Assumes absolutely no previous knowledge or experience and doesn't require you to own or use a computer. The intention is to provide practical hands on assistance and to guide people through each step of the process of tracing their ancestry. First meeting is on 9th March. Please ring Charles if you want to attend.

Music - Singing for Fun We are making some changes in this group and trying to form a musical team within it. So, if there is anybody who can play the piano and/or who has had some experience in organising a choir we'd love to hear from you. You will not be expected to work on your own as there will be others to work/play with you. We are a very friendly group and we want to emphasise the fact that it is fun singing. Please ring Jean Webb if you may be able to help.

Sixty Years Ago
March 3rd. Bought Jim two pairs of pants at Hope Bros. Richmond, and two frying pans at Spicers.
March 9th. Billy [a nephew by marriage. R.] came. He is back from Cairo and brought me two bananas and two oranges. He looks wonderfully well. [The bananas and oranges were indeed a treat, they were unobtainable in war-time. R.]
March 13th. Philip called over the fence with the news that his Daddy had telephoned last night saying that he would be coming home on leave on Friday or Saturday. He said "Thank God for bringing my Daddy home. Now I can wear my fly buttons".
March 15th. Glorious day. Jim's day off. He went to an A.R.P. demon-stration of dogs trained to detect and rescue air-raid casualties. The dogs were in charge of women, and in Jim's opinion were not well trained.
March 16th. Clive came home today. Philip was in the garden with me when Joan called over, "Philip, Philip, Daddy is at Euston, we are going to meet him". Have met Clive and he looks very fit.
March 21st. A V2 hit Packard's factory on the Great West Road at 9.35 this morning. Jim, on duty this afternoon, was sent up there. The destruction is terrible; bodies charred beyond recognition. Horton's son, a boy of 15, is among those missing. Poor old Jimbo had a very sad job of labelling the remains of the bodies.
March 24th. Air-raid sirens sounded at 7am this morning. All Clear at 7.30am before another alert at 7.45am. All Clear at 7.55am. Heard one loud explosion. Edna ('Podge') came this afternoon, she'd had a 'bubble cut', (hair cut to two inches all over) which made her hair look very untidy.
March 27th. Two air-raid alerts in the night. Jim gave me a lovely surprise, he bought for me ½ dozen Royal Sovereign strawberry plants. I was delighted and planted them under the apple and pear trees.
April 4th. Bombers flying overhead all last night. The war news is wonderful. Gardened a little while this afternoon and then went to the Ritz to see "I'll Remember April" and "And Now Tomorrow". Nothing special.
April 7th. Somehow or other Clive's leave is not being a success: I feel so terribly sorry about this. Mrs. Pridham [Clive's mother-in-law. R.] says he has changed so, and speaks so cynically about the fellows he has met and worked with: has nothing good to say about any-body. I do hope that when he returns to his unit he'll feel and act differently.
April 13th. Terrible news. President Roosevelt died last night.
April 14th. 'Podge' came tonight. She doesn't look very fit although she says she's alright. She was wearing a new green striped blouse and gay red shoes; how she manages either the cash or the clothing coupons for all these new clothes, I don't know. However, that's not my business. She and Jim together thoroughly get on my nerves. I think she has a colossal cheek arranging to go out with Jim without even asking what plans I have. I'm just about fed up with them sprawling in arm-chairs in front of the fire, playing crib, and leaving me out of it.
April 18th. Hot as summer.
April 20th. Much colder. Events are happening so quickly that I've hardly time to record them.

Rosemary Goldschmied.

Letters Page

You will recall that last time we invited members to submit letters for inclusion in the newsletter. There is plenty of white space waiting to be taken up with any items you care to submit. If you would like your letter to be included please let me have it by Friday 1st April. 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 April Meeting

My Grandfather's Story

Titanic Survivor

Philip Littlejohn

Philip Littlejohn is the grandson of one of the very few survivors of the Titanic disaster. He uses his grandfather's diaries and notes and his own extensive re-search to shed light on this sad event. As the centenary of the sinking is April 10-15, this is a topical subject, and there may well be media coverage as well.

Tuesday, 19th Apr 2005

St Paul's Parish Rooms at

2.00pm