WOKINGHAM NEWSLETTER JAN - Feb. 2006
The January Meeting
The Fire and Restoration of Windsor Castle Richard Day
Richard Day started at Windsor Castle in 1957 with a 7 year apprenticeship before coming the Queen's Head Bookbinder in 1975 on the retirement of his father. Richard retired from the castle in February 2002.
He was also a Part-time Fireman with the Windsor Castle Fire Brigade for 34 years and lead the first crew into the attack on The Great Fire of Windsor Castle on 20th November 1992. The talk will show the aftermath of the fire and the restoration of the castle by skilled craftsmen and craftswomen.
Tuesday, 17th January 2006
St Paul's Parish Rooms
at 2.00 pm
Wokingham U3A
Chairman: Len Smith 01344 775517
Secretary: Muriel Froom
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
As I write this winter seems to have really set in, let's hope that we all keep warm and dry and in good health. Our U3A continues to grow and at the last count our membership stood at 672, so I hope you agree that we must be doing something right.
I am sure Paul will be reporting elsewhere in this issue on the Photographic Competition, which we ran this year to see if was something you would like to participate in. Perhaps we hoped for more people entering to involve more of you but we did get multiple entries from some contestants giving a total of 45 pictures which made a very impressive display. The winning photos by Stuart Slocombe and Elizabeth Manley were excellent and our judge, Nigel Fenner had found it difficult to separate them from some very good runners up.
In the last issue I was feeling pleased that our web site had experienced for the first time one hundred "Hits" in September. However, that has been surpassed in October with one hundred and forty. On the subject of the website, I have been creating links from our "Activities" page to more detailed descriptions of those activities as provided by Group Leaders to Pauline for the Groups Review. I do hope you will use these links if you are interested in particular activities. Unfortunately, there are still a few activities that do not have a link due to information not yet being provided to Pauline for the Groups Review.
Sorry to keep banging on about refreshments for the Monthly Meetings, but so far no-one has come forward to undertake the responsibility of bringing provisions and organising helpers. If we don't get someone to fill this role there will be no refreshments after those at the February meeting (The AGM).
Finally, some of you may have found you could not get through to the National Office website, the trouble was not with you, the site was down for over a week, but it is now back up and running as normal.
May I wish you a happy Christmas and I hope to see a good number of you at the Christmas Celebration.
Len Smith
Many Hands Make Light Work
One of the best things about U3A is that it is full of talented people willing to share their knowledge with others. In Wokingham we are very fortunate in having people prepared to help with all the tasks that keep the U3A going but it's time for fresh hands to pick up some of the work. The things that will soon need doing include looking after our equipment, organising teas for monthly meetings, helping new members to settle in, arranging speakers for monthly meetings and supporting the study groups.
There are about 670 of us in Wokingham U3A at present and it's easy to keep everything running smoothly if we share the work between us. Please contact me if you would like a bit more involvement in this U3A of ours and I'll be pleased to help you find the right niche.
Colin Mitchell, Vice Chairman
Starting Family History
In November we started a fresh group of beginners and the two groups came together in December to cover the use of parish records. In the new year, the new students will continue and the old group will disband. I have learnt a great deal from tutoring the first group which I hope will help me improve my presentation to the newcomers. I would also like to thank them for renewing my own enthusiasm in the subject. I hope that they will keep in touch and share their progress. I'll always, of course, be happy to help them knock down any 'brick walls' they encounter along the way.
The group is again full and there will be a waiting list. It will be the middle of the year before another group is formed.
Charles Crane
Card Making
A new card-making group has recently been started by Sally Humphrey It had its first meeting in September and has run fortnightly since. Meeting dates (after a slightly haphazard start) have now been finalised as the first and third Wednesday each month. Because of the amount of working space needed, it has had to be limited to just six members, and it is now full.
Levels of skill range from complete beginners to those who have been active card makers for a few years. The sessions are enormous fun, if rather messy, and provide lots of opportunity to exchange ideas and techniques, and to share materials. The venue rotates around the members' houses for each meeting, with the host introducing her own theme.
Sally Humphrey
Group News from Pauline Riocreux
Group Leaders' Lunch is definitely on for Wednesday, 25th January 2006. The Upstairs rooms in the Old Town Hall are to be used. There will be a visiting speaker before lunch - Keith Richards, National U3A Chairman. Also present will be Daphne Sirett, who is the National Network Co-ordinator. Start time for coffee is 10.30am. Lunch is at 1.15pm. This is a 'thank you' to current and recently retired Group Leaders. Invitations are included in this envelope. Please respond as quickly as you can as I have to get the numbers right for the catering, If you don't get an invitation and think you should have, please phone as mistakes are easily made.
Another new group is brewing. Keith Davis is collecting members who would like to 'Talk about Investments'. This is serious investment stuff all about long and short term risk, ratios of profit to earnings, management costs, and current news and gossip on these things. Contact Keith to find out more.
There is now a Tap-dancing Group. There was some difficulty in finding a venue as no-one liked the idea of their wood floor being scratched. Thanks are due to Enid Richardson (Group Leader and Tutor) who worked hard at the problem and Emmbrook hall meetings are planned for the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month for one hour from 3.00pm. I have been promised I can have a chair! - Crazy - yes! There were ten of us for the first meeting and a simple routine required all our concentration but there was much amusement as we got our feet tangled up. There is plenty of room for more. Come along and see how it's done. Telephone Enid to check for new year meetings.
The Pantomime group may be given a boost by a member who has some experience of directing. We are getting together a nucleus of members prepared to brainstorm a plot and plan the next stage. Gag-writers wanted. Hilary Taylor is collecting names and organising a first meeting. Phone Hilary for more details.
I think another French - sort of intermediate - group may start in the New Year. Those who have signed up will be informed, others should call me. If you know of a skilled French speaker who might help to lead the study for this group please let me know.
Gliding - Julian Salomon, who is a member of a Gliding Club, has agreed to be the telephone contact for this activity
Handbell ringing - beginners are being coached in basic music notation by Beryl Page so that they can join in with confidence to enjoy being part of this very happy group of music makers (who currently meet every Monday morning at Whiteknights, on the Ridges).
There is a call for someone to lead a small group of beginners in learning to speak German and also one for Italian. You don't have to be an expert to do this - working through a primer with a bunch of complete beginners requires interest and lots of patience in addition to a basic knowledge. Obviously if there is an accomplished speaker who has the interest to lead one of these groups it would be a bonus.
The Canoeing is in abeyance for now as the weather is not suitable. A visit to the Canoe Club building on the river near the Winnersh Industrial area is planned. It will be a more inviting activity in the Spring anyway. Watch the diary entries for any future arrangements.
The Internet course (Paul King). There will be two meetings in December and then we'll see if there is a demand for any more in the new year. Phone Paul to register your interest.
Computing for Beginners met again on 29th November at Woosehill to organise small group activity in homes. This change is due to the wide variety of help needed to understand an ever widening variety of software. Pat Tucker has undertaken to be Telephone Contact for the time being but we will need some more help from the more experienced for these members - remember 'sitting next to Nelly' was always the best way to learn a machine skill. Rosemary Jenkins, Angela Langley, and Paul King are doing their best to cope with an increasing need for individual or small group guidance.
Needlecraft is bursting at the seams and I have three names for a new group for this - anyone interested please contact me asap. This activity includes knitting, embroidery, lace, crochet etc.
There are now two full Card Making Groups as well as the original Craft, Needlecraft and Patchwork and Quilting. These activities take up a lot of table space and don't travel well so small numbers are essential. Phone the contacts if you want to join but don't be surprised if there is a waiting list. We will start more groups if required but what about making a Scrapbook - this is apparently a very popular hobby just now.
Phone if you're interested in that.
Books - I have two names for Crime novel analysis and two for general works. Now is the time to join such a group. Are there two or three more folk out there who like reading and criticising the writing?
I thought the 'Sources' article on the research into what makes Group Leaders tick was interesting. If you don't yet receive 'Sources' it is a magazine for U3A members published two or three times a year and dispatched direct from The Third Age Trust. Phone 020 8466 6139 to become a free subscriber .
What about a Sailing holiday in Holland then? I bet there are quite a few sailors who have given up their boats or just got too stiff for dinghies who would like that sort of holiday. One U3A has reported it a great success.
Is anyone interested in seeking out immobile members who might take up Virtual U3A membership or on-line courses? We don't really have that information at present. It would need someone to be a 'contact' to seek out, advise and help.
Comparative Religion needs a new group altogether to make use of the material so patiently already gathered. Contact Ronnie Beecham if you are interested in taking over the material .
The abandoned group this month is 'Out and About'. Not because U3A members didn't want to go out - they just wanted someone to organise it, and there wasn't anyone willing to do so. It had been hoped it would run like MOTO with individuals planning events for others to join in. Perhaps this just doesn't work for couples. Is there anyone willing to organise two or three outings to take place during the summer months when a lot of groups are not meeting? Stately Homes or the Zoo?
STOP PRESS: A new group is being considered for 'Photography for Fun'. It is likely to be an 'out and about taking pictures' group and not overly technical but if there is anyone interested in starting to prepare for next year's competition, let's have the names please (and of course, anyone able to communicate skills)
Telephone Colin Mitchell in the first instance to be kept informed of the first meeting .
Remember Vic Botterill
Did you attend the November monthly meeting? Did you mean to make a note of the books that Vic mentioned? Here are the titles: Use your head by Tony Buzan which can be ordered from any good bookshop. Get ahead by Vanda North and Tony Buzan. This may be ordered from Buzan Centres Ltd on 01202 674 676. Accelerated Learning by Colin Rose which can be ordered from any good bookshop.
Copy date for the next issue is Friday 27th January 2006
If you know of any member who is ill please inform Marion Povall so that she can contact them.
Sixty Years Ago
(Further extracts from the diary of my aunt Hilda Mary Todd Bates who died in December 1983 at the age of 89.)
Oct 29th. 1945. Heaven only knows how I'm going to fill in the gap since I last wrote in this diary. Dad has been very ill and has gone to Bath to recuperate. He has been there for a few weeks and did intend to return yesterday, the 28th but Fred (her sister Frederica R.) rang up to say he'd not been well. Telephoned Dr Gammie who said he couldn't prescribe anything without seeing Dad, but suggested Fred should call in Dr Gibson. She did and rang this morning to say that Dr Gibson said there was no need to worry, that although Dad wasn't a young man, he was a very tough old one. He's given him about 30 digitalis tablets to take.
Nov 14. It's now November 14th and I've made no entries in the diary since October 29th. Well, this morning I called for Cis at 10 am. We went by trolley bus to Goldhawk Road and thence to Paddington where we met May by the indicator board at 11.15.a.rn. To our surprise found Win on the No 9 platform waiting for Dad's train which was nearly on time. Dad I thought Looked a bit tired, but quite well otherwise. Fred looked very well. She and May went off together to May's flat at Earls Court. Cis, Win and I brought Dad home. (All five of his daughters were involved in the return of their father from Bath to Hounslow. R.)
Nov 15th. Well of all the dopes! Got up this morning and fainted in the bathroom, partly with the pain in my foot and partly because I'd not slept all night. Jim was really scared when he picked me up and I felt awful. I spent a miserable day in bed. Philip came in and crept into bed with me, bless him. My foot is horribly painful and swollen.
Nov 16th. My dear Dad's 83rd birthday, and I feel so sorry that I couldn't go and see him. Jim went to Dad's party tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Nov 23rd. My foot is really much better and I feel so much happier. We went to the Ritz to see "The Seventh Veil" with James Mason and Ann Todd: a study in psychology. I was very interested in it, Jim not so much. Afterwards Jim came straight home but I went to Betty Corke, the chiropodist, who strapped my foot up.
Nov 24th. An unofficial strike is on at the gas works: pressure of gas very low.
Dec 25th. Took Philip's cardigan in to him. He had a lovely Christmas tree which lit up and many presents. Gave Felicity the bunny rabbit; she gave me her photograph. George Snell came over with Pops in the car. We took the holly wreath that Pops had brought and put it on Emily's grave. Got to Ronnie's at 1.15. and did I enjoy that day! The turkey was lovely and David a real joy. He'd got a model railway from Father Christmas and absolutely revelled in it. Ronnie ran us home in his car, me sitting on Jim's knee.
Dec 26th Boxing Day party at Dad's. Mr and Mrs Sevier and Isa were there, then in the evening Mr and Mrs Gowlett and Mr and Mrs Klopke came in. Mr Gowlett sings well and Mrs Gowlett accompanied him. Mr Klopke played the flute and Win played the piano. We had a Lovely, lovely party.
Dec 27th. Dad was very pleased with the party, said we'd have to have another one soon!
Rosemary Goldschmied.
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U3A Photo Competition Many of you saw the winning photos at the November monthly meeting where all the entries were on display. For those that did not attend that meeting two of the winning photos are reproduced here. They were shown in grey-scale in thre printed Newsletter which doesn't do justice to the pictures but it does enable you to see the high standard that was achieved. |
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Overall winner - Stuart Slocombe Click on thumbnails for full size picture |
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Winner
of Travel Section - Elizabeth Manley
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The Diary Page
With the increasing number of groups in our U3A it will be necessary to make changes to the format, and possibly to the content, of the Diary page. Before introducing any changes I would like to solicit your views. Please will you tell me what you like about the Diary Page, what is important to you, what is not important to you and what information you think could be omitted. Please send me your views either by post or e-mail - addresses are in the box next to the Chairman's letter.
Paul King
Information received from the U3A National Office.
The 5th U3A Folk Dance Network Holiday 5th to 9th June 2006 and the 6th U3A Holiday 4th to 8th September 2006 at Halsway Manor, Crowcombe, Somerset.
More details If anyone is interested please contact Secretary Muriel Froom.
Shared Learning Project.
U3A has been invited to work at the Ranger's House, Blackheath, early 2006 on the following topics
- the architecture (the present house was built in 1723)
- the stages in the building, including the usage of the rooms; - the people who lived in the house
- the history of the Rangers of Greenwich Park ("Rangers" is an honorific title; the original Rangers superintended the hunting grounds of Greenwich Park)
The project will run for 12 weeks beginning Thursday 5 January, working between 1.30 and 3.30p.m.
For further detail, please contact Irene Wells, who will be co-ordinating the Project, on 020 8300 1421
Royal Institute Science Afternoon.
The date is Tuesday April 4th 2006 at Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London NW1. The Baroness Greenfield CBE, Director of the RI, will be the speaker. Full details will be available soon, anyone interested contact Secretary Muriel Froom and when details become available you will be contacted
Wokingham Town Veteran Tree Project
U3A members may be interested in helping this project to record some of Wokingham's heritage. If you might be interested please contact Barbara Stagles.
Veteran trees are a valuable part of Wokingham's heritage. The area in and around the town is home to many of these extremely old trees, some of which grew in the original Windsor Great Park. Ancient trees in Britain are of great international importance as the country is thought to be home to about 80 per cent of Europe's veteran trees.
If Wokingham's ancient trees are to be properly protected it is vital to know exactly where they are and which ones are at risk. The Wokingham Society has been very concerned about the lack of an official record of these trees and has made a major grant to a new project to identify and log all veteran trees within the town's boundaries.
The Wokingham Town Veteran Tree Project was commissioned by the Wokingham Society and has been set up in partnership with Wokingham District Council and BTCV (formerly the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers). Similar projects have taken place in other parts of the UK, but this is the first of its kind in the area. The Wokingham Town Project was launched officially on November 30th and the organisers are now looking for local people to help the project grow!
They hope that volunteers will come forward to help identify and survey all trees that are over 1 metre in diameter. This information will be entered on to an electronic map to show where the trees are located. Where suitable, the Council will look at measures, such as Tree Preservation Orders, to protect the trees for the future.
For more information please contact BTCV's Andy Noyes, the project liaison officer, by telephone on (0118) 947 5049, by e-mail at a.noyes@btcv.org.uk.
Comparative Religion
We have just come to the end of our fascinating Comparative Religion study and I would like to thank everyone in the group for the beautiful floral basket they bought me.
Ronnie Beecham
Wokingham U3A
Annual General Meeting 2006
St Paul's Parish Rooms
at
2:00pm on 21st February 2006
Agenda
1. Apologies
2. Minutes of Last AGM
3. Chairman's Report
4. Treasurer's Report
5. Subscriptions
6. Appointment of an Examiner for 2006
7. Election of Principal Officers (Chairman, Vice Chairman, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary)
8. Election of up to 6 more members of the Committee
9. Any Other Business
Muriel Froom, Honorary Secretary
Members may propose items for the agenda in writing to the Hon Secretary, seconded by another member.
The February Meeting
Annual General Meeting
followed by
Gordon Wall
And
"The Ladies Sing Jazz"
Tuesday, 21st Feb 2006
St Paul's Parish Rooms at 2.00pm