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2003 November/December Newsletter Chairman's Notes CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Due to circumstances beyond our control, the tentative arrangements to hold our own Carol Service in St. Paul's Church on Dec. 16th have had to be modified. The revised arrangements, involving nibbles and drinks, followed by some home-brew entertainment, all in the Parish Rooms, are detailed on the back page. We very much appreciate the way in which the convenors and members of the groups involved have rallied round, and the officers and Committee look forward to a good turn out for the occasion, which should be very enjoyable. Len Smith WOKINGHAM U3A Annual General Meeting This is preliminary notice that the AGM will be held in St. Paul's Parish Rooms on Tuesday 17th February 2004. Full details, together with the Agenda and a nomination form for election of Officers and Committee, will be published in the December 2003 Newsletter. Items for the agenda should be forwarded to the Hon. Secretary, Colin Mitchell, in writing M.O.T.O MEMBERS ON THEIR OWN This is a small friendly group of people who are on their own and enjoy a wide range of activities. Please join us if you too are alone. Contact Phyll Smith TREASURER'S NOTE I have decided to stand down at the next AGM having had four years in the post. The group's finances are in good shape and we have been able to acquire a considerable amount of technical and not so technical equipment for use by the special interest groups. We benefit enormously from the rebate we get from the Internal Revenue in the form of Gift Aid. We can claim relief on all subscriptions paid by members who are taxpayers as long as they complete and sign a gift aid declaration form. So far, less than half our members have sign the declaration so, if you pay tax and have not yet completed a Gift Aid declaration please contact myself or the Membership Secretary and we will arrange for you to get a form. Don Macdonald: 01344 774386. BATH ON A SHOESTRING Have you used up all your council tokens (fanny money!) yet? A day out to Bath on the train turned out to be a rattling good idea. It needn't cost a penny if you take a sandwich and are prepared to walk! The station is quite near to the town and there's a shopmobile system. Bath is a buzzing place with lots of little shops as well as M & S and BHS etc., much more fun than Reading Oracle that is very tiring. There is an indoor market with a cheapy coffee shop and a splendid sweet stall selling ACID DROPS (we hadn't been able to find them for about five years now), those sherbert centred lemon drops, humbugs, nut toffee in broken slabs and lots of other old favourites. In the town many small cafes and takeaways offer a quick bite and there's a sit down curry house - in an upstairs room with big windows overlooking Pulteney Bridge and the Abbey. There is a wealth of public seating wherever there is an open space. What to do? There are several city tours by bus. If it rains there are the baths (the new one will soon be open), the pump rooms, the museums, the abbey etc. to mooch around in. If you're feeling energetic enough to tackle a fairly steep hill, it is pleasant to walk up through the town to the Crescent. Drifting in and out of the little streets on the way makes it more enjoyable. The gardens down by the river are very pleasant (65p entrance) and there is a cafe there too. Look at the 'net' for a guided tour and a street map before you go. TRY http://www.bath.co.uk/_code/sections/whattoseeanddo/walkquick.asp OR walkcitv.asp which is longer. You can buy your ticket from Wokingham and catch a train from Reading at about 10.30 that takes about an hour. We enjoyed the airconditioning and clean carriages. Trains run about twice an hour but try not to leave your return until the rush time starts just before 5pm, otherwise you may not get a seat without exaggerating your age (people commute from Swindon but they are quite polite and I was offered a seat). It was a great day and I'm thinking of going again a bit nearer to Christmas to do some shopping. P.J.R. DINING OUT GROUP CHRISTMAS LUNCH Tuesday, 9th December, 12.30 p.m. at the New Rose Inn, Market Place, Wokingham Please book by November 22nd with a deposit of £5 person and showing your choices from the following menu Starters: Highland peppery soup or Sole coronet with prawns or Leek and cheese croquettes with salsa or Country pâté Mains: Traditional turkey roast or Shank of beef on the bone or Salmon fillet with asparagus or Broccoli, brie and hazelnut gratin Desserts: Christmas pudding or Woodland fruit cheesecake or Cherry and kirsch roulade (chocolate sponge with cherry filling and vanilla mousse) or Ice cream bombe (chocolate mousse in coconut ice cream) Price: £12 per head with seniors discount, which requires a card obtainable on the day. Bookings to John Silk, 5 Albert Road, Wokingham RG40 2AL,. NEW MEMBERS' GET-TOGETHER Have you recently become a member of Wokingham U3A? If so, do join us at the Friends' Meeting House, Denton Road, Wokingham, at 3.30pm on Friday, 5th December, for an informal gathering to meet other new members and some convenors and committee members. Do come along to make sure you are getting the most out of our U3A. New members who were unable to come to our previous meeting would be most welcome. Refreshments will be served. If you would like to come along, please ring:- 0118 9732641 Gill Borlace New Members Co-ordinator CONVENORS Please note the following members are taking over as Convenors with immediate effect: Genealogy - Paul King Books "B" - Pam Rogers Movement to Music - Jean Steptoe German - Kevin Toal French Intermediate - Diana Oakman French Conversation Frances McEvoy I wish them every success and would also like to record my thanks and, of course, those of members who participate in these groups, to Margaret Lyle, Bert Hickman, Shirley Colwill and Jill Tatham for their sterling work as Convenors over the years, but who are now passing on these tasks for various reasons. As mentioned before, there are other groups which are looking for successors and if you would like to show interest in helping in this role in future, please talk to your present Convenor about it. It is a lot of fun and mostly very rewarding. Alternatively I, or another member of the Committee, would be happy to discuss matters like this with you at any time. David Tinker (Groups Co-ordinator) FIFTY YEARS AGO November 10th Letter (air-mail) from Edna ('Podge') this morning. She's travelled thousands of miles since she left England for Canada. November 11th Bought Jim's Christmas present - a Ronson Lighter and a bottle of lighter fuel. November 13th Owing to my unmethodical methods I got really worn out packing up things for our Household Stall at the Bazaar, and the house looks horribly neglected. November 14th Fine and mild. Mrs. Davies's daughter and Miss Davies came with the car. We loaded the small car, and Miss Davies walked and I went in the car with her sister down to the Church Hall. Somehow or other I felt a bit depressed - don't know why. Our stall looked loaded with things which I had kindly been given. Steel wool and cake mixture didn't sell so well, but the apple jelly and coconut ice all sold quickly. Jim called for me at 6 pm. November 16th Packed up Christmas presents for New Zealand. November 18th Jim is wonderful; he killed and plucked three chickens today. I polished the dining-room furniture with Duraglit furniture polish and my much neglected home looked a little better. November 20th The Queen's sixth wedding anniversary, and comparing today's photograph with the one taken on her wedding day, I think she looks more lovely now. Then she looked a young girl, now she looks a poised, serene and dignified woman. November 22nd I went to the 11 o'clock service. The vicar gave notice that there would be a meeting of bazaar workers on Thursday. Do think he might have waited a bit. November 23rd Dull, chilly day, but a lovely clear night. We saw the Queen's plane go over at 9.00pm brilliantly lit, and silently wished her and the Duke a happy mission. November 25th To Vicarage at 2.00pm. Vicar makes me impatient at times - he is so very prim. Rang Mrs. Atkinson afterwards and nattered with her for about half an hour over his shortcomings. Very foggy tonight. November 26th Bought Christmas cards and a pair of gay plaid slippers. Ordered my Christmas presents from Pollards; shall be broke. To bazaar meeting tonight and was agreeably surprised at the number of people there. Mr. Habgood was appointed Secretary, and I certainly hope he does well. A lovely fresh wind was blowing as I came home and I should like to have gone for a walk. November 28th Wonderful spring-like day. Threaded my way through the throngs of people in the High Street this afternoon until I reached the comparatively new hat shop at the Broadway. Was surprised to find two men, as well as three girls serving. Another time I'll not leave it until Saturday afternoon to shop. Anyway, I bought for 30 shillings (£1.50) a brown peach-bloom velour hat with two lovely pins in it. December 2nd It's amazing what a lot of flowers are still blooming in the garden. The weather is wonderfully mild - quite spring-like. My donkey brown coat which was such a joy when I bought it three years ago, now seems long, thick, hot and dowdy. December 7thHad 'perm at 10.00am by Christine at Roe Dore's. Hair looks very nice. December 25thWalked through Inwood Park to Win's (her sister. R). Lovely dinner, roast chicken, sausages, bacon and roast potatoes. Bottle of Graves. Followed by Christmas pudding and mince-pies. Felt very full of dinner and didn't want any tea. Queen's speech from Auckland, New Zealand came through clearly. Bright starlight night when we walked home. December 26th Lovely dinner at Cis's (another sister, my mother. R). Cold turkey, ham, salad, Christmas pudding, strawberries in jelly. Win, Miss Rogers, Mr. & Mrs. Bowyer, Freddie Goldschmied, Rosemary, Cis and George, Harold and Ethel, made a lovely party. Cold clear night when we walked home just before 11.00pm. December 31st It's now 11.40 and we have just heard a review of 1953 - the Queen's Coronation year. This included the unveiling of the RAF Memorial at Runnymede. What a worker the Queen is. After Big Ben's chimes we shall go to bed. Rosemary Goldschmied VARIOUS OFFERINGS FROM THE THIRD AGE TRUST! U3A Explores Science at the RI The very popular event will be held at the Royal Institution on April 26th 2004. More information will be available in November and those who would like details as soon as they are published should send a sae to the Hon. Sec# Science, Transport and Trade at Abergavenny The U3A National Science and Technology Network will be hosting a three day residential seminar at a field studies centre in Abergavenny from 21st to 24th June 2004. Draft programme, costs and booking form will be available from its joint organiser, Colin Mitchell, in October or November. SAE or e mail address to Colin for earliest information (1 Tudor Close RG40 2LU) U3A Online Courses The following online courses will be available from 7 Sept.2003 a. Creative Writing: Fiction b. Creative Writing: Poetry c. Design in your Life d. Italian Art 1400-1600 Additionally a course framework for 'Development of Lighthouses' will be available from September . Full details of other 2004 UK courses can be found on the U3A website at www.u3a.org.uk/~courses/online/ This also has details of the Australian U3A online courses; five places on each of these are reserved for UK members of U3A U3A Jazz Appreciation Network The first Jazz Appreciation Conference/Study Day will be held on Saturday 20th March 2004 at The Warehouse, Reading. Main Speaker/Performer Digby Fearweather. Cost £8.00. SAE to Hon Sec# for further details and application form. Subject Start up Leaflets There are nearly 50 Subject Start up Leaflets available from the National Office. SAE to Hon Sec# for a list of these National Arts Network The National Arts Network publishes 16 leaflets on various arts subjects. SAE to Hon. Sec#. for list #Hon Secretary, Colin Mitchell, U3A Summer Schools 2004 The National U3A Summer Schools planned for 2004 are: SUMMER SCHOOL 1 Tuesday 20th to Friday 23rd July SUMMER SCHOOL 2 Tuesday 27th to Friday 30th July Both Summer Schools will take place at the University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham COURSES ON OFFER The courses expected to be on offer are: Architecture History Art History Literature Botany Opera Calligraphy Philosophy Drawing Photography Embroidery Poetry Family History Science Genetics Setting Personal Objectives in retirement POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL COURSES Creative Writing Oral History Psychology Sociology 'Traditional Technologies' Writing/Speaking/Art (personal awareness through) Final course details plus booking forms should be sent to all U3As in November and publicised in the members-only section of the U3A website. Bookings will then be open on a first come first served basis. Wokingham members who would like details and a booking form when they reach the branch should send a stamped addressed envelope to the Hon. Secretary, Colin Mitchell WOKINGHAM U3A Chairman: Len Smith 01344 775517 Membership Secretary: Gordon Wall, 55 Priest Avenue, Wokingham, RG40 2LT. 0118 9786021 Editor: Gordon Riocreux Website: www.wokinghamu3a.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1049995
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