The University of the Third Age Wyre Newsletter

The University of the Third Age

Wyre

Newsletter Issue 1.19 February 2019 .

Deadline for contributions to the next issue is 28th February. 2019. When finished with this issue, please pass it to a friend. Page 1 AAH 31/01/2019

CHAIRMAN’S CHAT - Jim Lawrenson

First of all, may I apologise for not making the January meeting. Unfortunately, I had a rather bad cold. It could even have been Man Flu. I certainly must have been unwell as I didn’t even go to watch the Football on the following Saturday. However, can I wish you all a belated Happy New Year. I have had quite a considerable response about funding for room hire from both sides of the argument. It will give the committee the opportunity to discuss this issue with some clarity at our next meeting on February 7th. As you are aware the financial year will not kick in as far as subscriptions are concerned until July. This is to accommodate any changes that are made to subscriptions at the AGM in June. So, in essence, you will all get an extra 3 months “free” for this year only. I look forward to seeing you all on 14th of February at Thornton Little Theatre.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Astronomy Trip - Kath Rawcliffe.

The trip, on Wednesday,20th February at Rossall School, is now full. We shall meet in the school car park at 6.30 p.m. prompt and be escorted to the centre. Warm clothing will be a good idea, as we can possibly go outside to use the telescopes if the weather is good. Very much looking forward to seeing you all.

Dublin 2019 - Cecilia McDermott

Apologies to all those members hoping to go to Dublin in the spring. Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to find a satisfactory package break for us. I feel that it is too risky to book a hotel and separate flight with the uncertainty of Brexit! I will endeavour to find a suitable short break to Dublin for next spring

Theatre Trips - Barbara King

New trips for 2019 Saturday, 6th April at 2.30 p.m. “My Mother said I never should.” “Set in Manchester, Oldham and London a poignant, bitter sweet story about love, jealousy and the price of freedom. The play details the lives of four generations of women through the immense social changes of 20th Century. Written in 1985, Charlotte Keatley's award winning play has been performed world-wide in twenty two languages.” £35 at Oldham Coliseum. Pay by 14th February. Coach - Beach Road 10.20 a.m.

Thornton Library 10.30 a.m. Please tell me if you wish to join at Beach Road. Thursday 6th June at 2.30 p.m. “Hobson's Choice” “A 21st Century version of Harold Brighouse’s play amongst Ugandan Asians in the rag

Monthly Meetings

Monthly meetings take place at Thornton Little Theatre at 2.00 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Speakers at Future Meetings. 14th February 2019 Bez Cooper - My Life as a Tiller Girl. 14th March 2019 Malcolm Trantner The Big Ditch – The Building of the Manchester Ship Canal.

Deadline for contributions to the next issue is 28th February, 2019 When finished with this issue, please pass it to a friend. Page 2 AAH 31/01/2018

trade. When tailor Hari Hobson isn't bossing his daughters, he is putting the world to rights in his local pub. His eldest daughter Durgo is the brains and too valuable to lose so she must give up all ideas of getting married.” £45 at Manchester's Royal Exchange. (Note new venue.) Pay by 31st March. Coach - Beach Road 9.50 a.m.

Thornton Library 10.00 a.m. Please tell me if you wish to join at Beach Road. Saturday 15th at June at 2.00 p.m. Matthew Bourne’s ballet ‘Romeo and Juliet’ “Britain’s most successful choreographer will blow your mind with his imagination and wit. A passionate and contemporary re-imaging of Shakespeare's classic love story.” £50 Pay by 11th April. Coach - Beach Road 9.50 a.m.

Thornton Library 10.00 a.m. Please tell me if you wish to join at Beach Road. Book with me Barbara King. Please pay Carla at the monthly meeting or by post to me, make cheque payable to Wyre U3A.

Social Events – Jan Preston

Friday, 1st March at 2.30 p.m. Afternoon Tea at The Walled Garden, Barton.

Why not come along on and enjoy a quintessentially British treat. It is the perfect excuse for catching up and banishing the winter blues! £13.95 pp (£16.95 with prosecco) or, if you prefer a savoury option, then there is a Gentleman’s tea at £16.95.

Saturday 23rd March 2019 at 7.00 p.m.

Wine Tasting.

Come along and join us at Carleton Memorial Hall for another memorable evening – and some even more memorable wines. Following on from the success of last year’s event, Graham and Neil have some great suggestions to try.

Cost £11.00. Please bring your own wine glasses (suggest 3 glasses per person).

If you are interested in these events, please give names to me as soon as possible, or before the next meeting on 14th February. Make cheques payable to Wyre U3A.

Pub Meals – Geoff Lancaster Next Pub Meal will be at The River Wyre Hotel. Tuesday, 19th February at 18.00 p.m. Great company, lively banter, no need to book! (Oh yes…how’s the diet going?) Looking forward to seeing you.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

From Arthur Jones (Treasurer) to all Wyre U3A Members. Treasurer’s Two Penn’orth Dear Member, You will remember that Jim Lawrenson, in his Chairman's Chat in the December Newsletter, asked for our views on group funding. "When the committee meets again in February we will be approaching the end of the twelve month trial period re payment for room hire, which changed from groups funding their own room hire, to it being paid centrally. Prior to that we need to ascertain if everyone is comfortable with the present system, any comments either for or against would be very welcome. Would you please put your comments in to me by email prior to our committee meeting on 7th February". Very briefly, for the benefit of newer members who may not be aware of the trial system, our U3A pays for room rental at Carleton Memorial Hall (CMH) for those groups


News from the Groups

Artists and Paintings – Barbra Cropper We have been looking at women artists and this week we studied Winifred Nicholson and Annie Swynnerton. Both were British artists who were born in the late 19th Century and died in the 20th century. Both travelled widely to study and paint.

Winifred Nicholson (1893 – 1981) was born in Oxford, and studied art at Byam Shaw Art College in London. She married the artist Ben Nicholson and they lived in Switzerland where they spent winters and returned to England for the summer. She painted prolifically in a style influenced by Impressionism often using soft romantic colours. She painted many landscape scenes of Cumbria often showing a view through a window with delicate flowers in vases in the foreground. They had three children but, when Ben left her for Barbara Hepworth, she moved to Paris with the children. Thereafter, she spent half the year in Paris and the other half in Cumbria. She took trips to Italy, Greece and Switzerland. She was fascinated by the rainbow spectrum colours and many pictures have a dreamy quality. A large number of her paintings are in Kettle’s Yard Cambridge. She died in Cumbria and a retrospective exhibition of her work was held in 1987. Annie Swynnerton (1844 – 1933) Annie was born in Hulme, Manchester, and studied at the Manchester School of Art, the Academie Julian in Paris and, later, in Rome. She painted mainly portraits and landscapes and her work shows Pre-Raphaelite and Impressionist influences and Symbolism. She supported women’s suffrage and with Susan Dacre founded the Society of Women Artists. She married and lived in Rome, then returned to her studio in Chelsea. She died in Hayling Island. Perhaps her most famous painting is ‘The Sense of Sight’ (1895) in the Walker Art Gallery Liverpool but her paintings are in many galleries all over the country. The next meeting is Monday, 18th March when we will be studying Rembrandt. Canasta - Nancy West Due to my husband’s health issues, I have sadly had to revert to Tuesday afternoons only. I very much regret this move but I do feel that I am unable to leave him in the evenings now. Consequently, our meetings are only on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month. We meet at 2pm for 2 to 3 hours. At the moment we are a very small group and would welcome new members. If you have never played

meeting there and for free admission to our monthly meetings at Thornton Little Theatre (TLT). Groups who cannot meet at CMH (because of size or facilities constraints for example) may request funding for alternative room rental. If approved they would receive the equivalent of renting the appropriate room at CMH. As a committee we need to decide (subject to your approval at the AGM) whether the trial system should continue or revert to the original system where all groups were self-funding and those attending the monthly meetings at TLT paid an admission fee of £1 each month. In order for the committee to deal with this item it is really important that as many members as possible make their views known. Several members have asked if the trial system is economically viable. The very short answer is yes. At the beginning of this financial year we had a bank balance of £8,317.24, our latest statement shows a balance of £9,172.21. Please email Jim with your views before our next meeting on 7th February. His email address is [email protected]. Kind regards, Arthur Jones Hon Treasurer

From Des Stevenson to all Wyre U3A Members January Speaker I should like to express my thanks for your politeness, forbearance and restraint for the poor presentation of a well arranged but badly executed talk on Fairtrade at our last Meeting. On your behalf a letter has been sent to Blackpool Council's Director of Public Health and Assistant Chief Executive to convey our deep disappointment at such a presentation. We await their response. Des Stevenson, Vice Chairman and Speaker’s Secretary.

mailto:[email protected]


Canasta, but would like to learn, do please give us a try. Our meeting room is comfortable and warm and we end with tea or coffee and biscuits. The present members of the group are very helpful and are not cut-throat keen. They are very tolerant to new players. For any further details please contact me - Nancy West, Group Leader. Creative Writing Group 1 - Ann Fewson “The Closed Door” in December and “A Park Bench” in January were topics that had no great appeal initially for some of us. However, as is often the case when this happens, members of the group all succeeded in writing some excellent pieces. Everyone is now setting themselves higher expectations and developing their skills in areas they find more demanding. We are all in agreement about how important writing has become to us, even when we find it difficult! Next meeting: Monday 11th February 10.00am Subject: Jewellery Creative Writing Group 2 - Ann Fewson We had very enjoyable meetings in December and January. “Underground”, in December, proved to be a topic that elicited stories varying from serious wartime escapades to frustrating problems with United Utilities! The title “Fireworks” in January, provided writers with the opportunity to write both literally and metaphorically, with historical references to 1605, lovely descriptive writing of fires and fireworks and stories about incidents taking place around modern celebrations on November 5th, some with disastrous consequences. Next meeting: Monday 18th February 10.30am Subject: Hello? Hello! HELLO!!! Crown Green Bowling - Peter Rawcliffe

The green at Norcross will be closed until the start of the new Bowling season. The Bowling group will meet once more when the green

opens. Look out for an announcement will be

made in this newsletter, giving dates and times. Current Affairs - Graham Page After a gap of two months since the last meeting there was lots to discuss, although on one major front it seemed in many ways that little has changed, apart from the ticking of the clock. We await to see what emerges from the fog. Elsewhere Dianne Abbott on Question Time, the Duke of Edinburgh's driving accident, fracking, and Poundland's £1 engagement rings all provoked discussion. Surprisingly, the World Economic Summit at Davos didn't. All agreed with the proposed EU standard for the height of new letterboxes in new housing. Wouldn't it be good if everything was that easy! The next meeting is at Carleton Memorial Hall at 2.00pm on 28th February, 2019. Family History - Graham Lougher At our first meeting in 2019, we discussed in considerable detail about members wishes for topics this year. It was agreed to invite Kathryn Carter again, to repeat DNA review. On-line Help and Training Guides [on Ancestry, Family-Search (LDS), FindmyPast, National Archives & Genuki], Old Photos & Postcards, House Deeds, Social History [Transport, Occupations & Cost of Living in 19th Century]. Members requested more external speakers from other local U3A F/H groups, Lancashire Archives, etc. Several members offered to source potential speakers. A programme will be created soon for circulation to the group when we will request members to volunteer to talk. In the workshop, Cindy Potter explained that she was returning to F/H. Her family is from Hartlepool and has an ancestor, John Jones from Wales. Group members offered her advice on how to progress. Graham Essex-Crosby has volunteered to help her as a mentor. We plan to repeat this mentoring for others who need help. On 4th February, Clive Jones will talk about his Australian (NSW) F/H Research and his Family Military History. Liz Dale will also give us a brief update on her talk last August on her Australian ancestors.


French for Beginners - Ann Burley

We have spent the meetings held in December and January mostly in association with our French for Improvers colleagues. Before Christmas, we gathered to sing, in French, the Christmas songs we all know so well – some carols, some pop songs and some songs from Hollywood movies. Arthur kindly provided the music with visual accompaniment. In January, again with our colleagues from the Improvers’ group, we attempted a reading and subsequent translation of a pantomime based on “A Christmas Carol” created with apologies to Charles Dickens. This has also been fun, and we shall be returning to it again at our next meeting.

French for Improvers - Chris Holt

I wasn't able to attend the first meeting of the month. Arthur Jones kindly stepped in for me. The group read and translated a magazine article about the origins of surnames in France. At the second meeting we began to read and translate a pantomime, 'Un Chant de Noel'. I am sure you will have guessed it's ‘A Christmas Carol’. As it is a pantomime it is a funnier, updated version. We will continue translating it at our next meeting. Again, we will meet at Fleetwood golf club. Everyone likes the new venue as it looks out onto the club greens and we can see the tops of Lake District hills in the distance. We are lucky to have a member of the club in the group. French Conversation - Clive Jones During January, meetings were held on the 14th and 28th respectively with both meetings well attended. Typical attendance is now six to seven members. During the recent closure of the Poulton Library, the group had moved its meetings to Thornton Library, where we will continue to hold the meetings. Once again, our sincere thanks go to the staff of both the Poulton and Thornton libraries for their excellent support. The backbone of our meetings continues to be made up of conversation and discussion. The conversational elements this time saw some very interesting topics including a quiz on well-known French topics, a quiz on the New Year (Le Nouvel An) around the world and a newspaper article about Mr Trump on the controversial subject of ‘The Wall’,

among others, which led to some very interesting discussion. As confirmed in previous updates the objective of the group meetings is to generate suitable conversation and discussion in the French language to reflect the typical conversation that could take place on holiday in France and other French-speaking countries. This concept continues to work really well. New members are always most welcome to join. Please contact the Group Leader for further details. All future meetings will be held on Mondays every two weeks from 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. at Thornton Library, and the next two meetings will be on 11th and 25th February. Gardening - Kath Smith At our first meeting for 2019, although plants and gardening took a back seat to scones cakes, tea and coffee, (well it was very cool outside), we discussed our diary of events for the year. I am, now, writing a list of things we want to do and I will send these out to anyone who wants one. Amongst the list are members garden visits with advice and suggestions and plant swaps. Visits to open gardens with the NGS are in abundance nearby so they will be added. Two members, one new one, have asked if we can get a day or two out to those. To start with, on Wednesday 20th February, we are planning to do our snowdrop walk at Scorton Picnic Site, which will include optional visits to Robinsons Giant Vegetable, plant centre, The Barn, plus two other garden centres nearby. We are also booked in for a talk from Craig at the Plant Place and, if our previous visits are anything to go by, we will learn another brainful of plant things. All members welcome. History - Ann Kelly Geoff Lancaster gave us a very interesting presentation on the History of Aviation in Blackpool. It was very well illustrated and explained. Blackpool had an airport quite early on, (1909), and the first Air Pageant was staged here. It played quite an important role in the training of R.A.F. recruits and the manufacture of aircraft during W.W.2. It was all very interesting. The next meeting is on Monday, 11th February, at 2.00 p.m. in the


Carleton Memorial Hall, when we will have a presentation on the History and Tales of Knott End Ferry. History of Art - Martin Johnson Our discussion of the great Spanish painter Velasquez was largely confined to his early period, before he became the court artist to the King at his palace in Madrid. Next time we will consider his mature work, especially his portraits of the royal family, their children, and even the dwarves, whom he portrayed with dignity and understanding. If there is time, the other great Spanish religious painter of just the same period, Francisco de Zurbaran, can be considered. The meeting is again at my place, February 12th, from 10.30. It is intended that the March 12th meeting will be a trip to Preston's Harris Museum. The Italian Group (Il Gruppo Italiano) - Clive Jones During January, meetings were held on the 15th and 29th respectively with both meetings well attended. Attendance is still six to seven members, and no new members have joined recently. The group has now moved back to Poulton Library following its recent re-opening. Once again, our sincere thanks go to the staff of both the Poulton and Thornton libraries for their excellent support. We are completing the Verb Tenses textbook with a general review of verbs, before starting the next grammatical text, ‘Italian Pronouns and Prepositions’. The conversation and discussion elements once again saw some very interesting topics including the Costiera Amalfitana (Amalfi Coast), Venezia (Venice), Fontana di Trevi in Rome, a visit to the Poulton Market (there is an Italian food stall there, among many others) and the start of a series of shorts stories in Italian, among others. So, the group’s work is a combination of essential grammatical and everyday conversational aspects. The group is now very well established so we have re-named it ‘The Italian Group’. New members are always most welcome to join but must already have a good existing ability in the Italian language. Please contact the Group Leader for further details. All future meetings will be held on Tuesdays every two weeks from 11.00 a.m. to 12.30

p.m. at the Poulton Library, and the next two meetings will be on 12th and 26th February. Line Dancing - Kath Smith I gave everyone a bit of homework before Christmas, to get to grips with, at least, one of the dances in order to start a dance without me. Still waiting! Anyway, I am in the process of recalling some of the dances I haven't done for a long time in order to pass them on. It would be good to get one new one a month, if possible. Live Music Group - Pauline Powell ‘The Live Music Group’ have grown from strength to strength in 2018 culminating in three excellent public performances in November and December. We have been overwhelmed by positive feedback and emails of congratulations from U3A members which has once again made it all worthwhile for us. Consequently, we are starting 2019 in a strong and positive position. Thank you for your support. We are always on the lookout for more musicians and singers, so anyone wishing to join us please come along to one of our sessions or contact me direct (my details are on the coordinators list) or speak to any member of the group. Thanks everyone for their generous donations made to Trinity Hospice at our Christmas concert which amounted to an amazing £220. Come and join us. We meet every 1st and 3rd Thursday in the month at the Sandyforth Arms Thornton from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. All U3A members are welcome. Play Reading - Graham Bannister The Group met on Tuesday 15th January and completed the reading of “Lettice and Lovage” by Peter Shaffer. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, 19th February when we will start to read “World Premier” by Charles Mander.

Poetry for Pleasure - Anne Fewson

The December meeting focused on Winter and Seasonal poems whilst in January we had a rare ‘free choice’ session. Both produced some surprising and interesting choices. Some of the pleasure of this group is in enjoying poetry that is familiar to us, but


the opportunity to be introduced to poems that we don’t know makes for a very satisfying learning experience and is often more challenging. Both meetings afforded us some familiar and some new poetry. Next meeting: Thursday 7th February 10.30am Subject: Work

Recycling - Kathleen Smith We postponed our 2019 start until February because it would be a bit too cold for working in the garage. Anyway, 12th February's two sessions (10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.) are on go. Bring your ideas for a project or finish off the one you started last year. DO YOU HAVE ANY OLD COMPUTER STUFF? With our aim of recycling as much as possible we are cooperating with Dave Carlos (Computer trainer) to collect your spare stuff so he can fix and pass on to organisations who can make use of it. I am sure Wyre U3A members can help. You can contact Dave or me. Dave’s email is [email protected] . Science and Technology - Graham Topping At the January meeting, Alex Herschell’s presentation entitled ‘A brief history of photography' included displays involving audience participation, flip board charts and a slide show. He comprehensively took us through the basic theory of photography, the pioneers who began recording photographic images and he traced the history of camera development from camera obscura to the modern-day digital camera. In doing so, he described the development of different types of roll film and the improvement in camera lenses and their configuration, the different aperture sizes and shutter speeds to popularise photography. Finally, he discussed digital cameras and how PC software allowed the amateur photography to make improvements to unacceptable images. The next group meeting will be in Carleton Memorial Hall on Monday, 18th February 2019 when Geoff Lancaster will give a talk entitled “Lifestyle and Health Part II”.

Singing for Fun – Arthur Jones Back from our recess, we were all in fine fettle and good voice for our January meeting. The theme was Time and we certainly went back in time for some of yesteryear’s hits. Our February meeting will be on Wednesday the 20th and, February being Valentine’s month, our theme will be Love – or Lurve as most pop singers lurve to pronounce it! Thanks to those of you who have sent in suggestions. I’ll do my best to include as many as I can. Spain beyond the Costas - Sue Clark At the December meeting the members of the group enjoyed the presentations given by Susan Mitchell on the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 and by David Mitchell on his top ten sights of Spain. This led inevitably to some discussion and sharing of memories of places visited over the years. Following the presentations, we looked back at the history and development of the group and discussed our future plans and the setting up of a small sub-group to plan outings, visits etc. At the January meeting Keith and I talked about our recent visit to the attractive small town of Ezcaray in the region of La Rioja. From there we went to the very old and historic monasteries of Suso and Yuso, known as the cradle of Castilian Spanish. On the same trip we spent a couple of days in Zaragoza, and we reported on the Basilica of Pilar, the Roman ruins of the Forum and Theatre, as well as the Goya museum and the most important Islamic fortress/palace in the north of Spain, now used as the Parliament of Aragon. We also watched a YouTube video on the history and evolution of Castilian Spanish. The next meeting is on Wednesday 6th February when we will watch a Spanish film (with English subtitles). At the meeting on Wednesday, 6th March one of our new members, Valerie, is going to give a presentation on the prehistory of Spain. We are also planning a tapas evening on Friday 22nd February at Rustic to Regal (Marsh Mill), although this date is not yet confirmed. More details at the February meeting.

mailto:[email protected]


Travel Group - Michael Carey At the meeting on 17th January, Mick Carey gave a presentation on his recent trip to Costa Rica in Central America, a leading country in the eco-tourism movement. On 21st February Dorte Ravenscroft will be telling us about her travels in Spain. The Strollers - Geoff Lancaster Daytime Stroll

Silverdale Tuesday 5th February. Meet TLT for car share 10.00 a.m., Silverdale Golf Club 11.00 a.m. to start. This is a beautiful stroll through the RSPB Reserve, woodland, spectacular limestone quarry, meadows and

wetlands, returning to the Golf Club for late lunch. You may see: Marsh Harriers, Fancy Water Fowl, Geese, Herons, Egrets, Bearded Tits, Otter & Red Deer. Just under four miles total distance, easy going. Please Note:- A short option is possible from the Golf Club to the RSPB hide; returning via the visitors centre. About 800 yards, firm, easy strolling each way. Plenty of seating in the large observation hide for a nice rest.(They call it a hide, but it’s the size of a bungalow!) Lots to see and do in the RSPB Centre, Shop & Tea Room The main group would continue strolling on and return to meet-up in the Golf Club for lunch later. If interested, please call me. Twilight Stroll Village Hotel Thursday 21st February. Meet TLT for car share 19.00 p.m., Village Hotel, (adjacent to the Zoo) 19.30 p.m. to start. (This is a re-run of an earlier attempt which was rained-off!) We’ll stroll through the woods and around the golf course at an easy pace, and back to the hotel in about ninety minutes. Bring torches and lanterns, listen to the roaring of wild beasts and look out for cheeky monkeys! Star gazing if the sky is clear - Mars, Orion and Ursa Major all clearly visible. Yes! My old pal is still there and quite close to Mars, but you can’t see it

Walking - Susan and David Mitchell January Walk: Seventeen hardy and intrepid souls defied the elements as Alex and Kay Herschell led us on a splendid January walk in the area around Farleton Fell. Snowy views across south Cumbria gladdened the heart but we had to be watchful on some icy stretches.

Lunch was spent at the most perfect spot, a series of flat limestone blocks which just invited you to sit down. Was it not for the temperature hovering just above zero we would have been tempted to linger for longer.

Before we moved on, we were treated to a fascinating geology lesson from Alex on the formation of the rocks. A walk alongside a largely frozen canal past the village of Holme brought us back to the cars which then made the short journey to the Longlands for our warm-up and post-walk drink. February Walk: This month's walk will be on Wednesday, 27th February, led by Susan and David Mitchell (07803 941906) and based on the area round Wayoh and Turton and Entwistle Reservoirs south of Darwen. It is a circular route starting at the Barlow Institute in Edgeworth. Postcode BL7 0AP, grid reference 741166. Toilets are available in the Institute and there is parking on Bolton Road outside.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.coosheen.com/did-cavemen-have-less-tooth-decay-than-we-do-today/&ei=PrOCVf7SJ4rzUKTLgbgJ&bvm=bv.96041959,d.d24&psig=AFQjCNG8_5GlnMT-a1HktDikGhiIN1_3dw&ust=1434714748318625


The walk will incorporate parts of the Witton Weavers Way and we will use wide footpaths through woodland and fields. The length is about 7.5 miles over largely flat terrain with a number of gentle gradients and NO stiles! We will leave Thornton Little Theatre at 9:00 a.m and aim to start by 10:15 a.m. The route is from M65 Junction 4. Take the A666 through Darwen and a mile south of town turn left down the B6391. Two and a half miles along the road, turn sharp left in Chapeltown, for Edgeworth, Entwistle and Bury. You pass the Black Bull on the left after a mile. The Barlow Institute is the large red brick building half a mile further on, on the right. Refreshments are available afterwards at the Institute. Watercolours - Christine Cutts Message from Carla Christine Ashton has decided to retire from her role as leader of the Watercolour Group. Christine has run the group enthusiastically for many years and organised an excellent exhibition in Poulton Library of her members’ work. On behalf of all of us I would like to thank her for her continuing unstinting commitment. Christine Cutts has stepped forward as a facilitator to keep the group going. Please find her contact details in the Schedule on the last page of the Newsletter. Carla Clark, Groups Coordinator. Letter from Christine Ashton. Dear Watercolours group members, I am sending this email to inform as many people as possible, that I have decided to step down as group leader of the Watercolour Group. I have run the group for approximately four years now, and I feel that I would like to relinquish the responsibility. I will email the members of the group, and ask them to let those members know, who don't currently own an email address. I will also let Mr Peter Farrell know, as we normally use the Carleton Memorial Hall as a regular venue. I will not be requiring the use of the Hall in the future I want thank all those, yourselves included, who have been such a help and support to me and the group in the past. A special thank you to all the Watercolour Group members, past and present, for their patience, good humour and enthusiasm. I hope that this

won't be the end of hands on art at the U3A, and I hope that another member will step up and carry on the good work. Best Wishes Christine Ashton.

Departed Friends Ken Wade (24/12/1939 – 23/01/2019) This is a proposed new feature. Although members’ passing has been recorded before, this has been at random and far from regular. We want current members to e-mail the editors with details of the passing of members they know. This will allow the membership list to be up-dated, stop us continuing to send the newsletter and so prevent unnecessary distress to their family. Audio-Visual Equipment Wyre U3A Laptops and Projector sets are now held by the following members: Elaine Holliday Arthur Jones Mick Carey Graham Lougher Graham Topping Group Leaders must continue to telephone in advance to arrange a suitable time to collect and return the equipment. Flipchart holders, flipcharts and pens are available.

Carleton Memorial Hall Bookings should be addressed to:

Peter Farrell

Peter must be notified, in advance if the hall is not going to be used otherwise a charge will be

made for the room.


The University of the Third Age

Wyre

Committee Contact Details

Chairman: Jim Lawrenson

Vice Chairman: Des Stevenson

Secretary: Jim Swain

Treasurer: Arthur Jones

Membership Secretary: Alison Vanes Social Events Co-ordinator: Jan Preston:

Groups’ Co-ordinator: Carla Clark

Speakers’ Secretary: Des Stevenson

Minutes Secretary: Barbara McDougall

Property Co-ordinator: Phil Teasdale

Committee Members: Ray Bill

Peter Rawcliffe

Other useful Contact Information

NW Area Co-ordinator: Jacqui Owen Theatre Trips Barbara King Pub Meals Geoff Lancaster Newsletter Team:

Wyre U3A Website:

Deadline for contributions to the next issue Is 28th February. 2019 When you are finished with this issue please pass to a friend Page 11 AAH 31/01/2019

Schedule of Group Meetings and Venues

If unsure-check with the Co-ordinator

Activity Regular Meeting Co-ordinator Contact Venue

Artists and Paintings

in the 19th and 20th

Centuries

3rd Monday

at 1.00 pm-2.30 pm Barbra Cropper Check with Co-ordinator

Badminton

1st and 3rd Wednesdays

10.00 a.m. - 12 noon

Linda Porter

All Hallows Church Hall

Bispham.

Book Group

(Monday)

1st Monday

at 2.00 pm Helen Scarborough

Poulton Library

Book Group

(Wednesday)

2nd Wednesday

at 10.00 am Brenda Ormrod Poulton Library

Canasta 2nd and 4th Tuesday

at 2.00 p.m.

Nancy West Check with

Co-ordinator

Card Making 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

at 2.00 pm Carla Clark

Carleton Memorial Hall

Computers Cancelled for the time

being

Creative Writing

Group 1

2nd Monday

at 10.00 am Ann Fewson Lodge Cottage

Creative Writing

Group 2

3rd Monday

at 10.30 am

Ann Fewson Check with Co-ordinator

Crown Green Bowling Weekly on Mondays

9.50 am for 10.00 am

Peter Rawcliffe

Current Affairs 4th Thursday

at 2.00 pm Graham Page Carleton Memorial Hall

Family History 1st Monday

at 2.00 pm Graham Lougher Small room at Carleton

Memorial Hall

French for Beginners 1st & 3rd Thursdays

at 3.00 pm Ann Burley Fleetwood Fire Station

Community Room

French for Improvers 1st and 3rd Thursday Christine Holt Fleetwood Fire Station

Community Room

French Conversation Fortnightly on Monday

11.00am till 12.30pm

Clive Jones ThorntonLibrary

Gardening 3rd Wednesday

at 1.00 pm

Kathleen Smith Various. Check with

Co-ordinator

History 2nd Monday

at 2.00 pm Ann Kelly Various. Check with

Co-ordinator

History of Art 2nd Tuesday

at 10.30 am

Martin Johnson Check with

Co-ordinator

The Italian Group

(Il Gruppo Italiano)

Fortnightly on Tuesday.

11.00am till12.30pm

Clive Jones Poulton Library

Deadline for contributions to the next issue Is 28th February. 2019 When you are finished with this issue please pass to a friend Page 12 AAH 31/01/2019

Line Dancing Every Friday

12.45-4.00 pm

1st hr beginners

Kathleen Smith


Live Music 1st and 3rd Thursdays

2.00 – 4.00 pm

Pauline Powell

Sandyforth Arms

Trunnah Road

Thornton

Music Appreciation 4th Monday

at 2.00 pm Susan Schofield Carleton Memorial Hall

Philosophy 4th Tuesday

at 2.00 pm

Linda Parkins Carleton Memorial Hall

Photography

2nd Tuesday

at 2.00 pm Elaine Holliday Carleton Memorial Hall

Play Reading 3rd Tuesday

at 2.00 pm Graham Bannister Carleton Memorial Hall

Poetry for Pleasure 1st Thursday

at 10.30am

Ann Fewson Various. Check with

Co-ordinator

Recycling To be arranged. Kathleen Smith Contact Co-ordinator

Science and

Technology

3rd Monday

at 2.00 pm

Graham Topping


Singing for Fun 3rdt Wednesday

at 2.00 pm

Arthur Jones


Spain beyond the

Costas

1st Wednesday

at 2.00 pm Sue Clark Carleton Memorial Hall

Spanish Conversation Fortnightly on Monday

at 2.00 pm

Enid Vindel

Various. Check with

Co-ordinator

The Listening Readers 1st Monday

at 2.00 pm Neil Hendrie

Members’ Homes

The Strollers 1st Tuesday

each month

Geoff Lancaster

Various. Check with

Co-ordinator

Travel 3rd Thursday

at 2.00 pm Mick Carey


Ukulele 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

11.00 am till 12 noon.

Debra Smith Victory Baptist Church

St. Annes Road

Blackpool.

Walking Last Wednesday

each month.

Susan and David Mitchell

Various. Check with

Co-ordinator

Watercolour Group 1st Tuesday

at 1.30 pm

Christine Cutts


Yoga 1st and 3rd Mondays

at 10.00 am

Carla Clark


Documents

The University of the Third Age Wyre Newsletter