U3A Newsletter April 2017

1

University of the Third Age Newsletter April 2017 Issue 4 sheptonmalletu3a.org.uk

Contents

1. Thoughts from the Chair 2. What’s On

Events, speaker meetings, coffee mornings, outings, reports

3. Members’ Corner Local history, articles, reminiscences, photographs

4. U3A Regional and National News 5. Group News

Monthly activities, featured groups, contacts

6. Committee Members

1. Thoughts from the Chair

Thank you to the many members who have promptly paid the renewal for 2017-18. I understand that the sessions were quite jolly social occasions. To make life less arduous for Maggie Fowle, Membership Secretary, may I ask those that have not yet renewed and wish to, to pay the fee as soon as possible? This saves chasing people up but if you no longer wish to be a member could you let Maggie know and it would be helpful if we could know the reason why. It certainly looks as if we will continue to grow with a high percentage already renewing alongside several new members joining. (See below, How to renew your membership.) Thank you to Pat Howell and her group of Needlecrafters for putting on a splendid exhibition of their work at last month’s Speaker Meeting One interesting email I received recently shows how far and wide our newsletter is read. You may remember that last autumn Jen van der Linde offered to start a shorthand group which sadly had a disappointing response-the email is as follows: ‘I am a shorthand teacher in Australia. I am investigating ‘shorthand for

fun’ revision courses offered in a social context which is offered abroad, with a view to introducing courses here in Australia. My aim is to offer these sessions to seniors to revise their skills or learn the skill in line with research that has shown that shorthand is an excellent exercise to assist dementia prevention. My aim is to offer these sessions to seniors to revise their skills or learn the skill in line with research that I am currently applying for a Churchill Fellowship to enable me to travel abroad to visit organisations which offer such courses. Your November newsletter called for interest in such a course…….’ I find it fascinating that people from around the world are taking an interest in our website and also fascinating that shorthand might have such mental health benefits. A reminder that the May speaker meeting has changed from 4 May to 11 May due to the Council Chamber being used for election purposes. This meeting will also be the AGM so there will be a prompt start. Finally the visit to Old Bowlish House on 4 May is now fully booked. Malcolm

U3A Newsletter April 2017

2

How to renew your membership

Our subscription rate for the year beginning 1 April is £12 per person. Cheques should be made payable to Shepton Mallet U3A and sent to Membership Secretary, Shepton Mallet U3A, Ingsdon Farmhouse, Bodden, Shepton Mallet, BA4 4PU. Alternatively you can renew your membership by bank transfer using the following details (please put your name as the reference): Sort Code 40-41-22, Account number 81449354

2. What’s On Notification of Annual General Meeting The Shepton Mallet U3A AGM will commence promptly at 10.30 on 11 May. Nominations are invited for committee members by 13 April with a proposer and seconder as per the following format: Full name of nominee ....................................................... Signature ....................................................... Full name of proposer ....................................................... Signature ....................................................... Full name of seconder ....................................................... Signature .......................................................

Speaker Meetings held on the first Thursday of the month in the Council Chamber, Mendip District Council Offices from 10.00-11.45

FREE TEA and COFFEE available at every meeting Entrance fee £1.50 for U3A members, £2.50 for guests. To avoid delays at the door, please have the correct money ready for collection, thank you.

6 April An introduction to DOLPHINS WHALES AND THEIR WORLD by BERNARD PERRIER 11 May Note change of date from 4 May when the Council Chamber is required for the local

elections.

AGM followed by LES SWALES who will tell us about his life as the WELLS TOWN CRIER

Health and Wellbeing Day The fourth of our annual, popular Health and Wellbeing Days is on 10 May at our

usual venue, the Earth Science Centre at Stoke St Michael and includes a delicious buffet lunch from Peppers. The speakers are being finalised but will include a talk

about NHS developments in Shepton Mallet and the return of Gavin Churchill from the Red Cross. Full details and timings will be in the newsletter at the end of April

but tickets are going on sale at £12 each. There are a maximum of 60 tickets available at the Speaker Meeting or Coffee

morning from Margaret Breese or Lesley Clark First come, first served!

Nominations by 13 April 2017

to the Secretary,

Shepton Mallet U3A,

8 Ash Close, Wells, Somerset,

BA5 2QR

U3A Newsletter April 2017

3

Thursday Coffee Mornings Dobbies Restaurant, Shepton Mallet 10.30-12 noon All members and non-members are welcome every Thursday (except first one of the month when we have the Speaker Meeting). Join in for a coffee and friendly chat on 13, 20, and 27 April.

Outings April Wednesday 5 Pitcombe Rock Falconry, Bruton

Now Full Wednesday 19 Coleridge Cottage and Cannington Walled Gardens

Now Full Wednesday 26 Lunch and Skittles at the Britannia Inn, Wells May There are a few places available. See Janet’s email, fill in the

form with name etc. and your choice of meal and return to her

June Wednesday 7 The Royal Mint, Llantrisant Now Full Upcoming in September an outing to see Concorde in its new museum, Bristol Contact Janet for more information on any of the above or anyone with outing ideas, please get in touch. Janet Murray

3. Members’ Corner

If you would like to contribute to Members’ Corner please send your articles, reminiscences, local history, photographs etc to the editor by 20th of the month.

4. U3A Regional and National News

Regional Events No notifications National Events 25 April Spring Concert Vivaldi Gloria Temple Church,

London 18 May Roman Study Day Guildhall Gallery, London 27 May Bridge Tournament, Hook Hampshire U3A National Summer Schools 2017

17-20 July

14-17 August 11-14 September

Harper Adams University, Newport Shropshire

Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester

Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester

Full listings and details of all national events see What’s On in Third Age Matters magazine

Election of officers and members of the National Executive Committee 2017 and election of South West regional trustee

Nominations are requested from all U3As for the posts of officers of the NEC comprising: Chairman, Vice-chairman x2 and Treasurer.

U3A Newsletter April 2017

4

Nominations are also requested for the post of regional trustee. All candidates must be either nominated or seconded by his/her own U3A and must provide a supporting statement. Nominations and statements must be received at National Office by 30 June 2017. Contact Malcolm Weeks for more information and nomination forms.

5. Group News

New Groups Art now has a long waiting list of members keen to get started. The present group is very successful and enjoyable but now oversubscribed. Is there anyone who would like to start another Art group? There are several other groups that are full, including Writing for Pleasure and we are always interested in starting new, different groups. If you would like an informal chat, please contact Margaret Breese. Recorders at Summer School 2016 by Eileen O'Grady With some trepidation, Sandra Morris, Eileen O'Grady and Jeanette Dellow (now moved and transferred to Gosport U3A) enrolled for the 2016 Summer School, Recorder Ensemble Playing at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. Thanks to our very patient tutor, Jen van der Linde, we had struggled through "Recorder from the Beginning Book 3" and moved on to recorder duets and felt inspired to take the plunge into ensemble playing. Off we went to the RAC not knowing what we were letting ourselves in for, but determined to enjoy it and do our best. The group consisted of some 30 recorder players from all over the country, playing every type of recorder, from contra bass (some 6 feet high and costing a fortune) to the basic and humble descant-which we played. Our tutor, the brilliant and patient Ursula Steiger, quickly assessed our ability and placed us with competent descant players who helped and reminded us (frequently) when we couldn't remember the fingering for various sharps and flats. An intense time followed, from the first session at 5pm on the first day-just a "Welcome, introductions and a warm-up” and then commencing at 9am each morning until 5pm with usual coffee, lunch and tea breaks. The music we were introduced to was intimidating and stretched us to the limit (and beyond)-Strauss's Radetsky March, Scott Joplin Rag, 'simple' Renaissance pieces, Bach, Mozart ..... a very varied selection. We played along and the bits we couldn't manage, we tried to look as if we were playing-I don't think we fooled Ursula. In the evenings we were well catered for-a popular bar, a quiz, a concert and a gala dinner on our final evening. The programme of courses for this year's three Summer Schools is varied. One in particular looks intriguing, "Sexuality in the Ancient World"- the teaching style will be "Lecture Seminars with active participation" - the mind boggles ! Anyone on that course will be questioned closely in the bar!

Bowls The outdoor bowls season starts on 15 April so the first U3A bowls will be on Monday 24 April. The group meet on the second and fourth Mondays at 11am when we have the green for two hours. If anyone would like to try bowls you will be very welcome, Frank Booth. Any other questions please get in touch.

U3A Newsletter April 2017

5

Music Appreciation We continue to attract new members, now eleven in the group, with a wide range of music tastes. The choices at our last meeting on 1 March based on the letter ‘M’ were: the andante movement from Mozart’s piano concerto No.21 sometimes referred to as the Elvira Madigan concerto and used in the 1967 film of the same name; Vittorio Monti’s Csárdás, well-known folkloric piece that has been played by most gypsy orchestras; Irish folk singer Mary O’Hara singing the classic folk song The Rose. We also listened to the allegro movement from Mendelsohn’s symphony No. 4, commonly known as the Italian; Mussorgsky’s the Great Gate of Kiev from the suite Pictures at an Exhibition; Macushla, an Irish folk song sung by Scottish tenor John McCormack; Jelly Roll Morton singing on a 1926 recording of Doctor Jazz and Katy Melua singing Mockingbird from her 2004 album Call of the Search. The next Music Appreciation meeting will be on Wednesday 5 April at 2.00pm in Holmcroft Court when our theme will be music with connections to the letter ‘A’ for April. Derek Hiller

Needlecraft The Needlecraft Group has now been together for almost six years with many of the original members still attending on a regular basis. We were delighted to be able to put on a small exhibition of our skills at the March Speaker Meeting and rewarded by many appreciative comments. The exhibition included quilts, cushions, embroideries (English and Japanese), knitting, goldwork and must have contained about 30 pieces. Pat Howell

U3A Newsletter April 2017

6

Walking A circular spring walk took the group on a beautiful walk around the village of Kilmersdon, taking in the nursery rhyme hill of Jack and Jill (safely) then along part of the old Colliers’ Way railway line. Looping back through the glorious grounds of Babington House we walked through woods, along a stream and finally tackled a quagmire. To end there was a welcome drink and meal at the friendly Jolliffe Arms.

Walking group went up the hill and came back very muddy

Skittles Skittles group has closed due to low numbers and a forced change in timing. Would anyone like to have a go at restarting the group perhaps at a different venue and with different timing? What about an evening when it might be possible to pay stickers up. Any thoughts or ideas? Margaret Breese, Group Coordinator. Strollers Strollers will be up and running, sorry strolling, again in April. The first stroll is on 20 April. All information is from Lesley Clark.

U3A Newsletter April 2017

7

Solo Group Solo members are still keeping busy with dining out and coffee mornings at the Brasserie on a weekly basis. Future dates are: 2 April Sunday lunch at Hartleys, 12.15 for 12.30 pre-order please 18 April Coffee morning at the Brasserie, Shepton Mallet 10.30-12 noon Anyone interested in joining the group and making new friends, please contact Janet Murray. Monthly Activities 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Monday Walking Discussion 10.30am Bowls 11am Art 2-4pm

Walking Woolcraft 2.30pm

Bowls 11am Art 2-4pm

Tuesday Book Group 10.15am Bridge 2pm Table Tennis 2pm Flower Club 2pm

Antiques 11am Table Tennis 2pm Bridge 2pm Needlecraft 2pm Recorder Playing 2pm

Family History 1 10.30am Bridge 2pm Table Tennis 2pm

Family History 2 10.30 Table Tennis 2pm Bridge 2pm Needlecraft 2pm Recorder Playing 2pm

Wednesday Music Appreciation 2pm

Short mat bowls 2pm

Short mat bowls 2pm

Thursday Speaker Meeting 10.30am

Coffee 10.30am Scrabble 2pm

Coffee 10.30am Strollers 1.30pm

Coffee 10.30am Scrabble 2pm

Friday Table Tennis 2pm Singing 10.30am Table Tennis 2pm

Munch Club Table Tennis 2pm

Singing 10.30am Table Tennis 2pm

The table above represents the usual meeting dates for groups. The actual dates may vary. The Play Reading meets fortnightly at 10am on a Monday morning. Writing for Pleasure meets fortnightly at 2pm on a Thursday. They do not appear on the above chart. You should contact group leaders for confirmation of dates. For more information on any of our groups visit the website www.sheptonmalletu3a.org.uk or contact the individual group leader below. Group Contacts

Antiques Nell Reeves Art Eric Wehrfritz Books Maureen

Westmorland

Bowls Frank Booth Bridge Maureen

Westmorland

Discussion Malcolm Weeks Family History Keith Taylor Flowers Freda Briars Munch Club Maggie Fowle Music Appreciation

Derek Hiller

U3A Newsletter April 2017

8

Needlecraft Pat Howell Play Reading Catherine Wylie Recorders Jen Van der Linde Scrabble Di Gommo Singing for Pleasure

Alison Howells Catherine Wylie

Skittles Solos Janet Murray Strollers Lesley Clark Table Tennis 1 and 2

Joyce Farnworth

Walking Joy and Brian Harwood

Woolcraft Pam Mitchell Writing for Pleasure

Catherine Wylie

6. Committee Members

Chair Malcolm Weeks

Groups Coordinator Margaret Breese

Treasurer Lesley Clark

Membership Secretary Maggie Fowle

Newsletter Julia Goddard

Brian Harwood

Outings Janet Murray

Secretary Liz Nash

Vice Chair Tony Parker

Website Keith Taylor Publicity Derek Hiller

(non committee member)

Speakers Pete Norman Barbara Voules (non committee members)

Thank you to all our contributors this month. Please send your items for the newsletter by 20th of the month Julia Goddard, Editor Website: www.sheptonmalletu3a.org.uk