NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2017
T IMETAB LE S U MMARY
DAY
MORNING
AFTERNOON
MONDAY
Keep Fit
Antiques & Collectors,
Card Group, Scrabble 2,
Play Reading
TUESDAY
Storytelling, Singing, Spanish
Book Group,
French Conversation,
Craft
Shorter Walks (Strollers),Cycling
Luncheon Club, History,
Country Walkers
Scrabble, Book Group 2,
Health & Well Being,
Photography
Gardening
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
1
The Theatre and NT Groups are not held every week - please check at the
monthly meetings for details of any visits coming up and if interested add your
name to the relevant lists.
If anyone else wants to start a group then please contact Carol Wilson or
Polly Read (contact details below)
Committee for 2016-2017 as confirmed at the AGM
Hon Chairman
Carol Wilson
80890437
Hon Vice-Chairman
Polly Read
80898706
Hon Secretary
Alethea Thompson 80846558
Hon Treasurer
Peter Johnson
80890582
Committee Member
Sandra Sare
80893929
Committee Member
Carole Hiskett
80848653
Committee Member
Vivienne Dawson
80842930
Committee Member
Co-opted Members
Membership Secretary
Sally Johnson
80890582
Member’s Welfare Rep
Lesley Rowe
80898408
Working Alongside the Committee
Newsletter & Website Editor
Mike Sare
80893929
Speaker Programme
Richard Friend
80898359
Outings
Vivienne Dawson
80842930
Lyn Connolly
80894502
Benita Horne
80892153
2
New Members
We are pleased to welcome Sandra Bradley, Ralf Catling, Dawn Gaffney,
Anthony and Marian Humphries, Monse Snelgrove and Mary Ward as recent
new members.
MEETINGS
24th Jan
Rocky Mountain Magic
28th Feb
How to enjoy a Healthy & Wealthy Retirement
28th Mar
History of Portsmouth (Part 2)
I am in discussions with several people regarding talks later this year, but as
always would be grateful for any suggestions for speakers.
RIchard Friend
Chairman’s Chatter
Hopefully, you will all know that we have managed to secure the hall at The
Royal British Legion, Exbury Road, Blackfield, for our future meetings. We
were very lucky that they are able to host us on the fourth Tuesday of each
month, so we can continue meeting on the same day and time as previously.
We do have one slight issue, in that there are no catering facilities for nonmembers at the Legion, so at the moment we can’t offer tea or coffee after
our meeting. This is a great shame, because the social side of our meetings
has always been very important to us; we are looking at how we can fix this
but hope that you will bear with us in the short term. In fact, we hope that you
will give us time to ‘settle’ into our new home, and forgive us any hiccups that
arise at first.
It appears that we have to arrange the seating and tables ourselves, so any
able-bodied member who can come along at around 1.0 pm and give us a
hand setting out chairs would be very welcome; similarly at the end, after our
meeting, we have to return the room to how we find it. The hall is let to a
youth theatre club at 4.0 pm, so we have to clear it relatively swiftly.
3
I have to stress that the bar areas at the Legion are for members only; unlike
the WSSC, this rule is very strictly enforced, so I must ask you to please
respect this. Membership of the Legion is open to anyone, so some of you
might feel that you would like to join; if so, if you speak to me I can explain the
procedure for joining.
I am very pleased to be able to tell you that this hall is WARM!! There is
plenty of parking, and access is very easy. I look forward to seeing as many
of you as possible, on 24th January at our usual time; please do come along
and join us.
Finally, if it’s not too late, I would wish all of you a very happy new year.
Carol Wilson
FROM THE GROUPS
Book Group 1
In the past months, we have read a great variety of books:
Big Little Lies, by Leanne Moriarty - which we thought would be standard
chick-lit, but turned out be much better than that.
Lionheart, by Sharon Penman - I’m sure we would have loved this story
based on the heart of Richard the Lionheart, but unfortunately the print was
so small none of us could read it!
The Report by Jessica Kane - a book based on real events in Bethnal
Green, London, during WW2, which we found very interesting. We thought it
rather sad that, although 172 people died in the worst British civilian disaster
of that war, such a good job was done in covering it up that none of us knew
much about it before reading the book.
Currently, we are reading My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante.
Carol Wilson
Book Group Chapter 2
We meet every 4th Thursday of the month.
The group is currently full.
Our latest reads:
4
The Secret Listeners by Sinclair McKay (Oct)
This is a non fiction account of the men and women of the ‘Y’ (for Wireless’)
Service who were sent out across the world to run listening stations from
Gibraltar to Cairo, intercepting the German military’s encrypted messages for
decoding back at the now-famous Bletchley Park. An interesting and
informative read. Rating 3.25 out of 5.
The Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier (Nov)
Ohio, 1838. James and Sadie Goodenough have settled in the Black Swamp,
planting apple trees to claim the land as their own. Life is harsh in the swamp,
and as fever picks off their children, husband and wife take solace in separate
comforts.
The story then moves to fifteen years later and tells the story of their eldest
son who becomes a tree collector, sending seedlings from California to
distant parts of the world. As with all Chevalier's novels it is well researched.
Whilst most enjoyed this, we agreed that it is not her best work. Rating 3.25
out of 5.
We did not meet in December.
Vicky Bayley
Card Group
We continue to meet on the 3rd Monday of the month round the table in our
dining room. Some of us know various card games already and some of us
are there to learn, this has worked out really well. We have played
Newmarket, Seven's and the card game Uno. We have also played some
board games e.g. Rummikub and Yahtzee which have been great fun, and
are looking to introduce some new card games at future meetings.
We all have a really enjoyable afternoon, learning and laughing together. At
the moment we are full with eight players.
Susie Ager
Craft Group
The first meeting in November had members doing their own crafts, mainly
with Christmas in mind. The second meeting was pre Christmas ‘nibbles and
natter’.
We did not meet in December. This month we continue doing
various crafts whilst deciding on a ‘project’ for 2017.
Cris Madden & Sandra Sare
5
Cycling Group
Our Cycle Group has increased in numbers since the last Newsletter. We are
now getting as many as 9 on each ride. It also makes interesting
conversation at the coffee stop where we discuss routes to try in the future.
In October the Blackfield contingent met at Gang Warily and the Hythe
contingent at the Heath in Dibden and then proceeded to the Wildlife Park.
The weather was very kind to us. Everybody enjoyed the route.
November we had suggested going to Lyndhurst but modified the ride going
from the Heath to Beaulieu Road Station and then going to Fairweathers in
Beaulieu for refreshments. Weather was cloudy but still enjoyable especially
as most of the group successfully managed to cycle up the hill from Beaulieu!
December ride was from Gang Warily in Blackfield meeting the Hythe
contingent at Hill Top then going to Lepe for refreshments.
One idea for the future may be to catch the Ferry to The Isle of Wight for a
ride. So we will watch the space.
Mike Sare
French Conservation
There has not been much activity since the last report, a couple of meetings
were cancelled due to illness and/or people being away and then it was the
Xmas and New Year Break. We resumed our regular fortnightly get togethers
on 10th January. We had a “Galette des Roi” supplied by Ann Emans with
our coffee. This is a pastry traditionally eaten in France at Epiphany.
Margaret Brown was the person who found the token in the pie and was
crowned Queen for the rest of the evening, although the rest of the group
were not particularly obedient subjects.
Alethea Thompson
History Group
The New Year has started and the group continue to study with topics
decided at each meeting. Currently we are loo k ing at Queen Victoria.
Unfortunately the group is closed as we meet at my house and are limited by
space.
Richard Friend
6
Gardening Group
We are going from strength to strength. Looking forward to the Spring when
most of us will be able, God willing, to get out in the garden again and
prepare for the summer season.
We were fortunate to have our very enjoyable Christmas Lunch at the
Ashlette Mill - before it closed down.
Our next meeting will be on Friday 13th at the Hythe Community Club when
we will be discussing the year ahead.
Everyone is welcome to join us.
Jill Evans
Keep Fit Group
The closure of waterside club has meant that the group will need to find a
new venue. I hope to be able to let everybody know where we will be meeting
very soon.
Richard Friend
iPad Users
Please note that the iPad Workshops are in abeyance at the moment as we
had exhausted my knowledge of the gadgets! However, I am more than
happy to do it all again, if I can get enough people who would like to learn
their way around their iPad - just let me know if you are interested.
Carol Wilson
Luncheon Group
November saw us once again at La Pergola which is always popular with our
group. We were twenty three for this venue but I was a little disappointed with
the seating on this visit as we were all on one very long table! The usual staff
who know that I like a few smaller tables were not working at the time the
seating was arranged and they were very apologetic re what had happened.
7
At our Christmas lunch, which was at Forest Park Hotel, there were 47 of us
which is the most people we have ever had! Most people seemed to really
enjoy themselves and I had a few emails from people thanking me for
arranging the nice festive lunch. We have been going to Forest Park for
Christmas several times so I may have a good look around and see if maybe
we could have a change of scenery for our next one... My biggest problem is
finding places that can cater for such a large number.
Twenty nine of us went to Seashells in January. As usual this is always very
popular and everyone seemed to enjoy their meals and people were chatting
everywhere I looked so, yet another success!
Our next lunch is to be at ‘The Rockingham Arms’ and details will be out at
the next meeting.
Rose Nolan
National Trust Group
There are no trips planned at present. If anyone would like to take over the
organisation of this group please let us know.
Mike Sare
Ramblers and Extra Long Walks
We have had some lovely walks in the past three months, especially one
where we walked around Winchester, even climbing St Catharine’s Hill. We
have been lucky with the weather - and hope that continues! Anyone who
would like to join us, if you let me have your email address, I can include you
in the emails that go out every month with details of the walks.
Carol Wilson
Scrabble Group
The Scrabble Group continues to take place on the first Thursday of the
month at Coppice Gate. We start the New Year with no change in our
members or venue.
.Sally Croll.
8
Scrabble Group 2
There has been no change in meeting details.
Due to health problems throughout the group we have had a short break but
hope to meet on Monday 16th January 2017.
We still have room for 4 more members to join us. If interested to join us then
my phone number is 023802435750. There is an answer phone so if I am out
please leave a message and I will get back to you Email address is
[email protected] if you prefer to contact that way.
Heather Looney
Singing Group (Mellow Tones)
The Mellow Tones were busy singing at various venues leading up to
Christmas and now we’re starting on a new set of songs. All are welcome on
a Tuesday 10 - 12.00, tea, coffee and chat is compulsory before singing. We
meet at Bethany Hall, Rollestone Rd.
Sue Brodrick
Skittles
We held the last skittles session of 2016 on Friday 25th November when 36
members met at The Ashlett Club.
The singles was an intense affair resulting in a three way play off which was
eventually won by Poul Little.
After lunch the team game got under way accompanied with the usual
mayhem of noisy advice from the side lines. Some of it correct but most of it
being of no use at all. But all of it in very good humour.
Sadly with the loss of the facilities at Ashlett, either temporarily or
permanently, the future of the section is in doubt unless we can find another
suitable venue. The search goes on.
I would like to say a personal thanks to all those members who over the years
we have functioned have made it a joy to organise and fun to part of it.
Tony Madden.
9
Storytellers Group
Our meetings continue at Coppice Gate although a couple of our members
are suffering from winter ailments. We have started attempting a fifty word
story and the rules are 1) It must contain exactly fifty words; 2) It must have
a beginning, a middle and an end. Simple rules but quite difficult to attain.
Here is one example from Barbara Christie:
The curious cat gazed longingly at the books, 3 stacked one on top of the
other, 3 stacked side by side. Thinking it looked safe he jumped onto the
narrow ledge. The books fell off landing on top of the cat.
What do you think became of the curious cat?
Kevin Croll
Strollers
Short Walk /Strollers are going to be taken over by Bob Wellington. He had
intended to start with January, but the cancellation of the December meeting
meant he did not have the chance to put any details out.
Alethea Thompson
Theatre Group
I am looking at the programs of the local theatres to decide on our next
outings and will let everyone know asap about the next play.
Richard Friend
Health and Well Being
After a few weeks break we started back again on the second Thursday in
January. Our first session was called "new beginnings" where we have made
lots of plans towards healthier lifestyles. We were all full of good intentions.
Next week we will see how far we have progressed ! It's worth remembering
that small changes can add up to something great.
The week before Christmas we donated our recent "subs" and "lost weigh /
inches" money to the local food bank which was gratefully received.
Lynda Friend
10
Antiques & Collectables
After a short break the news is we are going to
the fourth Monday of the month still 2 pm, still at 2 Bower Close.
meet
on
Yvonne Short
Outings
The Fawley/Holbury U3A Outing is on Wednesday 15th February 2017,
leaving at 9.30am.
We will be visiting Welford Park, Newbury to see the snowdrops in bloom.
There will be a hot drink on arrival included & then we meander through the
park. They have lovely tea rooms where we can have a snack lunch - they
have homemade cakes, soup, jacket potatoes & lunch specials. They
specialise in pork as they have their own pigs.
After lunch we will be going onto the Living Rainforest which is near Newbury
& has a conservation programme. They also have a cafe for refreshments
later if required, mainly cakes, scones, tea cakes etc. Sturdy shoes are
recommended for this outing.
The price includes the coach, entrance to Welford Park, the Living Rainforest
& a tip for the driver. £25 please make cheques payable to
Fawley/Holbury U3A, no cash thank you.
We will park our cars & meet the coach at The Royal British Legion Club,
Exbury Road, Blackfield, where we are having our meetings from January
onwards. When parking for Outings please try to car share as much as
possible & park your car on the far right hand side near the wall. For any
further information regarding outings please contact Benita Horne, Lyn
Connolly or Vivienne Dawson.
PLAYREADING GROUP
We have really enjoyed the books by Francis Durbridge, thrills and suspense
had us gripped and on the edge of our seats 'who could the killer be?' We
wondered when we read A Touch of Danger and House Guest.
11
As I have mentioned before a big thank you to the hosts it keeps the cost
down (@ 50p pp it's a good afternoon entertainment) and we are slowly
building an amount to put into a charity.
Sue Brodrick
Spanish Group
The Spanish Group is up and running. It will take place every Tuesday
between 0930 and 1030 at the Group Leader's home. Regrettably the group
is now closed but if you are interested in joining at a later date please send
your name and contact telephone number to Polly Read, the Group Coordinator, email [email protected].
Monse Snelgrove
Photographic Group
During the last period, our members have taken part in a number of projects
under the titles: Autumn, Looking Through, Name that Tune, Old Things and
finally "Doors".
Selective photographs can be seen by U3A members on our website as well
as a few contributions below. With shorter days in the Winter period, good
light is not so readily available but there are still opportunities for
photographers to take some memorable images, so our activities continue
unabated.
The venue for our meetings has had to change with the demise of the
Waterside SSC, and we now meet at Bethany Gospel Hall, Rollestone Road,
Holbury, which is eminently suitable for our group. Our thanks go to Benita
Horne for organising this for us at short notice. Anyone interested in joining
our group, please contact Peter Johnson on 02380890582.
Peter Johnson
12
13
NAME
THAT
TUNE
More photographs can be seen on Fawley/Holbury U3A Web Site
U3asites.org.uk/fawley-holbury
.
14