Fairford & District
Newsletter
Issue 233
November
2016
Ghostly Tales from
The Man in Black
Graham Sutherland
www.fairfordu3a.org.uk
Registered Charity No 1072658
Read the Newsletter online at www.fairfordu3a.org.uk 
Main Meeting
October Meeting
Tuesday, 1 November
An Auctioneer’s Lot
At the October meeting a deft chronology of his
life allowed Philip Allwood to show his skill in
‘working’ an audience. He hails from Norfolk and
played on the ‘Normal for Norfolk’ theme by
telling of some extreme sales he handled there.
Once someone actually paid for a purchase with
£11,000 in cash he had brought in a pram.
Another time when Philip, as a very young,
inexperienced auctioneer, despaired of offloading a really huge pile of scrap metal some
travellers put in a bid for £40,000. They duly
returned with the cash and insisted he count it
while squashed between two of them in the
back seat of a car.
Graham Sutherland: ’The Man in Black’
amuses us with chilling tales suitable
for the darker days of winter.
Forthcoming Meetings
6 December: Ukey D’Ukes
He was glad to move to Dunmow, which
involved more antiques and probate. Known for
the ‘flitch’ (which his uncle won in 1920) or
where the first self-righting boat was tested, for
him it was the place where he made a world
record sale of £32,000 with a rare Charles I
mug depicting the Kennedy crest crossed with
the arms of France.
This popular group who have entertained us
before are back again for our Christmas
revels.
Event: 12 December: Christmas Lunch
3 January 2017: My Life as an Author
Local author Paul Cornell has written for Dr
Who and just about every comic book
character. He is the author of six published
novels. His ‘Witches of Lychford’ novellas are
based on a town very like Fairford!
His move to Moore, Allen and Innocent in the
Bingham Hall signalled upward progress but he
was glad when the company moved to Norcote
Barn to solve its parking problem. With closer
attention being paid to money laundering, an
Irish browser once asked, ‘How much can I
spend before you need to know who I really
am?’
Welcome to our
NEW MEMBERS
Rebecca Sargent
Marilyn Stephenson
Gavin and Elizabeth Stuart
Philip’s biggest triumph came in 2007. After
more than a year of work on its authenticity, a
genuine self-portrait by Rembrandt, which
became known as Democretes (sic), the smiling
philosopher, sold to Hazlitt, Gordon and Fox Ltd
for £2.2m.
Reminder:
Should you change your email address or any
other detail will you please let the
Membership Secretary know, so our records
can be kept up to date.
Sue Jonson
[email protected]
It subsequently went to
the Getty Museum for
£2.7m.
Sylvia Jones
Tea Rota
6 December:
3 January:
7 February:
Editor this month
Marilyn Gibbon
Committee
Keep Fit
Latin
Photo Album
If you have any interesting photographs of U3A activities please pass them to Ann Wightman
(01285 712723) for inclusion in the album.
2
Chairman’s Report
The Committee have been looking at the possible adoption of an online organisational tool,
BEACON. This has been developed by the U3A specifically to meet the needs of U3A groups. It
will help us keep membership records more easily and eventually to make online payments. Our
application to adopt this system is being headed up by Garry Stephenson in consultation with
the Committee and we hope to be up and running in the next few months. Thanks Garry for all
the work you and your team have put into this so far.
I am pleased to say that the proposed new Spanish beginners group is now up and running on
Wednesdays. Thanks to Linda Aston for leading this group.
May I remind you that you can still pick up Newsletters for friends and neighbours at the
monthly meetings and just to tick the sheet so we know who has received one. Thanks.
Lastly, don't forget to book in for Christmas Dinner on Monday, 12 December (see below). It
was excellent last year and we anticipate a good time this year too.
Any comments or queries, please feel free to contact me on 01285 850384.
Jan Mills
01285 850384
Italian Christmas Lunch at the Colosseo Restaurant, Fairford
on Monday, 12 December at 12 noon for 12.30
Don’t forget to book your place—fill in the form at the end of this
Newsletter and return to Marilyn Gibbon at 4 Lane House, Back Lane,
Fairford, GL7 4AG as soon as possible as places are limited to 70.
More choice this year!
Memory Course
We are hoping to run a U3A Memory Course in Spring 2017. This has been created by Sylvia
Dillon, a Consultant Psychologist, and Anne Stark, a retired Occupational Therapist; the course
has been run successfully many times.
The aims of the course are to help members understand, prevent and manage everyday
memory problems and to raise awareness on how to prevent and/or reduce the risk of
dementia. It is also practical and fun!
The Course will run for 4 weeks and each session will last for an hourand-a-half. There will be a small cost involved to cover course
material.
Please let the committee or Morag Hill know if you are interested!
Morag Hill
01285 238007
07739 552786
(repeated entry from last month’s Newsletter—Ed)
3
Diabetes Awareness Event
to be held on 24 November at 7.00pm at
the Hilary Cottage Surgery,
Fairford for patients registered with the
Surgery
There are 3.5 million people diagnosed with
diabetes in the UK. An estimated 549,000 people
have diabetes and don’t know it.
Join us for this FREE healthcare event at the
surgery where you will be able to find out more
about this debilitating illness.
Straddlers and Striders
Annual Meeting
This meeting will be earlier than
usual due to holiday commitments
and will be held in the Colosseo
restaurant, Fairford beginning at
10.30am
on
Thursday,
24
November. The restaurant will serve coffees and
alcoholic beverages and is opening up earlier than
usual so please don't turn up before 10.30am.
We hope that as many members as possible will
join us to look over the past year's walks and plan
for future walks for 2017. We hope to get enough
offers from those who would be prepared to lead
a walk next year to enable us to put on a full
programme. If you don't feel that you could lead
a walk then please come along anyway as the
purpose of the meeting is to gather views on and
ideas for the way forward.
Straddlers - John Burrows 01367 253056
Leave your name and contact details at Hilary
Cottage Surgery Reception desk.
Places are limited, so book soon!
Strollers and Pub Lunch Walking Groups
2017 Planning Meeting on
Friday 9 December 2016
This meeting will be held on Friday 9 December at
10.00am at Ann Wightman’s house and we look
forward to seeing all members who have led,
participated or would like to lead, a walk in 2017.
Maps, guides etc. are available for those who would
like to volunteer for the first time. If you are
uncertain, do join us at the meeting; walks are fun
for leaders as well as walkers, so hopefully we can
convince you.
I am also looking for a joint leader to help coordinate these two walking groups - if you are
interested in attending please contact me.
Reg Thoburn:
Ann Wightman:
01285 712397
01285 712723
Striders - Phil Trickett 01285 712421
Waddesdon Manor
The trip to Waddesdon Manor is nearly upon us!
Please be at St Mary’s Church, Fairford by 8.50am
on Wednesday, 16 November. The coach will
leave at 9am and will collect members who are
coming from Lechlade at the usual place; near
Lechlade Memorial Hall site (on the main road) at
9.10am.
If you are National Trust members, please
bring your membership cards!
Don’t forget there will be plenty of opportunity to
buy Christmas presents at The Christmas Market;
this is held outside in an area especially put aside
for the purpose—please bring appropriate
clothing if it is cold and/or wet. Don’t forget
your shopping bag!
We will be leaving Waddesdon Manor at 5pm after
seeing the lights.
Full information concerning the itinerary will be
given to you on the day.
(More information on Waddesdon Manor can be
found at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/waddesdonmanor—Ed)
Thoughts on Teaching
…’ If he (the teacher) is wise, he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of
your own mind.’
Khalil Gibran
4
GROUP MEETINGS
Please contact the group leaders if you are interested in joining any of the groups, or visit
www.fairfordu3a.org.uk for further information.
Anglo-Saxon Poetry
Book Circle 1
Thursday 24 November
Tuesday 8 November
We shall meet at my house at 10.30am.
In November we meet at Pauline’s to put
together our book selection for the coming
year.
There will be no meeting in December.
Please let me know if you are unable to come.
Miriam Scott
01285 713441
Sheila Morgan
01285 810471
Ballroom Dancing
Tuesdays 1, 15 and 29 November; 13
December
Book Circle 2
Tuesday 8 November
We meet at the Fairford Community Centre
from 7.00pm - 8.00pm with Instructor
Joanne and her partner Mark.
We meet this month at Sue's home to discuss
'Élizabeth is Missing' by Emma Healey. Please let
Sue know if you are unable to attend.
Why not join our friendly group, it's a great
way to keep fit!
Level: Beginners.
In December, we meet at Ian and Rosemary's
home to plan our reading for 2017. Come with
lots of suggestions!
If you would be interested in joining our group
next year, you would be very welcome. Please get
in touch with:
Ann Wightman
01285 712723
[email protected]
Ian and Rosemary Westlake
01285 712329
[email protected]
Birdwatching
Tuesday 15 November
Boccia
Our final visit this year will be to Slimbridge to
see the early winter arrivals. Meet at Fairford
car park at 9am.
Thursdays—First meeting 10 November
We will meet every Thursday afternoon in the
Farmor Room, Fairford Community Centre at
2.15pm until 3.30pm. All members are invited.
We shall play BOCCIA and enjoy a free cup of tea
or coffee and biscuits.
As usual we will have lunch in their restaurant.
There is an entrance fee for non WWT
members. The suggested
passenger contribution is
£3.
BOCCIA is a game suitable for people of all
abilities and can be played sitting down.
Richard Morgan
01285 712085
As we have to pay for the room, there will a
charge of £1.50 per person.
For further information please call:
Reg Thoburn:
David & Heather Baber:
5
01285 712397
01285 711343
Creative Writing
Bridge Improvers
Mondays
Fridays
We have an excellent small group who are
enjoying the activities but we would welcome
any new members.
Bridge is a fascinating
and absorbing game
which offers challenge
and excitement and
keeps the mind alert
and
active
without
being
physically
demanding. The group is not suitable for
beginners, but for anyone with some
knowledge of the game who wants to
improve.
We meet every Friday morning from 10.00am
to 11.30pm.
Please contact me for more details:
Jo Stichbury
01285 239152
Chess
We usually have a lesson, based on the
Standard English (Acol) system, followed by
practice play and friendly discussion. We
expect to make lots of mistakes but hope to
learn from them.
Do you know how to play chess? If not, have
you ever thought about learning? Why not
join us and give it
a try? We play for fun and don’t take it too
seriously whether we win or lose, and it is a
good way to keep the grey matter ticking
over.
We meet once a month, usually on a
Wednesday afternoon, start with a chat over
tea and biscuits, and play for a maximum of
about an hour-and-a-half.
Please contact me if you are interested or
would like more information.
We meet in the Heritage room at Fairford
Community Centre, every Monday afternoon
from 2.00pm to 4.00pm, and the cost is £1
per session which includes tea/coffee and
biscuits.
Margaret Bishop
01285 713747
[email protected]
Mike Bennett
01367 252379: [email protected]
Cycling with a Pub Lunch
Members and new members please note—we have
now finished for this season. Hope to see you next
year!
Dance to Five Rhythms
Wednesday 16 November
Paul O’Shaughnessy
Tuesdays
We dance regularly at the Palmer Hall on the
third Wednesday of the month, at 10.00am.
New members welcome. Come and move to
the music!
Computer Group
We meet every week on Tuesday mornings at
my home where I aim to help members in the
use of computers, the internet and more. If
you are interested in joining, please contact
me and you will be welcome. For those just
starting, I have a desktop computer that is
available for members to use, although it is
helpful if you have a laptop to bring along.
Joyce Deane
01285 851408
If you want to start using email, I can
allocate you a personal email address for
your sole use.
This month, we shall meet at my house and we
shall continue with our favourite heirlooms. Please
contact me if you are unable to come. There
will be no meeting in December.
Nick Humphris : 01285 711740
Miriam Scott: 01285 713441
Family History
Wednesday 16 November
6
French
Geology
Intermediate
Wednesday 9 November
We continue to meet on Mondays at
11.00am at my home. We fix dates for our
meetings from one meeting to the next. If
you are interested in joining us, please
contact me. You would be very welcome our meetings are always great fun.
For details of this month’s meeting please
contact:
Clive Watson
01285 713003
Rosemary Westlake
01285 712329
[email protected]
Italian for Beginners
Mondays
Advanced
We meet on Monday afternoons at my home.
At present we are focussing on ‘Holiday
Italian’.
Mondays
We start by reading a couple of pages from
a magazine published for groups like ours,
and then discuss matters arising from that,
and anything else that takes our fancy! This
is done in two small groups of generally not
more than six people.
New members are always welcome!
For details contact:
Bea Bostock
01285 750456
Barbara Cartwright
07989 353726
Industrial Heritage
For details of this month’s activities please
contact:
Pete Evans
01285 713069
[email protected]
Thoughts on Children:
‘… And though they are with you yet they belong not to
you; you may give them your love but not your thoughts;
you may house their bodies but not their souls, for their
souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot
visit, even in your dreams….’
Tuesdays
Khalil Gibran
Garden Group
Change of date:
Thursday, 17 November
Keep Fit
We meet in the Palmer Hall on Tuesday each
week at 9.15am. At present the group is
almost full.
Note: there will be no Keep
Fit on Tuesday, 1 November as our
instructor is away.
Chris Pooley
01367 250346
This month’s visit will be to Bampton nursery
followed by a meal at Aston Pottery.
Latin
Thursdays 3 November, 1 December
As this is a change from normal, we will
meet at 12 noon at the car park in Fairford.
The group meets on the first Thursday of the
month at 2.30pm at my house.
Please contact me if you are unable to come.
Beth and Geoff Dennis
01285 712195
[email protected]
Susan Greig
01285 810274
7
Mah Jong
Thursdays 3, 17 November; 1, 5 December
The Mah Jong Group meets in the Barker Room at Fairford Community Centre for two hours
from 10.00am on the first and third Thursdays of the month. Our group started with a ‘bang’ on
5 November last year; doesn’t time fly! We will be resetting the scores so now is a good time
to start playing.
We would like to invite more members to join us whether they have ever played before or not.
It is an easy and sociable game to learn and enjoy from the outset. Please contact us if you
would like a trial session in advance to find out what it is all about.
Alan & Linda Eagle: 01285 712515
[email protected]
Needlework
Model Group
Wednesdays 2, 16, 30 November
Thursdays
We meet at the Fairford Community Centre
from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. This group brings
together many different skills under the
heading of ‘Needlework’; we are a friendly
group and enjoy our sessions.
The Model Group meets weekly on Thursday
mornings.
If you would like to know more, please
contact:
Please contact me for details.
Jim Sullivan
01367 252539
Philosophy
Pauline Jones
01285 851212
Our next meeting will be at Susan's house and the
subject will be: "To seek comfort, both physical or
moral is a sign of weakness".
Music Listening
Friday 18 November, 16 December
We will meet at Rosemary's house at 2.30pm for
a concert of 'Modern Music' arranged by
Rosemary and Gillian.
Bula will introduce the discussion.
Dan Deane
01285 851408
Our meeting in December will also be at
Rosemary's house and the topic will be 'Seasonal
Music' at 2.30pm on Friday 16 December.
Gillian Bilbrough
01285 712579
[email protected]
Tuesday 15 November
Our next meeting will be held at the usual venue
at 2.30pm.
Thoughts On Marriage:
‘… stand together yet not too near together:
for the pillars of the temple stand apart,
and the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each
other’s shadow.’
Please contact me for more details.
John Higgs
01285 712488
Khalil Gibran
8
Poetry Circle 1
Poetry Circle 2
Fridays 4 November, 2 December
Fridays 4 November, 2 December
This month we meet at Gillian's (01285 712579)
to read some ballads.
The group usually meets on the first Friday of
the month at 2.30pm when we read and
enjoy poetry and verse of all kinds.
Anyone interested in joining us would be
most welcome.
Barbara Cottam
In December we meet at Jen's (01285 712397) to
read seasonal poems.
Please let either of us know if you are unable
to come.
01285 711054
Barbara Cobbett
Jen Thorburn
Quilting
01285 712692
01285 712397
Wednesdays 2 November, 7 December
This group meets on the first Wednesday of
the month from 12.30pm to 2.00pm in the
Barker Room of the Community Centre.
Rummikub
Thursday 10 November
New members welcome. Please telephone me
for more information.
Jan Mills 01285 850384
The group meets on the second Thursday of
each month at our house from 2.00pm to
4.30pm for some friendly games of
Rummikub.
For further information or explanation, please
refer to the Fairford U3A website or
telephone me.
Thursdays, 3 November and 1 December
We play Scrabble from 2.30-4.30pm in the
Fairford Community Centre. If you would like to
join this group you will be very welcome.
Mary Bennett
01367 253287
Kathleen Price
01285 712417
Recorders
Fridays 11 November, 9 December
We start with anyone who would like to play the treble (from 2.00pm to 2.30pm) followed by
the main group to finish at 4.30pm with a break for tea.
We will be in the Heritage Room on the ground floor of the Fairford Community Centre and will
let you know if we have to use another room. As usual, we will be playing a varied selection of
music arranged for Descant, Treble, Tenor and Bass with the addition of Great and Contrabasses
in the occasional piece.
If there are any more recorder players (no matter how rusty) who would like to join a friendly,
non-judgemental group you would be very welcome - please contact:
Hilary Bradshaw
01367 860030
[email protected]
Jay Mathews
01367 860869
[email protected]
We have some spare instruments and stands; please ask if you would like to borrow one.
9
Straddlers
Thursday 17 November 2016
A walk of just 8.75 miles, involving no serious
hills and very few stiles, mainly following tracks
and across a few fields. Unless it rains for a week,
there should be very little mud!
Start at the car park opposite the gates of
Barrington Park on the way into Great Barrington.
The walk follows the Windrush valley to Great
Rissington and then back to Great Barrington
along a track east of the road between them. We
pass through Little Barrington and Windrush
village, before turning north past Windrush Mill,
then over the river past Manor Farm and up to
Great Rissington. Returning south, we briefly join
the road by a disused quarry, then continue
towards Miletree Clump at the bend in the road.
Just before the Clump we head south to
Barrington farm.
Bring lunch and coffee as usual and meet at
Fairford car park at 9.14am or at the car park in
Barrington (just before the village – see above) at
9.55am. Please let me know if you are going to
join us. Suggested passenger travel fee £1.50.
Michael Bottomley
[email protected]
or telephone 01285 712074
Spanish
Please phone me for details of this month’s
meeting
We are a continuation group now, reading
selected articles and commenting on what we
have read.
Frank Hall
01285 712583
[email protected]
NEW! - Spanish for Beginners
It is well known that learning a language helps to
keep the mind active as we get older.
If you have ever considered taking up Spanish,
now is the time! Don’t prevaricate until next year by then our group may be fluent and unable to
accommodate new beginners!
We will meet at my house on Wednesday
afternoons. Please contact me if you would like to
join.
Linda Aston: 01285 810900:
Striders
Tuesday 22 November 2016
This is a 5 mile circular walk from the Farmers
Arms at Guiting Power. There are very few stiles,
no major hills and a very pleasant pub! We leave
the village heading north-east towards Little
Windrush farm, and then north-west to Castlett
farm; on to Kineton and then a track to Guiting
Wood. The track through the wood heads south,
joins the Diamond Way, and returns to Guiting
Power.
Meet at Fairford car park at 9.13am or in the Farmers Arms car park in Guiting Power at 9.56am to
order our lunch there. Suggested travel donation of
£2. Please contact me by 10.30 am the day before
the walk to confirm that you will be coming.
[email protected]
Strollers
Friday 25 November
Our walk this month is a circular walk of the town
of Tetbury. Approx 2.5 miles to include the police
museum and church.
Please wear sensible shoes but it won't be muddy.
Start at Fairford car park leaving at 9.30am sharp,
or meet at the free Railway Yard car park Tetbury
GL8 8EY at 10.15am. Lunch will be at the Priory
Hotel; you can order on the day or consult their
website at www.theprioryinn.co.uk for the menu
nearer to the date as it changes frequently.
Suggested passenger fee £2.
Contact Ann Wightman:
or Jackie Ephgrave:
Michael Bottomley
01285 712074
or [email protected]
10
01285712723
01285712042
Short Tennis
Table Tennis
Mondays
Wednesdays and Fridays
This group meets in the Palmer Hall every
Monday between 3.00pm and 5.00pm. As we
only have one court we often cannot
accommodate new players, so if interested
please speak to me first.
Our group has grown to the extent that we
have chosen to run an additional session. You
can now come along on Wednesday from
2.30pm and Friday from 10.00am.
Margaret Trickett
01285 712421
Sessions are held in Keble Room in the
Fairford Community Centre. Players of all
abilities are welcome.
Wednesday Group Leader:
Nick Stroude: 01295 521067
Solos
Friday Group Leader:
Barry Aylett-Warner: 01367 253788
Mondays
7 November, 5 December, 9 January 2017
The next general meeting will be at Val’s
house at 2.30pm.
Contact me for more information.
Yoga
Mondays
The Yoga Group meets weekly on Mondays at
the Community Centre at 10.00am.
Michael Johnson
01285 712637
[email protected]
I am sorry, but there is still a waiting list.
Sylvia Jones
01285 712657
Traditional Jazz
Thursdays 3 November, 1 December
The group meets on the first Thursday each month at our house from
2.00pm to 4.30pm.
Ian Bennett: 01367 253287
[email protected]
Walking with a Pub Lunch
Wednesday 9 November
This is a lovely, pleasant circular walk of about 5 miles commencing in Eastleach and walking through
fields and meadows skirting Southrop and then back to Eastleach. A couple of stiles to negotiate and also
a short section along a country lane (1 minute walking).
As we will be following the natural contours of the land there will be some inclines and declines although
nothing regular walkers cannot manage. Also as we will be walking in November suitable footwear and
clothing is recommended and walking poles if you usually use them.
Meet at the Fairford car park in time to leave at 9.40am or at the Victoria Inn, Eastleach at
09.50am for a 10am start.
Suggested passenger donation £1.
Reg Thoburn: 01285712397
11
GROUP REVIEWS
Anglo-Saxon Poetry
Our last meeting took place on 22 September, the day of the Autumn Equinox, which of course signals
that cold weather and dark nights are on their way.
We had a foretaste of winter in our first poem ‘The Seafarer’. In this long elegiac poem the poet recalls
that:
‘Night’s shadows darkened, snow came from the north,
Frost bound the ground and hail fell on earth,
Coldest of corns.’
Despite these harsh conditions and the self-imposed exile that a seafaring life entails the poet is
magnetically drawn to a life on the sea, a way of life which ‘He who lives most prosperously on land does
not understand’. The seafarer then goes on to equate a life at sea with the renunciation of worldly
pleasures and a life dedicated to God. A sense of the transience of life runs through the poem.
The second poem we considered, ‘The Wanderer’, is also imbued with a sense of transience as well as
the need to confront whatever the fate and the elements have in store for us:
‘Where is the horse now? Where the hero gone?
Where is the bounteous lord, and where the benches for feasting?
Where are all the joys of hall?...’
‘…storms now beat upon these stony slopes,
The falling tempest binds in winter’s vice
The earth, and darkness comes with shades of night,
And from the north sends a fire storm of hail
In malice against men.’
Both the poems are from a group of six poems which collectively are known as the Elegies, poems where
the topic is loss - loss of a lord, loss of a loved one, loss of fine buildings fallen into decay. They are all
found in the Exeter Book, a manuscript now in Exeter Cathedral Library.
As usual the meeting finished with a track from the recording of Seamus Heaney’s verse translation of
Beowulf.
Iris Anne Lewis
07787 068828
[email protected]
Birdwatching
Our recce to Frampton Pools failed to find any worthwhile birds, so instead we paid a visit to
some gravel workings between Whelford and Kempsford for our September outing, which
was much more successful.
Although massive earth movers were still working in the area we were able to find plenty of
birds. Large numbers of greylag and Canada geese made the numerous ducks (mostly mallard) look
insignificant. Several little egrets and grey herons were stalking the shallows in the hope of a meal.
Further away from the gravel workings we spent some time following several small waders and eventually
settled for greenshank (not so small!), green and common sandpipers and both ringed and little ringed
plover.
We also had excellent views of two very big ‘birds’ in the form of a B1 and a B52 taking off from the
airbase!
Richard Morgan
12
Book Circle 1
‘H is for Hawk’ by Helen Macdonald
Historian and nature writer Helen Macdonald was obsessed with birds of prey from the age of eight and had flown
hawks for many years. When her father, a well-respected Fleet Street photojournalist, died suddenly of a massive
heart attack in 2007, she was overcome with grief and depression. She bought a goshawk for £800 in Scotland –
she named her ‘Mabel’ – and spent a year training the bird in an effort to forget her real life. Five years later, she
began to write this book about her struggles with her grief and how she came to terms with her bereavement.
When the book was published in 2014 it immediately became a bestseller.
Woven into the narrative is the sad story of the writer T H White, best known for his Arthurian tale ‘The Once and
Future King’. He too had trained a goshawk to try to come to terms with his own personal suffering.
Macdonald’s book is undoubtedly a linguisitic masterpiece and well-deserving of the prizes it received. Despite
being described as ‘a soaring triumph’, it has to be said that it does not meet everyone’s literary
taste. Most people in the group did not enjoy it, and words such as ‘disturbing’, ‘relentless’,
‘repetitive’ could be heard. The thought of going to the fridge and finding an array of dead chicks
– food for Mabel – simply could not be tolerated. There was just one person who enjoyed the
book and had recommended it to her friends – and she is a vegetarian!
Barbara Cobbett
Book Circle 2
The Witches of Lychford: Paul Cornell
Imagine you are driving a car, out of control, skidding down an icy hill. There is a narrow bridge ahead of you and
by luck you arrive unscathed at the other side of the bridge. You take a bit of time to recover.
This is an experience similar to reading ‘The Witches of Lychford' by Paul Cornell. You were told there was a risk of
ice on the roads and you should not have set out in the car in the same way as the title of the book warned you
about witches - perhaps you should not have risked reading it.
Lychford is a small town like Fairford or Lechlade that is at risk of having a huge development built on its outskirts.
The development will break the supernatural defences against the evils that are always trying to get to the town to
wreak havoc and distress. The steering in the car has gone light and you are beginning to skid. An old outcast mad
woman, who is a witch, realises the danger to the town and enlists the help of the lady owner of the local occult
shop and a new woman vicar who is losing her faith. The three women counteract the forces of evil. The car does a
360⁰ spin as you struggle with the steering to no avail. The narrow bridge is horribly close. The manager of the
development offers bribes to the vicar. This manager is a messenger of the devil but suddenly he is frightened off
by the three women. The council and people of Lychford reject the development and the threat goes away. You
have by good luck got over the little bridge unscathed and come to a stop. You need time to recover and return to
normal. You think you are too long in the tooth for a driving experience like that. Perhaps the book would be
enjoyed by a younger, risk taking dare-devil reader.
Ian Westlake
Book Circle 2
At our October meeting we discussed our second book, ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’ by Patricia Highsmith.
She wrote crime novels but they were not detective stories—they were not ‘who-dunnits’ but ‘whydunnits’. She was concerned with the psychology of criminals.
Having created the amoral but charming Mr Ripley she went on to write four more novels about him. We
were all intrigued by the ingenious ways he got himself out of tight spots when impersonating his friend
after he had murdered him. You may know the film made by Anthony Minghella in 1999, starring
Matt Damon.
Miriam Scott
Thoughts on Talking:
‘...You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts and when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart
you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime.
And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered. For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed
unfold its wings but cannot fly ... ‘
Khalil Gibran
13
Family History
We met for our first autumn session at the home of Miriam Scott. The task was to bring along a
family heirloom and explain its importance and if relevant, the context of the item to the owner.
Ann Wightman brought along a rosary which had meant so much to her mother that she held it
in her hand at her death. Central to the rosary, apart from the cross, was a small disc with fine
inscriptions including a date of 1930 and the name of the City of Bruges. Ann herself was looking
for answers to the inscription but I’m afraid our group was unable to enlighten her.
Val Gilligan brought a collection of fine metal brooches and ornaments her mother had made
while a student of Arts and Crafts at the (then) college in Newcastle. The skills involved in the
work were very impressive and the objects real things of beauty.
Val Higgs brought two huge and remarkably sharp photographs of her father as a member of the
Royal Naval reserve during the end part of the 1 st World War; July 1918 – January 1919. It was
possible to identify him amongst several hundred. Behind the men on the photograph was the
old Crystal Palace, built for the Great Exhibition of 1851 which sadly burnt down in 1936. The
second photo was of her father during the 2nd WW as a member of the Home Guard of the
Middlesex Battalion.
Margaret Toms brought along some sheet music of ballads composed by her father with words
added. She explained they were romantic pieces and were among six or seven she had retained.
The ballad she had brought along was “Just one Sweet Thought”. We must have them played
sometime.
I brought along a small wooden box with the brass inscription “Ann Maria Schoolden”; she
was my great grandmother. It was dated 1863; just eleven years after her birth in 1852. It had
probably been given to her to keep her own special things in and had been passed on via my
grandmother, the eldest sibling of a large family of eight surviving children. Inside was a sharp
photograph of Ann with a baby in her arms taken soon after the birth of my grandmother in
1876. Researching this unusual surname other family members have found no records beyond
1770 in Lancashire. It has been suggested that it might be a foreign import possibly Dutch
Huguenot though the ending “den” is common throughout England, and especially in the northwest, both as a personal name ending and as a place name.
Michael Johnson also had a photograph of his great-great-grandmother. Significantly this was a
daguerreotype named after the inventor Louis Daguerre in 1839. The result was quite stunning
and had been carefully tinted to add colour to the quality. It was mounted in a large frame which
did justice to the high standard of the picture.
Clive Watson
Industrial Heritage
Last month the group visited the Inland Waterways museum in Gloucester. The museum has
recently undergone major updating and the results are impressive. The history of the waterways
is clearly explained and illustrated. We also had an unexpected bonus.
Some of the members discovered that an adjoining building housed an engine which once
belonged to Godwin Pumps. A very helpful member of staff arranged for the building to be
opened for us and much reminiscing ensued!
Peter Evans
14
Poetry Circle 1
We toured the world in our October meeting; one port of call was the West Indies where we heard from
the poet Harold Telemaque of the riches that his native land had to offer, unconnected with material
wealth.
His poem, ‘Dowry’, was new to us all. ‘The Map’ by James Walker, a less well known war poet viewed
the countryside from the air, whilst ‘Forties, Cromarty, Forth and Tyne’ by Mark Edwards gave us a
poetic version of the shipping forecast.
‘A Lincolnshire Tale’ by John Betjeman, always a favourite poet, was an affectionate and amusing
homage to that county. We visited ‘Dublin’ with Louis MacNeice and in ‘Home from Abroad’ by Laurie
Lee we explored Kent and its beautiful landscape. A rousing rendition of ‘The Road to Mandalay’ called
to mind how much we enjoyed a poem that no amount of parody, not even Ken Dodd, can damage.
Our theme for November is ‘Dance and Movement’.
Barbara Cottam
Postcards
Two of our interests merged at our September meeting when Eddie gave a presentation involving his family
history and postcard collecting. One of his father’s cousins was Amy D Webb, a celebrated artist in her time who
produced botanical drawings of flowers and trees which she used to paint the most exquisite watercolours. Some
of the paintings had been turned into postcards which Eddie decided to collect. There were eighteen cards in all
but he ended up with one card missing. How infuriating! A frequent visitor to postcard fairs and the like, Eddie
searched for the missing postcard at every opportunity. It was only about six months ago that his search came to
fruition in the Bingham Hall in Cirencester. What joy! Even the dealer was so excited that he said Eddie ought to
have the card, offered at £3, for free.
There is a twist in this tale. During the Second World War, Amy exhibited her paintings in a hall which was
bombed and the paintings were lost. Furthermore, Amy’s sister Edie had taken her boyfriend away. Soon
afterwards, Amy passed gently away at the age of thirty.
Looking further back to the First World War, John presented some postcards from his collection relating to
recruitment, depicting the lives of men, women and children at that time: Lord Kitchener pointing the finger at the
men, women filling the role of the men who went to war, and children asking the question “And what did you do
in the war, Daddy?”
Barbara Cobbett
Our anagram challenge related to birds and animals: ICELAPN
GRADEB (Answers at bottom of page)
UNPIGNE
ELRMU
YRWKCNE
AGILNNOP
Solos
September’s outing took us to the charming village of Lacock, the Abbey and the Fox Talbot Museum. It
is a place familiar to all; even those who have not been will recognise it as the village and the Abbey
which have been used as a location in the TV and film productions of Wolfman, Pride and Prejudice,
Cranford Chronicles, Emma and Harry Potter films. The Abbey, located in the centre of the village, was
founded in the 13th century but later dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539. Later, it became a quirky country
house of various architectural styles within its own woodland grounds. It was a home for the Talbot
family, including the 19th century William Henry Fox Talbot famous for his contributions towards the
invention of the photographic negative. His amazing achievements are celebrated in the Fox Talbot
museum Wandering around the Mediaeval cloisters, furnished rooms and 18th century Gothic hall gave
us an appetite! After lunch, we explored the village and its shops. A good day was had by all and our
thanks go to our drivers Carol and Gwen.
Heather Holwell
October 7th found 12 of us eating again at the Falcon at Poulton. Food excellent, company great what more can I say?
Michael Johnson
Answers to anagrams: Pelican
Penguin
Lemur
15
Wryneck
Pangolin
Badger
Strollers
Walk with a Pub Lunch
Friday 23 September
Wednesday 12 October
On a gloriously sunny and warm morning, 17
strollers gathered in the Jolly Tar car park in
Hannington for our walk. However, unbeknown
at the time of going to press, the Jolly Tar staff
were all on holiday - so no food for lunch!
34 Furlong river walk
Going firm (mostly)
17 starters, 1 stile
All finished
Nevertheless we continued our walk through the
high street to a narrow path leading to the open
countryside and fields and bridleways beyond.
On reaching part way, a public footpath on our
route across the middle of a field had been obliterated with what looked like a crop of knee-high
cabbages. Crossing this in single file and taking
into view the distant Cotswold water parks
beyond, we climbed down the steps in the copse
beyond to finish our circular route.
No-one got lost, no-one fell, there were no cows
but someone had stolen the river. It was an invigorating walk up and down the Leach valley – a
valley without a river as it had dried up - followed
by a very pleasant and well organised lunch in the
Victoria Arms in Eastleach.
A short drive from the Jolly Tar was the Freke
Arms pub where we had our rescheduled lunch.
I am sure we all enjoyed the food, the lovely
weather conditions and easy going of the walk,
not to mention the jovial company of everyone.
I might even do another one and remember to
preview it in the Newsletter next time!
Good company, (nice to see new U3A members)
beautiful autumn scenery, excellent food and
drink; what more could one ask for?
Alan Topham
Bert Sampson
Fanny Hugill
A Second World War veteran, Fanny Hugill, member of Fairford U3A, was presented with the Chevalier de
l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur for her part in helping to liberate France.
Ms Hugill was commissioned as a 3rd Officer during the war, becoming PA to Admiral Bill Tennant and
was one of the team that planned the Normandy landings.
She was in the Ops Room at Southwick Park on the night before, and the morning of, the D Day landings
on 6 June 1944.
Madame Lebrat, representing the French government, came to Bristol to present her with the medal.
Congratulations on your well-deserved, albeit belated, award!
16
November
No sun, no moon!
No morn, no noon!
No dawn, no dusk, no proper time of day;
No sky, no earthly view No distance looking blue
No road, no street
No "t'other side the way";
No end to any Row No indications where the Crescents go,
No top to any steeple.
No recognitions of familiar people
No courtesies for showing 'em
No knowing 'em!
No mail, no postNo news from any foreign coast;
No park, no ring, no afternoon gentility
No company, no nobility.
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds,
November!
Thomas Hood; 1799 - 1845
But what about the lovely autumn colours, the smell of the earthy bonfires as they burn
smokily amongst the leaves, the crackling ice-edged leaves and the beautiful sunsets?! - Ed
17
1000 U3As!
Please send items for the
December Issue
to
Sarah Bottomley
[email protected]
by 17 November
Join the U3A for a celebration at Friends’ House, Euston
Road, London on 22 November. Guest speakers include
Baroness Frances D’Souza and Dr Eric Midwinter.
More details and tickets £5 online from
U3A1000.EVENTBRITE.CO.UK
ANYONE WISHING TO ATTEND WILL HAVE THEIR
TRAVEL COSTS REIMBURSED
NOVEMBER
Tuesday
1
Main Meeting, Ballroom, Computers (Note - NO Keep Fit)
Wednesday 2
Needlework, Quilting, Spanish for Beginners, Table Tennis
Thursday
3
Latin, Mah Jong, Model Making, Scrabble, Trad Jazz
Friday
4
Creative Writing, Poetry Circle 1 & 2, Table Tennis 2
Monday
7
Bridge, French, Italian, Short Tennis, Solos, Yoga
Tuesday
8
Computers, Book Circle 1 & 2, Keep Fit
Wednesday 9
Geology, Spanish for Beginners,Table Tennis, Walking with Pub lunch
Thursday
10 Boccia, Model Making
Friday
11 Creative Writing, Table Tennis 2, Recorders
Monday
14 Bridge, French, Italian, Short Tennis, Yoga
Tuesday
15 Ballroom, Birdwatching, Computers, Keep Fit, Postcards
Waddesdon Manor, Family History ,5 Rhythms, Needlework, Spanish for Beginners, Table TenWednesday 16 nis
Thursday
17 Boccia, Garden, Mah Jong, Model Making, Straddlers
Friday
18 Creative Writing, Music Listening, Table Tennis 2
Monday
21 Bridge, French, Italian, Short Tennis, Yoga
Tuesday
22 Computers, Keep Fit, Striders
Wednesday 23 Spanish for Beginners, Table Tennis
Thursday
24 Anglo-Saxon Poetry, Boccia, Models, Striders and Straddlers Meeting
Friday
25 Creative Writing, Recorders, Strollers, Table Tennis 2
Monday
28 Bridge, French, Italian, Short Tennis, Yoga
Tuesday
29 Ballroom, Computers, Keep Fit, Striders
Wednesday 30 Needlework, Spanish for Beginners, Table Tennis
DECEMBER
Thursday
1
Boccia, Latin, Mah Jong, Model Making, Scrabble, Trad Jazz
Friday
2
Creative Writing, Poetry Circles 1 & 2, Table Tennis 2
Monday
5
Bridge, French, Italian, Short Tennis, Solos, Yoga
Tuesday
6
Main Meeting, computers, Keep Fit
Wednesday 7
Quilting, Spanish for Beginners, Table Tennis