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NewsletterTynedale June 2016

Learn, laugh and live. Meet people, learn new skills and have fun.

JUNE 7Yes, June 7 is fast approaching. This is the last day for members to renew their subscriptions before membership of Tynedale U3A lapses.

It is 3 months since membership renewals became due and as we don’t want to lose you, your subscription needs to be paid. If you haven’t paid by the end of the day on Tuesday 7 June, and you still want to attend your group(s), you will have to re-join as a new member. Adapting the words of the Lotto TV advert – PLEASE DON’T LET IT BE YOU!

You can, of course, send your subscriptions by post, and if you can’t collect your membership card and programme in person, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope. Cheques should be made payable to TYNEDALE U3A, and sent to me at Five Dykes, Whitley Chapel, Hexham, NE47 0HZ.

I shall also be in the Little Angel Café in the Queen’s Hall from about 9.30am until 1.30pm on Tuesday, June 7, and will stay at Trinity after the June Meeting for as long as necessary.

Barbara Herring

TYNEDALE U3A – Subscription renewal

Name ………………………………………………………….…………………………… Cash/cheque (payable to TYNEDALE U3A) £…………………………………………………... (£16 with Third Age Matters magazine / £14 without)

Address .………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Post Code ………………..Tel: ..................................................................Email: ……………………………………………………………………………………

£14.00

http://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale

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Since the start of 2016 we have welcomed ten new members, they are: Judith Byers, Patrick Johnston, Barbara Hudson, Colin Gallagher, Ruth Miller, John Loader, Moira Durnell, Shirley Walton, Judith Furniss and Jeremy Neville-Elliot

We are delighted that they have joined us and hope they will enjoy being a member of one of the oldest U3As - and the first in the north.

Through 2015 and into this year, I attended a few Tynedale U3A Open Meetings with my wife and her mother – both of whom were U3A members. In January, I heard the Acting Chair, Patricia Wall, make an impassioned plea for someone (anyone!) to stand as Chair at the March AGM. After the meeting, I said to Wendy, my wife, “if no one else is nominated, I will stand”. Of course, the inevitable happened

and I was elected Chair – unopposed! – at the AGM.Wendy & I have lived in Hexham for the last 15 years and have come to love the town

and the surrounding countryside. We also value the proximity to Newcastle and all that the city has to offer. Hexham is a lively market town, with so much going on. The annual Book and Music festivals, the Gathering, the Regatta are to be envied, as is the wealth of organisations in the town.

My roots are in Lancashire, especially my home town of Wigan. My career was in the Probation Service, for the most part in what are now called Greater Manchester and Merseyside. However, in 1988, I was appointed Chief Probation Officer for Northumbria and consequently moved to the North East. I enjoyed 11 years in this role before taking a very positive early retirement.

Since retiring, I have remained active, both locally and nationally. In the North East, I have served as Chair of VONNE (Voluntary Organisations Network North East), Changing Lives (formerly Tyneside Cyrenians) and Northern Stage Theatre. I served on the Board of the Community Foundation for 14 years, chairing its Grants Committee for six, and am now a Vice President of the Foundation. For 12 years, I was a Visiting Professor at Northumbria University. I am currently Chair of the recently created NE Child Poverty Trust. Nearer to home, I recently chaired the Hexham Debates for three series.

I see Tynedale U3A as an organisation providing a valuable service to the many of us who are retired and live in the area. We have a healthy membership of over 300, our monthly meetings are lively and well attended and our 42 groups are both interesting and diverse and provide an opportunity for continued learning and meeting new friends. As Chair, I would hope to see the U3A in Tynedale developing and growing, so that it becomes THE organisation for retired people in this area to join! Mike Worthington OBE, Chair

We have been asked by Trinity to plead with members to use the doorstops properly. They have again had to replace the rubber ferrule which they say is dragged across the carpet when the doorstop is not released. This is dangerous practice and must not be done. The doorstops should be applied by pressing down with the foot and released with the foot with a gentle kick or push upwards. If any person has a problem with the doorstop please contact Bill Walton on 672025.

New members welcome

http://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale

June general meeting, Tuesday 7 June 2016, 2.00pm at Trinity large hall.

Alan Everett talks about “How I come over to you”.Alan Everett’s talk is about how people come over to other people when using the telephone and other times, such as interviews. Alan is a retired Senior Lecturer, in Community Mental Health Nursing at Northumbria University. He has a variety of interests - music, architecture, railway history, writing biographies, charity working, gardening as well as doing presentations and singing.

Notes from the Chair

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Commencing Thursday 2nd June at 1.30pm the Gentle Exercise Group is delighted to be moving to a larger room at The Torch Centre, across the road from the hospital and adjacent to the new bus station under construction.

We meet for an hour under the gentle guidence of a qualified instructor. There is good car parking on site and the Centre is wheelchair-friendly. We generally follow school term dates but continue through half term holidays. Surprise yourself, never strenuous but refreshing, do only what is comfortable for you and have fun. Afterwards enjoy a cup of tea, a biscuit and chat with new and like-minded friends.

From September Art Appreciation 1 will meet in the Etheldreda room in Hexham Abbey. The group will be studying the Art of the Americas. This will include both the "lost" cultures of mezzo and south America eg.Incas, Mayan and Aztec and the contribution of USA artists to modern and post-modern visual culture. The study of the earlier period will consider the role of art, religion and ritual in cultures as complex as our own but also very different. It will also look at how two 20th century artists, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo drew inspiration from these "lost cultures" in their own work.

Central to the study of 19th and 20th century art in the USA will be the struggle for a specific American cultural identity which both acknowledges the European tradition within which most American artists were educated and their ambition to transcend and transform this legacy. The key role of the mass media in furthering this project as well as the emergence of the American-based International Style will also be studied. Artists, architects and photgraphers to be considered include Winslow Homer. Edward Hopper, Frank Lloyd Wright, Georgia O'Keeffe, Mark Rothko, Lee Miller, Jackson Pollock, Robert Mappelthorpe, and Jeff Koons.

Meetings are held fortnightly on Mondays from 10 to 12. the first meeting for the new academic year will be on September 5th. The group welcomes new members and anybody interested should initially contact the group convenor Larry Baker on 01434 322265

Our U3A has a representative who attends the Consultation meetings to formulate the Hexham Neighbourhood Plan which covers many issues such as green spaces, shop fronts, location of new businesses, protection of land and new housing. This Plan

when adopted will have statutory power to stipulate specific planning policies in the Hexham Parish.

A Housing Needs Survey is being sent to every household in the Hexham Parish so that it is clear how many and what type of housing is actually needed.

You are urged to complete the survey and not ‘bin it’ as it is a real chance to have your say and shape the future of Hexham.

2 sets of Black Plastic Shelving from the Large Room in Trinity. 68 inches high, 24 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Plastic Aerobic Steps for ‘stepping exercise’. Quite bulky.Small metal pedalling exercise machine.

Zenith 10 times 50 Field 5 binoculars.Computer table (small) with pull out shelf.All can be delivered. If you would like to make an offer please phone Sue on 01434 604787.

Hook &

http://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale

Group news

Hexham plan

For sale

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Ballet Appreciation is a new group. We meet at 2pm on the 2nd Friday in the month at 36 Priestlands Crescent NE46 2AQ. For our first meeting we looked at a pair of pointe shoes (very ancient and worn) and talked about the notating of ballet on the 5 stave lines just as

music is written – a system called Benesh named after the founders who I was privileged to be taught by. It was widely in use before videoing arrived.

We then watched a DVD of La Fille mal Gardée with Marianela Nunez and Carlos Acosta. For future meetings we will watch a DVD from my stock or the U3A Resources Library and also discuss any future live beamings of the Royal Ballet and the Bolshoi at the Forum.

Please join us on 10 June. You can contact me on impatiens.21@btinternet.comLis Mercer Banks

Swan Lake at the London Coliseum - Thursday 14th JulyFrom the Australian Ballet acclaimed production a U3A exclusive talk with the ballet principals and discounted tickets at the kind invitation of concert promoters, Raymond Gubbay Ltd.

Time : 12 .45pm fo l l owed by a performance of Swan Lake at 2.00pm

Tickets: £45.00 for the full afternoon per U3A member. This will consist of the pre-show talk in addition to best available Dress Circle and Upper Circle seats. The seats for the performance will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.U3A members wi l l get a compl imentary programme per transaction. Booking fee waived for U3A participants.

To take advantage of this special offer call the London Coliseum Box Office on 020 7845 9300 and quote ‘U3A offer’ or visit eno.org and enter promot ion code ‘U3A’ (uppercase) when prompted.

OUTING LETS LOOK AT A WOOD on June 10th Friday at 2pm-4pm. A visit to investigate the flora and fauna of a mixed woodland in Stocksfield involving a short walk. Bring su i tab le c lo th ing, fie ld guides and binoculars/cameras. Lift available. Contact Colin 01661 842284 or Sue 01434 604787 for details.

New groups

Wanted - Newsletter EditorIn Apri1 2017 Kevin Stephens will be obliged by the constitution to leave the committee after serving for three years. We are looking for a U3A member with some editing skills and a fair degree of computer literacy to take over editing the newsletter from then. If we find someone early then training is possible. Please ring Kevin on 01661 843347 if you are interested.

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http://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale

We have been asked by Trinity to plead with members to use the doorstops properly. They have again had to replace the rubber ferrule which they say is dragged across the carpet when the doorstop is not released. This is dangerous practice and must not be done. The doorstops should be applied by pressing down with the foot and released with the foot with a gentle kick or push upwards. If any person has a problem with the doorstop please contact Bill Walton on 672025.

Art Appreciation 1 Larry Baker, 322265, Fortnightly Monday 10am. Torch centreArt Appreciation 2 Miranda Howat, 609249, Last Thursday of the month at 10am-12noon, Elizabeth Young, 606278 For venue please contact.Astronomy Malcolm Rowe, 674251, 1st Friday in the month (Homes)Ballet Appreciation Lis Mercer-Banks, 603839, Second Friday of the month (Homes and cinema/theatre)Bird Watching Alison Watson, 606535, Mondays monthly/fortnightly. FieldtripsBookstall Ray Tully, 682022, Monthly Meeting 1st Tuesday 1.45-3.0pm Trinity

Bridge Brian Elias 632953 Mondays 10.30-12.30 (Homes) Bridge Beginners Brian Elias 632953 Fridays at 10am-12 noon (Homes) Bridge Intermediate Brian Elias 632953 Fridays at 1.30-3.30 pm (Homes)Current Affairs Della Marian 681652 1st Friday monthly at 10.30-12.15pm. (Community Centre) Exploring Art Anne Priestley 603885 Every Tuesday except 1st in the month 10.00 am (Torch Centre)

Julia Whittaker 603723 Family History Edith Armstrong 606545 Fortnightly on a Monday at 10.30 am (Core Music)French Conversation Marshall Ward 633401 3rd Tuesday monthly 12noon-3pm (Homes)French Intermediate Ruth Bramfitt 633014 Fortnightly 10.15-11.30am (Bistro Corbridge) Geology Colin Argent 01661 842284 3rd Friday in the month at 2.0- 4.0pm. (Varies)Gentle Exercise Anne Steele 633041 Mondays weekly 10.30am -11.30am Douglas McFadzean 632150 (Torch Centre)German Conversation David Kaye 633915 Every Wednesday at 10.30 am-12noon. (Bistro Corbridge) Hadrian’s Wall John Sandiford 606889 First Thursday of the month (Site Visits)Handicrafts Lesley Parsons 394234 Last Friday of the month at 1.0pm (Core Music)Italian Ed Bird 632445 Mondays Fortnightly 10.30-12noon (Café/Hexham)Poetry Ray Tully 682022 2nd Thursday in the month at 2.00 pm. (Carntyne)Literature 2 Carole Byron 688223 1st Friday in the month at 2.00 pm. (Homes)Literature 4 Jean Latham 682492 2nd Thursday in the month at 10.30 am. (Homes)Literature 5 Kevin Stephens 01661 843347 Last Wednesday in the month at 10.30 am. (Core Music) Mah-Jong 2 Robert Ford 684486 Weekly Friday am. (Torch Centre)Mah-Jong 1 Shirley Guppy 634801 Weekly on a Thursday am. (Homes) Music Appreciation Charlotte Coxon 607798 2nd Tuesday in the month at 2.00 pm (Homes)Out & About Group Mary Oswell 07725 917389 Varies Pat Mitchell 603662Play Reading Bill Walton 672025 2nd Friday at 10am. (Bistro Corbridge) Play Bridge Robert Ford 684486 Tuesdays weekly 10-12noon (Torch Centre) Railway Studies John DeStefano 683124 4th Monday pm of month - variesScience Mike Crick 605881 3rd Monday in the month at 2.00 pm Robin Harris 606981 (Torch Centre)Scrabble Elizabeth Leonard 605980 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 10-12 noon (Hexham café)Singing for Pleasure Margaret Bentley 634575 Last Tuesday of month 2-3.30pm (West End Methodist Church) Spanish Ann Robson 673900 Fortnightly, Tuesday at 10.00 am (Homes)Sunday Lunches Ann Roberts 608474 Last Sunday of month - variable venuesTai Chi Eddy Carrington 606684 Weekly Thursday at 10-11 am (Torch Centre)Walking A Frank Dexter 601759 Wednesdays fortnightly 10am - variesWalking B John DeStefano 683124 Wednesdays fortnightly 10.30am - variesWatercolours Robert Ford 684486 Weekly on a Thursday at 2.00 pm (Torch Centre)Wine Appreciation A & P Eley 682939 Monthly (Homes)

Groups, convenors,

venues, contacts

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Please send your contributions to the J u n e N e w s l e t t e r , t o newslettereditor@tynedaleu3a.org.uk by Friday, 24 June. NEXT GENERAL MEETING On Tuesday 5 July Norman Kirtlan’s

ta lk i s ent i t led “Forensic Science” and is at 2.00pm in Trinity main hall.

Programme 2016 – 20172016

June 7th How I come over to youAlan EverettJuly 5th Forensic Science Norman KirtlanAugust No meetingSept. 6th Peripatetic coffins and the Curate’s egg Iain Moffat, memberOct. 4th Title tba Dr. Robert MannersNov. 1st The Big Lottery Fund Paul JonesDec. 6th William Wales, glass maker Anthea Lang2017Jan. 3rd “a neighbour, she’s very kind to me but she’s 80. …...I think she’s 87”Janet Grime, member, RITAFeb. 7th ‘The worlds shortest stories’David Williams, authorMar 7th AGMAll at Trinity at 2.00pm

The Wine Appreciation Group: from farmyard to cat’s peeThe Wine Appreciation Group was set up earlier this year with the aim of bringing wine-lovers together to share knowledge, opinions – and, of course, wine. We meet in the afternoon, roughly once a month (meetings are arranged to fit members’ diaries), at the convenors’ house in Riding Mill. Members team up in pairs to buy and present wines to the group; the tasting leads on to light-hearted discussion and rating of all the wines.

We have started by working our way through some of the classic grapes: so far, we have encountered powerful farmyard aromas in some pinot noir and hints of cat’s pee in a sauvignon blanc. Shiraz/syrah, riesling, merlot, chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon are all on the programme for the next few months. Most of the group also attended an excellent introductory wine course at Majestic Wine in Hexham in May, which taught us (amongst other things) that there are wines out there that go beautifully with chocolate brownies.

Your committee

http://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale

Hon. President:Pat Moore : 681495honorarypresident@tynedaleu3a.org.uk

Chairman:Mike Worthington : 606215tyneu3achair@btinternet.com

Secretary:Elizabeth Porter : 600429tyneu3asec@gmail.com

Treasurer:Alistair Sinclair : 394158tyneu3atreas@gmail.com

Membership Secretary:Barbara Herring : 673016tyneu3amemsec@gmail.com

Minutes Secretary:Wendy Dale : 606215tyneu3aminutes@btinternet.com

Group Liaison Secretary:Sue Loader : 604787tyneu3agroups@gmail.com

Newsletter Editor:Kevin Stephens : 01661 843347tyneu3anews@gmail.com

Events Secretary:Barbara Kettley : 01207 545644tyneu3aevents@btinternet.com

Committee Member:Shirley Guppy : 634801