March 2014

Liverpool, location of the next West Wolds U3A cultural expedition in September 2014

COPY DATE FOR THE JUNE 2014 ISSUE

Articles for the next edition should reach me no later than 30 May 2014

Send it to [email protected] or phone me on 01673 842 287

BEGINNERS’ COMPUTER GROUP NEWS

EDITOR’S CHAT As I sit at my desk writing this on St David’s Day, the sun is shining in through the window. Today is the first day of Spring and hopefully we are leaving the wet, grey days of this horrible winter behind. Living in the East of England we can count ourselves fortunate because we have managed to keep our feet

reasonably dry!

I think that we are doubly fortunate because we belong to West Wolds U3A. There are many dedicated souls who help to run this organisation. Think of the group leaders who give so generously of their knowledge and skills. They spend a lot of their time preparing plans so that members get the best out of the sessions. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to them. Without their efforts there would not be a West Wolds U3A. And there is the committee whose members do a lot of work behind the scenes and give up fixed time each month for a business and planning meeting.

We are always looking for fresh ideas for group activities, so if you have any thoughts about the things you think would be educational or enjoyable, let us know, perhaps you might start a new project that will add a new challenge for our members and keep the little grey cells buzzing.

As Gail has mentioned in her Chairman’s Chat, we now have the funding for four laptop computers and a wireless printer. Lyn Henry, who will be running that group is very excited and plans to get started after Easter, provide she is fit and well. She is well on the road to recovery after her knee operation and can’t wait to get started. So keep in touch with her for an update on her plans.

CHAIRMAN’S CHAT I have enjoyed meeting so many new people and making some good friends since I joined U3A, over three years ago now. I hope this is how all our members feel about our West Wolds U3A. We are lucky to have such an organization to be a member of and to have so many varied activities to take part in. It

is very much a self help organization and I would like to thank all the people who work so hard to make it all happen each week and month.

We are very pleased to announce that due to much form filling etc. we have been given two grants to purchase computers for the Beginners Computing course. Well done to all involved. There are some other new groups to join and we rely on members to think of new ideas and actually set up groups. At the last count there were twenty six people leading about thirty five groups so there is plenty of scope for some of the other one hundred and eighty members to come up with an idea and help lead a group. We could try some short “courses” if you think that would help both in terms of commitment and subject matter. Give it some thought .

Best wishes from Gail

This was suggested as a group activity and I was asked to run it. A member kindly offered her home as the venue and has ended up helping me with the group. There are few beginners and many who did French at school but have not used it much since. We started with greetings and signs on doors that you would find useful. We have explored ordering food in a café, positional language and directions. Next we will revise numbers and telling the time. We meet once a month, not ideal for language learning, but all we could fit in without conflicting with other activities on the programme. Members are taking an active part researching words, providing some photocopied sheets and amusing picture cards. This really is a self help group.

Gail Dennis

BEGINNERS’ FRENCH GROUP NEWS

Our group has been meeting once a month for just over two years. Usually for each meeting two or three of us write a 'story' from our own lives which we then read at the meeting. The rest listen and respond to what we hear.

We have heard some fascinating stories and enjoy the opportunity to share our stories with each other.

The following is an example of one of our shorter pieces.

At the moment we have room for two or three more people in the group. If you would like to join us, let me know,

David Atkinson 01673 849979

Telling Our Stories

I Love the Sea by Marion Blackstock

I have always loved the sea and seashore, not sailing on it but being beside it. As a child we lived near enough the coast to cycle there often, there were no shops or ice cream vans etc. and no travelling expenses, so for my parents this would be an inexpensive day out, hence our frequent trips and from these days out my fascination with the sea developed.

I can wander along the beach, just watching the waves break on the sand and wonder at the thousands of years that this has been happening without a break

and it makes one feel very small. When it is calm it is so peaceful but another day when you go to a rocky shore the power of the waves is amazing.

Having spent enough time watching and thinking, then I can go looking for shells and stones. The shapes of some of our shells are so perfect and some of the colours of the stones washed and polished by the tide are another wonder. I have a collection of stones and shells, I can never resist bringing one or two back home.

There are usually a few birds to see. They plod along the sand digging non stop. Do they know where the worms and grubs are

buried or is it trial and error? Then perhaps a whole flock will wheel in and land as if a signal has been given, sometimes they are quite noisy but not always. I was lucky enough to be at Blackpool one autumn when the starlings came in to roost on the pier. A small flock at first and then after a few minutes they all rose and went to meet the next group. They did their aerial ballet (called a murmuring) before landing again, soon after they went off again and joined a third group which had just arrived and gave another display, this

happened about five or six times until there were thousands of birds swooping around in the air and eventually they all landed on the pier which was black with starlings. I have seen this on TV but to see it for real was amazing. My friend Sandra left me after a short time, saying she would see me back at the hotel. It takes all kinds to make a world. To see another of nature’s incredible sights stand above Bempton Cliffs and watch the gannets dive into the sea to feed. They fold their wings and go like a rocket hitting the water at a tremendous

St John's Cliffs, Hoy

Continued on page 14

.

Local

History

Programme Tuesday 8th April

Stuart Sizer will give a talk on the history of Horncastle, followed by

Tuesday 13th May

A coach trip to and a guided walk around Horncastle followed by a tour of surrounding villages

Tuesday 10th June

A visit to Grimsby Town Hall, possibly the Fishing Museum too, own transport, organised by Brian Ward

General Meetings 2014

10 April Hazel Burnham – Fused Glass

8 May Rev. George Munn – My time in the

Merchant Navy

12 June Becky Bewick – Behind the Scenes in

Historic Palaces

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Chairman Gail Dennis Tel: 01673 843575

[email protected]

Treasurer & Membership Secretary

Barry Dukes Tel: 01472-852454 lindumwold@btinternet com

Secretary & Third Age Trust

Contact Sheila Nash Tel: 01673-866569

[email protected]

U3A Network Contact Mandy Murphy Tel: 01673-860893

[email protected]

Groups Coordinator Ken Howitt Tel: 01652-678490

[email protected]

General Meeting Catering Margaret Cromack

07711-112171 [email protected]

Archivist and Greeter

Paul Davison 07746-626482

General Meeting Reception Lyn Henry

Tel: 01673-843851 [email protected]

Marion Blackstock 01673 849208

Website, Magazine & Printing

Geoff Goddard Tel: 01673-842287 [email protected] with assistance from

Ken Reid Tel: 01673-849490 [email protected]

Equipment Custodian &

General Meeting Hall Arrangements

Ken Reid (co-opted) Tel: 01673-849490

[email protected]

Visits and Speaker Finder Brian Ward

01472 852273 [email protected]

Publicity

David Oliver Tel:01673 880188 [email protected]

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THE WEST WOLDS QUARTERLY

DIARY INSERT

Remove this insert from your magazine, fold along the lines indicated

Why not visit our website at http://community.lincolnshire.gov.uk/westwoldsu3a

COMMITTEE & MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

mailto:[email protected]

INTEREST GROUPS

WEEK Monday Tuesday

1st

10:00 German 14:00 Bridge 14:00 Recorders

10:00 Bead & Wire Jewellery

14:00 Film 14:30 Spanish

2nd

10:00 German 13.30 Craft 14:00 Bridge

10:00 Local History 14:00 Art Oils 14:30 Spanish

3rd

10:00 German 14:00 Bridge 14:00 Recorders

10:00 Country Walks 10:00 Wanderers 10:30 Strollers 14:30 Spanish 19:00 Film

4th

10:00 German 14:00 Bridge

10:00 Music Appreciation 14:00 Art Oils 14:30 Spanish

MONTHLY TIMETABLE

Wednesday Thursday Friday

10:00 Country Walks 10:00 Wanderers 10:30 Strollers 12:00 Luncheon Group

10:00 French 10:00 Patchwork * 10:00 Keep Fit 14:00 Drama 14:00 Patchwork *

10:00 Beginners Family His-tory 10:00 Latin

14:00 Scrabble

9:15 De Aston Ladies Gym 10:00 Embroidery 14:00 Poetry

09.45 GENERAL MEETING

Festival Hall Market Rasen

14:00 Drama

10:00 Family History 10:00 Latin

10:00 Telling our Stories 14:00 Readers

10:00 French 10:00 Keep Fit 10:00 Patchwork * 14:00 Drama 14:00 Patchwork *

10:00 Latin 14:00 Scrabble* (* And 5th Friday of the month, if there is one)

9:15 De Aston Ladies Gym 10:00 Embroidery * (*Last Wednesday of month) 14:00 Beginner’s French 14:00 Knitting and Crochet (Oct—April)

10:00 Cross Stitch 10:00 Keep Fit* (* And 5th Thursday of the month, if there is one) 14:00 Drama

10:00 COFFEE MORNING Jossals, Market Rasen

All welcome 10:00 Latin 14:00 Mah Jong

18:45 Jazz & Swing Enjoy-ment (Last Friday of month)

Everyone Welcome

Tea, Coffee, Event Notices

Guest Speaker

ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS COMPUTING Lynn Henry 01673 843851. ARMCHAIR TRAVEL Cynthia Bunch 01673 844661 ART-OILS Gillian Anderton 01673 844382 BALLROOM DANCING To be arranged. BEADING AND WIRE JEWELLRY Jacqueline Reid 01673 849490 BRIDGE Bryan Storey 01673 849625 CHOIR To be arranged. CRAFT Cynthia Burke 01673 849506 CROSS STITCH Ann Field 01673 857529 DRAMA Gail Dennis 01673 843575 EMBROIDERY Pat Hage 01673 849447 FAMILY HISTORY Jacqueline Reid 01673 849490 FAMILY HISTORY – BEGINNERS Jacqueline Reid 01673 849490 FILM GROUP John Bartlett 01673 857480 FRENCH Pat Spolton 01673 828568 FRENCH (BEGINNERS) Gail Dennis 843575 GERMAN Jo Howard 01673 862015 JAZZ AND SWING ENJOYMENT Brian Ward 01472 852273

KEEP FIT Dawn Stopper 01472 851133 KNITTING AND CROCHET Sue Jacobs 01673 828898 LATIN Gwen Parsons 01673 885438 LOCAL HISTORY Jean Childs 01472 859347 LUNCHEON GROUP Pam John 01673 844260 MAH JONG Reid 01673 849490 MUSIC APPRECIATION Ron Jones 01673 843438 PATCHWORK Lyn Henry 01673 843851 POETRY Eva Smith 01673 842218 READERS GROUP Audrey Storey 01673 849625 RECORDER GROUP Geoff Goddard 01673 842287 SCRABBLE Audrey Storey 01673 849625 SPANISH Alison Atkinson 01673 849979 THE 9-MILE HIKERS Helen Wilson 01673 828315 COUNTRY WALKS Ken Howitt 01652 678490 THE STROLLERS Cynthia Burke 01673 849506 TELLING OUR STORIES David Atkinson 01673 849979 VISITS Brian Ward 01472 852273

INTEREST GROUP CO-ORDINATORS

THE GROUPS CO-ORDINATOR IS:KEN HOWITT 01652 678490 [email protected]

LIFTS: If you do not have transport it is usually possible to arrange lifts to the

various venues. A contribution to the cost of fuel is also welcome.

mailto:[email protected]

According to our hand-out the line we were to visit was intended, when new, as a new link between Manchester and London Marylebone joining up with a tunnel under the Channel !

After a trouble-free journey, thanks to the new A46, we reached Quorn Station (no, it is not a meat substitute!) What a delightful introduction to the line! What to do first? – go to the new “Butler-Henderson” café and queue for a coffee or queue

for the loo? For most people the call of nature was the stronger. Despite a temperamental coffee machine, our needs were met in time to take the short walk to the station, noting on the way the superbly restored “travelling

post office” – devotees of Hornby Dublo will remember these well. The station precincts brimmed with memorabilia of a bygone age: tinplate wall signs, a trolley laden with milk churns, a doll in a Silver Cross pram and wearing a gas mask, an air raid shelter and, by the side of the track, a

Edwardian Nostalgia on the

Great Central Railway

tiny vegetable plot sporting a banner urging us to “Dig for Victory!”. Another “gem” by the trackside was the signal box originally sited in Market Rasen.

At Quorn we had the option of continuing by coach to Loughborough or taking the diesel-hauled 11.09 train to the

terminus at Leicester and then returning along the full length of the line to Loughborough. Most of us chose the latter. The locomotive used was a class 44/45 “Peak” class built in 1961 to haul express trains on the main line. So it made light work of our modest rake of coaches.

On reaching Loughborough we had about an hour before our luncheon train was to leave. Many of the men – and at least one lady member who readily confessed to having collected loco numbers in her youth -

headed for the loco shed and workshops. Being careful not to fall into the numerous ash and inspection pits, we were able to get “up close and personal” with a whole range of delightful steam and diesel locomotives in various stages of restoration or repair. Returning to the station we had time to visit the small museum, period bar/cafeteria or the grandly named “emporium” – a shop for used railway books and memorabilia.

At 1.15 it was time to set off on our train for lunch. This time we were hauled by a relatively modern steam loco – a class 4 standard built in the 1950s. We enjoyed an excellent lunch starting with carrot and coriander soup (a “thin” soup might have been a bit of a challenge to transport along the train as well as from dish to lips.)

The main course was roast chicken or shepherd`s pie. Our esteemed organiser- otherwise known as Brian Ward – had thoughtfully supplied us with a note of what we had ordered ,as gentlefolk of our advancing years are frequently challenged by such a task. Dessert was poached pears and the meal was rounded off with coffee or tea and mints (yes, two actually) The dining car we were meant to have used had , unfortunately, been vandalised recently and we were offered a complimentary/compensatory liqueur to complete our enjoyment.

Needless to say, most of us accepted this gesture ! To enable us – and the very efficient serving staff – to cope with the meal in comfort, our train halted for a while on a bridge overlooking Swithland Reservoir where we

could watch ducks, herons etc. going about their business.

Returning to Loughborough just before 3.00 we were able to finish our drinks, make any last minute

purchases or meet the splendidly attired station master – a friend of our very own Brian Ward and a former denizen of Market Rasen !

Judging by the numerous strings of dilapidated carriages, locos and wagons lining much of the track, the stalwart volunteers of the GCR have many years of hard work ahead of them. We have to be grateful to all the staff who willingly give up their time to provide us with a memorable glimpse into an age gone by, but not forgotten.

Nice one Brian! Do it again some time.

Ken Howitt

speed and disappear, they do not need rocket fuel, just nature at its best.

In Orkney I sat on a rock watching the seals playing, close enough to hear them and watch them sunning themselves on the rocks, they must have known I was there but they did not seem to mind my intrusion. Just one more way to happily pass time.

Caves are not always on the shore but most of the ones I know are. The Piper’s Cave at Sandy Hills is one which I have been in and found interesting. These Solway caves were used by smugglers and there are many stories told about them.

Of course for photography the sea and shore are always changing, I have often rushed back to get my camera before the sun sinks in the evening and have taken my camera with me on early morning walks to get the sunrise. I have so many photographs of wet sand, sea weed, reflections, waves etc I could bore someone for hours if only they would be interested. I often find I am left on my own to dip in rock pools or look for fossils depending on where we are. I very seldom lie on the beach and sunbathe.

Marion Blackstock

Members of the German group sometimes come across poems or other items of interest which they bring along to our Monday morning meetings. Recently, one of our ladies received this prayer by Albert Schweitzer from a German friend. We took turns reading the words in German, before translating it into English. With some difficulty, some differences of opinion and a great deal of discussion about the correct meaning and phraseology in English we finally agreed on the translation given below. What we all agreed upon was that it was entirely appropriate for the enthusiasm and enjoyment of life and learning experienced by the people belonging to the U3A, and as far as we were concerned, our wings were certainly not yet hanging down, and we were not yet truly old!

GERMAN GROUP

Continued from page 5

Ein Gebet von Albert Schweitzer Niemand wird alt, weil er eine Anzahl Jahre hinter sich gebracht hat. Man wird nur alt, wenn man seinen Idealen Lebewohl sagt. Mit den Jahren runzelt die Haut, mit dem Verzicht auf Begeisterung runzelt die Seele. Sorgen, Zweifel, Mangel an Selbstvertrauen, Angst und Hoffnungslosigkeit, das sind die langen, langen Jahre die das Haupt zur Erde ziehen und den aufrechten Geist in den Staub beugen. Du bist so jung wie deine Zuversicht, so alt wie deine Zweifel, so jung wie deine Hoffnung, so alt wie deine Verzagtheit. Solange die Botschaft der Schönheit, Freude, Kühnheit, Grösse, Macht von der Erde, den Menschen und dem Unendlichen dein Herz erreichen, so lange bist du jung. Erst wenn deine Flügel nach unten hangen und das Innere deines Herzens vom Schnee des Pessimismus und vom Eis des Zynismus bedeckt sind, dann erst bist du wahrhaftig alt geworden.

A Prayer by Albert Schweitzer No-one grows old because of the number of years they have behind them. One only grows old when one says farewell to one's ideals. With the years the skin wrinkles, with the surrender of enthusiasm the soul wrinkles. Cares, doubts, lack of self-confidence, anxiety and hopelessness, those are the long, long years that draw the head towards the earth and bow the upright spirit into the dust. You are as young as your confidence, as old as your doubts, as young as your hopes as old as your loss of heart. As long as the message of the infinite beauty, joy, boldness, largesse, strength from the earth and from the people reaches your heart, for so long you are young. Only if your wings are hanging down and the core of your heart is covered with the snow of pessimism, and the ice of cynicism, only then have you become truly old.

The Keep Fit Class is still going strong,

We’re all a very happy throng,

We stretch and strengthen, tone and flex,

For our health's sake (either sex).

No longer are we the faint hearted,

Because we are fitter than when we started,

We meet and greet each Thursday morn,

The an hour of exercise with Dawn.

Sometimes on a mat (but don’t despair),

Other times we’re seated on a chair.

Afterwards a well earned coffee break -

(but only occasionally with scone or cake!).

Gillian Anderton

Dawn Stoppard

March 2014

Documents

Transcript of March 2014