Mini Owl 'Owlet' June 2013 Page 1 THE JUNE 2013...

Mini Owl 'Owlet' June 2013

THE JUNE 2013 OWLET

This is the Farnham U3A Newsletter in its mini format – The Owlet

INDEX

Chairman’s Letter 2

Music Discovery 2

Renaissance Finale 3

Military History 3

Inter-Group Quiz Winners 3

Literature Group 4

NEW Scrabble Club 4

Director of Studies 4

New U3A Gardener 4

A Toast to Mr Cobbett 5

Project for 2013/2014 6/7

Project Book Group 8

Photography Group Competition 8

History Seminar 8

Computer Courses 8

The Closing date for entries in the next

Full November Owl is:

Monday 25 October 2013

THE MINI OWL (Owlet)

Like the project, the Owl is a way of sharing the enthusiasm your group has for your Group subject with all the other members of

Farnham U3A, so do send in your reports, photos, successes, visits, funny moments. I suggest lengths of approximately 250 words as a guide. To cut costs, we agreed to reduce the Owl from three editions a year to two. This Owlet is an extra one because you need to know about the next project. It will be posted with the Prospectus so at no extra postage cost . Full Owls will normally go out in June and November, Mini Owls will go out in February and if they are needed in between editions, but those Mini Owls will only be sent to you electronically. If you are not able to access these, please keep a vigilant eye on the Notice Board. A copy of any Mini edition will be there. Pamela Brown

The number of Members of Farnham U3A as at May 2013 was 1,100.


Chairman’s Letter

Dear Members,

Firstly, may I express the hope that your year in Farnham U3A has been enjoyable and has fulfilled your expectations. If you are a new

member, I hope that you find that the U3A makes your retirement rewarding and enjoyable. There is so much going on in our Farnham U3A. We currently have over 1100 members and next year we will have close to a hundred groups from physical activities, light- hearted and fun events to more academic groups. There should certainly be something for everyone in our programme.

Our project on 'The Renaissance' has been a great success and our project for 2013-14 looks as though it will be equally popular. The subject is 'The kaleidoscope years', which we know and remember better as those years of our youth from 1945 to 1968. They were life changing years and the project programme will cover many aspects of these times. The idea of the annual project is to act as a crossover between different groups. All members are encouraged to attend and it gives an important opportunity to meet and socialise with other U3A members.

My first year as your Chairman has flashed by, and I am looking forward to seeing our U3A progress even further by reaching out to welcome more new members and, hopefully, to see even more new groups starting. Many groups have to operate a waiting list. If this is the case in groups you enjoy, could you run a second group alongside the existing one? Perhaps you have a skill or hobby that you could bring in to Farnham U3A by starting a new group in that subject. There is a huge amount of help and encouragement available, but if we keep expanding as I anticipate we will, we need more groups to take these new members.

I hope that your summer is enjoyable and that you will eagerly be looking forward to our new academic year starting in September.

With very best wishes, Michael A’Bear

Messages from Ann Vickers

Mobile Phones: It would be appreciated if you could ask

the members of your group to make sure that their Mobile Phones are turned off (or at least put onto vibrate) in classes, and particularly during presentations. Tea and Coffee:

The price of tea/coffee/chocolate went up to £1.30 from April 1st. . 'Please note, from September there will be a charge for tea/coffee at Monthly Meetings and Study Days' Outings: If possible, please check any dates with the U3A diary via Ann Vickers before they are finally booked. This is in an attempt to avoid clashes. Fire Drill

Please remind your class members, at least once a term, where the Fire Exits are and, if the alarm goes off, to leave the building immediately and proceed to the Assembly Point in the Contract Car Park which is situated on the far side of the Main Car Park. If you have to use the Courtyard at the rear of the building, exit the yard and turn left, following the path leading between the Maltings and the Police Station, and then go over the wooden bridge into the Maltings Car Park. Do not walk or drive along Red Lion Lane as this could block the Fire Brigade's access. Also, do not sit in your car. Ann Vickers

U3A Music Discovery

When listening to music are you a 'I know what I like', or 'I like what I know' kind of person? If so, perhaps Music Discovery is not the class for you, but if you do enjoy listening to

good music – and possibly even discovering some new pieces, then this class is just for you. When? The second Tuesday of the month, from September to April 2013 / 2014 year class dates: 12th November and 10th December 2014: 14th January; 11th February; 11th March and 8th April


Farnham Rejoiced in The Renaissance

The Finale to the Renaissance Project

was devised and directed by Rosemary Wisbey and then produced by various groups. The Project included: the art and music of the Medici, the early circumnavigations of the globe, Renaissance warfare and military revolution, medicine and surgery and Renaissance architecture. We heard about the renaissance of Shakespeare's Globe. Theatre Workshops gave us Ben Jonson, Inigo Jones and the Stuart Court Masque drama of the Renaissance. Halfway through the year we learned some of the steps of medieval dances with the Nonsuch History and Dance Company and for Christmas we enjoyed a 'Feast with the Borgias'. Even our tap dancers added to the revelry there and didn’t seem a bit anachronistic.

The culmination of this feast of renaissance culture was a bravura performance of two hitherto unknown pieces of drama: the intriguing ‘What happened to Rosaline?’ and ‘The Masque of Uthria’, both from the pen of our unsung author Rosemary Wisbey. The former introduces us to Romeo’s first love, the lady Rosaline, forgotten by Romeo as soon as he clapped eyes on Juliet. The play involved a dialogue between Rosaline and Friar Lawrence in which she berated the unfortunate friar for encouraging the secret marriage and shockingly revealed her part in the tragic outcome of the play, (by impersonating a certain Friar John and failing to deliver THAT letter).The photograph above shows Rosemary leading the finale of this performance in which the audience joined to lift the roof of the Maltings in song..

The Military History Seminar Group

Meeting three times during the U3A academic year in a seminar-style forum, the Military History Seminar Group will investigate a pre-determined military history issue. Currently a number of topics have been identified, but once the group is up and running the intention is for volunteers to propose a topic of interest and then to lead that seminar.

The title for the autumn term is: 'In defence of a genius – the Napoleonic view of the Waterloo campaign'.

We are looking for hardy and spirited young persons of a critical disposition who are prepared to defend their beliefs through strong argument and logic. If you are such as this, then Follow the drum! Join this group which begins in the academic year 2013/14. Some of the subjects suggested are: A genius at bay – a defence of Bonaparte during his 1815 Campaign The Battle of Britain – might have been better handled? What does it take to be a highly successful military commander? John Shoobridge ([email protected])

Military History

We start the autumn Term 2013 with the

talk on the Mamluke conquest which we had to miss last September. In October, Lt General Sir Hew Pike takes us through the Falklands War from the perspective of 3 Para under his command. Our November talk, given by one who has taken part in many re-enactments of the Battle of Gettysburg, takes a close look at the Union soldier of the American Civil War. 2013 Dates are:

13 Sept 'The Mamluke conquest of the Levant' - by Paul Cort 11 Oct '3 Para to the Falklands 1982' - Lieutenant General Sir Hew Pike 8 Nov 'Billy Yank' - Rod Dann Michael England


Winners of the Inter-Group Quiz

Jan Herbert, Ian Bell, Rosemary Wisbey, Peter Wisbey, Mary Bell and Eileen Williams representing the Shakespeare Group.

The runners-up were from the SWKI Club and the Photography Group; David Swan, Tim Day, Roger Godfrey, David Allen, Alan Hussey and David Matthews.

On April 12th, thirteen groups were represented at the Quiz run by Jill Hannan. This quiz was a trial run and as it proved both successful and enjoyable, plans are afoot to run one next year in a slightly different format - watch this space.

Janet Wall Janet is still wondering who put the 200

pesetas in the fee collection. The Spanish table are saying, 'Not guilty M'Lord!'

Director of Studies Report

I thank all the Leaders and Contacts who have contributed in making this past year successful and interesting. NEW Groups for 2013/14: Military History Discussion Seminars, Knitting and Handicrafts, Cycling, Grumpy Old Group, Gourmet Lunch Club, Scrabble, Investment Club, Computers and 'A Novel Approach'. Full details of which will appear in the Prospectus. We welcome back: David Wylde - Speaking in Public Group and Georgina and Carol who are taking over Science from Trevor Williams. Unfortunately, we are losing: Humanism, but watch for a one day Workshop, French 5 has amalgamated with other French Groups.

Literature Group

In the spring Literary Topics members enjoyed stimulating lectures, given by Mike Hapgood, on the ideas underlying various periods of English Literature and are looking forward to his continuing them next year. As a finale to the whole course a group from Oxford, 'Norsething', kindly came to perform a play in Old Norse, Thrimskvitha, for us. They produced this so cleverly that we could follow it clearly and the entire audience was convulsed with laughter by the end We are very grateful to Margaret Condie and her daughter, Dr. Victoria Condie, for arranging this for us. Next year we shall be concentrating on the language and literature of Mediaeval England.

Jan Herbert

NEW: Scrabble Club (with other

games)

The Scrabble Club restarts in September, so if you enjoy a game come along. Bringing a set if you have one. If you prefer a different game, bring along a set for that game; we should be able to find an opponent at some time. Backgammon could be popular, but all games, short of gambling, should be possible whether it’s ludo, chess or something more exotic. Paul Callow [email protected]

Pending, are talks on Health Matters and Future of Computers Janet Wall

The U3A Garden Did you know that the little garden next to the river and near the Maltings Café is the U3A Garden? This was

cared for by David Cook until last year. Now we have a new volunteer lady gardener in charge. Her name is Helen Williams. She is an experienced gardener and she is keen to explore the garden's possibilities


A Toast To Mr Cobbett

On the 19th and 20th April this year, The Maltings was the venue for this double bill in which our own Bernard Whelan took the principal part of William Cobbett. He was supported by the Black Nag Band, a trio of instrumentalists who played some delightful folk music, contemporary to the time of William Cobbett 1763 – 1835.

Bernard gave us a very convincing performance as the alta ego of Cobbett who, in the play, appeared in the 21st Century still making his point vociferously to Mr Speaker in the House of Commons of the 18th Century. All this to the puzzlement of the present day characters he met played by the Porcupine Players; Richard Amero, Melanie Butlin, Chris Deacon, Margot Tringham and Luath Grant Ferguson.

This year is the 250th Anniversary of the birth of William Cobbett, who was born in the farm cottage which doubled as an ale house run by his father when it was surrounded by farmlands and hop fields and which is now the William Cobbett public house opposite The Maltings.

Bernard and his fellow actors took us in a confrontational way through a number of Cobbett's journeys and phases of life, including the fact that he went to live in France in order to learn the language. This of course called for the French language from the cast. Bernard also had to shout against the imagined noise of the 18th Century House of Commons as he tried to make his objections known to the Speaker.

In his day, Cobbett was as famous as Nelson or Wellington and was a major figure in the development of British society. Cobbett rose from ploughboy to Member of Parliament for Oldham. In between these roles he wrote and wrote all the time. His 'Cobbett's Political Register' was founded in 1802. He reported on the actions of Parliament every day. This was printed by Mr. Hansard and was later sold to him. Hansard is still reporting the daily actions of Parliament. Bernard's quill pen showed Cobbett writing, not only about Parliament, but also on the Church of England, gardening, grammar, paper money, cities and the Press. His quotation on the Press rings true today: 'The

Press, whose trade is to buoy up the spirits of the people, have uttered falsehoods so long, have played so many tricks, that (their work) seems quite empty.' We can imagine him as a member of the Leveson Enquiry.

'Rural Rides', one of Cobbett's best known books, written when the Industrial Revolution was in full swing, is a record of his observations on its effects on rural life, observed as he road around the South of England on horseback. He experienced at first hand, the life of the farmers and the farm workers he met and whose conditions he studied and railed against to the Parliaments of his day and in his writings.

Although Cobbett travelled widely, living in France, America and Canada, he had a special regard for Farnham. He returned to it in his later life and was buried in St. Andrews Church in 1835 aged 72.

The double bill ended with readings from 'Rural Rides' and music from the 'Rural Rides Suite.' This was an evening of entertainment, interest and education and was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.

During the Interval, William Cobbett

(Bernard Whelan) was toasted by the Mayor, Cllr Stephan Hill Pamela Brown After five years as editor of The Owl, I shall be stepping down this year after the publication of this Mini Owl. I would like to thank all who have contributed to The Owl, for your courtesy and trust. I have loved doing it. Paul Callow, our ex web master will take over from me. Pamela .


By the time you read this, the project

will have been gestating for nine months, following its conception at a September committee meeting; you will, however, have to be patient for a little longer, as the estimated first date of delivery is 20th September 2013.

I have been charmed, delighted and

overwhelmed by the enormous degree of interest from U3A members who have offered to participate. The project 'just growed' and has spread into every possible nook and cranny: it fills seven full Study Days and all the Monthly Meetings until June next year.

The Inaugural Day, on 20th September, I am delighted to say, will be hosted by our Chairman, Michael A’Bear, who, with some of his U3A

Friends, will take us on a light-hearted, yet informative journey through the tumultuous events and the rapidly-changing social mores of the 23 years from the age of war to the age of revolution.

You will have a very different experience after lunch: Dame Elizabeth Anson will draw on her years of personal involvement as an Immigration Judge to offer us the unique opportunity to understand the intricacies of our beginning to develop into the multi-cultural nation that we are today.

On 4th October, under the leadership of Anthony Clift of the Architecture group, a small team, including Gill Picken and Suzanne Vincent, will

explore a number of the ways in which our war-torn urban landscape was painstakingly rebuilt. As an adjunct to this topic, I am planning a visit, later in October, to The Rural Life Centre, where they have a post-war 'Prefab', appropriately furnished. In the afternoon, again, there will be a lightning change of topic and mood: we will welcome Myra Cottingham, from the University of Reading, to talk about American poets. She is a most engaging speaker and,

since she is American, she will be drawing on her own cultural and educational heritage, which will be a real treat for us.

On 22 November, we have a wonderful kaleidoscopic medley for you, to stimulate all your senses: Sieglinde Ward will offer us a personal perspective of being born and

brought up in Germany, focusing on 1945 to 1961. After coffee, Suzanne Vincent is going to explore (with a wealth of illustrations, of course) the colourful Pop Art explosion of the 50s. After lunch, Adrian Martin will recall the social revolution among the young people – and their music – that took place after the war, the time when the 'Teenager' was born.

On 6th December I hope to engage you for the whole day as we have talks during the morning, as well as the usual afternoon pre-

Christmas celebration. The day will begin with a lecture from our own Dr Rosemary Thomas about one of her favourite topics: the changes in women’s experiences during the two decades after the war. Then, after coffee, there will be a session entitled 'Women Going Places' where we will hear about the post-war travel adventures of Dame Elizabeth Anson, Moira Davies and Olga Kemplen, each of whom were intrepid travellers long before many of us had ventured abroad!

On the afternoon of 6th December, we are hosting a 'Tea Dance with a Twist' where we shall be going on a musical journey from the Big Band sounds of the post-war

era to the eerie psychedelic music of Pink Floyd. If there is a piece of music or a song that is special to you, please let me know, with the year it was released, and I will include it in the playlist, if I can. We shall see demonstrations of changing dance styles, and for those of you who wish to participate, but don’t know how, there will be a dance teacher, Diane, on hand to teach us a few moves on the dance floor. If you prefer, you can just sit and tap your feet, but I defy you to resist the music ALL afternoon!


Interleaved with these Study Days are four

monthly Monday meetings.

On 30 September, Dr Richard Thomas will talk about the decolonisation of Africa between 1957 and 1966, finishing with an update about Chinese

involvement in the African continent today.

On 28th October, I am delighted to welcome Brian Rubin, a former colleague of mine from Farnborough College of Technology. He has had a life-long passion for the life

and writings of George Orwell, so who better to invite to come and talk to us about Orwell’s post-war view of English culture and society?

On 25th November, John Shoobridge has agreed to share with us his personal experiences of being a boy soldier during the period

covered by the project, and I suspect that he may also express his evaluation of army life and organisation.

On 2 December, Laurence Anslow will talk to us about the event that had us all glued to our black-and-white television screens in the 60s – Man’s attempts to reach

the moon, a talk subtitled 'From Dreams to Reality'.

Having read about the riches in store

during the first term of the next academic year, can you see why I am so excited?

One last thing,: as you can see, all the mornings and afternoons are so stuffed with good things, that if you are coming to The Maltings

by car and require parking, I suggest that you purchase at least 3 hours for each morning (10am – 1pm) and 2 hours for each afternoon (2pm – 4pm), as I would not wish you to miss anything – or get a parking ticket because you could not drag yourself away!

If you plan to stay all day on Study Days – and I hope you will – you should buy a parking ticket from just before 10.00 until just before 4.00. You might care to bring a picnic, or if you order a sandwich in advance from The Maltings cafeteria, join us for lunch in the Barley Room on Study Days. Pat Thorns

********

Monthly, Fourth Tuesday 2.00 – 4.00

For one year only, we are planning a special Project Book Group. We have chosen nine truly significant books published during the years between 1945 and 1968. You have probably read them all before, decades ago – but have you ever had the chance to discuss them, under the expert guidance of a team of excellent leaders? This will truly be a 'Novel Experience': Each session will begin with film from Pathe News to help us recall what life was like in the year of each novel’s publication. By the end of the academic year, we will have revisited and evaluated those post-war decades through the prism of literature. Call me or email me if you are interested in joining the group – you may as well start your reading during the summer!

Many leaders of other groups have

offered to link their studies with the project this year too. So reacquaint yourselves with the tumultuous changes of the 'Kaleidoscope Years' by joining the Film Club, the Jazz Group, the Theatre Workshop, the Short Story Group or Poetry 2. Some groups, such as the Theatre Workshop and Music Discovery, have offered Open Sessions dedicated to the project and to which you are all welcome. There will be more information about these later.


I am planning three visits next year, each connected with the Project. One, in the Autumn term, is to The Rural Life Centre near to Farnham; one, in February, is to The RAE Museum in Farnborough; the third, next spring, is to Cliveden, infamous setting of the start of the Profumo Scandal, but offering so much more to the day-tripper today. I do hope that you will join me. Pat Thorns

Would you like a Letters Page in the Owls? If so, please think about sending some in for the November Owl which will be the next edition.

History Seminar

We cover the Protestant migrations to

North America, the Manchu take-over in China, and the displacement of James II by William of Orange in Britain amongst other subjects this autumn. For more information check www,farnhamu3a.org.uk. Secretary, Hugh Hussey or Leader, Hans DuMoulin

Computer Courses

A new computer course for beginners

started in February at All Hallows School. Tony Lennard, Group Leader, has bravely taken on a class ranging from complete beginners to those of some IT ability.

Topics covered have included editing text and how emailing and the Internet work. We have enjoyed working on the All Hallows new computers. This course will be continuing in September. Cynthia Barnett

Exhibition at the Craft Centre 9 – 25

October

Our U3A has been invited to send a group of 20 members for a gallery visit and talk which will be lead, either by Professor Simon Olding or by Sara Roberts, Curator. For those interested contact Janet Wall who will organise the visit if there is enough interest.

Farnham U3A Photography Group's

Photographic Print Competition On Monday, 13 May 2013, The results of the Photography Group's

annual Print Competition were announced. The 2013 Photography Group Print Competition comprised four categories:

Nature (Flora and Fauna) People at Work or Play Transport and Open The winning prints and the runners up in

all four categories, together with the names of the photographers for 2013 can be found via the Farnham U3A website by following this link: http://www.farnhamu3a.org.uk/PC2013.htm. The best overall print was 'White Pass And Yukon Trail - Skagway, Alaska', photographed by Peter Stephens, a new member of the Photography Group in 2012/13. Announcing his decision, Jon Evans, an experienced photographer and judge, specialising in plant photography and currently Treasurer of the Aldershot and Farnham Camera Club, said: 'I like the colours in this picture, particularly the lights and shades of the clouds on the hillside. I love, too, the curve of the train passing though the narrow valleys and the train's reflection captured in the window on the right hand side of the image.'

It was particularly pleasing this year that so many of the group's members (over 50% of those who had entered the competition, including new members), had their work recognised in some way by the judge.

Tony Watson

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