newsletter 1216 pub copy 2 - u3asites.org.uk · body of Ursa Minor (the Little Bear) hanging by its...

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NewsletterTynedale December 2016

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

http://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale

Get to know your ancestorsThere is a MOOC (massive open online course) Genealogy: Researching your Family Tree by the University of Strathclyde for the Open University FutureLearn programme starting on January 16th 2017 and lasting 6 weeks. It is free and would be a good introduction to Family

History which members could continue studying with the Family History Group which meets fortnightly on Mondays (Edith 606545).

If you would like to study in a small group please let Sue know 604787 or otherwise you can study in your own home at your own pace anywhere in the world.

On Tuesday 6 December our talk is given by Conrad Dickinson, and is entitled “To the South Pole with Prince Harry and the Walking Wounded”.This meeting is held in Hexham Abbey’s Priory buildings.We meet at 2.00pm in the Prior’s Hall for coffee/tea and refreshments, then move to the Great Hall for the talk at 2.30pm. Go through the archway to the left of the new main Abbey entrance and take the first door on the right at the other side, beside the cafe. The Prior’s Hall will be well signposted once inside. There is a lift.

A born and bred Northumbrian, Conrad has enjoyed the outdoors since he was a boy. Conrad is the first and only Briton to have achieved the ‘Polar Grand Slam’ – completing the World’s recognised three hardest Polar journeys, crossing Greenland; the Antarctic plateau to reach the South Pole and the Arctic to the North Pole…all unsupported. In 2011 Conrad trained the BBC film crew and Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton for her successful trip to the South Pole.


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We have been asked by Trinity to plead w

ith mem

bers to use the doorstops properly. They have again had to replace the rubber ferrule w

hich they say is dragged across the carpet w

hen the doorstop is not released. This is dangerous practice and must not be done.

The doorstops should be applied by pressing down w

ith the foot and released with the foot

with a gentle kick or push upw

ards. If any person has a problem w

ith the doorstop please contact Bill W

alton on 672025.


New and Potential Members’ MeetingNew and potential Members are cordially invited to come along to the Angel Café, Queen’s Hall, Hexham on Monday December 5th at 1.15pm-2.30 pm for a chat about our groups and what else is on offer from the Region plus the benefits of the U3A. Just pop along and you’ll

be most welcome. Bring a friend too.French

A new fortnightly French Group has started in Hexham on Tuesday mornings. It is a mixed language proficiency group who are concentrating on improving the quality of their French whilst being practical and having fun. Our thanks to a new Convenor, Liz at [email protected] and Deputy Convenor, Lynne. Want to improve your Photography?

There is an embryonic Photography Group of 4/5 enthusiastic members. They are hoping to meet in the New Year to plan their activities with an emphasis on improving composition and learning about camera technicalities by meeting once a month. They are keen to have more members and to find a Convenor and a Deputy to keep them ‘rounded up’. Phone Joan 605235 for the date of the January meeting.Absolute Beginner’s Bridge

This cohort of potential Bridge players is now full and will start learning the game in the New Year. Our grateful thanks to Brian and Lynn in Corbridge. This will be their fourth weekly U3A Bridge group and no one seems to leave the other three…that says it all.Second Sunday Lunches

We are hoping to start a Second Sunday Lunch group which will go out around Tynedale for lunch on the second Sunday of the month. The present Sunday Lunch group is very busy and meets on the Last Sunday.

The start-up meeting is on December 5th Monday at 2.45pm-3.45pm in the Angel Café at the Queen’s Hall. If you would like to join the group come along to meet fellow diners. We shall need a Convenor who makes the bookings once a month. Car sharing is encouraged so don’t let the lack of transport put you off. Latin and Portuguese

There is some interest in learning these two languages (not together!). Also there is interest in Art and Antiques. Anyone else interested? Phone Sue 604787Help

Is anyone familiar with using a Hudl or Hudl2 android tablet from Tesco? Please phone Sue 604787. Thank youOur thanks to Frank for many years service as Convenor of Walking Group A. His role has now been kindly taken on by Athol.

New membersWe welcome the following new members: Elizabeth Barnes, Gillian Jackson, Sally Pearson, Gordon Reay and Margaret Haffey.

Group News


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Hook &


Our familiar winter constellations are now in evidence. If we are out at about 9 p.m. late in the first week of the month and have (for once) a clear sky, we can indulge in a spot of celestial geography and see how many we can identify. In the South at an elevation of about 600 are the small and faint constellations of Aries (the Ram) - a Zodiacal sign, and Triangulum (the Triangle). These are not easy

to find for the first time - try searching between Perseus and Pegasus. The magnitude 2 star (Hamal) in Aries could be a guide. (It is a K2 giant star about 801.y. distant.)

In the WSW is the square of Pegasus with the narrow "V" of Andromeda reaching out from its upper left corner towards the zenith. Very high up is the "W" of Cassiopeia, while lower in the WNW the almost vertical cross of Cygnus (the Swan) is flying down towards the horizon. Cygnus contains the faint 61Cygni the first star to have its real distance from the Sun established. The bright star to the right of it is Vega (in Lyra - the Lyre). Low in the NW is the "keystone" shaped torso of Hercules with the faint misty globular star cluster M13 adjacent to the right side. Our galaxy is surrounded by a halo of around 140 such clusters, each following its own elliptical orbit. They can contain up to several million relatively closely-packed ancient stars and were formed very early on in the history of the galaxy, about ten thousand million years ago.

Due N, and fairly high, is the rectangular body of Ursa Minor (the Little Bear) hanging by its tail from the pole star (Polaris). Its larger relative Ursa Major is lower and more to the E, while in the Eastern sky some of the Winter constellations are beginning to appear. Due E is the almost horizontal "rectangle" of Gemini with the stellar "twins" Castor and Pollux at the northern end. The bright star well below Gemini is Procyon (in Canis Minor - the Lesser Dog). At a similar distance above is Capella - in Auriga. Higher still is Perseus stretching upwards towards the zenith. The unmistakeable Orion is well risen in the ESE with the tilted "V" of the Hyades and the compact cluster of the Pleiades well above him.

Venus is bright in the SW shortly after sunset and will be thereabouts for some weeks to come. Mercury will be best sought for during mid-month - look for it as a rather fainter, distant companion, lower and to the right of Venus. It reaches its greatest Eastern distance from the Sun on 11 December and then sinks rapidly back towards the Sun, passing between it and Earth on 29 December (inferior conjunction). Saturn is rather close to the Sun at present, passing behind it on 10 December (superior conjunction). Mars is presently in Aquarius - slowly fading - look in the SSW for a reddish object to the left of and rather higher than Venus. Jupiter can be sought as a morning object, rising in the SE before dawn.

The Geminid Meteors are due between 7 and 15 December, peaking on the 13th when they might average about one per minute. They can be relatively bright, travelling at medium speeds. The Ursid Meteors are around between 17 and 25 December. A rather feeble shower, the Quadrantids are due between 1 and 6 January and peak on the 3rd. They are bluish in colour and might average one every couple of minutes.

The moon is full on December14 and January 12 and is new on December 29 and January 28. Happy sky gazing, and a Merry Xmas!

Malcolm Rowe

December and January skies

Globular star cluster Messier 13 (M13), Photo by Joshborup, Wikipedia Creative Commons licence.


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The Hadrian’s Wall Group is studying a MOOC

MOOCs, or Massive Open Online Courses, are courses on a whole range of subjects with thousands of people participating Our meetings will discuss the Hadrian’s Wall course and look at the course on line on a TV. These meetings are open to any Tynedale U3A members.

ABOUT THE COURSEExplore the archaeology of the most heavily fortified frontier in the Roman Empire, its

people and their lives. Hadrian’s Wall stretches over 73 miles (117 km), from coast to coast in Northern England. The Wall, complemented by a sophisticated system of outposts and coastal watch stations, offers a remarkable glimpse of ancient society. In addition to housing one of the largest concentrations of Roman soldiers anywhere in the Empire’s provinces, Hadrian’s frontier system was home to an incredibly cosmopolitan array of civilians.

This six week course offers a comprehensive introduction to Hadrian’s Wall and its people and raises fascinating issues concerning colonisation, cultural transformation, immigration, integration and imperialism. We will explore life in the region before the construction of the Wall, the arrival of the Roman army and its impact on the local population. Detailed case studies will consider the different features of the Wall and its surroundings, considering the way in which the frontier system evolved throughout the Roman period.

The changing face of both the Roman army and indigenous populations is richly illuminated through archaeological finds and reconstructions. To appreciate the range and character of native people, soldiers’ families, slaves, merchants and migrants, we will examine their homes, dress, diet, rituals and religious beliefs.The meetings are held at 1 The Orchard, Kitty Frisk, Corbridge Rd. Hexham, NE46 1UN.Thursday 1st December at 2.00pmThursday 5th January at 2.00pmThursday 2nd February at 2.00pmFor further details please visit https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/hadrians-wall or contact the convenor, John, on 01434 602262.


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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.

Festive Lecture 2016

This year’s Festive Lecture will be delivered by Professor Sir Doug Turnbull, Professor of Neurology at Newcastle University and Director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research. it is on Friday 09 December (12:30-14:00) and is held at the Life Conferencing & Banqueting Suite, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4EP

Recently awarded a Knighthood for his pioneering research into mitochondrial disease, Professor Turnbull will explain how energy is generated in a cell and what happens when it goes wrong in disease and ageing. This event is FREE but registration is essential due to limited places. To register please visit www.tinyurl.com/festive2016

A fresh batch of tickets has been released, so any members who were previously disappointed should now be able to get tickets.

Tynedale U3A Bridge Group at largeBrian Elias continues to teach bridge three times a week (Monday am; Friday am and pm). These sessions have been running for over three years and were originally set up for beginners with little or no bridge knowledge, as well as for those wishing to improve their bidding system and game. The lessons are both informative and fun so the groups have continued to flourish and take on a life of their own. Each of the three groups holds regular playing sessions in their own homes. Additionally, Robert Ford has established a group in the Torch Centre which welcomes all who wish to play.

This year in October, Brian led a residential weekend in the Lake District where everyone, however much a bridge novice, experienced a tournament of duplicate bridge, as played in most Bridge Clubs. We were concerned that having booked our places nine months ago, illness, old age or adversity might overtake u s , m a k i n g t h e t o u r n a m e n t untenable. However, 22 of us made it and we had a wonderful time. Lots of sunshine, magnificent s c e n e r y, s c r u m p t i o u s f o o d , friendship and bridge! So well done to everyone who participated, making it such a memorable weekend! It was a definite Three No Trumps occasion!

Lynn Stow, Group Secretary.Brian and the Bridge Group in the Lakes


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Please send your contributions to the J a n u a r y N e w s l e t t e r , t o [email protected] by Friday, 23 December.

NEXT GENERAL MEETING On Tuesday 6 December our talk is given by Conrad Dickinson. This meeting will be held in the Great Hall of Hexham Abbey. The topic is “To the South Pole with Prince Harry and the Walking Wounded”. See page 1 for details.

Programme 2016 – 20172017Jan. 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 AGM

Hexham Ten Pin Bowling alley was a safe place for beginners as six U3A members were almost the only people bowling on the afternoon of the 22nd November. The skills of members can be described as varied and inconsistent but the occasion was enjoyed and there are plans to have another afternoon in January. All will be welcome, with no commitment to make it a regular group. The date will be advertised in the newsletter.

Your committeeHon. President:Pat Moore : [email protected]

Chairman:Mike Worthington : [email protected]

Secretary:Elizabeth Porter : [email protected]

Treasurer:Alistair Sinclair : [email protected]

Membership Secretary:Barbara Herring : [email protected]

Minutes Secretary:Wendy Dale : [email protected]

Group Liaison Secretary:Sue Loader : [email protected]

Newsletter Editor:Kevin Stephens : 01661 [email protected]

Committee Member:Shirley Guppy : 634801

Ideas for days outBaynes coaches are willing to work with us to put on some day trips during next year. Unfortunately it was not possible to arrange anything this year and members missed out on

learning about new places and meeting new people. The committee would like to hear from members of places or events they

would like to visit next year. Please let Wendy Dale know before the next monthly meeting on December 6th as this will provide an opportunity to canvas support for suggestions.

Wendy can be contacted by email [email protected] or 01434 606215


mailto:[email protected]








newsletter 1216 pub copy 2 - u3asites.org.uk · body of Ursa Minor (the Little Bear) hanging by its...

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