U3A FORUM

Your monthly newsletter about interest groups and events in the Dale

March - April 2020 no: 20/03

www.teesdaleu3a.org.uk

Mike Sweeting, Chairman 01833 630005 [email protected]

Phil Johnson, Business Secretary 07792 959320 [email protected]

Tim Meacham, Membership 07847 182554 [email protected]

Registered Charity no. 1176746 Established March 2007 Founding Chairman: George Jameson

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Chairman’s Letter – March 2020 The U3A Committee met on 17th March to decide how we should deal with the issues facing us.

• We are advising that all Group meetings should be cancelled until at least 30th May 2020. • The monthly meeting will be cancelled with immediate effect, again until at least 30th May. • The AGM due on 23rd April is postponed to a future date yet to be decided • The paper Forum will not be produced this month but will be avail- able through the web site (teesdaleu3a.org.uk) as usual. • Regular updates and any changes to our activities will posted on the web site. • The committee will not meet in person until Government advice suggests that it would be right to do so but will continue to oper- ate remotely.

Covenors and co-ordinators should make sure all their members are aware of the above and let any venues know that you will not be meet- ing for a while.

We will keep the situation under review and if we need to extend the time limits on these activities we will let you know. Please let anybody who you know who does not use email what is happening.

In the meantime please do what you consider best to protect your- selves and do not forget there are still many ways to keep in touch with your friends. Very best wishes Mike Sweeting

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It’s Your Forum Editors: Annie Clouston & Celia Chapple. This month’s editor is Celia. Annie will be editing the April—May Forum. Email: [email protected] Phone: Annie 01833 637091 Celia 07783 419067 Both editors receive all contributions and share the email account: [email protected]

DEADLINE FOR CONTRIBUTIONS (maximum 300 words) for the next edition: Thursday 9 April

If we do not acknowledge a contribution by email this is probably because we haven’t seen it. Please ring us if we have not acknowledged receipt within 48 hours. Handwritten/typed contributions can be left in the Messages section of the U3A file in the Library or The Witham café. Please phone to let us know if you have left a contribution in either of these files. If you want to receive a copy of Forum but cannot make it to the monthly meeting, you can acquire one by:  Downloading the colour version from the website  Collecting one from the U3A file in Barnard Castle Library, or The Witham café & shop, TCR Hub or Barnard Castle surgery  Sending us some SAEs and we shall post them to you each month  Asking a friend to collect one for you at the meeting

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Teesdale U3A Monthly Meeting Fourth Thursday of the month Meetings assemble from 10.00 for a prompt start at 10.30 (unless indicated otherwise) at The Witham Barnard Castle Guests are welcome to attend one of our meetings as a ‘taster’ before deciding whether to join. Children under 18 are NOT allowed to partake in group activities as guests, as they would not be covered by our insurance. Next meeting: Thursday 23 April 2020 Speaker: David Gluckman — Baileys Irish Cream and Other Great Drinks David Gluckman was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on 1 November 1938, the day that Sea Biscuit and War Admiral fought out the Race of the Century at Pimlico Park, Baltimore. Educated in Johannesburg, he joined a local advertising agency after university and soon fell in love with business. He made the pilgrimage to London in 1961 and worked as an account executive on the introduction of Kerrygold butter into the UK. Always a frustrated creative, he escaped into brand development in 1969, met a man from a drinks company called IDV, and his life changed forever. His book about his life creating drinks brands, “That s*it will never sell”, is published by Prideaux Press. It can be previewed and purchased via the website www.thatshitwillneversell.com. February’s Speaker: Dr Grenville Holland Apollo 11 and the Origins of the Moon The speaker at the February meeting was Dr Grenville Holland and his topic was the Apollo 11 moon landing in1969. In 1967 Grenville and 3 of his Durham University colleagues had been given responsibility for the analysis of some of the moon rock which was to be brought back. Grenville began by showing the 1962 Kennedy speech when the President said ‘... We choose to go to the moon .. not because they (things) are easy but because they are hard...... ’. Grenville was full of praise for Neil Armstrong and the other 3 astronauts. Some of the moon rock (£25m worth) was carried to Durham in a briefcase by one of Greenville’s colleagues who became stranded in Darlington Station. He was met with disbelief by the Station Master on saying ‘ I have a sample of moon rock in my briefcase and I need to get to Durham urgently.’ Grenville’s particular interest was in geochemistry and initial results were obtained by bombarding the rock samples with X-rays and identifying elements present. Analysis of the data has added weight to 6

the theory that the moon was once part of the earth. Grenville presented other data showing how the temperature of the earth had changed over the last 400,000 years and how the proportion of both carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere had changed during this period, largely increasing with increase in temperature. Such data has important implications for the current discussions about the reasons for climate change. This was an impressive and in parts technical presentation at the cutting edge of research. Grenville was still involved in research but said that if he was starting now he would do things differently. The vote of thanks was given by Roy Tranter. Ian Reid Art Appreciation Group Report by Roger Stanyon The March meeting was held at Enterprise House following the sudden closing of the Jersey Farm Hotel on 26th February and Enterprise House will be our home in the future. At the meeting we looked at the second episode of the BBC documentary The Story of Women and Art presented by Professor Amanda Vickery, which was devoted to women artists of the 18th century, an era of technological and economic change. Professor Vickery found that despite being regarded as second class citizens, when it came to art this was an era when ingenious women seized a galaxy of fresh opportunities to stamp their creativity on the age: from the designer Anna Maria Garthwaite who revitalised the British silk industry to the painter Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun who created a name for herself in the Ancien Régime. The opening of the Royal Academy of Art in London in 1768 was an apparent step forward for women artists. The Academy had two founding female members: Mary Moser and Angelica Kauffman, who were able to work, but they were denied equality and couldn’t study male models in order to protect their modesty! No further women were elected as full members of the Academy until Dame Laura Knight in 1936. We had problems showing the DVD because of a fault in the venue’s equipment. Luckily computer expert Ian Hodgson was able to help and we managed to show it, but with Dutch subtitles! In spite of that the members liked the room, especially the available coffee and bis- cuits. Unfortunately the room at the Enterprise House is not available on the first Wednesday in April, so the next meeting is on Wednesday 6th May when we will look at the final episode of The Story of Women and Art. Roger Stanyon Tel: 01833 631758 Email: [email protected] 7

Book Group 2 Report by Elizabeth Long The Choice by Edith Eger I was reluctant to read this book as it appeared to be about the Holocaust and I have read such a lot about that time. However, it is not about the Holocaust; it is actually more about how the author dealt with the aftermath and life beyond and about the choices we all make in life. The memories of Auschwitz, the death marches and being pulled out alive from a pit of dead bodies is, as you would expect, harrowing but if you stick with it, you will be rewarded by a deeply moving but uplifting book. She goes on to become a psychologist and, as she recounts some of her experiences with certain clients, it becomes obvious how important they are to her recovery over time. Those of us who read the book (and not all were able to) thought it was one of the best books we had read, profound and thought-provoking. The themes of survivor guilt, forgiveness and moving forward were explored in a well written way. As she writes, you can’t change what has happened to you but you can choose how to deal with it. It did take her many years to reach this conclusion and the journey was often painful but you are left with the impression that she has made the most of her life. A book that we would recommend to readers. We usually meet every two months in the summer and once a month in the winter, on the second Monday in the month, although this can vary. Please contact Elizabeth Long on 01833 641494 or by email through the web page for further details. Future Meeting Monday, 11 May at 2pm when we will be discussing Orphan Boys by Phil Mews

Film Club Report by Judy Golds The U3A Film Club will meet on the fourth Tuesday of everyone month at 1.30pm in Enterprise House. We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.

Tuesday, 28 April 2020 : Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close : Starring Tom Hanks. A nine-year-old amateur inventor, Francophile and pacifist searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001

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Tuesday, 26 May 2020 : Some Like it Hot, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemon When two musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state disguised as women in an all female band, but further complications set in. French Conversation Report by Sue Overton

Le 5 mars 2020 Notre premiere rencontre chez Sue a étè très agréable. Certains d’entre nous ont dansé ( !) sur de la musique typiquement français. Nous avons discuté de notre maison préférée et Sandra nous a montré une belle peinture de sa maison précédente. Le sujet de discussion pour notre réunion prochaine sera ‘Pâques’.

Next meeting : Thursday 2 April at 2pm at Stella’s home. For more information contact Annie Woodward 01833 627264

Gardening Group Report by Sue Holmes After what seems a long winter, wet if not cold, time for spring to arrive, and what better than a trip to Wallington Hall walled garden, where tens of thousands of purple crocus have been planted creating a crocus lawn, and I defy anyone not to leave with a smile on their face. Still on show around the grounds are hundreds of thousands of snowdrops, bringing the promise of spring and warmer days, and being able to get out and into the garden. The Hall built in a block with four sides surrounding an open area, was later covered and painted with panels depicting Northumbrian history. It is also home to a collection of dolls houses and an eccentric collection of period bric-a-brac “cabinet of curiosities”. The fact that the sun was shining, and we had called at Kirkharle Courtyard for excellent coffee and scones, and browsed the craft shops, only added to a very pleasant day. Future programme 3 April. Stainton Village Hall 1.45pm, a talk by Keeley Metcalfe on Garden Design for Year-Round Interest 1 May. Visit to Himalayan Garden. 5 June. Visit to Benningbrough Hall and Gardens (NT) 3 July. Visit to Helen Bainbridge’s garden (Fir Tree Cottage) in and Mount Grace Priory (NT and EH) Continued overleaf…...

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Continued from previous page…... 7 August. Visit to Longframlington garden. Interested in joining us, please contact Pauline as soon as possible as places are limited. Pauline Fawcett 01833 638020 or [email protected]

Genealogy Report by Alan Swindale The topic for the meeting was Domestic Service. For most of us our thoughts will go to the large establishments of Downton Abbey or Upstairs, Downstairs but in the 1871 census almost two thirds of Britain’s female domestic servants were working in one or two servant households – and the vast majority of domestic servants were female. Many young girls after finishing schooling would go into domestic service either to escape home or reduce the number of mouths to be fed. They might start working for a relative or a neighbour who needed help in the house but the first ‘post’ would normally be as an under- maid or maid of all work assisting a house maid. The employer would provide food and accommodation and a salary of perhaps £8 - £12 per year. The term of employment was normally for a year although she could be turned out with no notice if her work or behaviour was unsatisfactory. Once she had learnt the job and could show some references, she would look for a job as a house maid herself, her first step up the ladder. Most young women married and almost inevitably left domestic service since the accommodation, a shared bedroom or perhaps only a bed in the kitchen, was not suitable for a married couple. A few, unmarried or possibly widows, made a career of domestic service becoming cook or housekeeper in a larger establishment in a wealthy household. Male servants were fewer. It was cheaper to employ a maid than a footman – men had more alternative sources of employment. Gentry households however might require a footman and other male servants to reflect their status. The butler, if there was one, would be responsible for any other male servants while the housekeeper was responsible for the female staff. In Downton Abbey there was a cast of 11 servants but in 1912 Highclere Castle, where the interior and external shots were filmed, used the services of over 40 (indoor) servants! The next meeting will be on Thursday 3 April at 2:00 pm at Enter- prise House in the Dales Room. The topic for the meeting will be Using Newspapers in your Family History Research. Alan Swindale [email protected] 01388488348

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Historical Environment Report by Tim Meacham We were very fortunate this month to be addressed by author Val Scully who spoke on The Courageous Countess based on the life of Mary Eleanor Bowes (the title a defiant response to an earlier volume The Unhappy Countess). Val spoke passionately, setting the scene by describing the Blakiston family’s Gibside estate and the tale of Elizabeth Blakiston’s marriage to Sir William Bowes of Streatlam Castle which united the two families. The early death of Sir William left Elizabeth to show herself as the first of many strong family women as she oversaw Derwent Valley’s rise of railways and industry. She somehow found time to bring up 10 children, the third of whom, George Bowes, adapted Gibside into today’s form. His first marriage (to an Eleanor who died at 14!) was followed 19 years later by a second to a Mary. No sooner was a daughter born (the ‘Mary Eleanor’ of the talk’s title) than George died. The second half of the well-illustrated talk featured the often tragic life of this precocious, but well educated only child. She was kidnapped by an MP seeking to tap into her vast inherited wealth by marriage. Helped by servants, she escaped and moved at age 16 to London where a much older Lord Strathmore, seemingly more enamoured of her fortune than her beauty, courted her. His early death in 1776 left her at 26 with five children and it was no time before a womanising psychopath, Andrew Stoney, married her and caused her great physical and emotional damage. Val brought out the desperate situation of 18th century wives quite graphically, but finished on a brighter note with Mary’s nine years of peace and tranquillity which followed Stoney getting his well-deserved come-uppance. Throughout, Val wove contemporary society and women’s matters into her lively tale and the talk proved a real tour-de-force. Next month Tim Meacham will talk on Edward VIII – Traitor or Victim? at Enterprise House on Thursday 9 April at 10.00 am. Please email Tim for further details (address on page 1). New members welcome.

LUNCH GROUP Report by Jean Turner The lunch group’s March venue was The Three Horseshoes, Barnard Castle. It was a small but happy group (6 members only) that enjoyed a lovely lunch in the warm and friendly environment. The staff were their usual pleasant selves. As usual the chat was lively and we all enjoyed catching up. Continued overleaf…..

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Continued from previous page….. The next meeting will be Thursday 9 April at Capri, Barnard Castle, meeting at 12 for 12.30. Please contact me on the Monday before for numbers, telephone number 01833 660172

Music Appreciation February Report by Kathleen Howcroft It was opera again for our meeting this month. PAGLIACCI – meaning – CLOWNS. An Italian melodrama in a prologue and two acts. Music and libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo written in 1892. It is a dramatic tale of love and betrayal between 1865 – 1870 set in Calabria Southern Italy. The opera revolves around a commedia del arte troupe. The main characters are Canio/Pagliaccio, tenor, the head of the travelling theatre troupe, and Nedda, soprano, his wife. Beppe, tenor, fellow actor, Tonio, baritone, the Clown and Silvio, baritone, local townsman, and secret lover of Nedda. In an act of revenge, Tonio tells Canio that Nedda is having an affair, as he suspected. During a performance Canio confronts Nedda and stabs her. Silvio, Nedda's lover, attempts to save her but gets stabbed by Canio as well. Very dramatic! The famous song from Pagliacci is Vesti la giubba meaning put on the costume, the show must go on, sung at the conclusion of the first act. We watched a DVD of Pagliacci recorded in 1984 at La Scala, Milan. The leading part of Canio, leader of the group of strolling players, was played by Placido Domingo. Thank you to Roger for the loan of the DVD and to everyone who helped to make the morning a success once again. NO MEETING IN APRIL – EASTER WEEK FRIDAY 15 MAY - TO BE ANNOUNCED All Meetings 10am Millennium Room, Cotherstone Village Hall Entrance £2 - £2.50 includes tea/coffee & biscuits Contact Kathleen Howcroft 01833 695223 Email: [email protected]

Needlecraft Group Report by Karen Tranter Eight members gathered for the March meeting on a dry, sunny and relatively wind-free day; just a spot of sunshine really lifts the spirits especially as the weather recently has been so windy and wet. Most had brought their knitting projects to work on. Several members remarked that the birds in their gardens are already beginning to nest and that the singing is getting louder. With spring in mind the

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conversation then turned to the various products available for cleaning washing machines, the effectiveness of tumble drier balls and eco- wash balls. Whilst enjoying a refreshment break we all agreed about the difficulty of getting the strength of tea or coffee right if one doesn’t drink that particular beverage. No decision has yet been made regarding the summer/autumn outing. Our next meeting is on Monday 6 April. For further information please ring Glen Howard, 01833 631639 Philosophy Report by Elizabeth Long We continued with our study of Michael Sandel’s book, Justice: What’s the Right Thing To Do? Chapter 2 which considers utilitarianism, as expressed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mills. Utilitarianism is the theory that consequences are what matter, and so the just action is that which promotes the best outcome for the greatest number of people or the greatest happiness for the greatest number principle. Sandel uses many practical examples to make one think about what is right and to challenge us. The true story of 4 sailors in the 19th century who, in order to survive, kill and eat the dying cabin boy is a case in point. They were found guilty of murder but had defended themselves using the principle of the greatest good for the greatest numbers. As a group, we discussed this and other examples as well as some from today’s world, e.g. can face recognition be justified? Are ID cards a good idea? Quarantine? These are all examples where the greater good could be said to supersede individual rights. John Stuart Mills believed in a modified utilitarianism where individuals should be free to do what they like as long as it doesn’t harm others. He also countered Bentham’s view that there is a single measurable scale of pain and pleasure by claiming that it was possible to distinguish between ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ pleasures and that people would naturally prefer ‘higher’ pleasures once they were aware of them. Sandel goes on to describe what happened when he tried this out with his students – did they prefer The Simpsons or Shakespeare? No prizes for guessing the outcome. Sandel concludes the chapter by allowing that Mills was a more humane philosopher but that his ideas, although he claimed they were based on utilitarianism, were based more on a moral idea of human dignity and personality outside utility itself. Next meeting: Tuesday 28 April at 10am at Penny’s Café, when we will be continuing to explore Justice with reference to Sandel and other philosophers.

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Photography Group Report by Geoff Freeman Seven of us met in Stainton Village Hall, using the projector and screen, to critique photos from our recent visit to Kiplin Hall, plus a discussion on tips for post processing. We also decided to have regular indoor meetings to assess photos and learn photo techniques. Also, suggestions were offered for producing a Teesdale U3A calendar. The next meeting will be to Auckland Castle and grounds, 10am, 7 April. Cost is £8.00. Car sharing will be arranged between ourselves.

Science and Technology Group Meeting 10 February 2020

Explosives and Explosions 2 by Phil Johnson This talk was a follow on from Phil's talk on the same subject last autumn, with more examples and video clips of explosions. He started by demonstrating some explosions - toy gun caps, cracker snaps, party poppers and balloons - waking everyone up in the process! After reviewing again some of the basics about explosives and explosions, Phil went on to give more examples and some unusual facts. Ammonium nitrate (a high explosive) is safe enough for 20kg bags of the material to be thrown around. The explosive flash in modern detonation cord (the equivalent of fuses in old movies) travels along the cord at about 32,00ft/sec (about 6miles/sec). Candles release about twice as much energy as the same quantity of dynamite; dynamite just releases its energy very quickly. Nitro-glycerine is manufactured under reduced pressure to prevent the formation of micro-bubbles in the liquid - the vapour in these bubbles is unstable and can lead to uncontrolled explosions. Examples of non-chemical explosions were given. Early steam boilers, such as in Stevenson's Rocket were prone to exploding due to excessive steam pressure when pressure relief valves failed to operate. Dust explosions in mines, grain silos and flour mills can be (and have been) devastating, though they are now relatively rare due to better control of dust. Natural phenomena such as meteorite strikes and volcanic eruptions can cause massive destruction over wide areas as shown by the Tunguska meteorite in 1908 and the Mt Helens explosion of 1980. Phil's anecdotes of his own experiences of explosives and explosions added to the enjoyment of his talk and were well appreciated.

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Meeting 9 March 2020 Why is Life Left-handed? by Roy Tranter After showing examples of the supposed symmetry (usually asymmetry) in living things and physics, Roy went on to look at the asymmetry of molecules and how this influences the living world. Two papers, independently published in 1874, by van't Hoff, Netherlands, and Le Bel, France, showed it was necessary to have a 3-dimensional tetrahedral arrangement of atoms around a carbon atom to explain the number of forms (isomers) of particular compounds. This led to a simple explanation of optical activity: if the arrangement was asymmetric about a carbon atom, then the molecule would be optically active and have two forms. Molecular asymmetry has a profound effect on Life. The two optical isomers of limonene, the oil in citrus fruits, smell differently, one of oranges and the other of lemons. Similarly, one optical isomer of carvone tastes of spearmint and the other of caraway. Usually, only one optical isomer of a medicinal drug is beneficially active, the others being inactive (e.g. thyroxine) or dangerous (e.g. thalidomde). All naturally occurring amino-acids have one optical isomer, the L-form, while naturally occurring sugars all have the D-form. Enzymes built from L-amino-acids fold and adopt shapes that are a direct consequence of the L-shape. Similarly DNA has a backbone built from deoxyribose, a sugar with a D-configuration. This causes the DNA molecule to have its characteristic right-hand spiral twist. In both cases, adding the opposite optical isomer causes significant disruption and loss of function. Although Life depends on right (D, dextro) and left (L, laevo) molecules, how this came about is still unknown, though there are plenty of theories. The next meeting will Tuesday 14 April 2020 and is a visit to the Flymo factory in Newton Aycliffe. Your Forum We have been struck by a major increase in printing costs and the long -term solutions are being considered by the Committee, but we think that the Forum is important to members and should be preserved. We are asking all contributors to produce short reports for the Fo- rum, i.e. a maximum of 300 words, which is less than one A4 page in a Word document. Longer versions of reports can be found on each group’s page on the website www.teesdaleu3a.org.uk The committee has created a sub-group to explore our options. Your feedback and ideas about the Forum and its current dilemma would be very helpful, particularly suggestions about cheap printing arrangements that we can explore. 15

Douglas Pittuck from every Angle: an illustrated talk.

As part of the month-long celebration of the Barnard Castle artist and the mural he gifted to the town, there will be an illustrated talk about Douglas Pittuck’s life and art. The talk will be delivered by members of the Douglas Pittuck Mural Group, including Christine Hartas, from the Barnard Castle and Teesdale Art Society, Elizabeth Conran, retired Curator of The Bowes Museum, and Liz Gott, who has gathered lots of information about Pittuck's life and work. The talk will be followed by an opportunity to take a closer look at the mural itself, to hear about its conception and production, and about life in 1950’s Barnard Castle, which it depicts. We also hope members of the audience will contribute their memories and insights, to add to the research already undertaken.

Dates: Tues 14 April and Friday 24 April. The same talk is repeated and there is no charge. Both at 2pm in St Mary's Parish Church, Newgate, Barnard Castle.

To help raise funds for the mural's desperately needed restoration, there is a month-long exhibition of Pittuck's work in The Witham, Barnard Castle, from 4 -25 April excluding Sundays and Mondays.

English Mustard Written by Rosemary Scott (and inspired by one of Karen Tranter’s quizzes)

Mustard was introduced into in the 12th century, coarsely ground in a mortar and pestle, and eaten in this coarse state, using it to disguise rotten meat. In 1486, it came to the North East and the monks on the Farne Islands used it. In the 1600s it was recommended as a spice in its own right. Tewkesbury was noted for its mustard making but as a much weaker substance. This is made from the seed of Sinapis albus, there being four different plants used for four kinds of mustard power. In 1720, English style mustard was produced by Mrs. Clements of Durham City. It was a secret for extracting the full flavour and consisted of grinding in a mill plus several processes akin to flour making. She travelled the country for orders, her clients including King George I; consequently her mustard was used by his followers. 16

The mill was thought to have stood at the rear of premises in Saddler Street, seed being grown by local farms, including Houghall Farm. At that time crops were selling at £100 per acre. The firm, Messrs Keen and Son Garlick Hill, London, was established in 1742, invoking the saying ‘Keen as Mustard.’ Colman of Norwich acquired this firm in 1814. Mrs. Clement’s daughter, Eleanor, married into the flour making of Ainsley of Crook Hall. This business had been in existence since 1692. After her husband’s death, she married John Balmborough. A new mustard firm was set up by a member of the Ainsley family in Silver Street and put the original firm out of business. In due course, Colman of Norwich bought them out.

Winter Swans by Owen Sheers

The clouds had given their all – two days of rain and then a break in which we walked,

the waterlogged earth gulping for breath at our feet as we skirted the lake, silent and apart,

until the swans came and stopped us with a show of tipping in unison. As if rolling weights down their bodies to their heads

they halved themselves in the dark water, icebergs of white feather, paused before returning again like boats righting in rough weather.

‘They mate for life’ you said as they left, porcelain over the stilling water. I didn’t reply but as we moved on through the afternoon light,

slow-stepping in the lake’s shingle and sand, I noticed our hands, that had, somehow, swum the distance between us

and folded, one over the other, like a pair of wings settling after flight

From Poetry Friday at https://charlotteunsworth.wordpress.com Thank you to Roger Stanyon for sending this poem 17

Scrabble Group Report by Celia Chapple A game of Scrabble proved to be just the thing for 7 of us on a cold and rainy March day. We sat in Phil and Judith’s conservatory which has good light and a view of the hills surrounding Cotherstone. We had two rounds of games with refreshments half way through. The highest score of the day was 228. A strange word came up: funker. One Scrabble dictionary states that it is music with a strong rhythm, perhaps more familiar to us as funky music. On the website, Wiktionary, its meaning is given as one who funks, or backs out of something due to cowardice. Apparently (although I cannot corroborate this), D H Lawrence, in Lady Chatterley's Lover, writes: ‘’You say a man's got no brain, when he's a fool: and no heart, when he's mean; and no stomach, when he's a funker. And when he's got none of that spunky wild bit of a man in him, you say he's got no balls.’’ The group usually meets on the 2nd Monday of the month at 2.00pm; however, due to Easter Monday falling on our usual Scrabble day, the next game will be held on Monday 20 April at 2.00 p.m. at Lilian’s house in Cotherstone. If you are interested in joining the group, please phone Lilian on 01833 650628.

“Oh my fur and whiskers! I'm late, I'm late, I'm late! I'm late, I'm late! For a very important date!’’ The White Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland

Don’t be late! Clocks spring forward 1 hour for Daylight Saving Time in United Kingdom at 01:00 on Sunday, 29 March 2020

Spanish Conversation 20 February Report by Lusia McAnna A scaled down group of 3 of us met at my house but sadly we didn’t have the usual electronic input from 2 of our members still residing in Spain. The topic of a favourite flower or shrub evoked some wonderful memories of life in Kenya surrounded by fabulous landscapes, exotic flora and fauna and some glorious flowering tree, particularly The Scarlet Cordia shrub with its beautiful orange-scarlet flowers, the Gul Mohur or Flamboyant tree with its vivid brilliant red flowers and the Mimosa leaved Jacaranda tree with its violet-blue flowers that turn to mauve.

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Our mainly green leaved trees can seem a little dull in comparison. One favourite was the Sunflower, its Spanish name “Girasol” perfectly describing the way that it moves its happy, smiling face towards the sun. Each flower is made up of nearly 2,000 tiny flowers and, like us humans, it starts small, grows tall and strong and then, as it grows old it slowly bows its head towards the ground. It was used in the past by native Indians for cooking and as a medicine to aid digestion and for skin conditions. With its light, amber coloured oil, high levels of unsaturated fats and Vitamin E and mild flavour it is appreciated for its stability in high temperature cooking. The most expensive sunflower was sold for $39.85 million, painted of course by Vincent van Gogh. Did you know that a tulip bulb in Holland in the 16th century could cost as much as a house? But can anything beat the scent of an old English rose? Hasta la vista. Lusia Next meetings March - rescheduled to Thursday 26 at 2pm at my house. Topic: Nature or Nurture? April 16 - 10am at my house - Topic: Ghosts—Fact or Fiction?

Table Tennis Group Report by Celia Chapple We have recently agreed to raise our subs to £2 per session so we can have two tables, which enable us to play singles and doubles games while others can practise serves and shot techniques. Some people express doubt that they have the necessary hand-eye co-ordination to play a game of table tennis. Hand-eye co-ordination is like any muscle – if you don’t use it you lose it. Playing table tennis is exactly what you need to improve your hand-eye co-ordination, and it will also strengthen and improve your suppleness. We start losing muscle mass in our 30s, so you have a lot to gain by staying active now, and table tennis is a gentle way to do it. There is much laughter and occasional despair during our games, with moments of utter amazement at some of our shots - good and otherwise! New members are welcome. We play every Friday at 3.00pm at the Teesdale Leisure Centre, Barnard Castle. Players bring their own bats but you can use the Centre’s bats too. If you are not sure about joining the group for a game, come and sit on the bench and watch for a while. Please call or email me before you come. Contact Celia Chapple 07783 419067 or email: [email protected]

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Understanding Classical Music Group February Report by Bill Heyes At the February meeting the group continued with a study of orchestral instruments. This month we viewed a BBC documentary about the harp which traced the history and development of the harp from ancient times to the present day The modern harp still retains the basic triangular shape of the earliest known example but has evolved through a number of innovations in the last 200 years; these were described in detail. After coffee the group listened to a discussion of Rodrigo’s Guitar Concerto (Concerto de Aranjuez). Rodrigo and his wife had fled to Paris to avoid the Spanish civil war but in 1939 Europe itself was in turmoil. The work is a homage to the palace and gardens at Aranjuez where he and his wife had honeymooned. It is not programme music so does not tell a story. The work is full of wonderful melodies, particularly the 2nd movement, sometimes wistful, sometimes sad but an emotional piece of music. It is said that the movement was both an evocation of the happy days of their honeymoon and a response to Rodrigo's devastation at the miscarriage of their first pregnancy. What is particularly surprising is that Rodrigo was not a guitarist (he was a virtuoso pianist) yet the work is the epitome of Spanish guitar music. The next meeting of the group will be Mar 27 2020 (10.00am at Startforth School) when we will begin a review of events that changed music for ever (Big Bangs, with Howard Goodall). The first Big Bang we will consider is that of Notation i.e. the designation of music on paper. The second part of the meeting will be a study of female classical composers. Contact: Bill Heyes - Email: [email protected], Tel 01833 640885

Walking Group 4-6 Mile Report by Gillian Barnes-Morris Barnard Castle Heavy rain, not the light showers that were forecast, greeted us on the morning of our walk. Five members of the walking group arrived at Scar Top, Barnard Castle; we looked at the sky and decided to go for coffee instead.

Our next walk (Middleton-in-Teesdale & Hudeshope Beck) is on Tuesday 14 April. Meet at 10:00am. at the fountain in Middleton.

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Fellwalking Group February Report by Ruth Sansom The iconic shape of Roseberry Topping beckoned as we ascended the from Gribdale Gate. It is formed from a hard sandstone cap which protects the underlying shales and clays from erosion by the effects of ice, wind and rain. Until 1912, the summit resembled a sugarloaf, but then a geological fault and possibly the nearby alum and ironstone mining caused its collapse. We five adventurous fell-walkers, also members of the philosophy group, made quick work of its ascent, while stretching our minds to ascertain why we were here, and realising we had another three ‘tops’ to conquer! Our next conquest was Hanging Stone (for the observant members among you at monthly meetings – the photo at the bottom of the U3A banner showing Phil, Annie & Ian), followed by Highcliff Nab, two outcrops of sandstone with evidence of Mesolithic activity on the top. The views across Teesside and along the coast are stunning, and the day was a perfect one for walking. After resting for lunch we headed across the Moors, eventually reaching Captain James Cook’s Monument, another viewpoint from which we could see our previous three landmarks. Having put the world to rights, studied the geology of the area and taken some photographs (on the website – hopefully!), we headed downhill (thankfully) to the cars, followed by a well-earned cup of tea in . An excellent 10 mile excursion!

Wildflower Group Report by Rose Pude We did not have a walk in February as there are so few wildflowers out this early in the year. I have seen celandines, golden saxifrage, gorse and hazel catkins out. By late March, when we have our first walk, there should be a bigger variety of spring flowers to be found. New members are always welcome. Our programme is on the Wildflower page on the Teesdale U3A website. Please contact me on [email protected] if you want more information about the group. Next meetings: Friday 27 March. Our first outdoor meeting of the year. Meet 2:00 pm by the entrance to Deepdale nature reserve Startforth. £1 fee. We will be looking for early spring flowers and identifying plants from their foliage. Friday 24th April. Meet 2:00 pm B/Castle end of silver (water) bridge for a walk in Flatts Wood looking at the spring flowers. The bluebells should be magnificent! £1 fee. 21

March - April Quiz

Fill in the missing words in the following adages, proverbs, aphorisms

1. As ---- as ditch water 2. As ---- as two short planks 3. ----- is thicker than water 4. ---- as a doorpost 5. ----- as crystal 6. ---- and ------go off after three days 7. Many ----- make light work 8. Many are ------but few are chosen 9. ----- goes before a fall 10. To ------there is a season 11. ----- of a ------flock together. 12. There's no such thing as a ---- lunch. 13. A watched --- never boils." 14. There's no ---- like the present

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February—March Quiz Answers Each clue has a cryptic answer relating to an amount in the old pounds-shillings-pence currency – e.g. Rhymes with skiver would be fiver so you would fill in 5 0 0 in the cash columns. The total of your answers should come to £17/5/6½ £ s d 1. A man’s name (Bob = 1 shilling) 1 0 2. Girls for your thoughts (Penny) 1 3. King’s hat divided into two pieces (half- 2 6 crown = 2.6) 4. Poorly octopus-type creature (Sick squid) a 6 0 - quid £1.00 5. Sun, Moon and Stars, for example - three distant objects (3 far things =3 farthings) 3/4 6. He works with leather (tanner =sixpence) 6

7. A gorilla’s joint (ape knee =ha(lf)penny 1/2 8. An old-fashioned bike (penny farthing) 1 ¼ 9. A kind of pig (guinea) 1 1 0 10. A male singer (tenor) 10 0 0 11. An Australian jumper in the Xmas pudding 3 (a joey = a silver threepenny bit) Total 17 5 6½

Thank you to our Quiz Master Karen Tranter

Wine Group March Report by Tim Meacham

The February Wine Group meeting seems long ago, but as the March meeting is after the Forum deadline I am appending a short account. The wines sampled were all on sale in the Lidl post-Christmas ‘When it’s gone, it’s gone’ sale. This might have passed but most of the wines can still be purchased, albeit at higher (but often still very rea- sonable) prices. Continued overleaf…..

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Continued from previous page…..

Our four whites featured an amazingly good Italian Soave which seemed to be the sale’s loss-leading highlight: the ‘Soave DOC Classico’ was described by a reviewer as ‘Clean fresh wine with juicy lemon and chalky minerality. Would pay £6.00.’ Our group agreed and were staggered by the price - £3.49! This barely covered the tax! The ‘Abellio Rias Baixas Albarino 2018’ (12.5% and £5.99) was also excellent with a stony minerality, and the group agreed with a reviewer who valued this at £12.00. Moving to Australia, Chardonnay is not to everyone’s taste, but Lidl’s ‘Coonawarra Chardonnay 2018 (12% and £5.79) found favour with a number of the group. We completed our whites with a sweet French example, the ‘Tradition Parcherenc du Vic-Bith 2017 (12% and £7.99), This ‘well made fresh wine’ showed a sweet ripe peach and orange marmalade character and would make a much cheaper alternative to Sauterne. All four white wines would be well worth seeking out. Our two reds featured a Chilean Malbec, the ‘Viajero Malbec Reserva 2018’ (13.5% and £4.99). This had good body and far more depth than the price would suggest. Members detected blueberries and chocolate, while its warm spicy oakiness lingered on the tongue. Equally good value was our Spanish example, the ‘Valdearenas Tinto 2016’ (13.5% and, again, £4.99) perhaps a more workaday red, but a more full-bodied example than the Chilean wine. Lidl is in fact becoming the place to buy good value wines and this tasting provided good evidence of why this is so. Our March meeting will feature a trio of Spanish wines alongside their Portuguese equivalents. Anyone interested in joining us for the April meeting should contact Tim Meacham (email address on front page of Forum).

Braille Written by Rosemary Scott Braille is a form of writing for the visually impaired. It was devised by Louis Braille in 1829 from an idea of Charles Barbier’s, a French Army’s artillery officer’s ‘Night Reading’. Braille is raised dots on sheets of special paper, based on a domino cell that holds an average of 40 cells across and 25 lines; each cell can contain one to six dots in a series of configurations, 64 in total, including punctuation and numerals. It is based on the French alphabet in a logical sequence but the ‘W’ has had to be added at the end for the English language. It can be written with a stylus or with a Braille printer (Brailler). Two hands are used to read Braille, the index fingers are used for the reading and the others for guide to the lines. The Braille Code was adopted in Britain in 1870. 24

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TYRES — EXHAUSTS — BATTERIES Puncture Repairs - Wheel Alignment - Balancing

Appointed Dealer for General Tyres

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New Group

Economics for All: Understanding the Modern World

We have a new member who is gauging the level of interest for forming a new group. The essential aim would be to explore the workings of a mixed economy contrasting what theory would suggest and what outcomes tend to be. There will not be any offer of guidance on how to fill out a tax return.

You will be able to register your interest at the general meeting on 26 March.

If you are interested and are not attending that meeting, please contact Chris Thornton

Email: [email protected] Mobile: 07900 158369

The 13th Annual General Meeting of Teesdale U3A will be held on Thursday 23rd April 2020 in The Witham, Barnard Castle commencing at 10.30am

Doors open and coffee will be available from 10am.

All AGM documents will be sent out by e-mail or post:

• A Nomination Form – to propose members for the 2020 -2021 Committee. • Motions for Debate Form to put forward items for debate.

All committee posts can be nominated for.

Our U3A cannot function without a committee.

Please come forward and help to ensure our continuation.

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Nomination for Members of Teesdale U3A Committee 2020 for election at the AGM on Thursday 23th April, 2020

Position for which Nominated (Please circle as appropriate) Chair Treasurer Business Secretary Committee Member

Nominee (print name)

Signature

Proposer (print name)

Signature

Seconder (print name)

Signature

All nominations and/or Motions for debate must be received by the Business Secretary on or before Thursday 26 March 2020

All members of Teesdale U3A are entitled to put forward Motions for the Annual General Meeting, but should submit them using the given form. In introducing the topic at the AGM, we would ask that any speeches be limited to two minutes. Motion for debate

Proposed by

Seconded by

Please hand or post Nominations and Motions for Debate to The Business Secretary: Phil Johnson, 5 Fairfield Road, Barnard Castle, DL12 8 EB 27

Here is a small selection of the events coming up—thank you for your ongoing support and discover more on our website (see address below): Thur 2 Stitch in Time - a Knitting Cabaret: scintillating se- Apr lection of lost knitting songs from World Wars I & II. Bring 7.30 pm your own knitting (crocheting). Sun 5 Sunday Classics – Ingrid Sawers (piano) and Apr Alexandra Mackenzie (cello): the perfect soundtrack to 2.30 pm your Sunday afternoon. Thur 9 Simon Brodkin - 100% Simon Brodkin: Funny Way To April Be Comedy. Following three hugely successful BBC 8.00 pm series as Lee Nelson. Tues 14 An Evening with Nick Butter: In November 2019, Apr crowned the first person to run a marathon in every 7.30 pm country in the world. Thur 16 Quentin Crisp – Naked Hope: written and performed by Apr Mark Farrelly. Depicting Quentin at two phases of his 7.30 pm extraordinary life. Sat 18 A tribute to Frank Sinatra : a thrilling evening of his great- Apr est hits by Frank Cognoscenti and his jazz orchestra. 8.00 pm Tues 21 ROH live – Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci : two clas- Apr sic operas wonderfully re-creating life in a South Italian vil- 7.00 pm lage. Thur 23 Kinky Boots the Musical, filmed live from The Adelphi: Apr inspired by true events, a joyous story of British grit. 7.30 pm Sat 25 Arcade – Heidi Talbot & Adam Holmes: have had nomi- Apr nations for multiple BBC Folk Awards, SAY awards, Irish 8.00 pm music awards. Open Tues to Sat, 10 am to 4 pm and one hour before evening and Sunday events Visit www.thewitham.org.uk for more information. Box Office: 01833 631107 The Witham, 3 Horse Market, Barnard Castle DL12 8LY 28