NEWENT & DISTRICT U3A BULLETIN March/April 2016 If you are interested in joining, please ring:

01531 820826 or see www.u3asites.org.uk/newent

Chairman's Message

URGENT - WE NEED A NEW CHAIRMAN!! I would like to remind all Members that I have only one more Message to deliver after this, in our future Bulletin for May/June 2016. My term as Chairman finishes at the next AGM, and it is essential that we have a replacement to ensure that Newent & District continues. I will be on hand to provide help and advice where required whether I am re-elected to the Committee or not. In addition, we have a capable and experienced Committee to help with our operation, so Newent & District is never going to be a one man band. Could each one of you please consider whether you can take on this role and if you are interested please let me or any other Committee member know as soon as possible.

We have not had a Vice-Chairman for some time, which is another role to consider. If a Vice-Chairman is also appointed, that post-holder and the Chairman could – and SHOULD – share responsibilities. Ideally, the Vice-Chairman could step up to the role of Chairman in future, ensuring continuity of leadership and the success and growth of Newent & District.

This year Easter falls very early, at the end of March, this may affect a number of Group activities. Nevertheless, the March and April calendars contain a wide range of activities for you to join. Our Group Leaders do an incredible job in ensuring that these run smoothly. If you wish to participate in a new Group activity, please contact our Group Co-ordinator, Janet Furtado, for contact details of the relevant Group Leader.

Finally, we have a new Group. The Guitar Group has just formed under the initiative of Ken Clements. It meets on the second and fourth Mondays in the morning. There will be a further announcement at the next few monthly meetings as to the way in which it will operate. Guitarists of all levels and with any special interest(s) are welcome. We wish this Group well and look forward to a concert in future.

Jeremy Furtado

NOTICE OF NEXT AGM – NEWENT & DISTRICT

The Committee has decided that the next AGM of Newent & District U3A will be held on Tuesday 19th July 2016 at 10.30am in the Memorial Hall, Newent.

Details of the Agenda, including Election of Members of the Committee, will be given later.

COTSWOLD LINK AGM (From Ann Williams, Secretary, Cotswold Link U3A)

Annual General Meeting, Half-Yearly Meeting, and Seminar - Monday, 21 March 2016

This is the first call to our member U3As of our AGM and Spring Meeting day that will be hosted by Cheltenham U3A and will be held at The Pavilion, Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham, GL51 6PN on Monday, 21 March 2016 from 10.00 a.m.

We would hope to see at least two delegates per U3A coming along for what we hope will be an interesting and informative day. 1

After the official business of the AGM and the Half-Yearly Meeting, there will be a presentation by a Third Age Trust New Development Team member entitled “Constitutions and Committees Clarified”.

The Cost: £12.00 per head, which will include coffee/tea on arrival and a buffet lunch. One cheque per U3A in advance, made out to Cotswold Link please, to:

Sue Arkell, Cotswold Link, 11 Tobyfield Road, Bishops Cleeve, Gloucestershire, GL52 8NS.

Please provide us with the names and contact details (email address or telephone number) of the representatives attending from your U3A.

Non-Cotswold Link U3As are very welcome to attend but we would ask you to pay £14.00 per head. Again, please provide us with the names and contact details (email address or telephone number) of the representatives attending from your U3A.

Deadline: To give our host U3A some breathing space, could you send names to Sue by Wednesday, 9th March. We do urge you make sure this information gets around to as many members of your committee as possible. We appreciate that communication is not always easy, but it would be sad if anyone missed out on this day simply because they hadn’t heard about it. The meeting will commence at 10.30am (coffee/tea and biscuits available from 10.00am) and we would expect to finish by 4.00pm at the latest. Minutes of 2015, AGM and the Agenda for the meeting, together with directions to the venue, will be forwarded shortly.

COTSWOLD LINK LANGUAGE DAY 7th MAY 2016

(from Cotswold Link)

Calling all U3A linguists – whether at the beginner stage, advanced and bi-lingual, or just generally curious…..

We are delighted to announce that we have arranged with Prince Henry’s School in Evesham to use their brand new £1m language block for our first Summer School. Details are in the early stages, but it is anticipated we will cover German, French, Italian, Spanish, Latin, Russian, and Greek. Workshops will cater for all levels, beginners to advance and anyone interested in satisfying their curiosity! 10.00am The day will start with registration and coffee/tea followed by welcome and introduction. 11.15 - 12.45 Workshops take place until 1.00 – 2.30 Lunch will be served. The afternoon will be taken up with language-based presentations and a synopsis of the day will precede the closure at 4.0pm.

There is ample car parking at the school, which is easy to find in Evesham. The anticipated cost for the day will be £15 for Cotswold Link U3A members.

Full registration details will follow, but do put the date in your diaries now!

Places are likely to be taken up quickly – for more details check our website: www.u3asites.org.uk/cotswold-link, your own U3A, or contact: [email protected]

We so look forward to welcoming you to our first ever Summer School!

(If you are interested, please contact a Member of the Newent & District U3A Committee)

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FORTHCOMING U3A NATIONAL EVENTS – SPRING 2016

Each year our National Office organises a programme of seasonal events that may be of interest to members with special interest e.g. music, science. However, this year a visit has been organised to the Dr Jenner Museum in Berkeley, Gloucestershire. The details are as follows:

Date: 9th March, from 11 am – 3.45pm. Cost: £20pp

Please contact National Office on 020 8466 6139 or the members' area n the U3A website www.u3a.org.uk for further details.

Other events are as follows (all London):

Date Event and Venue Cost

3rd March U3A Sing-Out, Savoy Theatre. London £35pp (Tuition, Lunch and Sing-Out CD)

15th March “Importance of Being Earnest” with David Suchet £15pp Exclusive Screening for U3A, Odeon, Covent Garden

17th March Royal Institution Spring Meeting, Mayfair, 1,45pm – 4.50pm £20pp

11th April Search for Life in the Universe – Prof Ian Crawford Free Birkbeck University, London

27th April U3A Spring Concert – Mozart Requiem £18pp St Clement Danes, Strand

JUNE TRIP TO GOOD OLD DAYS

th On Mon 27 June theTheatre and Q.A.C.K.S. (Chat and Craft) groups are joining together to visit Nailscote hall, Nailscote Warks, for a Good Old Days concert and 3 course meal. Estimated costs are £40.00 including the coach fare. If any member wishes to join us, contact Ann 01531 820766 [email protected] before the end of Feb.

For those members and friends who have expressed a wish to go to the Good Old Days at Nailscote th on Monday 27 June, please forward to Ann or Colette cash or cheque for £40.00 made payable to Newent and District U3A (social), by last day of April (Non-refundable). Should you have changed your mind about

attending, please tell Ann or Colette asap

COLETTE [email protected] 01531 820036

ANN [email protected] 01531 820766

Membership Renewals - all members should receive a named renewal form through (one of) their Interest Groups or at the monthly meeting. Our new subscription year starts on April 1st. Contact Gill Moseley (01531 820826) for further details.

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Diary of Events for March/April 2016.

March

Date Day Activity group Leader Time Date Day Activity Group Leader Time th 1st Tues Writing for Pleasure OW pm 17 Thur Art History KP am Book Club PL am 2nd Wed Poetry Group J.Furst am Investment Discussion Jazz Appreciation DR pm Lunch Club Beefeaters CW am 3rd Thur Art History KP am Longford ____ Computer Club RList am 18th Fri Discussion Group KS am 8th Tue Walking Group JB am Longhope & Blaisdon 21st Mon Guitar TBC KC TBC th 9 Wed.Visit to Dr Jenner Museum, Berkeley Glos 21st Mon Photography R List pm £20. Per Person. Phone National Office 020 84666139 nd or visit www.u3a.org.uk Members Area for details 22 Tue Gardening Group RS pm th 10 Thur Spanish Lita P am 24th Thur Spanish Lita P am 11th Fri French pm th 14th Mon Guitar KC am 25 Fri ?? Good Fri

15th Tues Monthly Meeting Doors am 28th Mon ??Easter Mon One Man &100 open

Homes.Mr.Fitt 09:45

APRIL

Date Day Activity group Leader Time Date Day Activity Group Leader Time st 18Th Mon Photography R List pm 1 Fri ? French TBA pm 5th Tues Writing for Pleasure OW pm 19th Tues Monthly Meeting Doors 09:45

Group Subject TBA open am 6th Wed Poetry Group J.Furst am 21st Thur Art History KP am

Jazz Appreciation DR pm Book Club PL am 7th Thur Art History KP am Investment Discussion CW am

Computer Club R List am Lunch Club at ____ th 11 Mon Guitar KC am The Bell Tewkesbury th 12th Tue Walking Group TBA JB TBA 25 Mon Quilting and Craft AH & Pm Knitting Sewing Jan F th 14 Thur Spanish Lita P am (Q.A.C.K.S.)

th Guitar KC am 15 Fri Discussion Group KS am 26th Tue Gardening Group RS pm ? French TBA pm th 29 Fri ? French TBA TBA

Group Leaders Abbreviations. J. Furst=John Furst: R.List= Robin Lister: KP=Ken Power:

J an F= Janet Furtado: OW= Olwen Walden: JB= Jill Beard: LP= Lita Power: MA= Mary Aubrey: PL= Phil Ludlow: CW = Chris Webb:AH=Ann Humphries: RS=Ruth Stott: HF= Hâf Rickets: Jer.F=Jeremy Furtado: KS=Kathleen Setters: DR=Derek Robbins:KC=Ken Clements.

LUNCH CLUB VENUES

Feb 18th The Alma Linton

Mar 17th Beefeater Longford

April 21st The Bell Tewkesbury

May 19th Hunters Inn Longford

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Films - at the Market Theatre Ledbury. (Copied from the Ledbury & District U3A Newsletter). Meetings Wednesdays as advertised. Doors open 9.45 am. Coffee at 10.00 am; Film 10.30 am. Admission £5

Wednesday 10 Feb 10.30am - BOYCHOIR 103mins (PG) Stet, a troubled and angry 11-year-old orphan from a small Texas town ends up at a Boy Choir School, following the death of his single mum. Completely out of his element, he finds himself in a battle of wills with a demanding Choir Master, who recognises a unique talent in this young boy as he pushes him to discover his creative heart and soul in music. Starring Dustin Hoffman, Kevin McHale, and Kathy Bates. Wednesday 9 March 10.30am - 99 HOMES 112mins (15) Sunny Florida and Dennis Nash is evicted from his home by the charismatic estate agent, Rick Carver and has to move his mother and young son into a shabby motel. In a desperate attempt to regain his home, he takes a job with Carver and enters a risky world of scamming and stealing. Living a double life, he rises fast. But can his conscience cope with having to evict honest families from their homes - just as it happened to him? Starring Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon and Laura Dern. Wednesday 13 April 10.30am - A WALK IN THE WOODS 98mins (15). A delightfully funny adaptation of Bill Bryson's international bestseller. Deciding to hike the notoriously tough Appalachian Trail, Bryson (Robert Redford) invites old pal Katz (Nick Nolte), who turns up wheezing and overweight for a trip involving high altitudes, rugged terrain and... bears. Using their journey as a metaphor for the uncertainty of old age, with majestic footage of rural America, it's a hilarious, touching film with very enjoyable comic turns from Redford, Nolte and Emma Thompson (as Bryson’s wife). Wednesday 11 May 10.30am - THE LADY IN THE VAN 104mins Written by Alan Bennett, the true story of the relationship between himself (Alan Bennett) and the singular Miss Shepherd, a woman of uncertain origins who 'temporarily' parked her van in Bennett's London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years. Maggie Smith, James Corden, Jim Broadbent and Frances de la Tour star.

The Christmas Party

Cake, Wine, and Leaping Lords.

With Heart and Soul and Voice....

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