Wrekin U3A – “Making life-long learning a reality for all third-agers in the Wrekin locality”

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It’s now my second term of office and I must thank the retiring members of the previous committee for their service and welcome the new committee. As usual, we have not got a full contingent but would be happy to co-opt any volunteers, so perhaps each one of you would consider joining.

The past three months which this review covers have again been busy for Wrekin U3A members. Events organised by the committee started in January with the Annual Lunch at Hadley Park House which was greatly enjoyed by attendees, and in February we held a Group Leaders’ meeting at Haughton Hall. One of the purposes of this meeting was to express our thanks to our Group Leaders. Without them we wouldn’t have any interest groups so would not be able to fulfil the educational aspects which make U3A different from other social groups. Throughout the year many suggestions have been proposed for new groups, but the difficulty is in finding leaders to run them. Consequently, we cherish the ones we have and welcome any new ones who put themselves forward.

Of course, those of us who have joined groups have an awareness of all that the Group Leaders do; arranging places to hold meetings, reminding members of meetings, planning the programme, passing on their knowledge etc. However, there are some roles within Wrekin U3A which go on in the background but are vital to the organisation and I intend to showcase some of these in this and future articles. A good place to start, of course, is with communication because that is what binds everything together. Wrekin U3A has three main communication channels – the Wrekin Review, the e-Newsletter and the website.

If you’re reading this article you obviously know about the Wrekin Review. It comes out quarterly and tells you mainly about what has happened in the preceding quarter. However, it doesn’t just happen and Anne Tranter, the editor, has the unenviable task of collating the articles and photographs sent in by members and fitting and displaying them within a fixed amount of space, and she also has to meet a deadline. When she doesn’t get enough material she has to cajole members to provide it and when she gets too much she has to decide what to include, what to pass on to the web team and what to leave out. To let you know about future events we have the monthly e-Newsletter, which is edited by Gill Whitehouse. Again, Gill is reliant on contributions from the committee and members for the content and like Anne has to frequently remind people that the deadline is approaching in order to produce a meaningful and informative editorial on time.

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Sheila Purbrick and David Winterbottom are our web team. They work closely together with Sheila dealing with all web enquiries and being the contact for anything that committee and members want on the site and then David, our webmaster, works the magic to make any inclusions and changes happen very quickly. Many of our members, including myself, first made contact through this medium. I am often amazed at how much information is on there and I am sure that those of you who have used it will be as impressed as I am. These roles, like several others, are performed by non-committee members and deserve recognition by all.

In conclusion, there are a whole community of people working together to ensure that we all have another year of interest, learning and laughter.

Sheila Etherington

A meeting was held on 28th February at Haughton Hall for Wrekin U3A's Group Leaders.

It was very well attended with most Group Leaders able to attend.

Several issues were discussed; the results of the Groups' Survey, Beacon issues, some administrative issues and the selection of a topic for the Groups to present at the General Meeting in September.

Of the various suggestions made the most popular by far was the theme "All Around the Wrekin".

Since the meeting, three groups have already come forward offering to do presentations on that theme; Prose and Poetry, Discussion and Singing for Fun. Other Groups are working on displays to be exhibited at the September Meeting.

There is still time for other Groups to take part so please contact David Tipper, the Groups' Co-ordinator if your Group would like to give a presentation or exhibit a display.

David Tipper

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Wrekin U3A cares about its members and, therefore, if a member is seriously unwell or has had an operation, the committee feels it is appropriate to send a Get Well card to show that someone is thinking of them. This is especially important for those who live alone. So if you know of anyone who is ill and who would appreciate a card, then please contact Carol Winterbottom on 01952 691131 or email her at [email protected] giving a reason. Sympathy cards and Thinking of You cards may also be sent. Again, please contact Carol.

Treasurer Needed Urgently

At the time of going to press, our U3A is facing the serious and potentially devastating situation of having no treasurer. Interim measures have been put in place, but these are short term and without a permanent treasurer we may need to start winding up our branch.

CAN YOU HELP!

You would only have to attend one committee meeting a month apart from dealing with general transactions. Some experience in bookkeeping would be useful but help is available. Please consider if you could help and speak to myself, Roger Phillips or any of the committee.

Sheila Etherington

Wrekin U3A Open Day

On Tuesday 21st May we will be holding our annual event in Village Hall where new, existing and potential members can come along and find out about our various interest groups. We hope that most of our groups will be represented and have displays on this morning.

This year we have decided to call it Wrekin U3A Open Day to encourage non- members to come in and find out what U3A is all about. If you know anybody who is interested, please encourage them to come along and also visit yourself; you may discover a new group which you want to join. Of course, we will be asking for home-made cake contributions in order to offer our usual cake and hot drink refreshments free of charge.

Sheila Etherington

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Research Project Involvement Opportunity

The Area U3A Network brings together 14 U3As within Shropshire and its surrounding area. The Network organises workshops and study days and provides a forum for discussion between its member U3As.

The Network is currently working with Wolverhampton University to identify opportunities for U3A members to be involved in original research projects. Details of the first of these, which is called ‘Help-seeking among family caregivers to people showing early signs of dementia – a preliminary qualitative study' can be found on the Research page of the website https://u3asites.org.uk/shropshire-network/page/88527.

Sheila Etherington

Is anybody interested in a Crossword group?

Cryptic crosswords.

Beginners welcome.

We all learn from each other.

Email Jim Tranter at [email protected] by 26 May to register an interest.

If there is sufficient interest, I will organise a preliminary meeting.

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A Parent’s Prayer A Parent’s Prayer Always believe in yourself. Promise always to be compassionate. AppreciateAlways believe that inyou yourself. do make mistakes. RecognisePromise alwaysthat I doto betoo! compassionate. Entrust me with your worries. Appreciate that you do make mistakes. Never doubt that I will support you when you need me. TalkRecognise to me about that I dothe too! things you find difficult. ShareEntrust your me dreams. with your worries. Please understand that I can have moods just like you. Never doubt that I will support you when you need me. Receive a little advice now and again. AcceptTalk tothat me Iabout sometimes the things get youthings find wrong. difficult. EnjoyShare your your life. dreams. Realise I love you without reservation. Please understand that I can have moods just like you.

Receive a little advice now and again. Mavis Hickman

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The THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR. 7th-9th November 2019.

The Thursford Christmas Spectacular tour includes an evening performance of the largest Christmas show in the country. It is set in the magical surroundings of mechanical organs and fairground carousels, with a cast of 120 professional dancers, singers and musicians. The 3-hour performance delivers an extravaganza of non-stop singing, dancing, humour and variety. It truly is a 'spectacular' show and following the performance enjoyed in December 2018 members requested a repeat visit 2019. En route there will be time to stop and explore St Ives, an historic market town and port on the river Great Ouse, 15 miles from Cambridge. On day 2 a guided tour and free time in Norwich and then on our return journey, Peterborough.

Price of visit: £280 per person sharing a double/twin bedded room. £33 per person single room supplement.

The SNOWFLAKE BREAK, Scotland, 11th-15th February 2020.

Enjoy the exhilaration of the snow-capped pines and peaks of the Cairngorm Mountains. Based at the Duke of Gordon Hotel, Kingussie, visits offered are the Cairngorm Brewery in Aviemore, Stirling and Stirling Castle and the Highland Wildlife Park. Price of visit: £135 per person sharing a double/twin bedded room. £32 per person single room supplement.

Full details and booking forms for both visits can be found on Wrekin U3A website, under Cultural tab.

Denise Smith

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In February a visit was arranged to Chirk Castle, in particular to see the lovely snowdrops. Unfortunately, I was unable to go following a short stay in hospital, but Zena and Vivien took over and all went well. Thanks to both for making this trip happen. I understand the snowdrops were delightful and a pleasant day out was enjoyed by all.

In March 36 of us finally made it to The Weir Garden, Hereford. Last year we had to cancel due to the heavy snow and the previous year our coach broke down and we were unable to fit in Weir Garden. The River was flooded and indeed part of the path was too. Plenty of lovely daffodils and other flowers along the banks of this short circular walk. We then went on to Croft Castle for lunch and a look around. The Walled Garden was beginning to come to life and although it was cold the weather was dry. Another good day out!

Eileen Dowell

Our walking groups are thriving well. The shorter walks group walked in on a beautiful sunny day in January, along a stretch of the Severn Way, downstream, with views across to High Rock and Pendlestone Rock. The sandstone hills were ideal for constructing cave homes and this is what happened – one cave, legend has it, was occupied by one of King Alfred’s grandsons. The walk then followed the golf course, across the dismantled railway and along a track passing Little Severn Hall and back into Bridgnorth.

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The February walk (again on a sunny day) was from Town Park, taking in Stirchley Pools, Stirchley Village. Stirchley Manor was constructed in 1653 and in the C19th the Botfield family leased nearly 500 acres of both Stirchley Hall and Stirchley Grange estates to exploit the underground natural resources and establish collieries, ironworks and brickworks. We were lucky enough to obtain the key to St James’ Church, Stirchley, built of Georgian red brick with a Norman stone chancel and the only church in Telford containing a significant amount of Norman stonework. Fletchers Pool is red in colour due to the presence of iron deposits in the soil. Here the Botley family’s Old Park Company blast furnaces produced iron near to the Shropshire Canal branch. Later came chemical manufacture and brick-making. It was a very interesting day.

The March walk was “around the Wrekin” on undulating paths proving a good leg- stretcher. The views along the route were amazing and again the weather was kind to us.

In January one of our longer walks was from Wrockwardine, with its church, interesting war memorial and old smithy. We walked along lanes and fields and viewed the Longden Aqueduct, the world’s first cast iron aqueduct built in 1797 by Thomas Telford, now a grade 1 listed Ancient Monument. The walk took us past a solar farm and Coppice, alongside streams and some very pleasant countryside. Another interesting walk with good weather.

Our February walk was from Norton in Hales, a new area to us. The village stands on high ground so there were some good views over the surrounding countryside. We passed through farmland, along lanes, and came upon a small, now disused, interesting little church. We can always accommodate anyone wishing to join either the 4 mile or 8 mile group. Gill and Valerie

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Summer School 1

Aston University, Aston Street, Birmingham, B4 7ET Monday 12th to Thursday 15th August 2019

School 2

Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, GL7 6JS Tuesday 10th September to Friday 13th September 2019

To book places [email protected] Telephone 020.8466.6139

Our magazine provides a space for members and groups to communicate through the medium of the written word and to enjoy a broader vista of our U3A and all the activities that go on in it. If you have not contributed for a while, or would like to for the first time, please write to or email the editor, Anne Tranter ([email protected]) or, if you have any questions, telephone her on 01952 770323

Although colour printing is only an occasional option, for reasons of cost, the magazine can always be viewed in full colour on our website.

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Wrekin U3A Groups List March 2019

Name of Group Group Leader Meeting Time Venue Week Day am/pm

Art Linda Tipper 3rd Thursday pm Volunteer Centre Blists Hill Madeley Art Appreciation 1 Bob Vincent 2nd Monday pm Members Home Art Appreciation 2 David Tipper 2nd Friday pm Members Home Bowls Sheila Etherington Various As Arranged Bridge Jeremy Rubin Every Wednesday pm As Arranged Card Playing Caroline Rawson 3rd Thursday pm To Be Arranged 1st Friday pm To Be Arranged Classical Guitar Tony Etherington 2nd Thursday am Members Home Classical Music Appreciation John Soper 3rd Tuesday pm Members Home Computer Drop-in Roger Phillips 4th Wednesday pm The New Crown Inn Shifnal Computing Roger Phillips 2nd Wednesday am Volunteer Centre Blists Hill Madeley Country Dancing Jenny Johnson 2nd Thursday pm St Andrews Youth Club Shifnal Crafts Group Sally Holtom 1st Wednesday pm Volunteer Centre Blists Hill Madeley Cultural Visits Denise Smith Various As Arranged Digital Photography 1 Jan Phillips 1st Thursday pm Members Home Digital Photography 2 Jane Apling Last Monday pm Members Home Discussion John Boydell 3rd Friday am Saxon Court Albrighton Family History Mary Rogers 4th Wednesday pm Wellington Library Film 1 Anne Woolton 1st Tuesday am Members Home French beginners Graham Higson 3rd Tuesday pm Members Home French beginners + Denise Smith 3st Tuesday pm Members Home French Conversation Denise Smith 3rd Thursday pm Members Home Gardening Terry Clark Various As Arranged German 1 John Davies 1st Tuesday pm Members Home Houses and Gardens Eileen Dowell Various As Arranged Italian Beginners Susan Luchetti 4th Wednesday am Members Home Italian 2 Susan Luchetti 2nd Wednesday pm Members Home Latin Marilyn Higson 1st Monday pm Fire Station Shifnal Latin 2 Janet Bradley 2nd Friday am Members Home Lunch on the 15th Gillian Whitehouse 15th Every Month As Arranged &Valerie Brown Not another book group Celia Vaughn 1st Monday am Members Home Out and about Brenda Wilkinson Various As Arranged Play Reading Pamela Vincent 1st Thursday pm Members Home Prose and Poetry Pamela Vincent Last Monday pm Members Home Reading Jan Phillips 2nd Tuesday am Members Home Science Reading Alison Harris 3rd Monday pm Members Home Scrabble 1 Barbara Burtenshaw 1st Tuesday pm To Be Arranged Scrabble 2 Agnes Leishman 2nd Tuesday pm Members Home Shakespeare Peggy Williams 3rd Monday am Volunteer Centre Blists Hill Madeley Short Walks Gillian Whitehouse 3rd Thursday am As Arranged Singing for fun Suzanne Walker 3rd Wednesday pm The Brooke Room, St Andrews Church Table Tennis Debbie Halford 4th Thursday pm Trinity School Room Shifnal Walking 6-8 miles Gillian Whitehouse Last Friday am As Arranged Wine Tasting 1 Alan Cartwright 2nd Monday Evening Members Home Wine Tasting 2 Susan Luchetti 3rd Monday Evening Members Home

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2019/20 Executive Committee

Chairman Sheila Etherington

Secretary Linda Tipper

Treasurer

Groups’ Co-ordinator David Tipper

Assistant Groups’ Susan Luchetti

Co-ordinator

House Manager Tony Etherington

Membership Secretary Agnes Leishman

Other Committee Members (Roles to be confirmed)

Derek Horton

Anna Griffiths

Non-Committee Roles

Wrekin U3A Review Editor Anne Tranter

E-Newsheet Editor Gill Whitehouse

Web Enquiries/ Sheila Purbrick Web Liaison

Web Master David Winterbottom

THE COPY DEADLINE FOR THE SUMMER REVIEW IS 30th JUNE 2019

The Wrekin U3A is an educational and recreational charity registered in accordance with the Charities Act 1993 (Charity No.1098219).

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