THE COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN Barry Curtis Newsletter

VICE CHAIRMAN Bridget Pyle

TREASURER Daphne Dee

SECRETARY Wendy Benton An international movement that encourages retired / semi-retired people to take part in lifelong learning activities for pleasure. There are no prior qualifications, no exams and no degrees awarded. MINUTE SECRETARY Angela Wallington

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Hazel Belben

GROUP COORDINATOR Jill Curtis

COMMITTEE MEMBER Judy White

NEWSLETTER EDITOR Joy Boot

NON-COMMITTEE MEMBERS

SPEAKERS’ SECRETARY Mary Spurr

The Photography Group with their Calendars http://u3asites.org.uk/sturminster-newton celebrating 1000 years of Sturminster Mill, see page 5 for more details. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1842868155995868/

Third Age Trust: www.u3a.org.uk Registered Charity No: 288007 Sturminster Newton U3A Registration No: 771/750/0922

October 2016 ISSUE 42 2 STURMINSTER NEWTON U3A MEETINGS Chairman’s Report OPEN TO ALL Just back from a week’s break in South East Wales near Abergavenny (or “Y Fenni” as us locals call it). The weather was kind to us except for the first and last days, All meetings start at 3.15pm and are in the Bow Room of The Exchange. which didn’t matter as we were travelling. If you don’t know south Wales the scenery is breath taking and the cuisine at the local hostelries was really good. The entry fee is £1 for members and £2 for guests, which includes tea/coffee and biscuits. I notice that we are still welcoming a steady trickle of new members to our U3A and I hope that you will find something of interest in one or more of our groups You don’t have to be a member of the U3A to attend. Everyone is welcome. and that you will make new friends.

Our next speaker on 20th October will be John Goodman, a well known local photographer, who has exhibited at the Exchange. Do come and listen to John and maybe pick up some tips. Remember that Station Road car park is free after 3.00 DATES OF MEETINGS pm so the only cost is £1 for members and £2 for visitors. 20th October John Goodman John is a Local Photographer (whose work you will have seen at The Exchange). Those of you who are skittles fans will be pleased to know that Blandford U3A are John likes to differentiate his work, Digital Art, from pure photography. His work arranging a return match early in the New Year. This will be at the Old Ox in is produced using digital photographic originals. All the final images have been again and will include a superb buffet supper. More details in the reworked using various graphic processes. John’s talk will involve showing a December newsletter when I will be asking for volunteers. variety of finished works, then he will briefly show the process from photographs Barry Curtis to the end result. Too finish with, John will show a selection of printed artworks and cards, which will hopefully open up discussion on all aspects of his presentation and work.

15th December Dr Alan Chitty From the vice Chairman Mind Magic

This months newsletter is coming out a little early as I am away towards the end of 2017 the month for a well earned break in Morecambe and Lancaster! By the time you 16th February Clive Whitbourn read this I will have braced the northern air, visited relatives and, rare for a National Trust Ranger on Hambledon Hill southern 'lass', have been to see the Blackpool Illuminations!! 20th April Steve Oliver Bridget Pyle Reserves Warden - Wildlife Trust

15th June Mike Bolton Amazing Amazon

17th August Chris Shaw The Bear Necessities, Arctic Circle

3 4 Photography Group The Photography Group, led by Angela Wallington, have now completed their 2017 calendar which celebrates 1000 years of Sturminster Mill. With a selection of photographs from the group, and with the support of local sponsors for the production of the calendar, 400 copies have now been printed! These are on sale throughout the town and at the Museum. A lot of hard work went into producing the calendar, and the photography group would appreciate your support! If you haven’t got your copy, please contact Angela or a member of the photography group who will be happy to sell you one! A bargain at £5 with all proceeds from the sale of the calendars being donated to the Sturminster Newton Museum & Mill Society. Group Co-ordinator Messages

Calling all Group Leaders

I am intending to have our annual meeting towards the end of October. If there is any particular morning or afternoon you would prefer me to avoid I will try to pick a date when most people can attend. Do try to come, it is useful to exchange ideas and concerns with others, and if there are any problems, many heads are often better than one.

To all Sturminster Newton U3A members

At the end of October I am holding a ‘get together’ of our Group Leaders, I’m sure you agree with me that they work very hard to make U3A an association which we can all enjoy.

If anyone out there has any comments or concerns which they would like discussed at this meeting, please let either your group leader know, or if you prefer to let me know, your item will be put on the agenda.

If we wish U3A to keep on growing we need more groups to interest members, if anyone has any hobbies or skills that they would like to share Members of the Photography I would be very happy to help you to get started, it’s not as difficult as group proudly showing their you may think! photos on the calendar!

5 6 Notes from the Editor GROUP LEADERS’ UPDATES (The following articles are all written by the Group leaders) I would like to thank Jill Perry for all her valuable help with the handover of newsletter editing to me, and for producing super newsletters the during the Astronomy past 18 months. Good luck Jill with all your new ventures! The inaugural meeting was held on 3rd September. By the time you read this we will have held a second meeting on 26th September. It was cloudy with some rain on 3rd, so This is your newsletter and as well as lots of super information about all our unfortunately there was no observing; we hope for better on 26th and subsequent groups and U3A events further afield, I’d welcome your ideas for anything else meetings. Meetings have not yet been arranged for October or November. you’d like to see in future editions. Maybe you have just joined our U3A or a new group, how about telling us you what you think?! You don’t have to be a The club has ten members currently with a few more on the waiting list. Several members group leader to contribute, I will welcome contributions from any of our had prior commitments for 3rd, but five of us convened at my house where I gave a version members. of a talk on Daylight Astronomy that I had given at The National Museum Of Computing’s “Summer Bytes” season in recent years. (The museum shares the WW2 codebreaking site at I’ve added a sudoko puzzle this month, let me know if this interests you, or Bletchley Park and houses the world’s first electronic computer, Colossus designed to break indeed if you’d like to see something similar! Perhaps you’d like to share the German’s Lorenz code.) something that you enjoy! Some members have suggested sharing tasty recipes! The presentation showed the telescopes that we would have used and described the special challenges of trying to see the moon, planets and stars during daylight, and what you can do once they have been found. The presentation included descriptions of how we Group leaders: please can you remember that when sending me your lovely reports to include, if relevant, information and dates for the forthcoming two find our way around the skies using maps, mechanical devices and computers and also months. So for the next newsletter for December, include January too! some basic terminology. I also included some descriptions of objects that we might have seen if the weather had been favourable. Please also make use of the Sturminster Newton U3A web site, it is there for The presentation provoked a lot of questions and lively debate, ranging from where objects you to use, for your convenience, showing details of groups, outings, events, are in the sky, and how they move, to the nature of stars and the big bang. I feel the new and meetings. Follow this link: group has got going with substantial enthusiasm. http://www.sturminsternewtonu3a.co.uk

The U3A main web page also has information, and might be particularly useful for group leaders. http://www.u3a.org.uk Book club (2) We restarted our reading at the end of September, when we began discussing Thomas Finally, my contact details are on the back of this newsletter, please do let me Hardy's "Sturminster Newton" novel, The Return of the Native. know your ideas and what you think! I’ve added an additional page, so there is plenty of room for all your ideas! Boules Thank you. The boules group has had a successful and enjoyable summer. The standard of play has Joy improved enormously. As the nights grow cooler and darker we will probably drift into hibernation – to re-emerge with enthusiasm next Spring. I will miss the Thursday evening laughter!

7 8 Canasta History We do enjoy our games, not that we get many in a session as one game can take By the time you see this newsletter the history group will have restarted the up to 2 and a half hours. We now play in the afternoon as the evenings are sessions held on the 2nd and 4th Thursday morning each month. We have been drawing in and we all prefer this. delving into the Restoration of the monarchy, Charles II and all the fascinating events of the times. Pepys, The Great Plague and the Great Fire of London and the subsequent rebuilding, with a diversion to Louis XIV, (at least one of our members Cribbage has enjoyed the TV programme ‘Versailles’). If anyone is interested in joining us We meet on every 4th Monday at 2 pm. More players would be welcome even if please contact me for further information. you haven’t played before, come along and give it a try, there is plenty of help if needed. Keep Fit Most members have had their summer holiday now so we have more turning up but Digital Photography there is still room for new members as we have the Stour Hall. The Olympics The digital photography group came together once again to sell their mill inspired me so one week I brought the hoops. We all had such fun that we didn't calendars, the culmination of months of work, at the Cheese Festival, what a realize just how much exercise we were getting! It's a good job I only bring them team we are! For our October meeting we are heading for Stourhead to practice about once a year. our photography talents within that beautiful setting, weather permitting of course; all of us, whatever our level of expertise, are looking forward to getting the most out of this experience. Knit & Craft Our meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Fridays each month where members all do a We are always very happy to welcome new members to our friendly group, your craft of their choice. level of expertise is immaterial (believe me I am at the ‘bottom of the class’ when it comes to photographic skills!) We are a supportive and helpful lot and meet on the third Friday of each month - so if this is something you think you Luncheon Club (Tuesday) might like to try, then please contact me contact on 01258 475255. Last month we went to the Rose And Crown at Longburton. For October, I am hoping

we can arrange to go to The Hunters Moon at Middlemarsh. I'm not sure where we French will go in November, as many pubs seem to change hands quite regularly. But I have booked our Christmas lunch at The White Hart At Bishops Caundle. I’m very pleased to say that we are back in operation and meeting as before at Bonslea Mead, 10.30 am every 1st and 3rd Wednesday morning. We have welcomed a couple of new members this term and have room for a few more if Luncheon Club (Thursday) you would like to join us and brush up your school French. The August lunch was at The Stag Inn at Yarlington, a firm favourite, which was well attended. The September lunch was at The Kings Arms, also well attended with an excellent choice of meals. As Frank and I are off to Spain for two months, Jill Curtis and Maggie Peers have kindly offered to cover the October and November lunches. Garden Croquet We have enjoyed our croquet at the recreation ground and have welcomed four new members. We hope to continue to the end of September, weather permitting. We meet every Tuesday 3 - 5 pm. Do come along and watch if you Mahjong st rd feel you might be interested in joining us. Come along and try this interesting and addictive game. We meet on 1 and 3 Monday of every month.

9 10 Scrabble Opera Appreciation Our brain searching and lively sessions lead to much exploration of new words and Having moved throughout the development of opera from early Greek drama to light hearted exchanges. At present we have a vacancy for one more player. Phantom of the opera, we will now move into a period of studying individual Whatever your level of play, even if a complete beginner, you would be very welcome composers. Mozart will be the first on the plate commencing with a stunning at our friendly group. production and probably one of the finest operas of all time. With Levine as conductor and set amongst the ruins of Ancient Rome this promises to be an excellent start to the season. La Clemenza di Tito may be less well known but Theatre Visits certainly defines the genius of Mozart's creativity. We expect to see some interesting The new season started in September, with all productions fully subscribed for 2016, features with guest speakers, hands on experiences, interviews, discussions and but I can offer seats for the brilliant comedy production of Chris Chibnall's Worst occasional quizzes. Do come and join us and extend your appreciation of the arts. Wedding Ever. Chris wrote the screen series Life on Mars and Broadchurch, and his Highly recommended by the group we meet on the third Wednesday of the month at skill with dialogue and character is highlighted in this super comedy. I can promise the Methodist Hall 3.15pm-5pm. Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 19th tears of laughter and aching ribs... October. Please contact me if you are interested in joining us on FEBRUARY 11th. £26.50 covers theatre seat and bus to Salisbury and needs to be paid by 10th December.

Play Reading & Drama Group 1: Walking We have continued through the summer, even with quite a few people on holiday, After a break in August, ten of us started off with a walk we had to postpone in July. and have just finished re-reading 'Hobson Choice', which we all agreed was our all- The walk started at Norden, just south of Wareham, we walked to Corfe Castle time favourite play. It was very noticeable to me that the group have become much village then a steep climb up Nine Barrow Down and for the next few miles enjoyed more experienced and proficient in their readings and there were some lovely the stunning views of Poole Harbour, Swanage and a good distance west. After Lancashire accents this time. coming down as steeply as we went up, it was a walk around Ballard Down to Swanage and lunch on the Beach in the sunshine. During the afternoon we returned to Norden by Steam Train and all agreed we had enjoyed a lovely day. Group 2: We meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays each month. Our next two plays are ‘Aunt Edwina’ by William Douglas Home which is a comedy, and ‘Cat Among The Pigeons’ by Yoga Georges Feydeau. We have started the new term, and continue to have a full group.

Social Bridge Did You Know? We still only have six in our group, so there are times when we cannot get a four together, especially in holiday periods. We would really welcome new Free Group Entry to English Heritage and it’s Equivalent Organisations members! We aim to meet on alternate Fridays, and our next meeting is scheduled for Friday 14th October. We are a friendly and informal group, so if U3A is included in the list of learning groups entitled to free group visits you are interested in coming to try us out, please contact me. providing you apply in advance. Note: you cannot just turn up with a membership card and demand free entry. Go to the offers section on the national website for links to the relevant sites.

11 12 Information sent on behalf of Dorset Alert Is your call a police matter? Enquiries about dental appointments, seagulls causing a nuisance or requests for bus timetables are not appropriate calls for the police. Below are some calls we have received recently on the 101 line:

1 My BT landline is not working and I can't get through on the fault line 2 Reporting there is a Frisbee in a field 3 My front door won’t shut 4 When does the Natwest bank open? 5 Mobile phone company asking what mobiles Police Officers use trying to make a sale 6 My printer was delivered from Argos today but no warranty with it 7 Can I have the details of a locksmith as my key won’t turn in the lock anymore? 8 Why has the traffic slowed down? 9 Can you get me the talk talk contact number? 10 Who should I vote for in the upcoming election? 11 Found roller skate in back garden and wanted police to collect it 12 Seagull going to toilet on my car as neighbour feeds them 13 I need help with crossword something a policeman holds, t something s something, something, taser! 14 I want a sign up to say bull in field as a warning to ramblers The U3A hold a number of events; to find out more information and to 15 118 not working so thought to try 101 book, please go the events page of the members area: 16 Cannot find my dental appointment and can’t get through to dentist 17 Wanting travel updates for Ringwood http://www.u3a.org.uk/members-area/events.html 18 Complaint that the google car is going around the streets 19 Complaint taxi was waiting outside and the fumes were annoying her 20 My mum won’t give me any money 21 Male wanting to report his wife for making him pay for her taxi 22 Wanting a lift from Dorchester to Bournemouth Back Life - A Talk by Vivien Savage MCSP 23 A cat has caught a bat I am a qualified physiotherapist and I have worked mainly with paediatrics and people 24 New to area wants directions to B&Q with special needs. 25 Caller unhappy with service of NHS & wanted to know what the police can do to help However, over the years I have had back injuries myself and have treated back 26 We had a séance and now won’t answer the phones conditions from time to time. I found my physiotherapy background invaluable in 27 My cat has got into neighbours garden and I’m worried their dog will attack it overcoming some of my own back problems and would love to share my knowledge, 28 Who should I pay my car insurance to? help people prevent injuries and look after their backs. I am planning to give a one off 29 How do I donate my car to the fire brigade to use for cutting? talk on back management and how we can incorporate it into ours lives.

Please think before you call. Only call Dorset Police if you need police assistance. I will include basic anatomy of the spine, typical range of movement, advice on posture, common injuries, prevention, maintenance, helpful activities and advice, perhaps including some exercises. This will take place on Monday 17th October, 7pm at: Rushay Farm, Bagber Common, Sturminster Newton, DT10 2HB

13 14 Seniors Texting Code!

ATD: At The Doctors BFF: Best Friend Fell BTW: Bring The Wheelchair BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth Brain Exercise! FWIW: Forgot Where I Was GGPBL: Gotta Go Pacemaker Battery Low Fill the blank squares so that each row, each column and each GHA: Got Heartburn Again 3 x 3 block contain all of the IMHO: Is My Hearing-Aid On digits 1 - 9. LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out Solution in the next edition! OMMR: On My Massage Recliner ROFLACGU: Rolling On Floor Laughing And Can’t Get Up TTYL: Talk To You Louder

15 16 And Finally…….!

A father had three sons and when he sent them to university said, "I feel it is my duty to give you the best education possible. You do not owe me anything for that. However, I want you to appreciate it, so as a gesture of appreciation, please put £1,000 each into my coffin when I die."

And so it happened. His sons became a doctor, a lawyer and a financial planner, each very successful and well off. When their father's time had come and they saw their father in his coffin they remembered his wish.

First, the doctor put twenty £50 notes into the coffin. Then came the financial planner, he too placed twenty £50 notes into the coffin. Finally it was the turn of the heartbroken lawyer. He dipped in this pocket, took out his Cheque book, wrote a Cheque for £3,000, put it into his father's coffin and took the £2,000 cash. He later went on to be a politician!

Please do contact me if you have any ideas, suggestions or comments you'd like to share in future editions of our newsletter. The newsletter is published in February, April, June, August, October and December each year, so if you have an article for publication in the April 2017 edition, please submit it to me by email at [email protected] By the 16th November Thank you! Joy

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