Borders University of the Third Age

Borders Bulletin Volume 5, Issue 2 December 2018

Big Promotion Push 90th Birthday Celebrations

2018 has been a busy year for the committee and PR team, organising a series The Garden Group celebrated of activities to promote Oswestry Borders U3A within the community, raising member, Doreen Turner’s, 90th awareness of all the benefits on offer to third agers. birthday at their December meeting At the start of the year major employers in the Oswestry area were contacted with with drinks and a bouquet of flowers requests to circulate OBU3A material within HR packs, and to retiring employees. presented by leader, Sally Barrett. One of the key points we emphasised to these employers was that Oswestry’s two U3As have a combined membership of nearly 600 members, making it one of the largest voluntary organisations in the town.

We explained that the U3A helped retired and semi-retired people to continue their educational, social and creative interests in a friendly, informal environment. Members drew on their knowledge and experience to teach and learn from each other as volunteers, with group sessions, usually in members’ homes, covering 70 different subjects, between the two U3As in Oswestry.

Then, similar contact was made to 26 parish clerks and editors of local publications. This proved to be a very useful strategy to publicise OBU3A as many parish councils produce newsletters and have their own websites. Already, we have been featured in several and it’s really encouraging to receive feedback Doreen entertained with tales of her from new members that these articles succeeded in triggering their interest. work in pharmacies. ‘We had to We revised our OBU3A poster, giving information about general meetings, and work out medicines from children distributed it to key display locations in Oswestry, surrounding towns and villages. bringing notes from mum, or from Back in February we focused on some internal PR, highlighting the key roles patient’s strangely mispronounced played by members of our executive committee. Then in September at the versions. Keys were left under mats Members’ Meeting we introduced a ‘Points of View’ session, where chairperson, and repeat prescriptions left in a Pat Evans, summarised some of the interesting things the committee are looking box for patients to collect!’ she said. into. The session was a very useful source of getting feedback from our members, and will be followed up by the committee. There are plans to include After retiring when she was 80 the Points of View as a regular event in future Members’ Meeting timetables. Doreen carried on part-time at October events included our week-long exhibition at Oswestry Library, where the Whitchurch Pharmacy, She’s finally photograph display attracted much interest, and the Interest Group Fair, where decided to call it a day, and will the new addition of home-made refreshments, pardon the pun, proved to be icing retire in January. She will celebrate on the cake, with many groups reporting increases in potential members. this at a ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ show in . ‘I love line First trip abroad dancing,’ she explained, ‘but I don’t think I’m Strictly material’.

A lot of hard work went into organising the Travel group’s first Inside this Issue: trip abroad to Amsterdam. Interest Group News Pages 3—13

We visited the Keukenhof Speaker Meetings Pages 14-15 Gardens, Amsterdam’s canals, the Committee News: Page 16 Art Galleries, Diamond factory, Cheese and clog factory and many Members’ Meetings: Page 17 other attractions. January 2019 Planner: Page 18 For details of future trips - Page 7. Interest Group details: Page 19

Borders Bulletin Chairperson’s message Volume 5, Issue 2

Borders U3A is having a successful year. Our Interest Groups are thriving and members enjoy a broad variety of subjects. The Interest Group Fair was very well attended and resulted in several new members joining us. Our PR group organised a display in Oswestry Library, which encouraged people to come along and see what we do at U3A. Our number of new members has increased steadily, and we have had 23 new members since April. We have enjoyed some really good Speaker and Members’ Meetings in the last few months but we would like to see more members at these meetings. In addition to being entertained by a Speaker, it is a way of making new friends and keeping in touch with what is happening in your U3A. We also want to hear views on how we run our U3A. We had a ‘Points of View’ Members’ Meeting in September and your suggestions and concerns were noted and discussed at our recent Committee Meeting.

Chairperson, Pat Evans, with I attended the U3A AGM in Nottingham in August. The Third Age Trust is at the Oswestry Mayor, Sandy Best, at draft stage of a 3 year development plan to address the changing needs of our our Interest Group Fair. members. It is also very focused on the issue of ‘Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older People.’ All U3A groups are expected to put systems in place to address Membership News this issue. We are advertising Borders U3A in the local press, displaying posters As your new membership in various venues, and contacting employers in an attempt to reach out to as secretary, it has been quite a many people as possible. We are also currently finding out about the steep learning curve for me, in Social Prescribing Project to ascertain if there is a role for the U3A alongside spite of the great help I received other disciplines. This project supports Government strategy to address from former Membership loneliness.xx We want people to come along and give us a try. There really is Secretary, Elizabeth Lewis. something for everyone.

We started the year with just over Pat Evans, Chairperson 100 members and currently we have 166 (which includes 46 Our 2018 Poster associate members), so we seem to be appealing to quite a large number of people, often through New display posters have been circulated around Oswestry town and outlying the Public Relations team who villages promoting Oswestry Borders U3A. We’ve included details of our 2018 have been responsible for programme of speaker and members’ meetings as well as contact information. ‘advertising’ us both in Oswestry and in the surrounding areas.

Sadly 4 members have passed away this year. Our condolences go to their family and friends.

We held a meeting for new members recently to talk informally about group meetings and interest groups they had joined or might join, or want to start themselves.

It can be a little overwhelming walking into a large room full of strangers, so I would urge members to look for new faces and make an effort to say ‘hello’. Anne Cherrie Membership Secretary

Page 2 Interest Groups Borders Bulletin Volume 5, Issue 2

During the last few months a number of new groups are in the process of starting up in the New Year. Two of them are a result of the ‘Points of View’ Members’ Meeting held in September – Cultures & Anthropology (which may get a snappier title eventually) and a re-forming of the Spanish language group. First meetings planned for these groups are:

Spanish Learners on Monday, January 7, at 2 p.m. at the Willow Gallery in Oswestry with group leader, Pauline Faulkner.

Cultures & Anthropology on Tuesday, January 8 at 2.30 p.m. at group leader, Ellie Knighton’s home. The Beginners Plus French Group There’s also a possible Craft group in the making (pardon the pun) and a second enjoying a break from their studies. French group too. Look out for details about their first meetings sometime in January 2019. Beginners French Plus Over the year we’ve had even more groups start: Art now meeting twice a month at Jane Davies’s home, World & Barn Dance held in St Oswald’s Parish Church Hall has developed into a successful, healthy activity with a good social aspect The Beginners Plus French Group too. The Bowls group restarted in April and was once again very popular, continues to meet on the second and particularly in the wonderful weather we enjoyed this summer. Amblers now have fourth Thursday each month. We plod a new group leader, Clare Codd, and continue to ‘amble’ on the 1st and 3rd along happily, as before. Thursday of each month with new members always welcome. The Welsh learners group became our first successful ‘short course’ that ran from January to We are trying to get a second group June with members now successfully mastering pronunciation of the Welsh going - with the idea of meeting on the alphabet – well almost! first and third Thursdays, with an initial meeting early January. The Interest Groups’ Fair held on October 17 was well attended with attractive displays provided by our groups. Oswestry’s Mayor, Sandy Best, was a guest Catherine Evans visitor at the Fair. This year the café area at the back of the room proved very popular – with some members practising French and Welsh phrases, but perhaps it had something to do with all those luscious home-baked cakes, kindly donated by many of our members! Several interest groups have reported an increase in membership as a result of the Fair too.

Each year our Interest Groups grow and new venues are explored to cater for increased numbers.

Margaret Houghton, leader of the World and Barn Dance group and A new members’ meeting held in November welcomed several new faces, dance expert, Frances Nex, are photographed above, and just for a change, the men were in the majority. The pictured with members in their three committee members present were able to answer their queries and at the spacious surroundings at St Oswald’s same time gained useful feedback about their first impressions as members. Parish Church hall, with adjoining facilities for making refreshments. Lynn Rose, Interest Groups Co-ordinator Page 3

Borders Bulletin Local History and Aspiring Music Volume 5, Issue 2 Archaeology Makers

Our group focuses on archaeology generally and the history of the area around Oswestry and the Borders.

Recent subjects of talks have included: Who were the Celts?, "Iron Mad" John Wilkinson, the , Industries of the Morda Valley, Church Street Oswestry and its inhabitants, the decrepit railways of Shropshire, Life here in the Iron Age, Dolforwen The LHA group visited Longdon on Castle, the Archaeologists, Howard Tern canal aqueduct, above, and Dolforwen Castle, below. Carter, Sir Arthur Evans, Sir Flinders Petrie and Dame Kathleen Kenyon. For most of this year we have had four members with very different Most of these talks have been by aspirations and abilities. members of the group, with contributions from a few outside One of us has composed a short speakers, including Mayor Sandy Best. tune; another has added chords; another has used DAW computer In the summer months we have made programmes to give the piece some visits to Haughmond Abbey and different arrangements. Longdon on Tern aqueduct, Newtown Since our recent Interest Groups Fair textile museum, Dolforwen Castle and (see photographs) we’ve had a the Bell Museum at Montgomery . couple of new members and other expressions of interest. Dave Stirling and John Scorer Coffee Chat Sessions Someone wants to revive musical skills from years ago, while another Anti Ageing Aerobics is going to learn to play the ukulele. There is an open invitation to any member to join others for coffee on We talk about different aspects of This group continue to meet at St 1st and 3rd Monday mornings at producing music and encourage Martins Community Cenbtre each 10.30 a.m. We currently meet at each other. It’s very gentle and Thursday morning with numbers the Willow Café in Willow Street. informal - completely uncompetitive. fluctuating from 5 to 15.

For our January meeting we plan to The idea is an opportunity to just When everyone does come, space have a go at learning to play Super meet and chat, as contact with can be an issue. We need to watch Trouper (Abba) - the idea is that we other OBU3A members is often where our arms and legs end up! tackle the difficulties of playing as a just at meetings and interest group group in time with each other. sessions, which doesn’t always Don Borland, a regular attender and allow much personal chat and Anne Lynch and Jane Davies husband of our ex-leader, Lorna, getting to know each other. deserves a special mention as our

'lone male' - we love him dearly! For people who can’t manage

Mondays, there’s an opportunity to Lynn Rose start up another Coffee Chat group.

Numbers can be anything from two to 12. Anne Lynch

Page 4 Borders Bulletin Art ICT Volume 5, Issue 2

The ICT group has engaged in a series of topical discussions throughout the year. At the request of our Executive Committee we researched the U3A Beacon administrative system, designed and used by other U3As. We recognised the advantages of reduced workloads with Beacon’s core database being accessed for several different administration tasks and we recommended that Beacon’s set-up administration and related costs need to be closely monitored.

We’ve explored the implications of ensuring peoples’ privacy in the light of GDPR required actions. Member, Robin Harvey provided a useful GDPR link for small community group like OBU3A https://www.resourcecentre.org.uk/information/data-protection-for-community-groups/

We’ve edited the OBU3A website to ensure GDPR compliance and will be publishing our Privacy Policy on the website. Where visitors personal information is requested via the online contact We had a good turnout forms or comment boxes, we explain names and email addresses are used to serve OBU3A for the first Art meeting legitimate interests in running its organisation. We inform them the data will be forwarded to the during the Summer. relevant contact person and explain how their data can be removed from our records, if required. Conscious of the fact More recently, some of our members have been attending the IT courses at Qube, and reported that the Art group had back on IT ‘Security’ issues. In addition to some useful tips on good housekeeping; removing and previously disbanded, tidying up files, making backups, we tackled the minefield of antivirus and security software suites we explored different on offer to the confused customer. Pat Broadhurst will provide a housekeeping tips summary and Art approaches and Jane Davies will give an overview of the security software. We plan to provide links to these two mediums to ensure that articles from the ICT page on the OBU3A website. we were all agreed and on the right track. Next year at our January 28 meeting at 10.30 a.m.we shall look at the expanding social media apps – Whats App, Facebook Messenger, Facetime, Instagram, Skype, Youtube, Pinterest, Google+, Tumblr, Twitter, Telegram, Signal, WeChat, Line and Viber, to name a few.

Jane Davies

Scrabble for Fun

We aim to meet twice a month on the second Friday and the last Wednesday at 2.00 p.m. in members' homes (currently Morda and Oswestry). Beginners are always welcome.

We have a relaxed attitude towards the game - the use of So, for the time being, dictionaries and other aids is tolerated! Fortified by tea and each Member brings biscuits halfway through the afternoon, we finish round about 4 their own materials and o'clock. If you like the sound of this then please contact the focuses on their own group leader, Beryl Davies work. Some will be sketching, while others National U3A Newsletter will have the easels out, working with oils, acrylic Members have recently received a notification from Julia or water colour. Some Kleinemeyer-Hale, our Internal Communications Secretary, find the sessions provide about the National U3A Newsletter. an opportunity to chat about Art technique in a Already 10,000 members have signed up to receive the Newsletter. Just over a year old, the Newsletter shares news relaxing atmosphere, or and stories across the movement. to time to reflect on what they’d like to do. Among the December issue features are items about how U3A scan get involved with Social Prescription networks.. We’re continuing to add Another story focuses on the use of plastic and its impact on to our collection of Art the environment. Books so if members We find out more about the new Volunteering Officer post, have any, please pass changes to the U3A Magazine, International Committee them on. They will be learning resources, fire safety and educational events. well used. Page 5 Jane Davies Borders Bulletin Amblers Volume 5 Issue 2

We have successfully continued our Poetry walks with the Amblers Group on the first and third Thursdays of the month

through 2018, apart from one complete The Poetry Group meets on the washout during the exceptionally cold second Wednesday of each wet spell in March. month at Oswald’s Cross from 10.15 - 11.30 a.m. to read and We have repeated several walks along discuss chosen poems. the canals. These are always old favourites because of the level walk Over the past year we have and the fauna and flora. discussed the life and poetry of Among the new walks were Ifton Park Robert Graves. We’ve also and Alyn Park (both led by Joy and covered the Romantic Poets and Richard Burgess), Ellesmere, Frankton Locks, and the Old Oswestry Hill Fort, looked at the structure of the pictured above, during the bluebell sonnet as a poetic form. season.

We search for and read out One highlight was a trip with Jones poems on various themes the Boats across the Pont Cysyllte (selected by members of the Aqueduct with a Welsh cream tea group). This year they’ve (organised by Julia), pictured right. included Time, Regrets, Dance, The three evening walks on the first Harvest, Multi Colours and Thursdays of June, July and August Advent. One session was werexx to Colemere, Arddleen and devoted to Protest Poetry and Ifton Park. another to Poetry about . We meet at the free car park at If you would like more Lloyd Street, Oswestry, at 10 am to share lifts, or at the venue by 10.30 am. We information, please contact the always have coffee in a convenient place afterwards. We would love to see some group leader, more members and, most of all, we're looking for new ideas for walks. Beryl Davies. Clare Codd and Sally Barrett , Joint Co-ordinators

Singing

2018 has been a good year. We have maintained our attendance, which has been enhanced by some new members.

We sing mainly for enjoyment but have done three or four performances locally which have been well received. Our fifth anniversary was celebrated with a meal out,

We meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday for 10.30 a.m. until noon, enjoying the excellent facilities at Seion Chapel, Welsh Walls, pictured.

We have built up a comprehensive repertoire over our five years. Originally we chose traditional songs out of copyright but have added items by buying scores from the net, with an emphasis on 20th century popular numbers like 'Catch a falling star' and 'Downtown'. 'Puppet on a string' is a recent acquisition but the jury is out on whether we take our shoes off.

There is a modest charge every so often to cover hall hire and purchase of music. There is a break each session for drinks and treats but we try to leave some time for singing. We are fortunate to be supported by our talented pianist, Margaret Hogg. David Ryan

Page 6 Borders Bulletin Organising Travel Volume 5, Issue 2

Your travel Group has had a Our next trip was to the busy year organising trips National Memorial Last month three of us went to Birmingham NEC at our own for you all to enjoy. We Arboretum and Plant cost to attend the Group Travel Show. We picked up lots of started in January with a trip Hunters Fair. The Arboretum tips and ideas and will be looking into them for 2019. to Liverpool for some sales is an evolving, maturing We are now busy planning trips for next year. Some therapy and sightseeing. woodland landscape, suggestions we are looking at include Salford Quays and This trip was subsidised featuring 30,000 trees and a Media City on February 26, Mint, Mine & Vine, an overnight from Travel Group funds vast collection of memorials. stay in or near on June 17/18, and the Birmingham and only cost £5. It was well The 150 acre site is a living, International Tattoo on Sunday, November 24 So keep supported, and, although it growing tribute to those who your eyes on our web page and the Travel table at our was a very cold day, have served and continue to meetings. members made the most of serve our country. Pam Broomby the art galleries, museums and the sales. In March we visited

Coventry Cathedral and the Transport Museum, below.

In September we went to Lyme Park, above, a

National Trust property on the edge of the Peak district. It was a beautiful day with wall to wall sunshine. So we Amsterdam Canals in April The new Cathedral was were able to enjoy the opened in 1962 and walks, exploring the elegant contains some of the finest rose garden, Ravine garden examples of 1950’s and and the lakes, where a 60’s art and architecture in certain Mr Darcy met Miss the country. The Transport Bennet in the BBC Museum is one of the production of ‘Pride and largest in public ownership Prejudice’. In reality, though, and we all agreed we would he would have got a bit have liked a bit more time to muddy! see it all. October saw us off to April saw us on the Ferry Llandudno to enjoy the sea from Hull on our way to air and to visit the Theatre to Amsterdam. This was the The National Memorial Arboretum see ‘Calendar Girls’, an Travel group’s first trip award winning musical abroad and a lot of hard production by Gary Barlow work went into its and Tim Firth. On the coach organisation. going one member said they

We visited the Keukenhof had forgotten to bring their theatre binoculars, as they Gardens, Amsterdam’s canals, pictured opposite, liked to look close up on the Art Galleries, Diamond stage. But as it turned out it factory, Cheese and clog was just as well as some of factory and many other the cast did a total strip off, attractions. All the members so we may have been Awaiting the start of ‘Calendar Girls’ at Llandudno got on really well together thrown out! It was an and we had a great time. excellent production and we all had a good laugh. Page 7 Borders Bulletin xxGarden Volume 5, Issue 2

As usual the Garden group has had a busy year packed with interesting meetings and nice cakes, and has recruited even more members.

Our programme started off with a Bring-A-Plate lunch at Morda Village Hall at which we planned the 2018 programme. In February members gave presenta- tions on ‘What Grows in The Soil in My Garden’ and in March we had a Tom Pethwick DVD on ‘Top Tips for Small Gardens’.

Our garden visits started with an April visit to Sunningdale in (lots of Fraithwen, May primroses), followed in May by a visit to Fraithwen near Newtown. In June we visited the garden of a friend of the Group, Sue Bosson’s wonderful garden in Llanfechain, and in July we visited the gracious garden of Cruckfield House, near .

This was followed in August by a visit to Dove Cottage near Chester, pictured opposite. LLanfechain, June We really do get to see some wonderful countryside as well as beautiful gardens.

Also in August some of us joined the Travel Group’s visit to Lyme Park, Stockport – a most interesting visit although the garden was ‘fair to middling’. In September we indulged in another Bring-A-Plate lunch, this time to see member Gloria’s newly established and lovely garden.

Lyme Park, September Despite fairly awful weather, in October we had a most interesting visit to Gregynog Hall, near Newtown. This garden is Grade 1 listed; the estate itself contains lovely woods but the garden would have been a disappointment without the expertise of Carole, one of our members, who was able to relate the history of the house to the development of the garden and the land beyond. Although it is known there was a house on this site since the 12th century, most of the present house is Tudor-beamed concrete, being the first example of the use of modern concrete and Carole felt the garden was given it’s Grade 1 listing because of the presence of concrete statues and bridges. Looking at an 18th century plan of the house and garden, our group wondered whether actually it had originally been a hill fort, which would explain the unusual shape of the water features in the 18th century and since. Gregynog, October November saw the start of our members’ presentations again, this time on how the last hard winter and the following summer drought had affected our gardens

and what we planned to counteract such harsh weather, if anything. This meeting was at Colin’s house, and 5 members gave very interesting and varied presenta- tions, about gardens ranging from fairly large to tiny urban gardens. We completed

2018 with another Bring-A-Plate lunch and planned the 2019’s programme.

The Garden Group always welcomes new members.

Bring-A-Plate lunch at Gloria’s Sally Barrett xx

Page 8 Play Reading Borders Bulletin Volume 5, Issue 2

Play Reading Group has conltinued its meeting formula: meeting most months in members’ homes to read sets of plays which are largely borrowed from Shropshire Music & Drama Library.

Our choices this past year have ranged from the light-hearted to the tragic. Make Way for Lucia (van Druten) is a dramatization of the comic novels of E F Benson. It depicts the struggle for social supremacy between Lucia and Miss Mapp in the coastal town of Tilling in Sussex before the 2nd WW.

I Have Five Daughters was an enjoyable dramatization of Pride & Prejudice which retained the wit and strong characterisation of the original and was very satisfying to read.

Annie, One Two, Three (Summers)) was a murder mystery in which murky events of war- time were revealed; a whodunit, but not ultimately a very satisfying one.

We chose two classic plays to read this year: Murder in the Cathedral (Eliot), a verse play, looks flat and stark on the page, but the verse was rhythmical and powerful to read aloud and to hear, and the contrast between individual voices and the chorus was dramatic and engaging.

The group also read a translation of Moliere’s The Misanthrope.

Probably the most serious and challenging play we tackled was Tolstoy’s 1886 play, The Power of Darkness, which was based on true events; the play depicted the sheer brutality of 19th C Russian peasant life, the poverty, ignorance and superstition, the cruelty and drunkenness.

We rounded off the year with two meetings in which David Ryan, a member who has considerable experience of amateur acting and directing, took us through a partially- acted out reading of a play, Black Comedy (Shaffer).

The idea was to bring the plays to life with action and movement, not just reading aloud the script, illustrating how much more can be achieved with preparation, thought and practice.

David cast us, made suggestions about interpretation, timing, actions etc. demonstrating great patience and some learning and much fun was had by all.

We start 2019 with a reading of The Fifteen Streets, a dramatization of a Catherine Cookson novel.

Sandra Harvey

Page 9 Borders Bulletin xxSunday Lunch Volume 5, Issue 2

Our year started in February, with varying attendance, sometimes inhibited by the weather – mainly, surprise snow marooning some members at home.

We started with a six month programme, which was not always practical as some pubs/restaurants had ceased trading before we could book them! Others were new to the business and it was decided best to let them settle in before venturing to a ‘new ownership’ venue. Once this was decided we now choose the next venue at the current lunch meeting. This has proved very successful (with the exception of one, unnamed, venue) It’s a course we shall follow as it gives everyone the chance to recommend their favourites. We try to keep within the bounds of Oswestry and not travel too far, especially in the winter months. This allows us to support local traders; something that is close to our hearts at least.

Sunday Lunch group enjoying a meal Our current membership is 14 with normal attendance about 8 to 10 per meeting at the Wynnstay, Oswestry, for their and, as expected, is a light hearted and interesting get-together. New members Christmas gathering. are very welcome. so come and join us for Sunday lunch by contacting Geoff Armitage and/or Richard Kidner. We meet on the third Sunday of the month. Geoff Armitage and Richard Kidner Bowls Joan Lewis organised the Bowls Group again this Film Goers summer. After the winter break We continue to enjoy our For me, the standout film the group started playing on Friday monthly visits to was the controversial Easter Monday, meeting every KinoKulture in Oswestry. ‘Three Billboards Out- Monday at 2 p.m. at the Bowl- In the last year we have side Ebbing, Missouri’. ing Green in Cae Glas Park. seen an eclectic mix of A grieving mother The fine weather this summer films which have been confronts the local Police ensured that there were some challenging, uplifting and Chief for failing to catch very enjoyable afternoons in occasionally, shocking. the killer of her teenage We sometimes meet at 6 the park. The Bowls group has daughter. ‘Victoria and Abdul’ p.m. before the film, for a now closed for the winter and portrayed an aged meal in a town centre will recommence in April. Joan Queen who was isolated venue, or you can join us has very kindly agreed to run and at odds with her at the cinema. the group for another season. family and Government. We also meet at my Everyone is welcome to join. A young Indian is sent house on the fourth The cost is approx. £1.50 per from India to make a Wednesday of the month session with free hire of woods. presentation to the at 1.30 p.m. to discuss No previous experience is nec- Queen. He catches her the latest film and essary. Joan will explain how to eye and is invited to choose the next film. play in her usual patient style. meet her. The upshot is Pat Evans It was a challenging film KinoKulture is a friendly, that she keeps him in with bad language and comfortable venue, with London as her Urdu some violence. But it is plenty of legroom, and a teacher. He becomes the film which has stayed bar, serving hot and cold her friend/confidante, in my memory for the drinks. We shall be and is isolated from his fantastic acting. meeting next to see compatriots (pictured ‘Peterloo’ on Friday, Other films included left). On her death he January 11 at 7 p.m. We ‘Swimming with Men’, a returns to his former gentle comedy depicting will be having a meal humble life in Dehli. a men’s synchronised before the film at the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ swimming team, Red Lion. was an uplifting film, ‘Filmstars Don’t Die in Jane telling the story of tennis Liverpool’, ‘The Book- player, Billie Jean King’s shop’. ‘ The Guernsey fight for equal pay and Literary and Potato status for femaile tennis Peel Pie Society’, ‘The players. Good for her! Post’ and ‘Leisure Seeker’. Stars, Donald Sutherland and Helen Page 10 Mirren, are pictured right. Borders Bulletin Discussion Volume 5, Issue 2

Oswestry Borders Discussion At a recent discussion we explored significant changes

Group is a relaxed group of to the balance between local and centralised people who discuss various governance, with a move to larger district councils. The issues, many in response to effect on Oswestry was that many powers passed from events which hit the the Town Council to the district council - many of the headlines or are intermittently OTC designated buildings such as the court, the offices raised by the media. became mothballed as planning, education, justice were moved to Shrewsbury. We all regretted this move away Once we have selected the from our centre as we felt concerns of the Town were no topic, the members consider longer represented. Moreover a lack of knowledge of an it and come along to the area potentially made planning unsympathetic. meeting with some ideas and information to offer to the Some Topics covered We wanted proper scrutiny of the drive to build 900 other members. It has been houses in the Oswestry area, and the impact on the fascinating and amazing to Is having children a human right? environment and historic places, with little consideration learn from each other and to Burkas, Burkinis and Bustles – for the medical and educational provision necessary to realise how we approach the support such developments. same topic from such Women and their clothes different angles. Is the Internet a force for good? The lack of provision for young people in Oswestry was acute with more anti-social behaviour from gangs of The group met for the first Is hope a positive emotion? young people. undervalued and under occupied. We year at a member’s home, The Awards system in Britain regretted the news that Sure Start in Oswestry was but in the end we decided the Are we governed by the media? being discontinued. The local government is so quiet and comfortable Ye strapped for cash they are cutting down on services Olde White Lion on Oakhurst How well does the prison system which promote 'well-being'. We were also very Road, (pictured above) at serve us? disturbed by the way local and district councils were 7.30 p.m. on the fourth being castigated for not spending on services, when the Monday of the month, was a Is tourism a positive or negative Central Government was holding the purse strings and good venue because it has force? thus disabling the ability to provide such services. no music. Is nuclear power an acceptable Several times the phrase 'not fit for purpose' was The meetings usually run for way forward? used. Some felt OTC should uncouple itself from party about an hour an a half, How is art affected by private and politics so comment about the true state of affairs in though it has been know to Oswestry could be properly discussed. Some felt it was last for longer. It would be public investments? hard to get the long view. For instance we heard great to have more people How much input should the Shrewsbury Town Council has bought two major join us; do get in touch. government have on our diet? shopping centres but didn't know for what purpose and January’s meeting will be on we wondered whether there was commensurate 21st and not the 28th. What does it mean to lead a spending in Oswestry and what was the long view for good life? our town given the decline of the High Street. Many Wendy Lodwick Lowdon observed how dilapidated some of the buildings had become. The OTC seems to have its hands tied.

Oswald Book Club We considered the long history of local governance in Oswestry. We wanted to see evening charges for car We have just finished our first We can offer you the parks dropped, though all acknowledged the charges year and how successful it’s prospect of a varied were small compared to other places. been. We’ve been guided by, programme including Sarah We spoke about post code lottery, balancing ‘fairer’ but not limited to, the list of Waters, Maya Angelou, Michael Ondatje and Marlon central management and local interests, funding for books that have either won or statues, the lack of progress and direction within the James. been shortlisted for the Mann NHS. We regretted the growth in the use of Food Bank, Booker prize, and in the the closure of the Women's Refuge and housing Everyone has the process, opened some new provision for homeless young men. We felt this opportunity to contribute to aggravated poor social situations. windows on the world of the programme. If you are books. interested in joining us, we We ended on a high note, impressed with our Town Clerk, David Preston, who has won awards for the In the same spirit, we’ve have one or two spaces left. exemplary way he has fulfilled his duties. Perhaps he chosen our own Book of the We’d welcome you. should come and speak at an OBU3A meeting. We Year, and it is E.M Forster’s also commented that several of the (unpaid) councillors ‘Howards End’, followed by Jenny Wilbraham were approachable and did a good job We felt we Helen Dunmore’s ‘The Siege’ should promote and support the work of the council and wondered if we should attend a meeting. and Owen Shears’ ‘I Saw a Man’. Page 11 Borders Bulletin xxBook Volume 5, Issue 2

The Book Group has continued to meet monthly in member’s homes in 2018 and to discuss a wide range of books borrowed from Shropshire Libraries’ collection for book groups. Our chosen books this year have been even more varied than usual, with equally diverse responses.

A Week in December (Faulks) is an ambitious state-of-the-nation novel set in 2007 which largely follows the lives of seven London characters through seven days in an attempt to depict key aspects of contemporary society, with particular reference to money and greed.

Pete Postlethwaite’s patchy memoir A Spectacle of Dust had some admirers but more detractors, although as our contemporary, his reminiscences brought back good memories for some members.

The Painter of Battles (Perez-Reverte) interested some of our group but was generally judged too esoteric in its concerns and similarly The Fox in the Attic (Hughes) in which certain events in Germany in 1933 were portrayed through the naïve eyes of an upper-class English visitor. Zadie Smith’s NW while very striking was largely judged an unappealing experiment.

The Rector’s Daughter (Mayor) a largely forgotten minor classic is a gentle and understated depiction of the inner life of a Rector’s daughter in the early 1920s, recording her disappointments and losses along with the contentment and rewards of her quiet life. Mrs Bridge (Connell) depicts the lives of several American bourgeois families between the two World Wars, again largely through the eyes of the women, as they are forced to deal with changing cultural and political attitudes (racial, gender equality).

However, there were three books which received an enthusiastic reception. The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Flanagan) is epic in scale, part love story, but at its centre is the experience of a group of Australian prisoners in a Japanese POW camp employed on building the Burmese Railway. Surgeon Dorrigo struggles to save the men under his command from starvation, cholera and beatings while recalling his earlier life.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (See) was one of the most admired books in our group, though not universally enjoyed; it tells in realistic detail the story of friend- ship between girls and women, depicting a secret female culture which flourished in China until relatively recently.

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand (Simonson) is the story of a love affair between a retired and widowed army major and a female Muslim shop-keeper widow. While the characters are largely stock village characters, the humour throughout is sharp but without cruelty.

In January we look forward to meeting again at Sweeney Hall when after sharing our experiences of Ian Rankin’s The Complaints, we shall enjoy our “Christmas” meal.

Sandra Harvey

Page 12 Borders Bulletin World and Barn Dance Volume 5, Issue 2

The World and Barn Dance group has gone from strength to strength Dances attempted by the group this year, with enough members to tackle quite a range of dances – see Alunelul, Romania list opposite. The group meets on Bridge of Athlone, Ireland the third Friday of the month in St. Broken Sixpence, Oswald’s Parish Church Hall from Circassian Circle, England 10.30 to 12 mid-day. Circle Waltz, England Dashing White Sergeant ,Scotland We are indebted to our ‘expert’ Djatchko Kolo, Yugoslavia Frances Nex. Although not a During the Christmas break it’s Gay Gordons, England. qualified dance teacher, Frances been suggested that members Hole in the Wall, Playford has been dancing since she was a ‘revise’ the moves for each dance Hull’s Victory, England/America youngster, when she went along on YouTube. This is a really rich Jovano Jovanke, Macedonia with her mother, who played the resource of material and should Oh Susanna, England/America piano for classes in English, give others a good idea of the Pravo, Bulgaria Scottish, and classical Greek dances if they’re interested in Savila Se Bela Losa, Serbia dancing. She was introduced to joining us. Steam Boat, England International dancing at university, Stoke Golding, England and subsequently in Oregon where It’s very pleasing to see how many Syrtos, Greece she did a lot of international of the pieces we can now dance Three Meet, England dancing, and still does whenever with success. Trgnala Rumjana, Bulgaria visiting there. Now Frances belongs Virginia Reel, Engand to the Pant & Oswestry Scottish Many thanks to Frances for the list Dance Club and the Oswestry and for her cheerful patience. Bulgarian Folklore Group. Margaret Houghton

Art Appreciation The Art Appreciation Group has . I must just mention that one of our enjoyed a full programme this year most popular projects is our with several projects and visits to "Mystery Painting Challenge". We all exhibitions. We started with a visit to have a print to take away and have the John Piper exhibition at Tate to identify the artist, the title of the Liverpool, researching his work, painting and as much background followed up with a visit to Coventry information as we can. We then all Cathedral and Hereford Cathedral to do a short presentation at the next view the wonderful stained glass meeting. windows by Piper and others.

We concluded our WW1 project As our group has grown considerably There was also a visit to the with a visit to the Imperial War we are relocating to Oswestry Terracotta Warriors Exhibition in Museum North to view the Poppy Guildhall for our future meetings. Liverpool. We then looked at the work Display, pictured above, and the We are looking forward to another of Welsh Artists, followed up with a WW1 exhibition which included enjoyable year with new projects to visit to the Kyffin Williams Exhibition WW1 Art. research. Pat Evans at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.

Our next project was to contribute to the Oswestry Home Front Heroines Project which is one of the many projects that are commemorating the Centenary of the end of the Great War. We researched the work of WW1 Women Artists. Several of the group produced significant pieces of work, which were displayed at the Page 13 recent Exhibition at The Qube Borders Bulletin xxSpeaker Meetings Volume 5, Issue 2

Sarah Gathercole, a popular and Such events, no matter how serious or knowledgeable speaker, having important, tend to have amusing lectured on Western European Art elements, not usually discussed in History for 15 years, returned in April to public, and Jon did not disappoint, sharing some of his, including what share some of the 2500 ‘Treasures of almost went wrong at the funeral of Her the National Gallery’. Majesty The Queen Mother

In July retired headteacher and local nature correspondent, Vicky Turrell, below, gave an illustrated talk about her book ‘Robin on my Tea Cup’. The

illustrated talk, featuring a compilation

of nature notes written by Vicky for the The 2018 Speaker programme Oswestry Advertizer began with popular wildlife . photographer, Keith Offord, talking about ‘Geysers and Gyrs’ in January, illustrating the wonderful scenery and bird species of Iceland. In May our Speaker and Members’ Meeting switched to accommodate a performance by musicians appearing in the Whittington International Chamber Music Festival. The QA session afterwards about musicians’ life styles was equally fascinating.

Dave Andrews, Oswestry Library’s Retired RAF Group Captain Jon Fynes Reader and Writer in Residence, talked shared some behind the scenes about his ninth book ‘ to Miranda Ashwell, Public Health anecdotes from an RAF career at the Everest’ in August, Programme Lead for Shropshire June speaker meeting. Council, followed in February The book is based on a diary Dave In a career lasting 35 years, Jon flew with a talk about ‘Healthy kept during a trek in Nepal with over 40 different aircraft and amongst Living for the Third Age’. highlights of a journey to Everest Base many roles he was responsible for the Camp and beyond, starting from Red Arrows. He was chosen to be the Miranda’s talk included issues . such as the flu vaccine, physical RAF Pallbearer at the Queen Mother’s activity, fall prevention, funeral, has jousted with 1600 media musculoskeletal activities and reps as the RAF spokesman for Gulf the use of on-line resources to War 2 and even had a complete raise awareness, motivate and episode of Blue Peter tackling an signpost us towards improving unusual challenge with his son. health and well-being.

In March we were treated to an afternoon of David Bartley’s self -penned humorous ‘Black Country Poetry and Banter’ together with tales and jokes. Dave also introduced his new book raising laughter and putting ‘Wilfred Owen: Poet of Oswestry’. smiles on all our faces!

Page 14 Borders Bulletin Speaker Meetings (continued) Volume 5, Issue 2

In October’s ‘Politics, Plague and Poetry’, local businesswoman and theatrical enthusiast, Pam Johnson gave an illustrated talk about the amazing life and times of William Shakespeare.

Pam is the vice chair of ’s live theatre company, the LADS. As well as directing and starring in several productions, Pam was the driving force behind the LADS involvement in the RSC Open Stage project, becoming one of the few amateur groups involved. She directed and produced The Taming of the Shrew, an extract of which In ‘Another Man’s Shoes’, Ellie was performed at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Somme gave an illustrated talk about her father, Sven’s, WWII experience as a spy in Norway. There was a packed audience in After a career in television, Ellie November when award winning has made a name for herself as playwright and crime thriller author, David a renowned after-dinner McCaddon, drew on some fascinating speaker on her father’s work for examples to illustrated the pros and cons the Norwegian resistance. of facial recognition software in his talk ‘We Never Forget a Face’.

David explained the development of this software from personal experiences in his long career as an IT Systems Consultant.

Local historian and author, Dorothy Nicolle, gave us an entertaining look into all the ‘Magic and Myths of the Christmas Season’ in December.

Dorothy has been a Blue Badge tourist guide for the Heart of England for over 20 years, Sven was a major spy for the concentrating on Shropshire and its adjacent Allies, writing letters in invisible counties. She is also a member of the Institute ink and hiding microfilm under of Tourist Guiding. stamps, and producing an underground newspaper so that As a result of her tourist and guiding, Dorothy friends and colleagues could was asked some years ago to write a book on understand what was really Shropshire. This led to further books and she happening to their beloved has now written over 30 books dealing with local and general history, as well as country under German general subjects, including one about Christmas. occupation. He was responsible for the recruitment and training The Blue Badge is internationally recognised as the UK’s highest tourist guiding of over 80 other agents. qualification. Guides undergo detailed and comprehensive training in British history, architecture, art and literature, to industrial heritage and natural history. After the War he became a world-renowned Professor in Marine Biology. Page 15 Borders Bulletin Volume 5, Issue 2 Future Speaker and Members’ Meetings

Bulletin contact information

Jane Davies January 2 ‘Nature in Focus’ – photographing nature. Editor (Speaker) This talk includes information on equipment and technique and wonderful pictures of wildlife. – Committee News Jim Almond, Shropshire Birder Liz Hickman, below, is a new face on the Executive Committee this year. January 16 ‘Old and New Oswestry—A Photographic Journey, (Members’) 1960-2015’ Geoff Armitage, OBU3A member

February 6 ‘Light Fantastic” – a Thousand Years of Stained Glass’ – it’s history from the earliest examples to the (Speaker) modern day. – Keith Cattell

February 20 ‘The Spice Trade’, Maryke Stansfield, Welshpool U3A (Members’)

March 6 ‘Three Shropshire Women Writers – Mary Webb, Edith Pargeter and Barbara Pym’ – Gordon Dickins, (Speaker) Author, discusses how their writing was influenced by the Also rejoining the committee Shropshire Landscape after a short break away are inaugural members, Anne Lynch, Pat Broadhurst, Melva Duley and Sally Barrett. Committee Focus Finances Retiring members are Geraint Pritchard, Hilary Slater, Jane With an opening balance of £3450 in Stirling and Elizabeth Lewis. April 2018, OBU3A finances to Many thanks for all your work. November 21, 2018, show a total Some topics covered this year income of £7123 and a total expenditure by our Committee include: of £5934. Income breakdown consists of £782 Beacon Administration. from meeting entrance fees, £1988 General Data Protection membership fees, £55 equipment, £7 Regulations (GDPR). Privacy Policy Compliance. TAT mailings net and £1068 for room IG Room Hire Financing. hire. Outings income totalled £3223, New Committee Members’ excluding its £465 start of year balance. Induction. Our expenditure included £492 for Feedback from Points of View Speaker Meetings, room hire £1828, Members’ Meeting. equipment £13, stationery and travel Strategic Plan Questionnaire. £195 and beverages £50. Outings Policy Updates. Time for a quick cuppa at a busy expenditure totalled £3355 U3A National Conference Members’ Meeting. Chairperson, Pat and AGM . Evans, and Membership Secretary, Points to Note: £1500 of the total Associate Membership Issue. Anne Cherrie, like other Committee balance is set aside for six year U3A Constitution Changes. members, have many roles to cover, depreciation on equipment purchased in Shropshire U3A Network but always with a cheerful smile. 2013. These figures have been rounded Study Day. up for this news item. Volunteering Opportunities.

Page 16 Borders Bulletin Members’ Meetings Volume 5, Issue 2

OBU3A Members’ Meeting Several individuals were programme continues to be well responsible for complete attended with a variety of presentations, Eleanor Knighton activities. Each year we set aside shared ‘My Bolivian Experience’. three sessions for the AGM in April and the Interest Groups Fair, pictured below, now in October to give groups more time to prepare after the summer, In January Debbie Marais and Louise Taylor-Kennett, from Oswestry Library. showed us what was on offer at ‘A Library for the 21st Century.’ Dave Andrews. Charles Stiles talked about ‘David reader writer in residence at the Christopher Davies 1827 – 1885, library, shared his poetry to us. a significant person in Victorian Oswestry’. The PR team contributed twice, first a presentation on ‘What Makes our U3A Tick?’ with group discussions to understand the work roles of our Committee, and later to host our first ’Points of View’ to hear latest news from our committee and enjoy the opportunity to have our say.

Richard Burgess challenged us, pictured opposite, in ‘Patterns in Numbers: the Fibonacci Series and Golden Mean’

The year concluded with our final festive session in December, with delicious refreshments, a quiz to get the brain cells working, and entertainment from the Orthopaedic Male Voice Choir, pictured below.

Collaborative events included ‘Origins’ encouraging group discussion on whether our actual birth place and time influenced who we are today.

Many thanks to OU3A member Wendy Turkie, who stepped in for a sick member in November and gave a talk on ‘Working in Cameroon’.

Page 17 Borders Bulletin Monthly Planner - January 2019 Volume 5, Issue 2

January Morning Meetings Afternoon Meetings Week 1 Jan 1— 6 Bank Holiday 1st Tuesday 1

1st Wednesday 2nd Oswestry Borders U3A Speaker Meeting, ‘Nature in Focus’ – photographing nature. Information on equipment and technique and wonderful pictures of wildlife.– Jim Almond, Shropshire Birder Oswestry Senior Citizens’ Club, Lorne Street, 2 – 4 p.m. 1st Thursday 3rd Amblers: (A Group), Claire Codd, Meet 10 a.m. at Lloyd St free car park to car-share and give lifts to non-drivers., TBD (under 2 miles) Anti-ageing Aerobics: Carol Raistrick, 10.20 a.m. – 11.50 a.m. St Martins Community Centre

1st Friday 4th Play Reading: Sandra Harvey, 10 – 12.30 group members’ homes

Week 2 Jan 7-13

1st Monday 7th Informal Coffee Get Together, 10.30 a.m. Willow Spanish Learners: Pauline Faulkner, Willow Gallery, Oswestry, 2 Gallery, Willow Street, Oswestry p.m.

2nd Tuesday 8th Book: Sandra Harvey 10.30 – 12 noon group Cultures and Anthropology: Eleanor Knighton, 2.30 p.m. Group members’ homes Leader’s home

2nd Wednesday 9th Singing: David Ryan, 10.30 a.m.– 12.noon, Seion Local History and Archaeology: Dave Stirling, and John Scorer, Chapel, Welsh Walls 2 .15—3.45 p.m. Oswestry Cricket Club Poetry: Beryl Davies, 10.30-12 Table Table, Art Appreciation: Pat Evans, 2—4 p.m. Venue tbd

2nd Thursday 10th Anti-ageing Aerobics: Carol Raistrick, 10.20 a.m. – French for Beginners Plus: Catherine Evans, group leader’s 11.50 a.m. St Martins Community Centre home, Dudleston Heath

2nd Friday 11th Organising Travel: Pam Broomby, 10.30 a.m. Xmas Scrabble for Fun: Beryl Davies, 2.p.m. group leader’s home meal Kings Head, Oswestry Film Goers: Jane Asterley, ‘Peterloo’ Kinokulture, 7 p.m. Week 3 Jan 14- 20

2nd Monday 14th Art: Jane Davies, 10.30 a.m.—12.30 Group Leader’s

3rd Tuesday 15th

3rd Wednesday 16th Oswestry Borders U3A Members’ Meeting. ‘Old and New Oswestry—A Photographic Journey, 1960—2015’ Geoff Armit- age, Oswestry Senior Citizens’ Club, Lorne Street, 2 – 4 p.m.

3rd Thursday 17th Amblers: (B Group), Claire Codd, Meet 10 a.m. at Lloyd St free car park to car-share and give lifts to non-drivers., TBD (slightly longer walk) Anti-ageing Aerobics: Carol Raistrick, 10.20 a.m. – 11.50 a.m. St Martins Community Centre

3rd Friday 18th World and Barn Dance: Margaret Houghton, 10.30 a.m. to 12 noon St Oswald’s Parish Church Hall

3rd Sunday 20th Sunday Lunch Club: Geoff Armitage /Richard Kidner, 12 noon, Week 4 Jan 21-27 various venues 3rd Monday 21st Informal Coffee Get Together, 10.30 a.m. Willow Gallery, Willow Street, Oswestry

4th Tuesday 22nd Art: Jane Davies, 1.30 p.m.—3.30 Group Leader’s home

4th Wednesday 23rd Singing: David Ryan, 10.30 a.m.– 12.noon, Seion Film Goers: Jane Asterley, 1.30—3.30 p.m. group leader’s home Chapel, Welsh Walls Oswald Book 2: Jenny Wilbraham, 10.30—12 Table Table

4th Thursday 24th Anti-ageing Aerobics: Carol Raistrick, 10.20 a.m. – French for Beginners Plus: Catherine Evans, group leader’s 11.50 a.m. St Martins Community Centre home, Dudleston Heath Discussion: Wendy Lodwick Lowdon, 7 p.m. Ye Olde White Lion, 4th Friday 25th Aspiring Music Makers: Anne Lynch /Jane Davies, 2—4 p.m. Park Hall

Week 5 Jan 28-31

4th Monday 28th ICT: Jane Davies,10.30 a.m. —12-30 group leader’s. Page 18 Interest Group Information Borders Bulletin Volume 5, Issue 2

Subject LEADER DAY, FREQUENCY, LOCATION

Amblers Clare Codd 1st (easy > 2ml walk) & 3rd (longer walk) Thursdays, Meet Lloyd Street free car park, 10 a.m. for car share. Coffee stops. Anti-Ageing Aerobics Carol Raistrick Weekly, Thursday, 10.20—11.50 a.m.St Martins Community Centre Art Jane Davies Fortnightly, 2nd Monday, 10.30 a.m. –12.30 and 4th Tuesday, 1.30—3.30 p.m. group leader’s home Art Appreciation Pat Evans Monthly, 2nd Wednesday, 2—4 p.m. Oswestry Guildhall Aspiring Music Makers Anne Lynch, Jane Davies Monthly, 4th Friday, 2—4 p.m. at Anne Lynch’s home Book 1 Sandra Harvey Monthly, 2nd Tuesday, 10.30am – 12.00 at group members’ homes Book 2 (Oswald) Jenny Wilbraham Monthly, 4th Wednesday, 10.30am – 12.00 group members’ homes Bowls Pat Evans Every Monday 2 – 3.30 p.m. at Cae Glas Park, Oswestry, April-Sep Coffee Get Together Anne Lynch 1 st and 3rd Monday, 10.30 a.m. at Willow Cafe, all welcome

Cultures & Anthropology Eleanor Knighton Monthly, 2nd Tuesday (tbd) 2.30 p.m. Group Leader’s home

Discussion Wendy Lodwick Lowdon Monthly, 4th Monday, 7 p.m. Ye Olde White Lion Inn, Oswestry

Film Goers Jane Asterley Monthly , 4th Wednesday at group leader’s house 1.30 pm to discuss film seen and select next film at Kinokulture (usually on a Friday 7 p.m. with a town pub meal beforehand at 6 p.m.) French for Beginners Plus Catherine Evans 2 nd & 4th Thursday 2 – 4 p.m. at Group Leader’s home

Garden Sally Barrett Monthly, 2nd Monday, 2 p.m. Group Visits, shared research on garden-related issues. Location and dates can vary ICT Jane Davies Monthly, 4th Monday, 10.30 a.m.—12.30 at group leader’s home Local History and David Stirling, John Scorer Monthly, 2nd Wednesday, 2.15—3.45 p.m. Oswestry Cricket Club. Archaeology Location varies Organising Travel Pam Broomby Monthly, 4th Tuesday, 10.30 a.m. Table Table

Play Reading Sandra Harvey Monthly 1st Friday, 10 a.m. at members’ homes

Poetry Reading & Beryl Davies Monthly, 2nd Wednesday, 10.30—12.15. at Table Table Appreciation

Scrabble for Fun Beryl Davies Fortnightly, 2nd and 4th Friday, 2 p.m. members’ homes

Singing David Ryan Fortnightly, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 10.30 a.m.—12.15 Seion Chapel, Welsh Walls

Spanish Learners Pauline Faulkner Monthly 1st Monday (tbd) 2 p.m. Willow Gallery

Sunday Lunch Geoff Armitage and Monthly, third Sunday, local pubs and restaurants Richard Kidner World and Barn Dance Margaret Houghton Monthly, 3rd Friday, 10.30 a.m. – 12 noon, at the St Oswald’s Parish Church Hall, Oswestry

Page 19