& District U3A

Newsletter

January 2019 Please share this Newsletter with members who do not have email facilities. - Thank you

Dear Members

A very peaceful and happy New Year to you all.

Some dates for your diary: February 22nd - Barn Dance with live music at Byfield Village Hall 7.30 - 10.30pm. Hosted by our folk dancing group. March 21st 2pm - 4pm our Annual Open Afternoon. Open to all. So if you have friends who are non members and may be interested in joining, do bring them along. As well as displays by our many interest groups and lots of information about trips, outings and our forthcoming speakers, there is also the opportunity to renew your membership and for new people to become members. June 20th - Annual General Meeting. This will take place at the beginning of the usual Thursday meeting. Do consider joining The Committee - many hands make light work. Also many of the present Committee have served since the establishment of our U3A in 2015 and now we need new people to take on various roles. Anyone interested in being Our Treasurer?

We look forward to seeing you at our meeting next Thursday - The speaker sounds most intriguing

Lynda (Chair) on behalf of the Committee.

Email for any enquiry: [email protected] Website: https://u3asites.org.uk/daventry

NEWS FROM THE GROUPS

For further details of days, times and contacts for all our interest groups, please see the grid on the final page of this newsletter or the Groups page on the website.

To all members of our interest groups: Your Group Leaders will shortly be asking for your help in preparing a display for our Open Afternoon on March 21st. The aim of the afternoon is to show existing and prospective members what the many diverse groups have to offer and get up to!

It will be a very interesting afternoon with opportunity to ask any questions. Please encourage others to come and see for themselves.

Janice Hargreaves - Groups’ Co-Ordinator: [email protected]

Thursday 17th January 2019

Speaker: Graham Short

Graham will tell us of his life and work as a micro-artist. Famous for having engraved the Lord’s Prayer on the head of a pin, he is now considered to be one of the most talented living artists in the world.

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Thursday 21 February 2019

Speaker: Ann Pridmore

At this meeting Ann will tells us about the work of Canine Partners – dogs who are trained to help those who are physically disadvantaged.

Daventry U3A has a Car Share scheme to help with transport to and from the monthly meetings.

If you are interested in offering a lift please come and speak with us at the Thursday meeting or contact a committee member. If you would like a lift please ring Lynda on 07901 043309

Christmas Meeting

Jayne Osborne Poet & Magician

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DAVENTRY AND DISTRICT

PRESENT

A BARN DANCE

Friday February 22nd - 7:30pm to 10:30pm

BYFIELD VILLAGE HALL NN11 6UT Dancing to: - Hobson’s Choice

Tickets £5

No bar - so bring your own booze!

There will be a selection of free refreshments at half time.

Book tickets by emailing your name and how many tickets you want to:

[email protected]

Tickets will be available at the January meeting from Chris on the raffle table. 4

History Out and About Group

The first “term” for the new History Out and About Group has included six visits to local villages being , Harpole, , Moulton, and Whilton. In all these venues we have been expertly guided by “locals” who are members of their local history societies or those who have researched the history of their homes. Attendance has varied between 7 and 22. We have 31 members in all.

We have found out some fascinating things like the clay pipe smoking competition still being held outside the Bull Inn at Harpole, the sad deaths of a man at Whilton in his own eel trap and Levi, a 17 year old at Hellidon who drowned having saved a child from the village well. If you are in Hellidon graveyard you can read his story on one of the gravestones.

On a lighter note we were amazed to hear of a midwife at West Haddon who not being able to take her car or bike to a confinement because of deep snow borrowed a neighbour’s horse having never ridden before! We heard of the vicar at Badby who kept snakes to keep down the rats and finally I have been amused to see members of the group “investigate” red telephone kiosks to “see if they still work” The one at Whilton even allows “one” to make reverse charges still!

We have been able to enter churches, church halls, the narrow village hall at Whilton (where 200 once attended an entertainment!) and the old Youth Hostel at Badby. So all in all other than very cold weather at Moulton we have had a very good first “term” If you are interested in the group and what we will be doing in this new year please get in touch. Numbers are limited for visits but once the next itinerary is produced (hopefully in the next few days) book up for the chance to go. However, our next outing is a guided walk around Daventry with David Adams on Wednesday morning January 16th so just get in touch with me - Angela Adams on 01327 312166 or [email protected]

1st Photo was our Harpole visit 2nd Photo is Helen Schultheiss investigating the Whilton phone-box

Group Leaders: - don’t forget that you too could send in a write up of what your group gets up to!

A picture is worth a thousand words they say, so please get snapping!

Send to: [email protected] Alison Torr Newsletter Editor 5

Days Out and Theatre Trips

Our first event of 2019 is the trip to Milton Keynes Theatre to see Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird' for the 2:30pm performance on Wednesday, 20th February. The cost of this is £27 inclusive of transport. There are still places available but you need to reply ASAP. For speed, please email [email protected] to signify your intention. - to book a ticket, please send your form and payment to: th Jill Scott, 49 Sunningdale Drive, Daventry. NN11 4NZ to arrive before 12 January

We have devised an outline programme for 2019, in line with some of your suggestions and comments.

Programme of Events 2019 Wednesday Milton Keynes Theatre February 20th 'To Kill a Mockingbird' March Guildhall & Delapre This will involve guided tours and a Abbey chance for lunch at Delapre. May Batsford Arboretum and Sezincote These are located just outside Morton- House and garden in-Marsh. Sezincote House is architecturally similar to the Royal Pavilions at Brighton. Thurs 30th May Matthew Bourne's ballet 'Romeo 2:30pm performance and Juliet' at Derngate July Kinver Rock Houses and John's Near Bromsgrove. Garden September Buckingham Palace State Rooms/ There are various options available. We /Queen's Gallery/ Royal Mews/ are investigating. Travel would be by Gardens train. More info to follow. October Rugby School & Webb Ellis Rugby All together for School visit then take Museum/Rugby Art Gallery your choice. December Symphony Hall Christmas Concert Options yet to be announced.

Interest has been expressed in the Live Cinema transmissions of opera/ballet/theatre. We hope to bring these to your notice as programmes become available through the year.

We shall giving more details of dates, arrangements and prices in good time for you to reserve a place. If you book, PLEASE make a note in your diary, as booking is often well in advance of the event.

If you have any comments or queries about forthcoming events, come and talk to us at monthly meetings. Looking forward to an interesting year!

Jill Scott Jenny Edwards 6

U3A BOOKING FORM

Event: …………………..……………………………..… Date: ……..……………………....

Name(s): .…..….….…..….….….….…………...……… Membership number: …………...

……………………………………………… Membership number: …………..

Address: ...….….….….….….….….….….…...….….….….………………………………….

.….….….….….….….….….….…..….….….…………………………………………

Post code: ...…..…………………………….…. Tel no: .….….….….….……………..……..

Email address: ....….….….….…..….………… Emergency contact no: ……………………

Cost per ticket: ………………………………… Number of tickets: ...….…………...…

Total amount enclosed with SAE…………... Cheques payable to Daventry & District U3A

Send to: Jill Scott, 49 Sunningdale Drive, Daventry NN11 4NZ Tel: 01327 877923 (Theatre) Jenny Edwards, Medlars, Church Way, , Daventry, NN11 4TE (others) email: [email protected]

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DAVENTRY AND DISTRICT U3A INTEREST GROUPS - updated January 2019

Monday AM Tuesday AM Wednesday AM Thursday AM Friday AM Saturday AM Sunday AM Rambles Day Walks Creative writing Folk Dancing Victorian Women (am/pm) Writers 3rd in month 1st in month 1st in month weekly 1st in month Indoor Bowls German History out and Alternative Book Table Tennis 1s t or 2nd in month about Group 2nd & 4th in month Varied* to fit with French 3rd in month 4th in month 11.15 -13.15 Psychology & Family History Coffee & Chat Latin Philosophy ‘Drop in’ at Kuni’s Drop in Discussion 10am – 12.30 4th in month 4th in month th 2nd in month 4 in month 10.30-12.00 10-12 noon My Kind of Music IT workshop ‘Drop Reading in’ at Kuni’s Coffee #1 Shakespeare 3rd 10am – 12.30 Bowen Square th in month 4 in month 3rd in month French Conversation fortnightly Bird Watching Varied* Monday PM Tuesday PM Wednesday PM Thursday PM Friday PM Saturday PM Sunday PM Needlecraft Art Appreciation Rummikub 10 Pin Bowling BakeXchange Luncheon Group 1st in month 3rd in month 1st in month 6.30pm 2nd in month 1st in month 1st in monthly Card Making Rummikub French Screen Chat lunch TalkSport Lunch History out and Conversation 1pm about- 1.30pm 1st in month 4th in month 6.30pm fortnightly 2nd in month 2nd in month On occasions Cinema Friendly The Art of Painting Daventry U3A Literary classics Visits Bridge Singers 1st and 4th in Lunchtimes 4th in month fortnightly fortnightly month Varied weeks Book Group Psychology & Philosophy Discussion 2nd in month 2nd in month Family History History *** Group 2nd in month 4th in month Gardening Supper Club U3A Monthly Venues varied Meeting nd 2 in month rd rd 3 in month 3 in month 6.30pm Photography for Pleasure

4th in month ICON Book Group

4th in month *Bird watching, Cinema visits, Walks, Rambles, Supper club, History Out and About, Sunday Lunches and Indoor bowls – Contact organiser for details of time, day and venue etc Contact and Further Details: See the GROUP page on our website: u3asites.org.uk/daventry  Or email: [email protected]  At our monthly meeting, the third Thursday in the month, 2pm. The Community Centre, NN11 9QD Alison Torr – Editor