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Home , Croydon Airport, Mad Jack Fuller

Croydon U3A Magazine

Spring 2016

The Third Age Trust (Operating as the University of the Third Age) U3A Reg. Charity No. 102946612

Website address www.u3asites.org.uk/croydon

Table of Contents

Editorial 1 Chairman’s message 2 Committee profile – Paul Smith 3 Visits : Into Deepest 4 – 5 Reports from General Meetings: What are you going to do about Climate Change 6 – 7 Groups: Archaeology 7 - 10 History of 1: Visit to the Pepys exhibition 10 - 11 Walking 12 Looking at London () 12 History of London 4: quiz questions 13 - 14 Share and Read 14 - 16 Travel: Turkish Delight 16 - 18 Called to Adventure 19 Out and About in (and near) Croydon 19 - 20 One hundred years ago 20 Golden rules for a good old age 21 Going on retreat 22 - 23 Trivia from across the pond 23 Quiz question answers 24 - 25 Literary Gems 26

Cover Picture – Rock garden at Dingwall Road entrance to Photo by Gordon Thynne

Editorial

I am in mourning. The newspaper I have read for 30 years – ever since it first saw the light of day – is to cease appearing in print. To continue reading it, I shall have to use my computer (not having a tablet). But I can’t prop the computer up on the breakfast table. Instead, I shall have to talk to my wife. There’s no telling what may ensue. This issue includes some reports from Group Leaders. I plan to make this a feature of the Magazine, in the hope and expectation that members will enjoy learning more about what Groups have been up to, and what they plan to do. If you did not read Philippa Bassett’s article in the February issue of ‘U3A Sources’, I recommend it. Philippa has led our Art Appreciation Group for almost 20 years. Her article illustrates the knowledge, imagination and enthusiasm that Group Leaders bring to their role. Another article of interest in the same magazine: Trish Allen of South East London U3A wrote about the Shared Learning Project on the history of Croydon . It reminded me of a book about aviation that I had as a lad. It included a glamorous illustration of the airport. What happened to the book? I’ve included in this issue some ‘literary gems’. If you have come across some in your reading, share them with us! I’ll welcome contributions for the Summer issue by 8 June.

Gordon Thynne Picture: Wandle Park in winter by Barbara Lister 1

Chairman's Message

A new year with new beginnings. Croydon U3A is ready for any new challenges which lie ahead! Our members have shown themselves to be adaptable, and those groups which formerly used ECURC have moved into new venues without any problems. We also had a very successful launch for one of our new General Meeting venues at in March. A record 178 members came up by glass lifts to the amazing Conference Centre and appreciated all the modern technology and resources which had been set up for us. The star attraction was our very own Barry Goodwin (Membership Secretary) who gave a very interesting and informative talk on Climate Change. At the end of the meeting some of our members chose to walk down the steps (from the 4th floor) to exit the building, and we were very impressed. A very enjoyable New Members' Coffee morning was held in February. New groups, including Wine Tasting, Gardening, Greek and Upwords, bring the total number of groups to 65. With 681 members we are offering a broad and balanced programme for shared learning and enjoyment. We are still appreciating day outings to very interesting places and looking forward to the holiday in Austria in May. We are also forging new links with Croydon Council by using their venues which include Heathfield for Committee Meetings, the for a history group, the Braithwaite Hall for the Study Morning on The Crystal Palace in April and future General Meetings at Croydon Community Space, Croydon . It is good to be a thriving, expanding organisation in such a forward-looking town as Croydon.

Brenda Kidd

2 Committee Member Profile – Paul Smith, Events Coordinator

I have been retired for just over 2 years after spending 37 years teaching in Croydon, starting at Lady Edridge School in . The major attraction there was that my classroom looked on to Park, the home of Crystal Palace Football Club, where I watched my first ever game in 1964. From that moment on I was bitten by the Palace bug and have been a season ticket holder for many years. As for the school - it is now a housing estate. My next job was at Heath Clark High School which had just been changed into a comprehensive school from a grammar school. It was going through quite a turbulent time. Two weeks after starting there it was announced it was to be closed in a few years’ time. It is now a housing estate (Do you notice a pattern emerging?) I then moved to Monks Hill High School and spent 30 years there doing a variety of management jobs, but always enjoying the teaching more than the managing. It was there that I met Brenda Kidd, our Chairman. The school became High School and then The Quest Academy. Just after I retired, it moved into a new building. The old one is being pulled down, to become - not a housing estate - but a leisure space on a housing estate! I am married with 3 children. My wife teaches at Old Palace School. I like to think that I do the shopping, cleaning, cooking and gardening. Apart from the U3A Committee and the History of London Group, I do voluntary work for the NSPCC, the Elis David almshouses and my son’s PTA. I spend hours each day walking, or rather being walked, by our springer spaniel, Maisie. I like nothing better than meeting ex- teacher friends for lunch and reminding ourselves how glad we are to be out of teaching in the current climate. 3 Visit : Into Deepest Sussex A nearly full coach left Croydon on 12 November on the trail of ‘Mad Jack’ Fuller. Our Blue Badge Guide, Carol, joined us at Lamberhurst. By then it was raining, but the sky soon cleared and we were rewarded with a glimpse of the sun on the distant sea. The South Downs, rearing up from , were visible. Coffee at the small Sun Inn at Woods Corner, near Dallington, put us in good heart. We proceeded to the Church at where Carol told us about Jack. He was born in 1757. His ancestors had made the family’s fortune from land and iron-making. A marriage connection with West Indian plantation owners had also helped. The family’s manor house was near to the Church. Jack was a large man. (One nickname was ‘Hippopotamus’.) He was also outspoken, earning the name, ‘Honest Jack’. After a short, inglorious career as a Member of Parliament, he settled down as the (bachelor) local squire, and began to exhibit the qualities that endeared him to many people. He became a patron of the arts and sciences. He supported the painter, Turner; he commissioned the architect, Robert Smirke (leader of the ‘Greek Revival’) to design an observatory; and he was a founder member of the Royal Institution where he instituted two professorships. From the coach we had a near view of the observatory, now a private residence. It’s on a hill top with views to all quarters of the compass. Since it had a scientific purpose it doesn’t count as one Jack’s ‘follies’, but we saw others that do. All stand in Brightling Park, the family estate. From a distance we spied the Rotunda Temple, variously explained as a gambling den, a resort of ‘ladies of the night’, a smugglers hide-out, or just a place for visitors to take tea. Nearer was the Sugar Loaf, reputed to have been built so Jack could win a wager that the spire of Dallington Church was visible from his house. (Finding that it couldn’t, Jack had the Loaf built hurriedly to masquerade as the spire). But the most unusual ‘folly’ is the large pyramid in the grounds of Brightling Church. Jack began preparing for his death 24 years before it occurred. The pyramid was to be his mausoleum. Legend had it that he wished to be ‘buried’ above ground, but when the mausoleum had to be repaired, it was found that he had in fact been interred.

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Jack was known not only for his patronage and eccentricities, but also as a benefactor. At a time of serious unemployment, he employed men to build a four mile wall around the estate. He paid for the first life-boat at Eastbourne, and for the first ‘Belle Tout’ lighthouse on the cliffs near . And he bought Bodiam Castle when it was threated with demolition. Brightling Church also benefited from his generosity, acquiring a barrel organ and a gallery. The Church escaped Victorian restoration and retains a seemingly ancient appearance. On a wall is a bust of Jack. Underneath is an inscription in Latin which – I learnt from a booklet about him – means, ‘Nothing is of use that is not honest’. The Swan Inn provided us with an excellent lunch. Under dull skies we walked the length of the main street at Battle (the Abbey ruins were closed); and ended the day of exploration with tea at Bodiam, as dusk hid the object of Jack’s rescue from view. Thank you Annette and Margaret. Gordon Thynne

5 Reports from General Meetings

What will we do about Climate Change? On 9th March Barry Goodwin gave a challenging talk to the General Meeting asking each of us to consider what we can do towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Barry has noted that the scepticism which he found in 2008, when discussing environmental issues in schools, has reduced as we have become more concerned about the possible impact of extreme weather events. In 2008 one girl suggested that change which could make Brighton tropical by 2050 would mean we could sunbathe! Now the flooding events in Scotland, Cumbria and Yorkshire of December 2015 – January 2016 are giving us pause for thought. In our third age we may feel that the predicted impacts of Climate Change in mid-century will not be our problem. Barry however pointed out that we are leaving the consequences for our grandchildren; if we fail to act it will matter for them and we should care. Barry illustrated his talk with graphs showing how we are impacting the climate. From rise in global average temperature to parts per million of greenhouse gases in the air, these all showed a rising trend. In particular 2015 has turned out to be the hottest year on record in Britain and recent studies are showing the jet- stream is increasingly meandering. Computer-modelling is now warning that change is happening. Barry also drew attention to the worldwide effects. Rising temperatures in Africa and increasing salinity caused by sea-level rise in for example Bangladesh threaten global food security. The recent “Climate Summit” in Paris (COP21) has brought new agreement on the need for measures to mitigate climate change. The participation of the United States, India and China improve the chances of effective action. Barry closed his talk with a short film about the everyday actions we can all take:  Changing to low energy bulbs;  Turning off and unplugging equipment when it’s not in use;  Putting lids on pans; 6  Setting thermostats and avoiding curtains over radiators;  Making more use of public transport instead of cars. And Barry’s favourite – showering with a friend! The film is available on the internet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1- g73ty9v04 Questions from members covered previous unusually warm periods (like 1661- 62); the impact of population growth; throw-away culture (for example using bottled water) and the possible impact of Donald Trump! Barry closed the session by asking us all to think about climate change and to conclude that we don’t want to risk being the generation which could have acted but failed to do so. Barbara Lister

Groups: Archaeology Group The Archaeology Group was established in 2012. We currently have nine members, of which six were at the first meeting. We have one meeting a year and the rest of the time we go on visits. There are no charges involved for joining or being part of the group. Any expenses incurred on visits are handled by the individual members. In December we work out the schedule for visits during the coming year. Members volunteer to lead the monthly visit, obtaining information about the venue, train times and costs, etc. After everything is organized, we go out for a Christmas lunch! Contrary to what you may think, we do not go on ‘digs’. We did, however, spend one fascinating morning on the banks of the Thames near Tower Bridge at low tide raking through the pebbles. We came across various items of pottery, etc., and a small statuette, which we thought was very old and worn. However, when we approached one of the experts for verification and information, we were told it was a ‘stone’ – that really hurt! During the winter months we usually visit museums showing exhibitions of interest to us. If lucky, we arrange a private tour. For example, we had a tour of the coin exhibition at the British Museum in January. 7

Also, in the past, we have been to the Storage Facility of the Museum of London – after all, they cannot put everything on display – and we also helped (briefly) with their cataloguing but with a lot of supervision! When the weather improves we venture further afield to such places as St. Albans, Fishbourne, Crofton & Lullingstone, Battle Abbey, Winchester, Dover Castle, Cambridge, Salisbury and Pevensey. Pevensey was very interesting! It was raining so hard that we could not go around the castle, so we headed to a unique church nearby. It was still raining when we ventured outside again, so we did what all amateur archaeologists do – we found a pub and had a lovely lunch!

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All of the above are day trips but we have also been on holiday together. In 2014 we took a two week trip to Turkey. We started in Ankara and then visited Cappadocia via the great Salt Lake, Pamukkale (or Cotton Castle), Necropolis, Aphrodisias, Ephesus, Pergamon, Troy, Gallipoli and Istanbul. We were able to explore some amazing ruins: it hard was to believe their age. And those of us who had not seen them before were quite transfixed by the Whirling Dervishes!

We also went to Sicily with a tour group for eight days, visiting some of the many ancient, well preserved Greek and Roman sites, learning about the island’s cultural history and even experiencing some of its geological wonders from the top of Mount Etna.

9 On another occasion, we ventured to Hadrian’s Wall for a long week-end; and following our interest in the Roman period in Britain, last summer, using Newcastle as the base for a few days, some of our group were able to visit several of the sites along the Wall. So, the Archaeology Group has something to offer its members every month. Our members are varied: some are very knowledgeable and are wonderful researchers, while others of us just enjoy seeing how our ancestors lived in the past. If you are interested in joining us or would like more information, please contact me. Noreen Villiers, Admin. Leader.

History of London (1) Visit to the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Our group follows the same pattern as most of the other London History groups: a talk once a month and then two weeks later a visit to a place of interest in London. There are many more places to visit than there are speakers to talk about them. Recently we were fortunate enough to be able to coordinate our talk with our outing. In December, John Halligan, a City of London Guide, gave us his presentation, 'Life & Times of Samuel Pepys', just in time for the start of a major exhibition at the National Maritime Museum: 'Samuel Pepys: Plague, Fire & Revolution.' One of our members organised a group visit for the third week of January. January can be a bit scary if you pay in advance and it happens to be the only snowy day of the year. However we were lucky: the transport was trouble free, the sun gave the illusion of warmth, and 25 of us enjoyed an excellent exhibition. 10 It was good to be so well prepared as there was much to see, and we soon found ourselves immersed in seventeenth century London. Pepys is most famous for his diaries. He witnessed the beheading of a king and was at the coronation of his son, Charles II, in 1661, delighting in the spectacle of the occasion. He described seeing the bodies of plague victims piled high awaiting burial and of watching ‘the saddest sights of desolation’, the Great Fire of London. But his diaries only covered the years 1660-1669 when he was forced to stop writing them because he thought he was going blind. This, he thought, was the result of straining to write in poor light. Later in 1669 his wife Elizabeth died suddenly of a fever, aged only 29. Their relationship had been stormy but loving, and Pepys was heartbroken. The exhibition covered all these years: the fashions and the women; the theatre and the music: and a dramatic video portraying the devastating fire. It also detailed Pepys' later life. He did not die until 1703 and was a prominent and wealthy figure. He was Chief Secretary to the Admiralty, a Tory MP, President of the Royal Society, Master of Trinity House, Master of the Clothworkers' Company, and he founded the Royal Mathematical School at Christ's Hospital. Paintings, maps, books and artefacts from far and wide were displayed in the nine sections of the exhibition, including a replica of a bladder stone the size of a snooker ball which had been removed from Pepys in his early twenties without anaesthetic, antiseptic or antibiotics. Just think - if this operation had not been successful there would have been no diary, no exhibition!

Mary Randell

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Walking

The Walking Group came across this tree on a pre-Christmas walk from Chiddingstone Causeway. It brings to mind the accoutrements of a medieval knight, hanging above his tomb. Does a walker lie below? Is it a wayside shrine? Requiescat in Pace.

Looking at London Group (South Croydon) Patricia Knight tells us that on March 1st a group of 14 from this Looking at London Group went to the Bakers Livery Hall in the City. They had a guided tour led by the Beadle who told them about the history of the Worshipful Company of Bakers and its work for charity. The Company traces its origins back to 1155. It is the second oldest recorded guild in the City. The magnificent Hall was built in 1964, the previous Hall having been destroyed in the Second World War. It is full of historical silverware, medals and stained glass. The tour ended with tea and coffee, all for just £2 each.

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History of London (4) For the February meeting the group had a quiz about the memorials around London. Here are ten of the questions for you to try to identify the person(s) commemorated and to get the “bonus points” about them. (Answers are on page 24). 1. He lived with an oversize equestrian statue on an arch right in front of his home (and a statue of Achilles commemorating his victory in the park behind). Bonus point: After his death the statue on top of the arch was changed to a quadriga. What is a quadriga?

2. Two grand memorials, one in the Mall and one in Kensington commemorate this royal couple. Bonus Point: One of the pair had a notably long reign. How many British monarchs have reigned for longer?

3. He has the most iconic “memorial” in London but shares it with Wellington and Nelson. Bonus point: What event gave him the chance to build many churches and when did it happen?

4. A small bust in Aldermanbury actually commemorates the two actors who published the plays of this poet, playwright and leader of an acting troupe. Bonus points: Where was the indoor theatre where his later plays were performed?

5. A modern statue at the British Library clearly looks nothing like this early President of the Royal Society but the figure shares his fascination with mathematical principles. Bonus point: He once said he had “stood on the shoulders of giants”. Why was this a cruel remark?

13 6. Rubens painted this king in a fresco ceiling in Whitehall. Bonus point: Where in Whitehall is the fresco and what relationship does the king in the painting have to someone executed nearby?

7. This war leader’s statue standing Parliament Square looking across to Westminster Hall. Bonus point: Which (Greater) London public school did he attend?

8. Outside the Houses of Parliament with drawn sword is another war leader’s statue. Bonus point: What was his title during the 1650s?

9. This Poet Laureate has a statue in St Pancras Station in recognition of his fight for the building. Bonus point: Which town was he notably less interested in preserving?

10. The most recent statue stands in Waterloo Place. A larger version was made for the fourth plinth before moving to the RAF Museum at Hendon. Bonus point: Churchill observed this person at work and coined a description of those who worked under him. What was that description?

Ever thought of setting up a new Croydon U3A Group? Here is the story (so far) of the “SHARE A GOOD READ” group (suggesting contemporary international fiction as the focus) which I started in May 2014. Five of several who responded to my ‘advert’ our first meeting, where we agreed what we wanted to do, and then put together our first reading list. Our meetings rotate in members’ homes. After ploughing through two chosen book titles per month initially, we are now down to one read per month, to ensure all have time to get through the chosen title.

14 The group has ‘jelled’ very quickly. The book list reflects not only members’ preferred authors, but also members’ origins and cultural backgrounds. Good examples of this are:  The Way Things Were (Aatish Taseer - India);  Naples 44 (Norman Lewis – Italy),  Night Train to Lisbon (Pascal Mercier - Swiss). Various challenging/pleasing/difficult/really good reads behind us are:  The Speckled People - Hugo Hamilton (fascinating);  The Ladders of Years – Anne Tyler (liked by all);  What you make of it – Michael Marshall Smith (interesting but very challenging);  The Children Act – Ian McEwan (gripping and insightful);  Fear and Trembling – Amelie Nothomb (unusual/considered ‘slightly over the top’). Sadly, we lost Dorothy Evans within six months of starting with us, and we fondly recall her energy and very vibrant reflections on books read. The other initial five members have since been joined by a further two, and next month we look forward to welcoming yet another newcomer. As most months one or the other of us is unable to attend, we probably could accommodate two additional members. In particular, it would be brilliant if we could get a man or two to join us, to add other topics and male perspective to our reading choices and debates. Our meetings utilize formal reading group questions tailored to the book of the month where available, or I follow a set of general questions to stimulate our discussions. We are, however, equally good at digressing and venturing into current day parallels prompted by knowledge and experience as a spin-off from the subject of the book, and generally enjoying each other’s company. As a group co-ordinator, I could not have hoped for a nicer bunch of fellow readers and hope that we will continue for many months to come. Our current proposed reading list could take us through to December 2017 - and beyond once new members contribute additional suggestions.

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I feel that, in a small way, I am making a contribution to U3A’s ‘lifeblood’ (groups) and ethos (sharing), by not only enjoying what it offers me, but also sharing my time and passion with other members. The effort required is small in comparison to the rewards of good times experienced with a new circle of like-minded people who quickly have become valuable friends.

Susanne Baccini Group Co-ordinator

Turkish Delight A cannonade of calls to prayer bursts in upon our waking dreams. As our guide has remarked, ‘This is not a holiday – you can have that at home. This is a culture tour!’ It is rapidly apparent that we are to receive, rather than give, culture shock. The countryside out of Ankara, the Turkish capital, gives off a lustrous pallor of light greens and ochres, dotted with poplars and short, scrubby olive and fruit trees. Sheep and cows graze on the pastures and the bare mountains erupt like huge molehills around us. There is a steady march of mosques across the Anatolian plain, carrying the current of Islam like a national grid system over their one- and two-pronged minarets. Appearances are, however, deceptive. This is a secular state, or so decreed Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the new republic, in 1923. ‘Turkey is not a country of sheikhs and dervishes,’ he declared. ‘We will be a modern, civilised country.’ He retired the Sultan, abolished the Caliphate, adopted Western dress and introduced a Roman alphabet to replace Arabic script. On what authority did he take such high-handed action? He was, of course, like Franco, Churchill and De Gaulle, a graduate of a military academy. He was one of a long tradition of no-nonsense salvationists who, as late as the 1960s, saw fit to hang the incumbent prime minister when they found his policies distasteful. Turkey is thus torn between Europe and Asia – the promise of prosperity and Western alliance, and the pull of dependence on oil from Azerbaijan (and Isis-controlled areas) and much older Near-Eastern kinship and allegiances. 16 Lying just below this surface patina are much older histories – of the Hittites and Greek and Roman domination – and the legends of biblical Turkey. Saul of Turkish Tarsus, the chief apostle of The Acts (with my namesake, Barnabas, as his companion) schlepped all the way along the Roman road from Antioch on the Syrian border to bring the gospel to his people. We journey first to Cappadocia where we try to picture his hailing and engaging the troglodytes who inhabited those ‘fairy chimneys’: extraordinary columns of lava capped with basalt and whipped into bizarre shapes by rain and wind erosion. Much later, at Ephesus, we hear how he worked as a tent-maker before being jailed for doing the local silversmiths (who made models of Diana and other Roman deities) out of business. On his release, he got away to Rome, where the Emperor Constantine (he of Constantinople) was eventually to turn the Roman Empire Christian. Mythical Troy of Helen, Priam, Paris and Agamemnon is laid bare to us level by level – a feat much facilitated by Heinrich Schliemann, who drilled down deep in search of treasure without the tiresome archaeological scraping needed to unearth the more mundane detritus of ancient civilizations. Passing by the Dardanelles, we are stopped in our tracks on Lone Pine ridge by the devastating poignancy of the losses suffered by the Anzac forces at Gallipoli in 1915, one of the great military disasters of the First World War, Saturday night in Istanbul is a virtual re-enactment of Pentecost. All these modern-day Phrygians and Pamphylians, Medes and Elamites storm ten abreast off Taksim Square in a great river of youth (60% of the population is under 25) with the vigour and passion of a very proud people. Such is their martial spirit that rival hooligan gangs of football fans are not permitted to visit one another’s grounds in Galatasaray and Fernerbrahce, two adjacent suburbs of the city.

17 The crowning glory of the city is not the world’s largest diamond in the Topkapi Palace or the Grand Bazaar (purveyor of minor pelf and wit since 1461 – ‘Step inside. We have everything – except customers’) but the magnificent Haghia Sophia, a building so colossal that Lloyds of London would fit inside it twice over. This temple/museum of the ‘Holy Wisdom’ has been both church and mosque and still inspires a wordless awe. To sit now in the Sultan’s garden on the tip of the Golden Horn on the Bosphorus on the cusp of Europe and Asia is to reflect on how firmly Turkey holds the balance between Islam and the West.

Barnaby Powell

This engraving of the Haghia Sophia was made in 1852 by the Fossati brothers, Swiss architects who carried out a major restoration of the mosque's interior. Photo from Flickr Creative Commons by SALT Online 18 Called to Adventure How would you feel if you had to take shelter in a hole in the ground from a Sudanese Government bomber? Would you cope with learning basic Swahili? Would you stand up to policemen asking for a bribe? Would you flinch at finding a three inch spider in your box of teaching aids? Could you set about writing a simplified grammar of English? These were some of the experiences of Jan King, one of our members. After a career in teaching, she felt she had to respond to what appeared to be a calling from God. She went to Kenya and South Sudan to help Christian organisations. She recounts her experiences in her recently published book, ‘Called to Adventure’. They were amusing, difficult and dangerous, but joyful and rewarding. Her story is inspiring, not least because of the brave, resourceful people she met. You can obtain a copy of the book from Jan for the price of £5. It is also available from Amazon for £6 and on Kindle. Jan will be talking about her experiences at the General Meeting on 10 August. Gordon Thynne

Out and about in (and near) Croydon is perhaps not as well-known as it should be. It is open on certain Sunday afternoons in the Summer: 15 May, 5 June, 3 July, 7 August, 4 September and 2 October. There is a visitor centre and shop, with teas, refreshments and souvenirs for sale. It is owned by Croydon Council, but staffed and managed entirely by volunteers. There are limited weekday openings for groups by arrangement. (Contact Frank Paine on 0208 651 0064). It is situated in Postmill Close, Shirley, a turning off Upper Shirley Road. It is a short walk from the bus stop near the junction of Wickham Road and Shirley Road. There is space for parking in Oaks Road.

19 REMEMBERING 1916 - LIFE ON THE WESTERN FRONT is a major exhibition at from 12 March to 31 August. It tells the story of a pivotal year of the First World War through a unique series of personal stories. It is open from 10 am to 5pm seven days a week. For Senior residents of Croydon the admission price is £3 – please take proof of address, e.g. a Utility or Council Tax bill. There is much more detail on the School’s website.

DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY has an exhibition of the paintings of NIKOLAI ASTRUP, one of the most renowned Norwegian artists, though little known over here. For Senior Citizens, the ticket price is £11.50. Till 15 May.

One hundred years ago April The toggle light switch is patented by William J Newton and Morris Goldberg. The Easter rising in Ireland. The Irish Republican Brotherhood declares a Republic. The General Post Office and other buildings in Dublin are occupied. The rising is suppressed. Subsequently 15 men are executed. Ernest Shackleton and five companions sail in an open boat 800 miles to South Georgia to secure the rescue of the rest of the crew of the Endurance. One of the most deadly German gas attacks of the War: the 47th Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division is decimated.

May A black farmhand, Jesse Washington, is lynched in Texas on suspicion of murdering his employer’s wife. Britain and France conclude the Sykes-Picot agreement to divide area of the former Ottoman Empire after the War. Britain starts daylight saving time. Battle of Jutland between the fleets of the Royal Navy and Germany. The only large-scale clash of battleships in the War. The result is inconclusive, but Britain remains dominant in the North Sea. 20 Golden Rules for a Good Old Age A member has sent in ’Rules for a Good Old Age’. Here are some. You may not agree with all of them. 1. It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Don’t just keep it for those who have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. 2. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep. 3. Don’t stress over the little things. You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. 4. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbour, and remember: ‘A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection’. 5. Always stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go on-line and see what people are saying. 6. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future…Give advice, not criticism. 7. Never use the phrase: ‘In my time’. Your time is now. 8. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people. 9. Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. - Plenty of scope for this in the U3A! 10. Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations… (but don’t get upset when you’re not invited). Get out of the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new - maybe a U3A outing? 11. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them, but accept them as part of the cycle of life we all go through. 12. If you’ve been offended by someone – forgive them. If you’ve offended someone – apologise. Don’t drag resentment around with you. If you want to read all these rules, look up the website: ’21 Rules for a Good Old Age’

Gordon Thynne 21

Going on Retreat For several years now I have been going on retreat to a Buddhist retreat centre on the Wales/ Shropshire border. It's a centre for women, run by a community of women who live there. The centre is called Taraloka (Tara's place) after Tara, a significant female figure in Buddhist mythology. It's very remote: no buses, just occasional post office vans on the distant road, but you don't hear them. There's also no light pollution: at night it's moonlight you see, rather than reflected street lighting. The scenery isn't exactly beautiful - it's very flat, with a lot of low scrub - but because of the flatness you get 'big skies' stretching from horizon to horizon, where you can follow the shifting pattern of the clouds. It feels very spacious, very calm; and already on the drive from the station I can feel my mind stilling, and my awareness broadening. Taraloka has an atmosphere of calm, steeped in the atmosphere of countless women coming here to be quiet, reflect or meditate over many years. Everything is very simple, but always comfortable, warm and welcoming. On a practical level, the accommodation is mostly shared rooms. The food is vegan - not too much of a stretch if you're already vegetarian - and there is a rota for retreatants to help with food preparation, clearing, washing up etc. There's a range of courses from introductory weekend meditation courses to longer retreats which give the opportunity to deepen your meditation practice or explore particular aspects of the teaching. (Some retreats also combine meditation with yoga, tai chi or drumming). There's usually free time in the afternoon when you can explore the countryside, going along the canal where the river boats are moored, or on to The Mosses, an ancient peat bog which has been designated an area of special scientific interest.

22 I always leave Taraloka feeling restored and refreshed, and the train journey home gives me the chance to make a gradual transition between the quietness of the retreat and the bustle of everyday life. I realise increasingly how much I value and look forward to this opportunity to step back from a busy life into a quiet space for a while. In case anyone reading this feels they might like to go on retreat at Taraloka, the website address is: www.taraloka.org.uk.

Jenny Jackson

Trivia from across the Pond (truth not guaranteed) Glass takes one million years to decompose. Hence, it can be recycled almost ad infinitum. Gold is the only metal that doesn’t rust, even if it’s buried in the ground for thousands of years. Zero is the only number that cannot be represented by Roman numerals. Drinking water after a meal reduces the acid in your mouth by 60%. The roar we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear. Nine out of every ten living things live in the ocean The tooth is the only part of the human body that cannot heal itself. If you were at the bottom of a well or a tall chimney and looked up, you would see the stars, even in the middle of the day. The military salute evolved from medieval times when knights in armour raised their visors to reveal their identity.

23 Quiz Answers 1. The Duke of Wellington. The Achilles statue commemorates Waterloo but was very controversial at the time (1822) as it was a very early neo classical figure. Bonus point: A quadriga is a four horse chariot

2. Victoria and Albert Bonus Point: Just one, Elizabeth II

3. Christopher Wren. His tomb inscription says look around for his memorial (St Pauls). Bonus point: The Great Fire of London, September 1666.

4. The small bust is of Shakespeare and the two actors who published the First Folio were John Heminges and Henry Condell. Bonus point: Blackfriars Theatre

5. Isacc Newton (the statue is modelled on William Blakes’s print) Bonus point: There was a dispute between Isacc Newton and Robert Hooke about the ideas in Principia Mathematica. Hooke was small and crooked of stature. There is a very good BBC In Our Time podcast about Robert Hooke at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b070h6ww

6. James I (painted ascending into Heaven) Bonus point: The ceiling of the Banqueting House. James I was the father of Charles I who was beheaded just outside.

7. Bonus point: Harrow

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8. Oliver Cromwell Bonus point: Lord Protector (He refused to be King but actually had more power as Lord Protector.)

9. John Betjeman Bonus point: Slough - about which he wrote a poem suggesting it be bombed as unfit for humans. The poem can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/bigread/bigread_betjeman.shtml

10. Sir Keith Park Bonus point: the Few The story is that Churchill visited Uxbridge where he saw Keith Park put every fighter he had into the air. He was shaken by this and composed the line “never ….. has so much been owed by so many to so few”.

Photos by Gary Knight (St Pauls) and Peter Smith (Albert Memorial) from Flickr Creative Commons

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Literary Gems In ‘A Narrow Street’, about his life in Paris in the 1920’s and 1930’s, the American journalist, Elliot Paul, says that one of the toasts offered by Americans to their French friends was: Vive la France et les pommes de terre frites! The French reply was: Vive L’Amérique et le chauffage central!

In ‘The Wallet of Kai-Lung’ by Ernest Bramah (1900), a pastiche of ancient Chinese tales, the characters refer to themselves in a self-deprecating way. Thus Kai Lung meets a noted brigand who insists that he comes to his lair: Precede me, therefore, to my mean and uninviting hovel, while I gain more honour than I can reasonably bear by following closely in your elegant footsteps, and guarding your Imperial person with this inadequate but heavily loaded weapon.

Colonel John Byng, indefatigable traveller (on horseback) in and Wales in the 18th century, loved anonymity and retirement, despite his yen for travel: London is the only town for residence, and where in public you live retired; but in country towns there is nothing moving but scandal, abuse and detraction.

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