Caldicot & District
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CALDICOT & DISTRICT Newsletter & Diary February 2020 Monthly Meeting Caldicot Choir Hall 2pm www.u3asites.org.uk/caldicot/home Reg Charity No. 1071447 THURSDAY 20TH FEBRURY 2020 SUBJECT: BLOOD BIKES ALLI GALLIVAN TEA ROTA: DRAMA THURSDAY 19TH MARCH 2020 SUBJECT: PHOTO COMPETITION JUDGING SPEAKER: TRACEY CLEMENTS OF WYE VALLEY STUDIOS “WHO DUNNIT” PHOENIX PLAYERS TEA ROTA: FAMILY HISTORY CHAIRMAN’S LETTER Hello Everyone Well once again we were entertained by the children from Caldicot Comprehensive. It was good to hear from Sarah (the teacher) of the progress that previous children who have entertained us are getting on in their lives. This year we had three or four entirely new pupils and as it was their first time in front of a large audience, I think they did very well. I must say the last pupil who sang “I had a Dream” brought a lump to my throat which made it difficult for me to thank them all for being there. So we look forward to next year and maybe those new ones will be there again and will have gained a bit more confidence. It goes without saying that we enjoy our January “Speakers” as we had 96 people in the audience. The Third Age Trust is this year setting up a National U3A Day on the 3rd June and all U3A’s throughout the Country are asked to participate. This falls nicely in with our celebrations and we are already organising a challenge for a match put to the Committee by the Short Mat Bowls. More progress is being made with the arrangements for our 25h Anniversary celebrations and I am pleased to say that many of our groups will be participating throughout the year. I will not be at the next meeting as I will be visiting my son and his family in Tasmania so I am pleased to say that our Vice Chairman Rob Harry will be the front man. Best Wishes to you all. Pam Caines Chairman SPEAKERS LIST 2020 TEA ROTA April 16th Magical Musical Moments Christine Purkiss Gardening May 21st Rhiannon Lavis Dogs Trust Bridgend Handicraft June 18th 25th Anniversary Party History July 16th “Who dunnit” Phoenix Players Jive Bunnies September 17th AGM Music Appreciation “Who Dunnit” Phoenix Players October 15th OPEN DAY Science & Natural History COPY FOR THE NEWSLETTER We welcome reports from all groups for inclusion in the Newsletter or forwarding to our website. Word doc is preferred and should be sent to: [email protected] or tel. 01291 424997 by midday on the 28th JANUARY 2020 Typed or handwritten notes should be submitted a few days earlier if possible. Please try to limit reports to about 300 words. Angela Hodson-Hirst, Editor. DUE TO HOLIDAY COMMITMENTS THERE WILL NOT BE A MARCH NEWSLETTER MEMBERSHIP Should you change your address, telephone number or email address please let me know so that our records are up to date. Contact details: tel: 01291 424997 email: [email protected] Angela Hodson-Hirst Membership Secretary LINK SECRETARY I would ask that if you hear of any member(s) who reach their 80th, 90th, 100th birthdays, Golden, Diamond, Platinum Wedding Anniversaries or even Marriages between members to please contact me so that I can send a Congratulatory card. Also, if you hear of any member, in your group, or their family who are in hospital, sick or any other reason I would be grateful if you would please inform me. [email protected] Tele: 01291 421484 Betty Waite GIFT AID Calling all tax payers, once again I would ask you to sign the Gift Aid form to enable Caldicot & District U3A to claim back 25% of your fee which helps to keep the Subscription fees down. We have had repayment from the Tax Office of our claims for several years. However, we are now able to claim additional tax on the membership fee of your Spouse/Partner or any other person who are members of Caldicot & District U3A and reside at the same address as you. If you are not sure whether you have previously signed a gift aid form, please contact me or alternatively sign another current one. Forms are available on Caldicot & District U3A website or from Angela Hodson-Hirst, Membership Secretary at the monthly meetings or from your Convenors or myself, I have forms with me at all meetings I attend. If you have any queries please contact me on 01291.422925 or [email protected] Glenice Dallow Gift Aid Co-ordinator CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations to Beryl Read who celebrated her 80th Birthday in January and to David Evans who celebrates his 80th in March. CONDOLENCES It was with sadness to hear that Jean Matthews passed away in January. Jean was a regular walker with the Stragglers, attended monthly meetings and enjoyed many Special Events holidays. WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS Ronald Prettyjohns Jean Bailey Nick & Margaret Saffin Christine Foy Nigel Poole Barrie Monday Anita Rae THANK YOUS HANDICRAFT CHRISTMAS PARTY RAFFLE FAMILY HISTORY GROUP Wanted for April 2020 a new Convenor for the Family History Group I have decided the time has come to hand over the reins of the group with effect from the March meeting and a new approach from a willing Genealogist is required for April 2020. A successful genealogy search comes from a combination of knowing which records exist; how to get them and at a price you can afford; being able to select from alternative solutions; and knowing how to get the most information from the documents you find. During my 6 years at the helm we have had various successes, finding a relative of Edward III and also Sir Walter Scott (a mining engineer not the author). The successes also went as far as tracing Di Jones in Merthyr but alas Fred Smith has eluded us to date. I hope the members who have attended over my tenure ship have obtained as much pleasure as it has given me over these years, and wish them all the best in finding past members of their family as well as cousins and family members who they did not know existed. At present we meet on the 4th Friday of the month but if a new Convenor wishes to alter this arrangement I feel sure that the existing members would agree. Should no willing Convenor come forward I regret that this group will cease after the 28th March. If anyone would like more information, please contact me on 01291 421523 or 07541779974. John Jeffery NEWS AND INFORMATION Would all group Convenors please send me news and information for the monthly Newsletter & Diary which will be included in the table below. Thank you. Editor ACTIVITY GROUPS INFORMATION ART Every Wednesday 1.30 to 4.00pm, Recreation Hall, Portskewett. Convenor …………...Mary Richards Tel: 01291 329236 COMPUTING Discussion/Demonstrations. Digital Image competition with Ann Taylor-Heard Every Friday 9.30 to12.30am at the Baptist Church, Second Friday of the month 10.00am to 12 noon Neddern Way. Convenor……………John Mills Digital Image Topics: TBA Tel: 01291 420045 CRUISE SHIP BRIDGE Every Monday 1.30 to 3.30pm Council Day Centre Contact……………Acting Convenor: Tony Hodson-Hirst Tel: 01291 424997 DRAMA Every Friday 2.00pm Portskewett Hall. Convenors …………Pam Caines ………………….…. Dianne Payne Tel: 01291 420750 FAMILY HISTORY 4th Friday of the month 9.30 to 12noon All welcome at Bethany Baptist Church. Caldicot. Convenor…………John Jeffery Tel: 01291 421523 GARDENING Feb 13th: Invitation to the Natural Science & History Group for Jim’s Film show Indoor meetings run from October to April in the Mar 12th: Justine Shoulter of Far Hill Flowers Scout Hall on second Thursday of the month Apr 9th: Tredegar House & Gardens. at 2.15 pm Speaker... Steve Morgan, Head Gardener Convenor……………Pauline Marx Apr 29th – May 1st: Trip to Pashley Manor & Garden Tel: 07544 671870 Tulip Festival and Great Dixter Garden. HANDICRAFT 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month 10.00 to 12.00pm Council Day Centre. Convenor……Beryl Lewis. Tel: 01291 421661 Assisted by…Jill Greenhalgh. Tel: 01633 548968 HISTORY Feb 19th: Holy Roman Empire. Speaker...Stuart Fyfe. 3rd Wednesday of the month 2.15pm Council Day Mar 18th: The Tec Seng shipping disaster. Speaker...... Centre Gaynor Chapple Convenor………. Sheila Ford. Tel: 01291 422185 Apr 15th: Poetry in History. Speaker.... Mary Rooney May 20th: The Cotswold Navy. What’s in a name? Speaker..... Paul Barnett Jun 17th: Welsh History through the Ages. Various JIVE BUNNIES Alternate Thursday evening Feb 6th & 20th 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm Portskewett Recreational Hall Mar 5th & 19th Convenor……………Wendy Protheroe Tel: 01291 422829 MUSIC APPRECIATION Feb 27th: Celebration of St David's Day so any Welsh 4th Thursday of the month 2.00 to 4.00pm. Council music, composers, performers etc Day Centre. Convenor……………Jan Potter Mar 26th: Theme for March is People in uniform: i.e assisted by……………Adrian Dallow Military, Police, Boy Scouts, Nurses, Guides Tel: 01291 794034 (Jan) Tel: 01291 422925 (Adrian) SCIENCE AND NATURAL HISTORY Feb 3rd: The importance of trees and woods. Meetings to be held 1st Monday of the month 10.00 Speaker....Jeremy Evans, woodland advisor for the - 12.00 noon. Scout Hall, Sandy Lane Woodland Trust Mar 2nd: Insect Armageddon – the world decline of all Convenor ………………. Bob Whitehead insects by 41%. Speaker..... Max Wilson BSC (Econ) Tel: 01291 422232 Lond, BSC (MHN) RMN Ret. Volunteer with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust Apr 6th: The protection of wildlife throughout the whole of Gloucestershire. A talk by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust SCRABBLE Alternate Fridays 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Town council Feb. 14th & 28th Day Centre. Mar. 13th & 27th Convenor………Glynis Croft Tel: 01633 400529 SHORT MAT BOWLS Additional Sessions: Wednesday afternoons 2.00 to 4.00 pm.