Newsletter – Dec
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UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE Learn, Laugh and Live Registered Charity Number 1177826 Wishing ALL our Members a Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy New Year NEWSLETTER – DEC. 2019 Message From the Chairman As another busy quarter comes to an end and we look forward to Christmas and those darker days when a good book, red wine and warm fires beckon. We have had a number of notable events since I last wrote; an excellent trip to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park and Parrot Sanctuary, thanks to Mike Harrison, a well- attended Group Leaders and Catering Staff meeting, organised by Andy Mathieson, and interesting and well- researched talks on Sleep, local explorer Sir John Franklin (thanks Chrissie) and Birds of Prey. Quite a variety of topics and I hope you enjoyed them all as much as I did. We found the Group Leaders’ meeting most valuable in that it provided a number of suggestions for improving our club. I want to mention one now which I feel is vital for our members and that is to improve social interactions amongst the membership. It remains true that many of our members do not know each other. This could be due to shyness or natural reluctance to make the first step towards meeting others. Trust me, our members are a friendly and charming lot! I shall be asking everyone to make that small additional effort to get to know others, and for those who wish, we shall be providing adhesive name badges at our Christmas party. Nothing compulsory, but please join in. Following The Older Persons’ Fair, we have received an invitation to go to Parliament for a tour and your Committee will be looking at how this can be organised for 2020. The last tour was nearly 10 years ago and it’s time we shook up Parliament again! We will meet again for the Christmas Party and some rousing music from HUGS. Please come and if you can, wear something festive. My thanks as usual go to my hardworking Committee, Group Leaders, Catering and Welcoming team. Sincerely, Neil MONTHLY GENERAL MEETINGS All members are invited to attend the U3A general meetings held at 10am on the first Tuesday of each month at the Stanhope Hall. Guest Speakers for the next few months will be: 3rd Dec. Christmas Party “Lawless and Immoral” 7th Jan. Policing a Country Town 1838 -1857 Brian Davey 4th Feb. Customs & Traditions of Lincolnshire Tom Lane, Nigel Creasey/Teri Clark 3rd Mar. Fen bank Greyhound Sanctuary and History of the breed) Paul Bryan 7th Apr. A Talk on World War 2 Entertainment David Barton HORNCASTLE U3A COMMITTEE Neil Carter Chairman 01507- 523585 Mike Harrison Deputy Chairman 01507- 522674 Graham Hutton Treasurer 01507- 526677 Andy Mathieson Groups Co-Ord. 01507- 522701 Robin Wilmshurst Membership Sec. 01507 - 525958 Ron Fisher Newsletter Editor 01507- 524450 Eileen Jackson Welcomer 01507- 588273 Kathryn Thomas Liaison Officer 01507- 239579 Robert Sessions General support Member 01507 - 522640 Sue Stevenson Minutes Secretary 01507 - 524211 Wendy Shaw General Secretary 01507 - 522640 Fiona Martin Almoner 01507 - 523387 You can check out Horncastle U3A’s website for details of activities, events and groups. Our web address is: u3asites.org.uk/Horncastle if you have updates that you wish to share, please contact Neil Carter or Robin Wilmshurst HORNCASTLE U3A GROUPS Members – If you are interested in joining a group, please check with the person listed below to ensure there are places available. Group Leaders – If a new leader or deputy is appointed or there are other significant changes, please inform Andy Mathieson, our Groups co-ordinator. W=Winter S=Summer Appliqué 2nd & 4th 2-4pm Ann Duncan 01507 527723 Wed Bells 1st Thurs 2-4pm Karel Jonkers 01507 524727 Book Worms 1st Mon 2-4pm Brenda 01507 522447 Mumford Bowls Fri 10am Colin & Kathy 01507 523941 (Summer) Fisher Chess Group 2nd/4th Mon. 2 – 4 pm Vaughan McKay 01507 527318 of month Creative 1st Thurs 7-9pm Andy Mathieson 01507 522701 Photography Creative 1st Tues 2-4pm Annette 01507 525958 Writing Wilmshurst For Pleasure Croquet 2nd& 4th Mon 1.45- Pauline 01507 622741 (Summer) 4pm Donner Cryptic 4th Fri 10.30am Hazel Crook 01507 525609 Crosswords Edible 1st Mon 2-4pm Robin 01507 525958 Gardening Wilmshurst Exploring Tues – dates 9.30am Pam Browne 01507 526267 Churches vary Financial 2nd Thurs 10 – 12 Neil Carter 01507 523585 Forum Noon Five Milers 4th Thurs. 9.30am Debbie Ridyard 01507 534111 Genealogy & 2nd Mon 2pm Colin Gascoyne 01507 526938 Family History History 4th Wed 2-4pm Malcolm Baxter 01507 522220 & Sheila 01507 524727 Jonkers Music 1st Tues 2pm Colin 01507 526938 Appreciation Gascoyne Nine 3rd Frid. 9.10am Edward Jones 01507 524721 Milers Wong car park Pilates Wed 11-11.50 Stefan 01507 524430 Urbanowicz Prose & 1st Thurs 2-4pm Phyll Durow 01507 522356 Poetry 1 Prose & 3rd Tues 2-4pm Alan Baulch 01526 353137 Poetry 2 Reading 1 3rd Mon 2pm Clare Crick 01507 526850 Margaret Dickson 01507 527641 Reading 2 2nd Frid 10.30am Sylvia Knight 01507 525028 Strollers 2nd 10am Pauline 01507 622064 Thurs Maddinson & 01507 524954 Diana Darley Sunday Lunch 4th Sun 12.30pm Margaret 01507 588298 Club Harrison Supper 1st Tues 6.30pm Bridget Barker 01507 523635 Club 1 Supper 3rd Tues Time Lynn 01507 524430 Club 2 varies Urbanowicz Table Every 2-4pm Malcolm 01507 522220 Tennis Tues Baxter Talking 2nd Tues 2pm Doreen 01507 523702 Heads Sanderson Topical 2nd Wed 2-4pm Stephen 01507 526565 Discussion Holdaway Visiting 3rd Times Eileen Jackson 01507 588273 Gardens Thurs. vary TOPICAL DISCUSSION GROUP Was life better in the old days? Should we opt out of organ donation rather than opt in? Should drivers be assessed during their driving life? Our Society is increasingly divided – is that inevitable? These are just some of the topics that the Topical Discussion Group have discussed in their monthly meeting. The topics are chosen by the members themselves and we meet in our various homes on the 2nd Wednesday of every month. It’s great fun. We usually start with an ice breaker – a silly game or quiz and then one of our number introduces the topic and another puts the opposite point of view (whether they personally agree or not!). That gets us into a good discussion with airing of views. All views are listened to and respected and the hope is that we come away with a broader understanding of the topic and sometimes we might even have changed our mind! It’s a friendly group and we are always looking for new members to join us and bring their particular points of view. If you would like to join us, contact: [email protected] or telephone: 01507 526565 GREAT NEWS – A NEW GROUP HAS STARTED !! This is a new Group for anyone who wants to play or learn to play the game of chess. Whether you are a complete beginner or experienced player this group will provide an opportunity to play others and to improve your game. The emphasis is on enjoyment, rather than competitions. Meeting at Ancaster Court, from 2–4 pm on 2nd & 4th Monday of each month. For more details, contact: Vaughan McKay on 01507 - 527318 Five Milers – City Walk The Fossdyke Navigation's excellent waterside path was the first part of the route for 10 members of the Five Milers on their August walk. Having parked at the Pyewipe Inn, to the west of Lincoln, the group set off past the colourful narrow boats towards the city and left the Fossdyke to walk up through the horses grazing West Common. Those not so keen on the horses took the fenced off Alderman's Walk path running parallel. Once in uphill Lincoln, we walked beside The Lawn, through the Castle grounds, stopping for coffees and cold drinks, and, once in Bailgate, took in views of the Cathedral, the city spread beneath us and the holiday crowds. Next, we wandered down Steep Hill, under the Stonebow, and, at High Bridge, went down the Glory Hole steps to walk by the River Witham to Brayford Pool. We rejoined the path alongside the Fossdyke, straight on to the Pyewipe,then sharing the final stage of our route with plenty of walkers and cyclists. A table for 10 awaited us at the pub and we all enjoyed a lovely lunch. (Contact Debbie Ridyard 01507 – 534111) The Strollers Group: On September the 12th the strollers gathered at the Seal sanctuary in Mablethorpe. We crossed the sand dunes onto the vast expanse of wonderful sand. We strolled along the beach for approx. two miles into the centre, where we all enjoyed a coffee and snack and of course the chatter. Time to go, some of the group set off to walk back, the others waited for the sand train, which stops several times on the way back. Ann had recommended the walk and it was enjoyed by all. Contact: Pauline Maddinson 01507 - 622064 or Diana Darley 01507-524954 Older Peoples Fair – Friday 29th September – Stanhope Hall Victoria Atkins MP sponsored this event to publicise local activities, and the various organisations available to assist with advice and activities for the over 50’s. Many of the stallholders were linked to Regional and National Organisations giving advice on avoiding “scams” – finances – social care and health services. Our U3A Committee Members were there to give advice about our U3A and to encourage interested people to “come along” to a Meeting, and (hopefully) join us. Although attendance by the public was disappointing – hopefully it helped to spread the word of the benefits of joining Horncastle U3A.