RAYLEIGH GRANGE U3A

Newsletter - Edition No. 124 2021

Welcome to the January Newsletter

MONTHLY MEETING AND ALL GROUPS CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

FROM THE CHAIRMAN

I must start by addressing my somewhat over-optimistic comments in the last newsletter. Having moved from Tier 2 to Tier 3 in the run up to Christmas we were again restricted in our daily lives. I sincerely hope that you were able to see your families on Christmas Day, perhaps by Zoom this year, given the further move to the new tougher Tier 4 restrictions. I know this was a difficult juggling act for some of us and everyone had to do what was right for you.

I also hoped that we might have been able to resume our monthly meetings March/April, but even with the vaccine being rolled out it will probably not now be possible until May/June at the very earliest. We will obviously keep you updated via the Newsletter and website.

On the subject of the vaccine, please be sure to read the latest scam warning received from the Association of U3A’s.

Let’s hope that 2021 will be the start of us resuming our normal lives.

Bob Farrow

CYRIL’S GARDENING NOTES

It has been a funny year for plants. I have so much still blooming that should have finished by now and some plants that should not be in bloom until January and February. Hopefully the end of Covid- 19 is in sight. Wishing you all a Happy New Year

QUIZ – General Knowledge 1

1. Which sea food is named from Italian 2. In which county is Wookey Hole? for shrimps?

3. Which country was divided by the 38th 4. What sport is associated with Bisley? parallel in 1945?

5. What type of plant is Traveller’s Joy? 6. Which museum is now on the site of Bedlam Hospital? 7. Which flower is named after the 8. Which film comic was born William French for Lion’s tooth? Claude Duckenfield?

9. What is a Serval? 10. Which substance takes its name from baked earth?

Answers on page 13

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HYDE HALL GLOW

All “Glow” photographs by Ann C-O

We ventured out in the early evening in mid November, both of us trying hard to remember the last time we had been out at night!!

We arrived at Hyde Hall for a walk through the gardens at their Glow event, not quite sure what to expect.

There were quite a lot of people there, all well wrapped up and all socially distancing. After entering we were told about the lighting, which was carefully measured to make you aware of 2 metre spaces and so we set off, firstly through the Cottage garden area. The lights were so colourful, shining up into the shrubs and trees, giving a completely different feel to the garden. The architecture of the plants was really apparent and the darkness and light was stunning.

We followed the twinkly light path along the lower newly laid bark pathway, looking up the hillside to the upper beds. There again, the colourful lights illustrating the borders was spectacular. The photographs don’t really do it all justice. The pathway meandered along the lower level of the garden back towards the lake, where a couple of wooden cabins had been built. There we bought doughnuts and hot chocolate before walking through the Winter garden and so back towards the shop and exit. We kept looking back towards the hillside to get a last glimpse of the beautiful lights.

This is the first time that RHS Hyde Hall has held this event and I think they are surprised that 17,000 tickets sold out in a very few days. We just hope that the event becomes a regular feature at this garden, which we have visited many times, but in daylight, over the last few months.

Ann C-O

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JOBS FOR JANUARY IN THE GARDEN

1. It’s time to prepare for growing in the year ahead: dust and scrub your pots, trays and labels. 2. Clean and sharpen your tools and, if necessary, replace tools. 3. If you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to eat more healthily, try simple sprouting seeds: quick, easy and delicious in salad. 4. Check that the seeds you intend to sow are in date and stored in a cool, dry, mouse-free container. 5. Keep on clearing winter debris from your beds and mulch them with leaf mould, bark or compost: watch out for emerging bulbs! 6. If you have a patch of perennial weeds, now is a good time to tackle it before the weeds begin to grow again. 7. Continue harvesting leeks, kale and parsnips. 8. Prune autumn-fruiting raspberries to soil level. 9. Provide food for the birds in your garden. 10. Place a seed order, as it will soon be time to start sowing onions, cabbages, parsnips, leeks, sweet peas and calendula.

HYDE HALL - GLOW

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Here's how to make your own bird cake to hang up

What you need (makes several):  1 cup of bird seeds  Half a pack of lard or suet  Pine cones (optional)  String (optional)

How to make the bird cakes: There are two options for these hanging feeders: either they are formed around knots on a piece of string, or around pine cones.

 If you are making hanging bird cakes using pine cones, first make sure that their scales have opened out, because the mix needs space to stick. You can open them out by placing them in a sunny spot or somewhere warm like in an airing cupboard or on a radiator – for a good few days.

 Let the lard or suet get to room temperature and cut it into small pieces.

 Mix the lard or suet, seeds or peanuts together in the bowl. The RSPB recommends using mixtures that include flaked maize, sunflower seeds and peanut granules.

 Take a handful of the mixture and press it into the spaces between the scales.

 Then tie some string tightly around the pine cone and hang it from a tree.

 If you don’t have any pine cones, simply tie some big knots all along the length of a piece of string and squeeze the bird mix over these, then hang the string from a branch. If the mixture is too runny you may need to wrap it in some grease-proof paper and refrigerate.

 Hang up your bird cakes! As far as possible, try to hang the feeders out of reach of cats. A good tip is that a thin branch will bear the weight of feeder and small bird, but not the weight of a cat.

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QUIZ – General Knowledge 2

1. In which country was the first 2. What were the first names of the Women’s Institute group founded in Wright brothers who flew the first 1897? aeroplanes?

3. In which city is Princes Street the main 4. How many sides has a 20p piece? shopping centre?

5. How many metres in a mile? 6. Which camel has two humps?

7. How many kings called James has 8. Of what is pinchbeck an imitation? Scotland had?

9. Who composed our national anthem? 10. In which county is Scafell Pike?

Answers on page 13

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FURRY, FEATHERED AND FUNNY FRIENDS!

During this year we’ve been giving more time to encouraging animals to visit our garden. Here are a few funny stories and photos that have resulted from this:

 We installed 2 stone bird baths – would the birds bathe in it? NO! But next door’s cat enjoyed drinking from it and large numbers of bees also liked to paddle and drink!!!  We constructed a bird table, halfway up a fence – supposedly out of cat reach. Lots of birds visited, including ‘Bertha’ an extremely overweight pigeon who waddled around and almost overbalanced on take off! The stale remains of a gorgeous Dundee cake found its way to the bird table, where it was eagerly consumed – by another cat!  After seeing a visiting squirrel we attached a small container to the fence to hold nuts. A handful of ‘monkey nuts’ went out each day and mysteriously disappeared the minute we turned our backs. Eventually we did see Sammy the squirrel helping himself. We also saw a blue-tit land on the edge, grab a large monkey nut (almost as big as he was) and just about manage to take off again, while carrying it. And a magpie apparently swallowed a monkey nut whole!  Here’s one of our visiting cats – looking distinctly unimpressed with lockdown!  We have just been given a top of the range 'hedgehog home' and are eagerly awaiting, with some trepidation, to see what creature decides to inhabit it !!!

While we are on the subject of funny animal stories – how about this photo taken in the New Forest in September, which we have entitled ‘What time is the next bus to Lymington?’. The pony stood there for well over 15 minutes!

Do you have any funny animal stories to share?

Keith and Alison Rutledge

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A WARNING FROM ESSEX POLICE

BEWARE OF VACCINATION SCAMS

With the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine beginning, residents are warned of criminals seeking to exploit the pandemic further.

Fake Text Messages & Calls Basildon has been one of the worst affected areas in Essex for Coronavirus and as a result, scammers have been targeting residents with fake text messages. Essex Trading Standards have warned that the messages ask residents to click a link in order to book their vaccination, before proceeding to take personal details and payment requests.

The Covid-19 vaccination is free and you will never be asked for payment. In other parts of the country, people have also received phone calls to book non- existent ‘vaccine appointments’. They are asked to confirm their booking by pressing a number on their phone which results in them being billed by their provider.

‘VIP’ vaccine tickets Phishing scams continue to circulate, many now claiming to offer ‘VIP’ vaccination tickets that will allegedly put people at the head of the vaccination queue—for a price. Similar to the scams that have been seen throughout the pandemic, they will often ask you to click on a link or provide personal/banking details to pay for the ticket.

Remember—if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

The vaccine is currently being offered to those most at risk, particularly the elderly. Please pass this information on to anyone you think may be vulnerable to these scams.

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Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy , across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. Alfred, Lord Tennyson

It is a that signifies the passing year. In England the chimes of tell us that the old year has passed – and I don’t think any of us will be sorry to see the passing of 2020 – and a New Year is born.

Bells are rung to summon the faithful to church, to celebrate a marriage and to toll the passing of a loved one. Sadly with our changing lifestyle - marriages in secular venues and funerals at crematoria mean we do not hear bells as much as in the past.

Our Church Visits Group were very fortunate to have been able to visit the famous in 2014. Sadly the Foundry, one of the oldest businesses in the country, has now closed. There is a planning enquiry to halt the development of the site into a boutique hotel to preserve the Georgian buildings for posterity and rekindle the skills of the bell founders. It was certainly an interesting place to visit and to learn about how bells are manufactured and restored. Whitechapel had, of course, worked on Big Ben as well as the famous . At many of the churches we have visited over the years we have heard that the bells had been refurbished or repaired at Whitechapel.

A bell and wheels for full circle bell ringing at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry 9

On our Church Visits we often hear that an Essex church contains a Miles Graye bell or bells. Three generations of that name cast many of the church bells in the county – in fact the dynasty cast over 415 bells in the 17th century many of which remain today. Among them are Canewdon, Althorne, Broomfield, Kelvedon and West Hanningfield churches. The Miles Graye family cast bells in their two foundries – in Colchester, which was their home, and Saffron Walden, but they were also journeymen craftsmen who travelled further afield in East Anglia, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, casting bells in the fields and churchyards. They practiced their craft from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I to James II. If the name is familiar to you it is perhaps because a road in Basildon has been named after this Essex family.

Bells removed from at West Hanningfield Church – note huge wooden headstocks

Sadly only one bell founder remains in England – John Taylor & Co. in Loughborough. It was to this foundry that the four Miles Graye bells in West Hanningfield were removed early in 2020 for refurbishment. Due to health and safety concerns the bells had to be taken down from their medieval where they had hung since 1676 and were taken to Loughborough for storage. During last year additional funds were raised for their refurbishment and all the bureaucracy which is involved with such projects dealt with. The go-ahead has now been given for the work to proceed in January. Hopefully before long the Miles Graye bells will once again ring out over the Essex countryside

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The bells loaded on the lorry en route for Loughborough

On a smaller scale our U3A embraced the art of bell ringing for a small group last year when a hand chimes group was formed. During the festive season they were able to entertain clients at a Day Centre in Wickford for those living with dementia. Hopefully they will be able to again soon.

Let us hope that the bells will ring in a much better 2021 for all the world.

Ann Rawlinson

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QUIZ – General Knowledge 3

1. In which country was Princess 2. What flavour does the liqueur Margaret born? Curacao have?

3. What is the largest ocean on the 4. What do we call a quasi-autonomous- earth’s surface? non-Government organisation?

5. Which British city is known as the 6. On which Channel Island are cars not “City of a thousand trades”? allowed?

7. What was the first mass-produced 8. Which actor/director was born Allen car? Stewart Kongsberg?

9. Of which name has England had one 10. Whose sidekick was Violet Elizabeth king, France two and Poland three? Bott?

Answers on page 13

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ANSWERS – General Knowledge 1

1. Scampi 2. Somerset 3. Korea 4. Shooting 5. Clematis 6. Imperial War Museum 7. Dandelion 8. W C Fields 9. An African wild cat 10. Terra cotta

ANSWERS – General Knowledge 2

1. Canada 2. Orville and Wilbur 3. Edinburgh 4. Seven 5. 1,500 6. Bactrian 7. Seven 8. Gold 9. John Bull 10. Cumbria

ANSWERS – General Knowledge 3

1. Scotland 2. Orange 3. Pacific 4. QUANGO 5. Birmingham 6. Sark 7. Model T Ford called “Tin Lizzie” 8. Woody Allen 9. John 10. Just William

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BEYOND THE BALLOT: WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND SUFFRAGE 4 week FutureLearn course studied by group during November lockdown

Twelve of us joined this course studying online for 4 weeks and meeting weekly via Zoom to discuss what we were learning.

The course was an eye-opener and changed my understanding of the way women worked for equality. I was surprised at the militancy and extremism of the suffragettes and more impressed with the less dramatic, but probably more effective, methods used by the suffragists who persistently campaigned for equality for more than 50 years before limited suffrage was granted.

Although some women were given the vote in 1918 (those over the age of 30 who met the property qualification) this was partly because franchise reform was necessary at that time in order that men returning from WWI would be able to vote, and the government was worried that giving the vote to so many working-class men would disadvantage the Conservative party. The idea of extending the franchise to this group of largely middle-class women was that they were more likely to vote Conservative. It would be another 10 years before women were given the vote on the same basis as men.

The course also focussed on the role of the media in influencing public opinion about the women’s campaigns. I am sure we can all remember the ridicule and language used against groups campaigning against the Miss World competitions and the women camping at Greenham Common. Just mention women’s rights and we would be asked if we were burning our bra!

Pam Green

Here are the comments from some of the other members who participated in the course:

I thoroughly enjoyed this course and was really surprised, despite studying Social & Economic History at school, by how much I didn’t know about Women’s Suffrage. It was also interesting that many of the issues that we still face today such as equal pay were also part of their campaign.

The interviews with current female Members of Parliament discussing the problems that they still face today made me aware that there is still work needed to be done and that maybe some of this is related to the language used e.g. a woman may be described as bossy or aggressive whilst a man is assertive. Carol Bright

I found out so much about the fight for women’s suffrage and equality through doing this course that I didn’t know fully before. Very few of us knew much about the acts of terrorism and bombings that some suffragettes were involved in. The course was very accessible and you could read as much or as little as you wanted, going into more detail on the bits you wanted to find out more about. It made for some very interesting group discussions about how far women have come and the journey we are still on. Jackie Dillnutt

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Before I took part in this course my ideas of Votes for Women and female suffragettes was totally different. I always thought “I must vote because these women endured so much to get us women the vote”. Although I will always vote, my ideas of the suffragettes have changed a lot. Reading how the militants behaved was an eye-opener – burning buildings, planting bombs on trains, chemical attacks on Theatres and Music Halls plus vandalism, made me feel that these women were actually TERRORISTS!! They had no qualms about where they attacked – even schools and sanatoriums. At least Emily Davison only killed herself – not the King’s horse or jockey!! I was surprised that men were involved in suffrage too - though I don’t think they were particularly militant.

History has always focussed on the violence done to the women by force feeding etc. and not what the women did. I can understand why women wanted the vote and emancipation. Their “rights” were virtually nil. Prior to 1885 the Age of Consent was 12. Girls had no right to object. Women were always portrayed in a domestic setting and it was felt their main job was ‘maternity’.

Suffrage militancy stopped at the beginning of WW1 and women turned their hand to working for the war effort. Women took over jobs and responsibilities previously held by men. At the end of the war it was decided that all men over 21 should be given the vote as most had fought for their country, and to reward women for their part, to women over 30 who occupied property worth £5 or more.

It wasn’t until 1928 that the age at which women could vote was reduced to 21. Our country hasn’t been the only one that dragged its heels with regard to women getting the vote. Although New Zealand’s women got The Vote in 1893, it wasn’t until 1945 that women in France and Italy were allowed to vote and 1971 when Switzerland give its women the vote. As they say “We live and learn”. Peta Turner

I thoroughly enjoyed the course “Beyond the Ballot: Women’s Suffrage and Rights”. I was very impressed with the knowledge of all the tutors and archivists who clearly explained the role of different groups and individuals to finally secure votes for women in 1928. I thought I knew something of this story but I only knew about the more vocal Suffragettes led by Mrs Pankhurst. I had no idea there was another group working for Women’s Rights led by Millicent Fawcett. These Suffragists used different tactics, chiefly lobbying MP’s and various petitions.

I also knew nothing of the very violent protest the Suffragettes used, including bombs on trains. They really meant business. I found the course very informative and interesting and it gave me a better insight into the struggles that women made in their efforts to achieve equal voting rights with men. They were really a formidable lot! I enjoyed our weekly Zoom meetings which gave the group an opportunity to discuss that week’s learning and raise points for clarification. It gave me a focus for the four weeks of lockdown 2. Carol Payne

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From the Editor

As I write this on a sunny and bright December day families are coming to terms with, yet again, a change in the regulations and how it will affect their plans to celebrate Christmas and the New Year under Tier 4. Disappointments are, of course, inevitable but our main concern should be that we all stay safe and well. 2020 has been a year like no other and right to the last days continues to throw up concerns, but also hope. Some of our older members will have received the vaccine already and many more will be eligible over the coming months giving us hope that one day soon life might return to some sort of normality.

The past year has revealed challenges for our U3A and your committee have endeavoured to ensure that the interests of members are catered for with regular committee meetings via Zoom and dealing with all the administration which is necessary to keep us up and running, even though we cannot meet.

The newsletter has been a challenge and I would like to thank all those who have contributed during 2020. As the weather improves, it is hoped that some groups may be able to participate in outdoor activities and perhaps even more will embrace Zoom. Contributions of any kind from members are, of course, most welcome and I look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, may 2021 be above all a healthy one when we can all, one day, meet again.

The deadline for receiving articles for the February 2021 Newsletter is Friday 22nd January 2021 [email protected]

Ann Rawlinson Newsletter Editor

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Updated November 2020

1st MONDAY OF MONTH French Conversation 10.30-1.00pm Margaret Randall Family History 1 2.00-4.00pm Ann Rawlinson Maritime History Group 2.30-4.30pm Sue Howarth-Reading Rummikub 2.00-4.00pm Jill Cogger 2nd MONDAY OF MONTH Digital Photography 2.30-4.30pm Geoff Kittle Canasta 1 2.30-4.30pm Doreen Brown 3rd MONDAY OF MONTH Scrabble 2.00-4.00pm Jane Gee Film Appreciation 2 Joan Hanscomb 4th MONDAY OF MONTH Canasta 3 2.30-4.30pm Viv McKeown & John Meggison

1st TUESDAY OF MONTH Family History 2 2.00-4.00pm Ann Rawlinson Singing for Pleasure 11.00-12.30pm Joan Wayman 2nd TUESDAY OF MONTH Book Club 2 2.00-4.00pm Denise Humphreys Hand Chimes Group 10.30-12.30pm Alison Rutledge 3rd TUESDAY OF MONTH Singing for Pleasure 10.45-12.30pm Joan Wayman 4th TUESDAY OF MONTH Book Club 1 2.00-4.00pm Angela Bartlett Trivial Pursuit 2.00-4.00 pm Phil Cogger 1st WEDNESDAY OF MONTH U3A Monthly Meeting 1.30-4.00pm 2nd WEDNESDAY OF MONTH Family History 3 2.00-4.00pm Ann Rawlinson Canasta Beginners 2 2.30-4.30pm Jane Gee 3rd WEDNESDAY OF MONTH Church Visits 10.00-1.30pm Ann Rawlinson

Beginners Canasta 2.30-4.30pm Ann Clarke-Overy Art Appreciation 2.00pm Geoff Pearce 4th WEDNESDAY OF MONTH Family History 4 2.00-4.00pm Ann Rawlinson Beading 2.00-4.00pm Lyn Farrow 3rd or 4th WEDNESDAY OF MONTH Bird Watching 10.00am Peta Turner/Jackie Ginn

2nd THURSDAY OF MONTH Knit & Natter 10.00-12.00pm Ann Clark-Overy 3rd THURSDAY OF MONTH Wine group 7.30pm-late Susan Neil/Ann Newman Discussion Group 10.00-12.00pm Doreen Brown 4th THURSDAY OF MONTH Cribbage 10.00-12.00pm Sue Neil Calligraphy 10.00-12.00pm Geoff Kittle/Peta Turner

Textile Crafts 10.30-12.30pm Lyn Farrow 1st FRIDAY OF MONTH 1.00-4.00pm 2nd FRIDAY OF MONTH Local History 2.00pm-4.00pm Janet & Ken Paton 3rd FRIDAY OF MONTH Friday Photography 10.00am Maureen Cheesewright Textile Crafts 10.30-12.30pm Lyn Farrow

1.00-4.00pm Shakespeare 10.30-12.30pm Paula Whittle

Appreciation 4thFRIDAY OF MONTH Wine group 7.30pm-late Susan Neil/Ann Newman LAST FRIDAY OF MONTH Art 1.30-4.30pm Brian Stammers

1st SUNDAY OF MONTH Lunch 12.30pm Pam Burchill 3rd SUNDAY OF MONTH Lunch 2 Susan Neil LAST SUNDAY OF MONTH Walking 10.30am Denise Humphreys Strollers 10.30am Pam Burchill 17

FORTNIGHTLY TUESDAY Tenpin Bowling 11.00am Jacqui Butcher Short Mat Bowls 2.00-4.00pm Sue Neil FORTNIGHTLY WEDNESDAY Badminton 2 10.00-12.00pm Brian Felstead FORTNIGHTLY THURSDAY Badminton 10.00-11.00am Jacqui Butcher/Jane Green FORTNIGHTLY FRIDAY Table Tennis 1.30-3.30pm Lynda Cornell

MONTHLY VARIOUS DATES Weekday Lunches 12.30pm Edna Webb Theatre/Events Group Theatre Group Team Out and About Peta Turner/Ann C-O Mid-week walkers Theresa McAninch MONTHLY VARIOUS DATES Garden Group Theresa McAninch CHANGEABLE WEDNESDAY Family History 5 10.00-12.00pm Lynda Rooke Cinema 11.30am Christine Shaw 1st/3rd FRIDAYS Ipad/tablet 2.00-4.00pm Mark Wiseman FORTNIGHTLY - TUESDAY Mahjong 10.00-12.00pm Keith Robjent

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