THE COMMITTEE Sturminster Newton Newsletter CHAIRMAN & Andrew Rowden GROUP COORDINATOR
VICE CHAIRMAN & David Wingate SPEAKERS’ SECRETARY
TREASURER Doreen Hudson
An international movement that encourages retired / semi-retired SECRETARY Angela Wallington people to take part in lifelong learning activities for pleasure. There are no prior qualifications, no exams and no degrees awarded. MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Hazel Belben
NEWSLETTER EDITOR Joy Boot & WEBSITE
COMMITTEE MEMBER Judy White
COMMITTEE MEMBER Carey Pearce
COMMITTEE MEMBER Larry Martindale
https://u3asites.org.uk/sturminster-newton
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sturminsternewtonU3A/
Third Age Trust: www.u3a.org.uk Registered Charity No: 288007 Sturminster Newton U3A Registration No: 771/750/0922
The Ukulele Group Performing at Newstone House
August 2018 ISSUE 52
2 Chairman’s Report DATE OF NEXT BI-MONTHLY MEETING
First of all, on behalf of everyone, I would like to extend a big thank you to Bridget Pyle for stepping up to the role of Chair for 2017/18, and to Daphne Dee for being Treasurer for many years. Both have served Sturminster U3A on the Committee with loyalty and commitment – thank you! 23rd August Marilyn Peddle I am sure that you will join with me in expressing our condolences, love and prayers to Jill Curtis and her family on the passing away of their much loved Barry. I never got to know Barry but for those that did he will be greatly missed.
Well, we have had some very interesting bi-monthly open meetings. Dave Boag was highly entertaining when he talked about British wildlife back in April, with his superb photos. He’s probably given that talk dozens of times yet he was no less enthusiastic when he came to us - we will Marilyn is a keen, very accomplished amateur photographer from certainly have him back some time! Then we were equally entertained by North Dorset whose love of photography came about from her love Francis Burroughes in June, with his dry wit, when he enlightened us on the of where she was born. The breathtaking landscapes; whether wonderful world of glass – smashing! It is a great shame that only about from the amazing Jurassic coast, the flat Blackmore Vale, the chalk 25% of our membership regularly attends our open meetings. You really do downloads or the heathlands, together with the wonderful variety of wildlife in the diverse county of Dorset gives Marilyn her not know what you are missing – our speakers provide us with an inspiration. entertaining, enjoyable, and educational experience; this is the essence of the U3A! We hope to see more of you when local photographer, Marilyn Peddle talks about her love of photographing all things ‘Dorset’ on 23rd August and on the 18th October to hear Charles Minoprio talk about Port.
Sturminster Newton U3A is now in its 10th year – amazing! So, the Committee is looking at how and when we are going to celebrate this important occasion over the next 12 months. If you have any suggestions do let us know! Andrew Rowden © Marilyn Peddle
3 4 STURMINSTER NEWTON U3A MEETINGS GROUP COORDINATOR’S REPORT OPEN TO ALL 01258 820840 All meetings start at 3.15pm and are in the Bow Room of The Exchange. email: [email protected]
The entry fee is £1 for members and £2 for guests, which includes tea/coffee and
biscuits. I held a meeting at Friars Moor Court for all group leaders on Tuesday 19th You don’t have to be a member of the U3A to attend. Everyone is welcome. June, for coffee, cake and chat. More than half of our groups were represented at the meeting. The main purpose, besides enjoying coffee and delicious cake, was to see how the groups were getting on. Here is a DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS summary of our discussions: Unfortunately, Suzanne Kemp, our guest speaker who was scheduled to come and • Attendance is steady in most groups. talk to us at the next bi-monthly meeting about The New Forest Ponies, has had to cancel for personal reasons. We are hoping that she will be able to come at a • People are willing to share the burden of hosting the meetings. later date. However, we are very lucky that Marilyn Peddle is able to step in at such short notice. • Concern that some members don’t always notify the group leader if they are going to be absent – for groups that rely on numbers to 23rd August Marilyn Peddle fund the hire of premises this can become a financial burden. Dorset Photography • For leaders who regularly provide coffee and biscuits we thought 18th October Charles Minoprio that group members should contribute towards this expense. Master of Wine • Holding meetings at Newstone House has been a great success. OCTOBER BI-MONTHLY MEETING • Concern that there are still groups looking for a new leader. • Also concerned that there are adherents of groups who are not members of the U3A. 18th October Charles Minoprio My thanks to those who came and contributed to the discussion, I thought Charles is heavily involved in the wine industry. He has belonged to The Institute that it was a very useful meeting. of Masters of Wine and currently runs the U3A wine appreciation group with much aplomb and fascinating insights into the origins and development of wines. There is a possibility that a French group will start up again – fantastique! We also have a member who is willing run a card-making group – if His talk is entitled ‘The Curious History of Port’ and will cover the events and interested please contact myself or Angela, our Secretary. In addition, I strange pieces of good fortune that culminated in the invention of Port; a wine have had an enquiry from someone who is interested in running a group designed by the British for the British and their climate. This also helped to using philosophical argument to discuss various topics. Watch this space! wean the populace off Gin after the early c18 war of the Spanish succession. The story begins with the 2nd crusade of 1095. Charles will also talk a bit about Andrew Rowden the wine itself!
This will certainly be an afternoon of entertainment and appreciation, one not to be missed!
5 6 Barry Curtis Book Club (1) Brenda Stables 01258 471487 We were very saddened to hear of the recent Our book last month was The Story of Alice: Lewis Carroll and the secret history death of Barry, a long time member of the U3A. Barry of Wonderland. We realised that it was fact-filled, small print and quite lengthy. was an enthusiastic and hard working chairman of our One of our members came up with the idea that each of us could read a different U3A for several years, who also belonged to many of our section and then we would summarise this for the rest of the group at our next groups and indeed ran the successful French group. meeting. This worked very well and we all found our sections interesting. This Within this group, Barry shared his passion and fondness month we have a novel “Us” by David Nicholls which looks an easier read. for France and all things French, everything from the locals with whom he loved to converse, their delicious food and drink and the delightful landscapes in which he Book Club (2) Ines Somerville 01258 471788 and Jill frequently found themselves on their travels. We have read four very different books, starting with a discussion of Kazuo Such conversations on these topics often took over the U3A French sessions, with Ishiguro’s ‘Nocturnes’, a beautifully written and constructed collection of short the group always attempting their best at French, which often required gentle, yet stories, which we all loved. Next came Frank Delaney’s ‘Ireland’, a delightful encouraging correction from Barry; that was the way he was. read, of a young boy’s quest to find the old story-teller and to learn the craft of Another activity that Barry enjoyed hugely, and for which he will be fondly story-telling. Again, enjoyed by all! remembered, was his role as Musical Director of the Okeford Minstrels. He was able to both share his expertise and obvious great love of all things musical whilst giving pleasure ‘The Sense of an Ending’, the prize-winning novel by Julian Barnes, gave rise to to many residents in Sturminster Newton and the surrounding villages. He put this love some interesting comments and discussion of the theme of memory, into another U3A group, Play Reading and Drama, and performed with them at the misinterpretation and self-discovery, superbly written and constructed. Christmas bi-monthly in 2015 in a pantomime called ‘Red Hot Cinders - the Clock Strikes Midnight’ playing the part of one of the ugly sisters! We have just finished Salley Vickers’ ‘Dancing Backwards ‘, which we found very disappointing. We had all enjoyed ‘Miss Garnett’s Angels’, and looked forward to this, but found it clumsy, clunky and unconvincing. The main story, that of the triangular relationship, was interesting, but submerged in an over-populated, incoherent, overly descriptive setting.
We will give August a miss, and start again in September with Helen Dunmore’s short story collection. Happy reading!
Boules Janet Bolton 01258 472300 A really good year so far with everyone becoming more competent. Numbers varying hugely from week to week but part of the fun is not knowing what to Barry instigated and organised the annual skittles tournament against Blandford expect! U3A, which has become a much loved annual event. He also arranged several annual excursions including the very popular visit to the Bombay Gin distillery. We have arranged a match with Sherborne U3A for the 30th August, so will have I am sure we all have our own very fond memories of Barry, he will be sadly to start playing in a match format. missed as part of the U3A family. We offer our sincere condolences to Jill and her family. Canasta Audrey Groves 01258 471242 We have just enjoyed a meeting with 10 of us, a table of 6 and a table of 4. It ***************************************************************************** was lovely to get together and we managed to also chat and have a good laugh. Jill wishes to extend her thanks for all the kindness that members of the of the U3A have The tea and cake was greatly appreciated by all. The Canasta was great too. shown her and the family at this difficult time.
7 8 Cribbage Hazel Belben 01258 473934 History Jill Curtis 01258 475427 This is an interesting card game scoring with pegs on a cribbage board, we will The History Group has broken up for the holidays to accommodate grandparents’ help if needed. We meet once a month on the 4th Monday of each month at 2pm. duties etc. We shall start again on the Thursday 13th September, at Reddleman House at 10.30 am as before. We are changing our concept to encourage Did you know?! Cribbage evolved from an earlier English game called members to undertake research into subjects of their special interest and present "Noddy," and the man credited with inventing it is Sir John Suckling, a wealthy their findings to the rest of us. Initially this will be about influential people in English poet. Cribbage affords players both the anticipation of the luck of the the Victorian era. Anyone interested will be very welcome to join us. deal as well as ample opportunity to exercise their skills in discarding and play. Keep fit Audrey Groves 01258 471242 Digital Photography Angela Wallington 01258 475255 Attendance is very good lately and I hope most of us are getting trim for the We have, as ever, been keeping busy in the digital photography group with a summer. We have 3 men in the class and more will be very welcome, so don’t be variety of activities to hone our skills and admire the work of others, most shy you men, come and support them. We don’t stop for school holidays as that particularly a second visit from the wonderful Marilyn Peddle who gave a most would defeat the object. interesting talk on the subject of photographing wildlife. I feel sure that I speak for all of us when I say that we can only aspire to be even half as good as her. Knit and Craft Hazel Belben 01258 473934 This beautifully illustrated talk was also enjoyed by several of the residents of Come and enjoy an afternoon of crafting of your own choice, with plenty of chat, Newstone House who really seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. tea, cakes and biscuits. We meet on the second Friday of the month.
Our next meetings will include various 'on location' sessions to try both wildlife Luncheon Club (Tuesday) Anne Harding 01258 473649 photography and other aspects of this hobby of ours to such places as Arne, We went to the Piddle Inn for our June lunch where the service and food was very Sculpture by the Lakes and perhaps even the Hawk Conservancy Trust following good, and then in July visited The Stocks Inn near Wimborne which was just as which we will hopefully see a marked improvement in our skills when superb. For August, I have booked the lunch at a pub that has been closed for photographing the wildlife around us. We will also be holding a planning meeting several years but is now under new ownership; The Gaggle of Geese in Buckland to ensure that we have sufficient varied activities to see us through the winter Newton. I have booked a meal at the Fontmell Inn at Fontmell Magna for months. As ever, should you fancy giving our group a try whatever your level of September. expertise you will be made most welcome at one of our meetings. Mahjong Hazel Belben 01258 473934 Garden Croquet Tony Stables 01258 471487 This is a Chinese game played with tiles, the object is to collect sets of pungs, We continue to meet on the Sturminster Recreation Ground croquet pitch on kongs and chows, come and give it a try, it’s great fun. Tuesday afternoons in the summer, weather permitting. Opera Appreciation Muriel Moss 01258 473852 We always welcome new members and it has been good that we have had a few The final meeting for our season ended with a joyful recital, On a Summer's more join us this year. As only four people can play at one time, we have several Afternoon, by Elaine Korman. Her varied piano items were, for many, nostalgic teams of four playing an hour each during the afternoon. and contemplative. She completed the programme with some rousing Scot Joplin Please contact me if you would like to learn or try this game out. before we enjoyed a cream tea. There is no meeting in August and our next meeting will be on Wednesday September 19th. Members will be informed of time and venue in due course. However, anyone wishing to join for the first time please phone me on the above number to confirm details. It is probable that our register of members is now at maximum, but there might be some flexibility.
9 10 Skittles David Wingate 01258 471903 We finished off with a traditional Hawaiian song, Aloha ‘Oe (Farewell to You) - a The skittles group is currently enjoying its summer break. Finding regular slots most enjoyable afternoon! has proved difficult in the past, and to rectify this the new season will see us at a Sadly, one of our number is moving away so we are down to 8 members. If new venue. We will be restarting on Thursday September 27th at the Halsey Arms anyone is interested in joining us then I am happy to have some beginner’s in Pulham at 6.30pm. From then on, we will be playing on the 3rd and 4th sessions before you join the main group – do let me know. We start again in Thursdays of each month, all at 6.30pm. If you wish to join us, please contact September. me, ideally by e-mail [email protected] Did you know?! By 1916, Hawaiian music became a national craze, Social Bridge Maggie Peers 01258 472253 and the ukulele was incorporated into popular American culture soon afterwards. The Bridge group now has 8 members – occasionally enough for 2 tables if we are When its sales reached millions in the 1920’s, the ukulele became an icon of the lucky! However, we would really welcome some new recruits, to allow for decade in the United States. absences. Unfortunately, we had to cancel our meeting on 27th July as there were not enough people available. We aim to meet on the 2nd and 4th Friday of Walking Karine Litton 01258 471968 each month, at 10.00 a.m. at members’ houses. We are taking a break in August, We have been so lucky with the weather for walking this summer. I have had lots but will be back to normal in September. Our first meetings are scheduled for of help with Babs leading a lovely walk at Pimperne also stepping in at the last Friday 14th and Friday 28th September. We are a friendly and informal group, so minute to lead a walk out to Plumber Manor and Doreen leading a walk from if you are interested in coming to try us out, please contact me on the above Gillingham. We will be having a break during August and starting again on the number. 11th September and during this month we hope to meet up with Matthew and Sarah who are going to lead a coastal walk from Worth Mattravers . Theatre Visits Ines Somerville 01258 471788 Due to a very disappointing response to the new Autumn/winter programme, I Wine Appreciation Charles Minoprio 01258 471538 have cancelled the September productions, so our new programme is : At our July tasting we sampled wines from South Africa. 13th October ‘Her Naked Skin’. A very fine production celebrating the lives of some of the suffragettes imprisoned during their fight for the vote. The wines came from Majestic and were very good, especially the Capaia One, 27th October ‘Salad Days’. The light-hearted musical, well known and loved! Cabernet/Merlot 2011 at £ 13.50 per bottle. A classic Bordeaux blend, but at 10th November ‘Abigail's Party’. Another well known and hugely popular work. half the price. The other South African specialities, Pinotage and Chenin Blanc 23rd February 2019 ‘The Mirror Crack’d’. Agatha Christie’s classic thriller. also showed how much wine making has improved down there since apartheid cut If you wish to join us for any of these outings, contact me as soon as possible for them off from the other parts of the wine world. details/availability. The Dutch, on Feb 2nd 1659, made wine for the first time, but it was poor stuff- Ukulele Andrew Rowden 01258 820840 very acidic, and it was not until the arrival of the Protestant Huguenots, expelled Since my last report we have had two gigs. The first one was at Hays Nursing from France in 1685 with all their expertise, that matters improved dramatically. Home near Shaftesbury. We weren’t up to full strength and we were playing to a A grave loss for France,but a great benefit to us and South Africa. small audience. However, we enjoyed ourselves and I think the residents did too. Our second gig was at Newstone House when we provided the entertainment for We are having a break in august and our next tasting will be in September with a their Hawaiian day. They really had gone to town with all the decorations and selection of wines from Spain, the country with the largest vineyard area in the preparations. We were each given a lei – grass skirts were optional! They treated world. This should give us plenty of scope! us to a fine Hawaiian BBQ, and then we played our 30 minute set to about 50 people, consisting of residents and their families. Yoga Ines Somerville 01258 471788 We are taking a break in August, and will start back in September. The class is full at the moment. 11 12 https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/love-the- You the Jury Study Day coast-path/competitions/ 19th June Henstridge Village Hall
Jill and I, together with one of her neighbours, joined nine members of the Blackmore Vale U3A for a day of deliberation over two real-life murders. This was presented by Diane Janes who had originally devised this day for the Marlborough College Summer School and was so popular that she decided to take it to a wider audience. The format was to have one case in the morning followed by lunch (in the local pub for some of us) and then the second case in the afternoon. She presented us with real cases of crimes that had happened early in the 20th century. She stopped every now and then to give us a chance to ask questions. Everyone was engaged and asked lots of questions. The South West Coastal Path summertime photo competition is back to celebrate the beauty, fun and adventure of the South West’s coastline, The first case was on the murder of a doctor. There was a lot of detail about beaches and bathing waters. Enter to be in with a chance of winning a the people involved and the possible perpetrator. But eventually no one was brand new GoPro Hero 10-megapixel waterproof camera worth £200 for charged. The second case was about the murder of a young woman who was your next seaside adventure. Closing date is Monday 27th August. staying with her boyfriend in a converted chicken shed in the countryside. Check out the web site above for further details. She either hanged herself or her boyfriend did it. He was sent to prison for the crime.
At the end of each session, after looking at all the evidence, we had to vote on whether we thought the defendant was innocent or guilty. It was interesting to see how different people voted and their reasons.
We all enjoyed the day very much and Jill, her friend and I were glad that we had been given this opportunity. Jenny Green ************************************************************** © Matt Mallery If you would like to take part in one of Diane's popular You the Jury courses there are still places available on the one day course on 3rd November 2018 at Dillington House in Somerset (call 01460 258648) and on the 2 night course 5th-7th November at Denman College Oxfordshire (see www.denman.org.uk). For further information see Diane’s web page http://dianejanes.50webs.com © Joy Boot
13 14 Irish Humour! The rain was pouring down. There standing in front of a big puddle outside the pub was an old Irishman, drenched, holding a stick, with a piece of string dangling in the water.
A passer-by stopped and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Fishing" replied the old man.
Feeling sorry for the old man, the gent says,
"Come in out of the rain and have a drink with me."
In the warmth of the pub, as they sip their whiskies, the gentleman, being a bit of a smart ass, cannot resist asking;
"So how many have you caught today?”
"You're the eighth", said the old man.
A pirate walked into a bar, and the bartender said....
"Hey, I haven't seen you in a while. What happened? You look terrible." Brain Exercise! "What do you mean?" said the pirate, "I feel fine." Fill the blank squares so that each row, "What about the wooden leg? You didn't have that before.." each column and each
"Well," said the pirate, "We were in a battle, and I got hit with a cannon ball, 3 x 3 block contain all of the digits 1 - 9. but I'm fine now." Solution in the next edition!
The bartender replied, "Well, OK, but what about that hook? What happened to your hand?"
The pirate explained, "We were in another battle. I boarded a ship and got into a sword fight. My hand was cut off. I got fitted with a hook but I'm fine, Sudoku #1 Solution really." How did you get on?! Did "What about that eye patch?" you find it easy or hard….let me know! "Oh," said the pirate, "One day we were at sea, and a flock of birds flew over. I looked up, and one of them sh** in my eye.
"You're kidding," said the bartender. "Can you lose an eye just from bird sh**?”
"It was my first day with the hook."
15 16 And Finally…….! Please go to our website where you will be able to contact any of our committee or group leaders. Do let us know if you have any suggestions for new groups; ideas that you would like to share or if you would like to run a group. https://u3asites.org.uk/sturminster-newton
Monday Weekly 1st Monday 2nd Monday 3rd Monday 4th Monday
6pm Pilates 2pm Mahjong 2pm Mahjong 2pm Cribbage
2.15pm Play 2.15pm Play Reading Group 1 Reading Group 1 Tuesday Weekly 1st Tuesday 2nd Tuesday 3rd Tuesday 4th Tuesday
3pm Line 10.30am Our Lunch Club Dancing World Garden Croquet 2pm Play 2pm Play Summer Only Reading Group 2 Reading Group 2 2.30pm Book Club 1 Wednesday 1st Wednesday 2nd Wednesday 3rd Wednesday 4th Wednesday Weekly
10am Yoga 10am Ukulele 10am Ukulele
3.15pm Opera 10am Quilting 2pm Scrabble 2pm Scrabble Appreciation 4pm Wine 2.30pm Book 5.30pm Pilates Appreciation Club 2
Thursday 1st Thursday 2nd Thursday 3rd Thursday 4th Thursday Weekly
10am Keep Fit Lunch Club 10.30am History 10.30am History Please do contact me if you have any ideas, suggestions or comments you'd like to share in future editions of our newsletter. 6pm Boules The newsletter is published quarterly in February, May, August and Summer Only November each year, so if you have an article or reports from the Friday Weekly 1st Friday 2nd Friday 3rd Friday 4th Friday groups for publication in the November edition, please submit it to me by email at [email protected] or phone: 01963 250507 10.30am 10am Social 10am Digital 10am Social Playford Dancing Bridge Photography Bridge by the 19th November 2018 Thank you! Joy 2pm Knit & Craft
Additional Groups that do not meet on set days or times:
Bridge / Canasta / Coffee & Conversation / Skittles / Theatre Visits Walking
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