Caldicot & District
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CALDICOT & DISTRICT Newsletter & Diary December 2019 Monthly Meeting Caldicot Choir Hall 2pm www.u3asites.org.uk/caldicot/home Reg Charity No. 1071447 THURSDAY 19TH DECEMBER 2019 SUBJECT: UKULELE GROUP PERFORMANCE & THE PHOENIX PLAYER’S DRAMA PRESENTATION TEA ROTA: CRUISE SHIP BRIDGE THURSDAY 16TH JANUARY 2020 SUBJECT: CALDICOT SCHOOL MUSIC GROUP TEA ROTA: COMPUTERS CHAIRMAN’S LETTER MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR Dear Members I cannot believe that this is the last Chairman’s letter for 2019, this year has gone so quickly and here we are heading toward Christmas. We are now looking forward to the Christmas celebrations and, as last year was a success, we intend to hold a Christmas Party theme and I’m pleased to say our Ukulele group will start off the celebrations from 2:00pm to 2:30pm with Christmas Carols for you to all join in and air those lungs followed by the Drama Group who will entertain you with a small sketch to get you into a party mood before we get down to the serious part of eating and drinking. Once again we will be asking you to provide the savouries and we will provide the sweets! The date for this event is the normal third Thursday of the month which is December 19th. We will be holding a raffle and proceeds this year will go to St David’s Hospice Palliative Care. It has been an eventful year and lots have been achieved by my Committee and Convenors in keeping with The Third Age Trust advice. We have lost members and we have also recruited new. I am sure there are many people, now living within Caldicot and District U3A’s remit, who know little or nothing about our U3A and so it is our intention in 2020 to advertise our existence and therefore ensure that we will continue to flourish. As you all know, it is our 25th Anniversary in May of 2020 and at present we are making preparations to celebrate this throughout the 25th year. The celebration party will be held at our monthly meeting on June 18th thereby ensuring most of our loyal members will be available to attend this function. Plans are still ongoing and one suggestion is that on the day of the event everyone attending should wear something Silver. This sounds good to me. Now my Committee and I would like to wish you all A Very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year. May you all be blest with Good Health and Happiness and we look forward to seeing you all in January 2020 when once again we will be entertained by pupils from Caldicot Comprehensive School. Pam Caines Chairman SPEAKERS LIST 2020 TEA ROTA February 20th Blood Bikes Alli Gallivan Drama March 19th Photo Competition Judging Tracey Clements of Wye Family History Valley Studios “Who dunnit” Phoenix Players April 16th Magical Musical Moments Christine Purkiss Gardening May 21st TBA Handicraft June 18th 25th Anniversary Party History July 16th “Who dunnit” Phoenix Players Jive Bunnies September 17th AGM Music Appreciation 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 DECEMBER 2019 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. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed articles for the Newsletter and Diary, during the last 12 months and wish you all a very and a Happy New Year Angela Hodson-Hirst Editor 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 WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS Karen O’Keefe Deanne Morris Jane Smith Margaret Thomas Mary Shapland 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. Betty Waite [email protected] or 01291 421484 ROY DAVIES Roy Davies was born in Portskewett in January 1940, and spent his early years there with his mother, father, and his sister Eileen. He passed his 11+ exams when he was only 10, then attended Larkfield Grammar School in Chepstow. Whilst at Larkfield, he joined the Severn Tunnel Band, playing the trumpet. This became a lifelong love affair with music and he later managed the Round the Horn Jazz Band. He loved sport, and played football for Chepstow Town, rugby for Chepstow Rugby Club and squash at St Pierre. He also ran in both the Cardiff and London Marathons. Roy was a lecturer to new electrical engineers at Port Talbot Steel Works then became a travelling salesman for an electrical components company. In 1996 he became a director of Sensemaster Ltd, a sensor and heating solutions provider. His son Stephen now holds the reins. During his retirement Roy became a member of Caldicot & District U3A, Magor Bowling Club and also became a successful photographer. Naturally, the jazz band figured a lot during these years. Roy was married to the love of his life, Kathleen, and there are two sons and two grandsons. We lost Roy on 5th November 2019. Kathleen and her family would like to say a heartfelt “Thank You” for the many cards and messages of sympathy. Molly Shilton CONGRATULATIONS Our congratulations go to Brian Metcalfe who celebrates his 80th birthday this month. 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 Dec: No meetings on the 23rd & 30th Every Monday 1.30 to 3.30pm Council Day Centre 2020 first meeting Jan: 6th Contact……………Acting Convenor: Tony Hodson-Hirst Tel: 01291 424997 DRAMA Every Friday 2.00pm Portskewett Hall. Rehearsing for the December performance 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 Dec 6th: Evening trip to Westonbirt Arboretum Enchanted Christmas. Full total of £20 to be paid at the November Indoor meetings run from October to April in the meeting. Scout Hall on second Thursday of the month Dec 12th: Christmas Wreath demonstration by Andrew at 2.15 pm Marx followed by Christmas treats Convenor……………Pauline Marx Jan 9th: Gardening for Bumblebees. Speaker..... Tel: 07544 671870 Max Wilson, Bumblebee Conservation Trust 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 3rd Wednesday of the month 2.15pm Council Day Dec. No Meeting Centre Convenor………. Sheila Ford. Tel: 01291 422185 JIVE BUNNIES Dec 12th: CANCELLED Alternate Thursday evening 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm Portskewett Recreational Hall 2020 Convenor……………Wendy Protheroe Tel: 01291 422829 Jan 9th & 23rd Feb 6th & 20th Mar 5th & 19th MUSIC APPRECIATION 2020 4th Thursday of the month 2.00 to 4.00pm. Council Jan 23rd: ‘New Year party’ and the theme: .... Day Centre. “Partying and enjoying yourself” Convenor……………Jan Potter Please bring Christmas music of your choice together with assisted by……………Adrian Dallow a small plate of food to share. Wine will be provided as Tel: 01291 794034 (Jan) well as tea and coffee. Tel: 01291 422925 (Adrian) SCIENCE AND NATURAL HISTORY Dec 2nd: Lesser Horseshoe Bats – with lots of photos. Meetings to be held 1st Monday of the month 10.00 Speaker.... Kate Stinchcombe, Monmouthshire Bat Group. - 12.00 noon. Scout Hall, Sandy Lane Followed by Xmas goodies 2020 Convenor ………………. Bob Whitehead Tel: 01291 422232 Jan 6th: The King’s DNA (Richard 3rd) presented by Dr Rhian Morgan Feb 3rd: The importance of trees and woods. Speaker....Jeremy Evans, woodland advisor for the Woodland Trust Mar 2nd: Insect Armageddon – the world decline of all insects by 41%. Speaker..... Max Wilson BSC (Econ) Lond, BSC (MHN) RMN Ret. Volunteer with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust SCRABBLE Alternate Fridays 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Town council Day Centre. Convenor………Glynis Croft Tel: 01633 400529 SHORT MAT BOWLS Additional Sessions: Wednesday afternoons 2.00 to 4.00 pm. Scout Hall. Our Short Mat Bowls now meets on Friday evenings, in Friday evening 7.00 to 9pm addition to the Wednesday afternoon sessions. So, if you Convenor……………………Roland Carey would like to try to “roll a ball” on Friday between 7pm Tel: 01633 881302 and 9pm please contact Roland Carey SINGING FOR PLEASURE 2nd & 4th Monday of the Month Meet every other Monday 10.00am to 12.00pm. Dec: 9th Recreational Hall, Portskewett. Jan: 13th & 27th Convenor………………….