May 2021 Newsletter

Spring in Norsey Woods by Diane Wallace Dear Members As you read through this newsletter you will see that I have re-introduced all of the Headings for the Groups that we ran before Lockdown in the hope that they may run again soon. They are in alphabetical order.

Some of these may need a change of leadership now; and hopefully we can start some new groups too. Don’t be put off if you haven’t organized a group before – help is at hand. First of all, it’s good if you work with another interested person, also you can get help from the group coordinators or an established group leader. Leaders are not teachers; they organize meetings and venues with suggestions from the group. Don’t forget the ‘LEARN and LAUGH’ from the u3a caption too.

Two groups that need offers to lead them are: Mixed Craft and Spanish.

Line Dancing 1 which used to be on Wednesday has had to change to Tuesdays at 2.30pm every week.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 1

Birdwatchers: please be aware that Dave has had a catastrophe (a cup of tea) with his laptop and no longer has access to the birdwatching list of members. Please could you get in touch with him by phone or email if you are interested in continuing with this group.

Our AGM is being held by Zoom this year and it is very important that all of us use our votes for all the motions and elections at this AGM. The paperwork is in the AGM packs and it would be really helpful to us all if you would use your voting form to vote in the way you see fit. Thank you.

Please note that the Rambling Group are moving their walk to the 4th rather than the 3rd Thursday of the month.

A big thank you to all those people who have helped by sending articles and photos during the last year – I couldn’t have done it without you! Yours Chris Henderson (Newsletter Editor)

Message from our Chairman - Our u3a is re-opening.

In spite of those cold winds of April, May did arrive at last with the promise of warmer days and lighter evenings. Our next date to get excited about is May 17th when more of the lockdown restrictions are lifted. A good number of people are unsurprisingly unsure and hesitant to resume where they left off as though nothing had happened, so take your time. Our groups are hopefully following u3a and Government Guidelines (which are identical), regarding the restarting of their various activities. If you’re not sure about restarting or about re-joining your group please, just ask us. Well for all of us, and some more so than others, so much has happened. Especially the loss of our ability to choose who to meet and how to meet. Our u3a is slowly awakening and it is apparent that a great number of our members have chosen not to renew, and without any feedback, it is not certain what caused them to make that decision. The u3a Trust

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 2

suggested that memberships would be down by 20% and our reduction certainly bears that out. But 346 members are with us still and that demonstrates that our u3a is still an important part of our social wellbeing. We are beginning to open up and we need more members to make our u3a a more vibrant organisation that’s worth belonging to. Let’s look forward to getting back to our groups and enjoying the involvement with friends whose company we enjoy. Colin Munro Chairman.

APRIL VIRTUAL GENERAL MEETING.

At our last Virtual General Meeting in April, we were entertained by Diane Howells with her presentation entitled ‘Darwin to Melbourne’. It was a 55 minute Pictorial View of her trip across Australia (in a campervan) with her Husband in 2009. From the Crocodiles in the waters of the Kakadu National Parks to the ancient Cave Drawings, to Alice Springs and Ayres Rock; just a few of the places we visited on our pictorial trip. On behalf of the Committee and Members, I would thank Diane for her time and all the effort she put into it. Bernie Smith Speakers Secretary

VIRTUAL GENERAL MAY MEETING Our next virtual General Meeting on Zoom will be held on Thursday 13th May at 2pm. The meeting will be opened by our Chairman and will be followed by Graham Hodgson (our Treasurer) with a Pictorial Presentation entitled ‘National Trust North of the Thames’ The presentation will last approx.. 30 minutes.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 3

Interest Groups Amblers Tessa Duggan 01375 670212 Jenny Radford 01375 676338 Just over a year ago, the Amblers went on their February amble to . The weather that morning was a surprise! Strong gusts of bitterly cold wind, rain, hail and even snow all at the same time. There was no time to cancel the amble as the freakish weather unleashed itself just as we were about to meet at the Visitor Centre in Mucking. We were sure no one would turn up in these conditions, but were astonished as fifteen amblers emerged from their cars into the whirling snow and wind. As they approached, they shouted, "We're not going to walk today, we've just come for coffee!" and promptly disappeared into the café. Three of us attempted to do at least a bit of an amble, but were quickly pushed back by the awful weather. We splashed our way along the waterlogged path back into the warmth and welcome of the café, which was full of chatter and laughter. That was our last amble before the lockdown started and all the country parks closed. A year later and we're still unable to start up our ambles again just yet. Hopefully our amblers have still been able to get out and about during the past year, even if it's just exploring local roads and footpaths. Now the country parks are open again and Spring is here with its better weather, we can go further afield and keep in shape for when the ambles start up again soon.

Birdwatching Dave Snow 07490 069740 Please get in touch with your details as we no longer have a list! If you are interested give me a call.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 4

Book Group Ann Bailey Dawn Lloyd-Warne 01375 461885

Hooray, the library is open, albeit with a new system to negotiate online, but it’s great to be able to browse round the shelves. We enjoyed a Zoom meeting in April, but only one or two members enjoyed the book, The Serpent. As always, other topics of conversation arose, one being whether we would book a holiday this year? But, back to books. We're going to try a new Hercule Poirot one, written by Sophie Hannah. She was asked by the Christie family to write one, and has now published three. We'll try The Monogrammed Murders and let you know what we think.

May Quiz

1.Who wrote The Darling Buds of May?

2.What is the May Birthstone?

3.What is the May moon called?

4.What is the flower for May?

5.Who did Brian May marry?

6.Which tennis Open normally starts in the first week of May?

7.How long is the lifespan of the adult female mayfly?

8.Which Duke was born May 1st, 1769

9.Who wrote Ode Composed on a May Morning?

10.When is VE Day?

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 5

Wednesday Boules/Pétanque Dave Jardine 01375679410 At long last we can start to play boules again at the Springhouse on Wednesday 19th May 10.30 start. The Springhouse will be full open so the toilets will be open. Members will be able to go in for lunch. We will play 6 per team leaving space between each team and when we have coffee, please make sure again that we have space between everyone to keep us all safe. Look forward to seeing you then!!

Wednesday afternoon players check with Paul Brice – 07788452852

Friday Boules/Pétanque Colin Munro 07770 85431 Carol Munro

British Sign Language Group Jenny Radford 01375 676338

Canasta Pauline Kerridge 01375 462232

Charity Craft Jean Jardine 01375 679410 07551 952211 We can still not meet at the moment but some of the group have still been busy knitting hats and mitten, many thanks. I have been knitting some items for Christmas sale - how sad is that at the beginning of the spring!

Cribbage John Green 01375 676441

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 6

Drawing and More Margaret Schofield

DON’T FORGET TO CONTACT OUR WELFARE AND DISABILITIES OFFICER if you know of any member that is very ill or in hospital; or has passed away. Magda Norris 07484658131

When you contact Magda, she will require the name of the member and whether they are hospital bound or at home. If in hospital please let us have which hospital and ward name if possible, also their illness or incapacity if known. Their address we can obtain from our data base.

It should be noted that no committee member will visit any member at home or in hospital without an invitation However, we would like to be kept updated as to our member’s progress. If you know of anyone who has passed away, let us know so that we can express our commiserations and support to their partner or family.

Family History Sue Green 01375 676441

Peter Craggs 01375 643749 /07759 817821

As part of our Local Research Project I have been reading up on the Peculiar People, a religious movement that had chapels in both Corringham and Stanford-le-Hope at one time. I came across this passage in the book and it made me sit and think about the evidence in my own family history. “In 1875, the English corn market, unprotected since the repeal of the Corn Laws, collapsed in one disastrous year, when grain from the newly-opened prairies of Canada and the United States flooded the English market. The price of wheat

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 7

dropped dramatically; wheat farmers all over the eastern counties went bankrupt, and hundreds of labourers were put out of work. In succeeding seasons, the pressure of foreign competition was maintained: rents fell, the tenant farmers of Essex-which of all eastern was most seriously affected-worked themselves half to death, trying to make the heavy clay lands profitable, and the exodus of the rural population, mainly to , continued at an alarming rate.

Country ploughmen and labourers who had scarcely looked beyond their villages before, were driven to work in factories in Barking and Poplar, in the sugar refineries on Silvertown Wharf, in the Gas Works on Beckton marshes, or to navvy in the recently expanded dockyards. Now cottages and even farms stood idle and empty…while a government dominated by industrialists and liberal reformers looked on impassively, and even applauding, the antiquated and obsolescent rural society shook itself to pieces.” The Peculiar People by Mark Sorrell.

Many of us have families that had a “home village” where generations of the family stayed put and could be traced easily through the parish records of one church. And then suddenly your rural relatives become city and town dwellers and scatter around the country or even go abroad and you wonder “Why??” By looking at the local evidence and historical timelines of what is going on around them you can potentially find the answers. Family history is closely aligned with local history and social history, and by looking at the factors that may be in play at the time you can expand your family history research into more than just a collection of names. It is all too easy to keep going back and back constructing charts and collecting names but fleshing out an ancestor’s life and finding out what they faced will make your research much more relevant and along the way you will learn something too. 150 years ago, was within most of our great grandfathers’ lifetime so not as far back as you would at first think.

Flower Arranging Christine Lambert 01375 678131 Linda 07928 221626

The theme for April was Cascading: meaning to fall in stages; or another choice was April Showers.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 8

Our group were hoping to meet up in Christine’s garden this month, but unfortunately the British weather put paid to that, so it was back to Zoom. Fortunately we all managed to log on this month. We have not had much rain during April (with reportedly only 7% of our usual rainfall for April), added to that the constant North Easterly winds have made it feel so cold.

Ann’s cascaded arrangement was from one teapot to another, made up of artificial foliage and real flowers.

Christine created April showers with gypsophila, yellow carnations and paper umbrellas.

Monica used her lovely Orchids and added some eggs for effect.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 9

Linda’s arrangement was on an elegant wrought iron stand with large and small white Chrysanthemum and green foliage.

Helen did an arrangement in a vase of yellow roses with cascading foliage.

Brenda’s arrangement was also in a vase with yellow berries, small falling yellow Chrysanthemum and green and red foliage.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 10

Carol used a stand which was placed in a pot, with green foliage from her garden and white Chrysanthemum with three pink gerberas.

It makes it more interesting and challenging when props, (including some of the amazing artificial flowers now available), can be brought into our floral creations. We are all so looking forward to reconvening face to face at the Gateway Centre, hopefully in the coming months.

Carol Munro ( photos from members’ own phones)

Answers for May Quiz

1. H.E. Bates 2.Emerald 3.Flower moon, also hare, corn planting and milk 4.Lily of the valley, also Hawthorn 5.Anita Dobson 6.The French Open 7. Five minutes 8. The Duke of Wellington 9.William Wordsworth 10. May 8th

French Conversation Diane Wallace

We have been keeping up our video calls and managing to speak some French. In the past we have looked up vocabulary beforehand, but recently we have let the topics flow. When we found words or structures hard to find in our memories, we have looked them up afterwards.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 11

One such topic was gardens and gardening and we were amused to find that a well- kept lawn in French was ‘Un gazon anglais’ -in other words, as some of you will realise, - an English lawn. One of the French Conversation group also mentioned that the cartoon book about Asterix in Britain makes a joke reference to the amount of care the English take over their lawns. This of course predated the rise in use of plastic lawns in this country.

We are hoping to meet up outside when the last of our group has had their second vaccine dose and the weather is warmer. Sadly I passed the Pegasus Club the other day – look what has happened to the sign. We used to have good times there, but everything changes doesn’t it! Photo by Diane Wallace

Gallery Visits Jenny Lees 01375 360786 Chris Henderson

Some things I have discovered as an ‘older woman’…

I’ve discovered that some of what comedians say about us and what happens to us are true. An older friend, Sylvia who helped us with our charity fundraising, also mentioned some of these things. Yes, we may talk about illnesses but the reason I would do this is to gain useful information and compare experiences with others which can allay any fears.

I am a great believer in prevention is better than cure. Oscopys’: They have been quite a big feature in my life over a long period of time. Never say, ‘no’ to a smear test:

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 12

When my ‘phone rang it was the doctor asking for myself and my husband to make an appointment to see her at the surgery. ‘Nothing to worry about’, she said. I was terrified. Luckily my husband was more of a, ‘wait and see’ man. This led to my first, ‘oscopy’, a colposcopy. Abnormal cells had been found on my smear. The colposcopy led to laser treatment of the abnormal cells and it was done by the consultant I had throughout my pregnancies. He angled the monitor screen so that I could watch the procedure. All was then fine and there was no pain. For the first few years afterwards, you have more regular smears which I found was a great comforter. Oscopy number two was the colonoscopy. Never ignore or delay seeing your doctor when any blood appears unusually. This oscopy is more involved as investigation takes longer, the camera having to travel along the colon. Prior to this procedure you have to drink plenty of water containing a powder which empties your digestive system to prepare space for the camera to see what it needs to see. Some air is put into the colon which can be uncomfortable. The process was stopped at that point. I was able to watch the procedure on a monitor. I could see the polyps that they had found being removed. They were tested later and were found to be benign. If they had not been detected and removed I was told the likelihood was they would have turned cancerous. I was checked once a year for 3 years after this. At some point later I had another colonoscopy and two small polyps were removed. What has brought all this to mind is my new ‘oscopy’, again triggered by noticing unusual occurrences. Hysteroscopy is the latest one and there appears to be a polyp involved. I haven’t been through the whole process yet but have been given an information sheet and an appointment. I’ve had the first appointment (19.4.21) and next week I have another more in -depth appointment. I now have a pretty good idea about what will happen at the next one. Earlier on in this piece I mentioned smear tests and my now deceased (at the age of 90 plus) friend Sylvia. I remember her saying to me, ‘Why do they stop giving smear tests at’, whatever the age was then. I said that I didn’t know. Since another friend, a few years ago now, died of cervical cancer at the age of 65, I have been looking at statistics and other facts about it, not obsessively though. I see that the age for testing has increased. When I go to the hysteroscopy on Friday 29.4.21 I will ask about smears…

I hope some of this has been of use or interest to others. Jenny

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 13

Gardening Group Madeline Beesley 01375 678576

The weather has been very cold lately so not much had been done in my garden but some of the members of the Gardening Group have been keeping us up to date with their garden news.

Linda’s Zinnias are doing excellently and are nearly at the flowering stage while mine are still little seedlings waiting to be repotted. We were all so impressed with Deb’s Zinnias last year so we decided to grow them this year.

Brenda sent us news of her beautiful Magnolia, she has been so pleased with it. Chris took lots of Hydrangea cuttings and they have survived the bad weather so far. My established Hydrangeas have taken a bashing from the weather during these last few weeks and are looking in a very sorry state, the leaves are all shrivelled and brown so, fingers crossed, they will survive.

My tulips have done well though.

To boost your tulips for next year’s display, remove the flower heads before they go to seed. Let the leaves die down naturally and sprinkle some fertilizer around the plant.

If the frost has killed off the stems of your hardy Fuchsias and no new growth is visible, cut them back to ground level. This will encourage new growth as the chances are the root is still fine. You can plant out your sweet peas now (if there’s no frost) if they have a strong root system and several inches of top growth. Add some fertilizer and water well to help them establish. Sunday 9th May is National Garden Day. Why not celebrate with friends in the garden.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 14

Tips from the Old Gardener Be wary of frosts in May so don’t be too eager to plant out those tender plants. Wait another couple of weeks.

“A garden is a great teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness, industry and thrift. Above all, entire trust”. By Gertrude Jekyll. 1843-1932

If you are putting in new roses this year, bury a good wedge of cooking lard or dripping beneath the roots. If your hubby is addicted to dripping you will have to take it away from him, it will do the roses more good than him (if he can see it that way). The roses will show their appreciation when they come into bloom.

Madeline (tulip photo by Madeline)

Allotment News

It’s the first time in 16 years at the allotment that I have spent so much time in April watering the strawberries, onions and shallots. In the past 4 weeks we have had very little rain and together with the frosty evenings plant growth has been really slow. Unfortunately, some of the strawberries have flowers but with the overnight frost the centres have turned black which means no strawberries. The dry weather did enable me to plant the potatoes but, with very small shoots and cold ground, I don’t expect them to show above the ground any time soon.

During April, in addition to the allotment potatoes, I planted 4 seed potatoes in a large pot. It will be interesting to see which grows the quickest. The gardening group usually grow a vegetable in a pot or bag as a competition and a bit of fun. So I thought I would try the pot and 4 potatoes as I have heard it said the more you cram in the better it grows. In the past have just grown a single or 2 potatoes in a large bag with mixed results. An expensive way to grow potatoes. So I thought the pot would be interesting

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 15

I also have beetroot, carrot and onion seed planted in smaller pots. I water them all most days but no sign of germination yet!! Needs to get a bit warmer and wetter for anything to germinate and grow. Just a bit of an experiment and, if we all ever meet up this year, something to show and talk about. The wire netting over the pot and the brick is to try and prevent our inquisitive fox from digging them up.

The Chrysanthemum cuttings I took in March have taken and have a good root system as you can see from the picture. I have potted them into individual pots to grow a bit more before planting out.

The Cabbage and Cauliflower plants I have also planted out in the hope of wet and warmer weather, but I have to provide protection from the pigeons and the butterflies so takes time to erect the supports to hold the netting.

I have separated out the Tomato and Chilli plants but still have the peppers to do. It’s getting very busy in the greenhouse.

We had a load of manure delivered to the allotment site so I’ve used some of that preparing the ground for the Sweetcorn and I’ll dig a bit of manure in when I Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 16

start to prepare a new strawberry bed. Strawberries crop for around 3 years then get woody and the strawberries become fewer.

The soil is still really cold and very dry. Hoping for a bit of rain and sun then I can sow carrot, parsnip and beetroot seed. Also need to sow the sweet corn in the toilet roll inners but as I said space in the green house is limited.

Keeps me very busy!!

Michael Farman (photos by Michael)

Golf Paul Brice 07788 452852

Holiday Travel Jean Jardine 01375 679410 07551952211 Carol Smith 07845 233640

Line Dancing Mary Jupp 01375 674623 Carol Lockyer 01375 674732

We need to change our day to Tuesdays at 2.30 at Horndon as we have lost our Wednesday slot there.

We have spent a year doing very little and very few of us went on holiday. However, some of us have memories of past holidays just by looking at our fridges. Fridge magnets are one of the most popular souvenirs and serve as a pleasant reminder of our travels or, dare we say, adventures. Here are some of our fridge collections:

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 17

This is Mary’s collection and Mary’s daughters took her to Liverpool for her 70th. They went to the Cavern Club, took the ferry across the Mersey and went on the Magical Mystery Tour. They saw Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane and Mary sat on a bench with Eleanor Rigby!

Carol brought this fridge magnet back from the Caribbean. She bought her husband, Brian a gold cross and chain at St. Vincent and the Grenadines for his 70th birthday and he has never taken it off.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 18

Christine’s oldest magnet is a little rhyme which she loves – “Mothers hold their children's hands awhile, but their hearts forever."

The kookaburra is from her Australian trip in 1999 and the most recent magnets are from her holiday 3 years ago in Bhutan, in the Himalayan foothills. The 2 Bhutan magnets are the Black Necked Cranes and the Tiger's Nest Monastery which is perched high up on a sheer mountainside. They climbed up there at the end of the holiday, having spent two weeks ‘training' at fairly high altitude! Bhutan is an amazing place which she knew very little about before she went, but she would highly recommend it if you like an adventurous holiday. It is a Buddhist kingdom and the people are just lovely.

Our fridges are a jumble of memories and represent our travels and activities. Many have evolved over several years. Yes, they are cheap little trinkets but each one tells a story and evokes a memory.

Even if you don’t intentionally pick one up every time you go away, you will most undoubtedly have had a friend or two who has thought of you during their travels and brought you a magnet back as a little souvenir.

Did you know that a person who collects magnets is known as a memomagnetist from the Latin word “memoriale” meaning memory and the Greek word “magnetis” meaning magnetic. This shows that magnets are collected for the “memory” they invoke. This could be of a certain

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 19

place or an event that the collector was present at. Let's hope it won’t be too long before we start making trips and memories again!

Mary Jupp Photos by the members

Line Dancing 2 Carol Munro Sue Moss

Italian Beginners Ron White 01375673561

Local History Group Barbara Ward Life may have been challenging for us all this past year, but sometimes it’s reassuring to remember that the history of our community is still there for us to enjoy.

During our daily walks my partner and I often pop into the local cemeteries and graveyards and while in Horndon recently he spied the gravestone of Philip Conrad Vincent, inventor of the legendary Vincent motorbike.

At the time of his birth, Philip’s parents owned a huge cattle ranch in Argentina, but his mother returned to London for the birth in Fulham in 1908. Returning with his mother to Argentina, he was educated at a British Prep School before being sent to live with his Uncle, John Vincent, at High House in Horndon on the Hill. Along with his sisters, he lived there until he went to Harrow, but returned to Horndon for his school holidays.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 20

At Harrow, Philip became interested in motorbikes, eventually persuading his mother to allow him to purchase one and by the age of 18 years he had come up with his own design. His father provided finance, enabling him to build his new prototype, the Vincent Special. By the end of the 1920s the Vincent HRD company emerged and during its lifetime around 12,500 Vincents were produced.

Philip Conrad Vincent died in 1979 and his ashes are interred in the family plot at Horndon. Anyone interested in finding out more can find information on the Museum pages on the council’s website at the following link: https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/thurrock-historical-figures/philip-conrad-vincent

Sharon Brown has been out and about walking the local country parks and found the following information about the history of the area we now know as One Tree Hill:

‘One Tree Hill was formerly known as Bennett’s Hills. The name One Tree Hill came to be used in the late 19th century as a large single Ash tree once stood at the top of the hill and was blown down during World War One.

The land of the country park was bought by Essex County Council in the 1930s for public recreation, and during World War Two various gun and searchlight emplacements were created to tackle enemy aircraft as they made their way upriver to London. Until the early 1960s there was a TB hospital to the north of the park, run by West Ham Council.

Local Research Projects

Diane Wallace Sue Green 01375 676441 I am glad to report that the writing up of our research into Stanford in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s has started. The book is going to be based on the childhood memories of the many local people we have interviewed. We are beginning with the shops which is where the project focused at the start and, as usual, are coming up with more questions that could do with a bit of clarification. Can you help us?

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 21

We are looking at Crossways, Miss Levett's tea room on the Green which was mentioned by a lot of people we talked to. published directories that listed shops that were in Stanford but this tea room is not mentioned in the listings. Can anyone remember where on the Green the tea room was? My best guess is where the florist is now but I am not sure (number 6). The 1951-1965 directories did not list anything being in this shop). The 1951 Directory has Miss Sparkes, a greengrocer at number 2, H Upton, a butcher at number 3, Agers clothes shop at numbers 4 and 5 but nothing further along the parade. As it is within living memory as being on the Green, it must have been trading at that time. Swallows was listed in the 1970 directory so it may have changed hands by that point? We have not found any photos at all of the shop but would like to include it in our publication as it was fondly remembered by so many. It would also be nice to describe the lady with her first name-all our interviewees referred to her as "Miss Levett" and said she was very much a "Miss".

We have some information on the Walter Levett memorial in Corringham Road as well-does anyone know if this was a relative of hers? Diane remembers this memorial when she came to Stanford in the 1970s to start teaching at Hassenbrook.

"When I stepped out of Stanford railway station for the first time and walked up Church Hill, I was impressed by the village feel of the area which was in contrast to the industrial landscape I expected, following the description I had been given. Walking further on, I noticed a colourful flowerbed on Corringham Road, in front of the Recreation Ground and what looked like a large wooden bus shelter intriguingly at some distance from the kerb. I remember wondering what it was doing placed there. Not until a couple of years ago, whilst in the process of looking at old Thurrock Gazettes for our research project, did I find out what the structure was and the name of the person it was commemorating. In the 28thMay 1955 edition of the Thurrock Gazette, I read that it was a memorial to Walter Levett and clearly saw the same structure I noticed on my walk in an accompanying photograph. The article did not mention why Mr Levett was worthy of such a tribute, but the photograph showed a crowd of people crammed in and at the front of it, so he obviously was well known at the time. I also found references to it in Council minutes.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 22

The Walter Levett Memorial shelter was demolished a while ago, and in February this year I took a photograph of what has replaced it. I could find no obvious mention of Water Levett in the area which I found sad. It would be interesting to find out more about him and bring his name once more into the public domain."

We are grateful for your continued support of the project and all help would be appreciated.

London Walks Dave Snow 07490 069740 Brian McDonald

Lunch and Chat Chris Brown 01708 852023

Mixed Craft Group Needs a new leader – contact Interest Group Leaders.

Old British Motor Cycle and Car Enthusiasts Graham Edgings 01375 677425

Places of Interest Colin Munro 07770 854318 Carol Munro

Play Reading 1 Julie Coker 01268 931850

Play Reading, Beverage but no Cake! Deb Foster 01375 677971

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 23

Today we read A Slim Chance by Toni Neobard. Again we did it by Zoom, and after my initial panic when I couldn't find the play to share with the others, all went well except when I scrolled the wrong way a couple of times and we lost our places. It all added to the fun! The play was about a group of ladies waiting for their weight loss class to begin. We got an insight into their lives and eating habits. It was thought that one member had cheated by putting stones into her pocket for her initial weigh in, and then gradually disposed of them over the subsequent weeks. Apparently, we all have a little demon sitting on our shoulder that encourages us to eat what we shouldn't. The play finished with them all going off for afternoon tea, no wonder they were all lamenting their lack of weight loss!

Photography Group Jenny Lees 01375 360786 Chris Henderson Having more time due to Covid and more access to plants due to the time of year I took advantage of the more reasonably priced choices at market stalls.

The hanging basket of pansies has been flowering profusely for weeks. It was from the fruit and veg stall in Corringham and cost £6. They often sell hanging baskets at reasonable prices.

Pitsea market is very slowly regaining its size, especially on a Wednesday. I’m told a lot of the stalls are from the now closed Dagenham Market. One of my favourite stall holders has unfortunately retired.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 24

However, there is a lovely plant stall run by Bob. He brings a selection of plants and will bring certain plants if you ask him to. He is very knowledgeable. I have fancied a black bamboo ever since I visited Yves Saint Laurent’s Majorelle Garden in Marrakech. I got it about 3 weeks ago and it’s growing nicely.

Another trader was selling the wire tricycles and the two plants, a saxifrage and a primula were from Bob. They fitted neatly in it.

His Tamarisk Nursery is in Daws Heath Road, Rayleigh, SS6 7NT tel: 07786 886266.

Photos and text by Jenny Lees

Quilting Carol Smith 07845 233640

Quiz Sue Green 01375 676441 Ann Bailey

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 25

Royal Family Quiz. The Royal family have been in the news a lot this year. Test yourself to see how much information you have absorbed.

1 How old was Princess Elizabeth when she became Queen of England? 2 In which country was the Queen’s husband, Prince Phillip, born? 3 Which Royal promised to “love, comfort, honour and keep” her husband on her wedding day, omitting the traditional words “obey”?

4 Who is currently 5th in line to the Throne? 5 As well as Queen Elizabeth II, there are only five other kings and queens in British history who have reigned for 50 years or more. Who are they? 6 Which monarch was on the throne during the First World War?

7 In 1974, a man named Ian Ball brought Princess Anne’s car to a halt with the view to holding her hostage for a large ransom. For whom did he intend the ransom money? 8 Which month of the year does Trooping the Colour normally take place in? 9 What honorary title did the Queen give Princess Anne in 1987?

10 Who was the first monarch of the House of Windsor? 11 Who is the oldest grand-daughter of Queen Elizabeth II? 12 How many days separated Elizabeth and Philip's first wedding anniversary and the birth of Prince Charles?

13 What relation is Queen Elizabeth II to Queen Victoria? 14 Whose death prompted Charles, Prince of Wales to delay his wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles by one day? 15 Who was the first member of the Royal Family to be interviewed on television?

Ramblers Chris Gomm 01375 406285/07905 117622 Remember that we now meet on 4th Thursday of the month.

Scrabble Magda Norris

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 26

Singing for Fun Julie Coker 01268 931850 Ann Bailey

Spanish Needs a new leader – contact Interest Group Leaders

Sunday Singles Pauline Thorpe 01375 679571

Ten Pin Bowling

Jean Jardine 01375 679410/ 07551 0952211 We don't think it’s worth starting until the start of the winter, all being well. It’s best to be out in the fresh air and it won’t be long until the children are on holiday.

Trips – Day and Theatre

Chris Gomm 01375 406285/07551952211 Jean Jardine 01375 679410 Mid-Summer Lunch with a Neil Diamond Tribute Tuesday 20th July 2021 We are looking forward to this event at 'Ye Olde Plough House' Bulphan with a scheduled arrival of 12:30 for a 1:00pm sit down lunch. We'll be able to hear an excellent Neil Diamond Tribute act all for an amazing £25.00. (including Tip) The Plough have also promised us a Covid secure environment for our guests. They would like us to have chosen our lunches in advance so I have attached a link to the Menu option on the website which will need to be completed when you make your payment. Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 27

Cheques to be made payable to "SLH U3A Social" Payments, together with your Menu choices can be passed to either of our trip leaders: Christine Gomm, Tele:07905 117622 Jean Jardine, Tele: 07551 952211

Ukulele Chris Gomm 01375 406285/07551952211

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 28

Answers to Royal Quiz 1 Princess Elizabeth was 25 when she became Queen (she was 27 when she was crowned, on 2 June 1953), 2 Corfu, Greece, 3 Catherine (Kate Middleton), 4 Prince Louis, 5 Victoria (63 years); George III (59 years); Henry III (56 years); Edward III (50 years) and James VI and I (58 years), 6 King George V , 7 The National Health Service, 8 June, 9 The Princess Royal, 10 George V, 11 Zara Tindall (Philips), 12 six days, 13 Great great granddaughter 14 Pope John Paul II, 15 The Duke of Edinburgh

Wine Appreciation Graham Hodgson 01375 675588 Jean Jardine 01375 679410

More Scam News

Romance Scams – this is when people use the internet to chat to you, especially on a dating site, but it could apply to any such as Facebook, etc. They come across as friendly normal people and take some time to make some sort of relationship with you. They often chat about their family and holidays, their work and interests. These are used later to take advantage of your good nature. Then, having laid the groundwork carefully, they have an ‘emergency’ which probably involves an urgent need for money! They often use health, or mental health, and also sudden debts that have occurred. They don’t give their victim time to think things through and encourage them not to take advice from family

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 29

and friends. Talk of sickness and worry are used to panic and wrong foot the victims. So – always be wary of revealing personal information about yourself online. Be aware that people can fake identities online. Don’t let yourself be panicked into lending money. If you realise that you have passed on money inadvisably ring your bank straightaway for help; speak to ACTION FRAUD. produce booklets of advice about all of the scams that they become aware of. You can access them online.

INFORMATION ABOUT INTEREST GROUPS SCRABBLE and CRIBBAGE meet on Tuesday every 2 weeks. Play reading 1 is every 6 weeks. Places of Interest is every 2 to 3 months. The table on the next page is just a general guide to help members and potential group leaders plan. Events such as Bank Holidays and group trips may result in a particular monthly meeting for a group being cancelled or the date being changed. Check with the group leaders to confirm that a scheduled meeting is going to occur. Stanford-le-Hope and District U3A does not accept any responsibility for errors or omissions in this publication. You are advised to verify details including dates, times, venue and costs with the organiser of any event. The views expressed may not represent those of this U3A. Please seek

permission before using any material in part or in whole.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 30

Interest Groups Timetable Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Week am Gardening Boules Tenpin Boules (Hardie 1 Bowling. Park) Lunch & Chat. pm Quilting. Mixed Craft. Family History French Lunch & Chat. O.B.M & Car (computer). conversation. E. Italian British Sign Golf Beginners. Language Line Canasta. Dancing 1 Ukulele. Boules pm Week am London Line Boules Boules Hardie 2 Walks Dancing 1 Photography

pm London Spanish BS Language. SLH & Photography Walks Canasta. District Ukulele. U3A Boules pm General Meeting Week am Drawing & Boules Boules Hardie 3 more Gallery Visits.

pm Singing for Italian Family History. French Gallery Visits. Fun. Beginners. BS Language. conv. Book Club. Line Canasta. Golf Dancing 1 Ukulele. Wine Boules pm Appreciation. Week am Boules Ambling Birdwatching. 4/ Rambling Boules Hardie Last pm Local History Spanish BS Language T.C.& Play Charity Craft Line Canasta Reading Dancing 1 Ukulele French Boules pm conv.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 31

Contact Details for Interest Groups

(*) = Full, (+) = Some spaces left in the group, (n/a) = members can turn up and join in, (bk) = members can take part but will need to book in order to do so. This is correct at the time of going to print. For updates contact the Interest Groups’ Co-ordinators. Apart from a very few exceptions you must be a current member of our u3a to take part in our Interest Groups. Group Leader Phone Email Ambling(n/a) Tessa 01375 670212 Duggan Jenny 01375 676338 Radford Bird Dave Snow 07490 069740 Watching (n/a) Book Group Ann Bailey (+) Dawn Lloyd- 01375 461885 Warne Boules(Wed. Jean Jardine 01375 679410 am) (n/a) Dave Jardine Boules (Wed Paul Brice 07788452852 pm)n/a Boules Colin&Carol 07770854318 (Friday) (n/a) Munro British(*)Sign Jenny 01375 676338 Language Radford Canasta (+) Pauline 01375 462232 Kerridge Charity Jean Jardine 01375 679410 Craft(+) Cribbage John Green 01375 676441

Drawing and Margaret More Schofield Family Sue Green 01375 676441 History (+) Peter Craggs 01375 643749 Flower Christine 01375 678131 Arranging(+ Lambert Linda Tilbury 07928221626

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 32

French Diane Conversation Wallace (*) Gallery Visits Jenny Lees 01375 360786 (bk) Chris Henderson Gardening Madeline 01375 678576 Group (*) Beesley Golf(+) Paul Brice 07788 452852 Holiday Jean Jardine 01375 679410 Travel (bk) Carol Smith 07845 233640 Italian (*) Ron White 01375 673561 Line Dancing 1 Mary Jupp 01375 674623 (Wed) (*) Carol 01375 674732 Lockyer Line Dancing Carol Munro 2 (Tues) (*) Sue Moss Local Barbara 07748 151735 History(+) Ward Any trips (bk) Local Research Diane (+) Wallace Sue Green 01375 676441

London Dave Snow 07490 069740 Walks (*) Brian McDonald Lunch and Chris Brown 01708 852023 Chat (bk) Mixed Craft Old British Graham 01375 677425 Motorcycle & Edgings Car

Places of Colin & Carol 07770 854318 Interest (*) Munro Play Reading 1 Julie Coker 01268 931850 (*) T. C. &Play Deb Foster 01375 677971 Reading (*)

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 33

Photography Jenny Lees 01375 360786 (n/a) Chris Henderson Quilting (+) Carol Smith 07845 233640

Quiz (n/a) Ann Bailey

Ramblers Chris Gomm 07905 117622 (n/a) Scrabble (+) Magda Norris

Singing for Julie Coker 01268 931850 Fun (+) Ann Bailey Intro to Spanish (*) Sunday Pauline 01375 679571 Singles Thorpe Ten Pin Jean Jardine 01375 679410 Bowling (n/a) Trips – Day & Chris Gomm 07905 117622 Theatre Jean Jardine 01375 679410 (bk) Ukulele (+) David St Pier 07388 280143

Wine Graham 01375 675588 Appreciation (*) Hodgson Jean Jardine 01375 679410

Interest Groups Co-ordinators: Paul Brice 07788 452852 Jean Jardine 01375 679410 If you have an idea for a new interest group, or would like to lead (perhaps as part of a team) a completely new group or another version of an existing group (in order to eliminate a waiting list) please contact Paul or Jean.

Please let your interest group leader know if you no longer wish or cannot attend their group on a permanent basis or are likely to have a prolonged

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 34

absence. Your name can be taken off a full group’s list if you have not attended for 3 months without notifying the group leader, and you can then be replaced by another member who is on the waiting list for that interest group

At the moment we need a leader or pair of leaders for the Mixed Craft group because of the illness of the present leader.

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a Dates for your Diary

Date Type of Event Details

3rd May Information and voting forms for AGM Please return as soon as possible Final date 30th May 13th May 2021 Zoom General At 2pm ‘National Trust North of the meeting Thames’ by Graham Hodgson

7th May 2021 Committee At 10am by Zoom Meeting

28th May 2021 Deadline Articles, etc. for June Newsletter

10th June 2021 Zoom General meeting & AGM

Contact details for Stanford-le-Hope and District u3a Chairman – Colin Munro Vice-Chairman/Speakers – Bernie Smith Treasurer – Graham Hodgson Assistant Treasurer – Jean Jardine Secretary –Davina Brown Membership Secretary – John Green Deputy Membership Secretary – Richard Fox Website Administrator – Michael Farman

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 35

Website Administrator – Christine Gomm Newsletter Editor – Chris Henderson Advance Notice Email Co-Ordinator – Paul Brice Interest Groups’ Co-Ordinator – Paul Brice Welfare and Disabilities Co-Ordinator – Magda Norris Buddies – Maureen Nicholas Policy Documents Administrator – Michael Miller Deputy Speakers Secretary & General Meeting Co-Ordinator- Kevin Brice

Stanford-le-Hope and District u3a Website https://u3asites.org.uk/slh

National u3a Organisation National Office www.u3a.org.uk

Tel 020-8466-6139

Printed by the Diocesan Print Unit, 53, New Street, , CM1 1AT

Stanford-le-Hope & District u3a –May 2021 Newsletter Page 36