From the Chair

No.9 October 2019 NEWS

From the Chair Welcome to our autumn newsletter, I hope you have all enjoyed the summer and are settling into the groups that have re-started after a break over the summer months. I would like to welcome Paul Comley back to the committee as treasurer, Paul stepped in to fill the vacancy and was co-opted onto the committee in July. The new season of speaker meetings has already started with our own Mike Cheeseman leading the way with the opening event. Dianne has some rather interesting speakers lined up over the coming year, please keep your eye on the bulletin for further announcements and dates or check them out on the website. My thanks go to Mike Cheeseman and his team for manning our stall at the Town Show which was well attended. To date, no one has come forward to take up the position of SUN rep. which is rather disappointing, so the committee will have to cover this role for the time being. We will continue to publish the Newsletter online, but due to some members finding this format difficult to access, additional copies have been printed and are available for collection from most of the groups. If you are taking one for a neighbour or friend please make sure they haven’t already got one so that there are enough to go round. I look forward to meeting you over the coming months and hope you enjoy the programme of groups that we have, however, we are always open suggestions or offers of new groups and we welcome any new ideas for additional groups at any time. Best wishes, Jim

1 Editorial

Seasonal blues? Autumn’s here and “all the leaves are turning brown”, but why are so many autumn songs sad? Would it be as interesting if the leaves were always green? The season certainly has its drawbacks (Premier League football starts and goes on for EVER) but grandchildren begin a new school year (so grans can take a holiday) and, while winter lurks (“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” doesn’t tell the whole truth, does it?), spring brings renewal on the other side. This issue. We’re a bit slimmer than usual but there are lively articles to read, including Karen’s account of how she joined the U3A, fancied two groups (a Tai Chi group and a book group) and now runs three. Dianne Steadman has arranged some fascinating talks for us. We may think we know “Why a good night’s sleep matters”, but I’m willing to learn and I’m really looking forward to “Say it with poison”. In case you haven’t noticed, Clare has taken over management of this Issue, as well as putting it all together, while the Editor has been taking a bit of a rest (apart from meddling with the stories to the annoyance of the authors). There’s more to life than U3A but…….You may be surprised to learn that, of almost 800 members only 42 have offered their names as occasional volunteers ~ willing, when available, to help out as stewards or setting up at events such as AGMs and speaker meetings. Most of us have busy lives but we all enjoy doing things in our U3A groups (otherwise why cough up £9 a year?). Of course real life is more important, so it’s not surprising that we often prioritise its demands (e.g. grandparent duties!) over Keep fit, French Conversation or Pitch & Putt. But all our U3A activities depend on some of us helping. And if we don’t, the wheels come off and nobody gets a ride.

2 Town Show by Mike Cheeseman Held in Rosemead Park in September the Littlehampton Town Show is an ideal opportunity for our U3A to advertise our wares and talk to those who have an interest in joining us. It was a very warm sunny day when our Chairman Jim Cox and his wife Judith set up the display for us in the main marquee at the show and we had an enthusiastic band of volunteers manning the stall for the day. There was a steady stream of visitors to our exhibit throughout the day and lots of Group Activity lists and Member- Photo by Mike Cheeseman ship forms were given out. Only time will tell how many of those will be converted to new members but we look forward to welcoming new blood. With special thanks to all those volunteers who manned our exhibit and to Anna Francis who organised the team and rota for the day.

Sussex Spirit, Myths & Legends by Nova Brookes Sussex U3A Network (SUN) held a day of celebration at Sussex University on 13th July. Littlehampton Storytellers were guests of the Worthing Storytelling group performing oral telling at the event. There were four us telling our folk lore tales of Sussex which were appreciated by the audience. The Worthing group, who read tales associated with the area, had erected a story tent in the room. The venue at Sussex University included several U3As showing displays of Art & Craft and Painting in different mediums. There was a lecture theatre area for the Performing Arts which ran continuously throughout the day with some excellent performances. The day was deemed a success by the organisers who had worked long and hard to make the day one that will be remembered by many.

3 Being a Group Leader by Karen Wade, Littlehampton U3A Groups Coordinator

When I retired, everyone told me I’d be bored!!!! I looked round for things to do. I found the U3A website, I read the by the members for the members statement, and saw that I could do Tai Chi and join a book group, both things I wanted to do. So I contacted the group leader. “Sorry Tai Chi’s full, - unless of course you’d like to learn Tai Chi and start your own group! Oh, and the Book Group’s full ~ you could do that too.” Bear- ing in mind that I’d never been in a book group or done any Tai Chi: two years on I now run two of our Tai Chi groups and until recently when I took on more groups, I ran one of the Book Groups. Ruth was as good as her word and taught me the Tai Chi moves. Her lovely Monday group put up with me stumbling through my first couple of sessions and gave me the confidence I needed to start my own group. I got plenty of help from Anne with hints and tips on the Book Group as well as all the help that is available from the library. I also discovered that the national U3A website has a wealth of advice on starting groups on a whole host of topics. So what have I learnt in that time? Well I started by doing it all, taking the Tai Chi class, collecting the money and making the tea (never did the washing up though). One day I asked if someone would make the tea: now they take it in turns to do the tea and I have three lovely volunteers who take the groups when I can’t. Everyone can play their part in the group: you just have to ask. Indeed, any group member could volunteer for some role in your group. By the members for the members remember, that’s all of us doing our bit. In the Book Group we always took it in turns to host the group, make the tea and get the biscuits. As my life got busier (more groups) one of the girls offered to do more and started collecting and returning the books. Now they run it all. So, if there’s a topic you’d like to learn or do more with why not think about starting a group. You’re not alone ~ there’s a wealth of help available, online or personally from the Group Coordinator or from other group leaders. People in your group can help: if you’re not computer literate, someone will be. If it’s a topic you’re not sure of, we can advertise for help from within our U3A or a group of you could get together to teach yourself and learn from each other. Groups come in all shapes but each one is just a group of people helping each other out, socialising, learning new things, drinking tea and coffee and forming friendships or just enjoying not being on your own.

4 Theatre Trips Group by Karen Wade

I love to go to the theatre and would go on my own but decided it would be nice to have some company and not always have to drag my husband along. So we started the Theatre Trips Group supporting the local amateur groups at local theatres. So far we’ve concentrated on The Windmill and The Woodland Centre and they are the focus going forward. We started with three of us going to see the film version of the stage show of The King and I and it was lovely to have someone to chat to in the interval and to discuss the production. The group has now grown with a core of eight people and we’ve laughed out loud at Outside Edge, a production in The Woodland Centre by the Rustington Players who were superb. Another comedy by the Stage Door Theatre Company, this time at The Windmill, was The Vicar of Dibley a tribute to the TV show and a thoroughly entertaining evening. Our latest outing was to see Littlehampton Musical Comedy Society’s (LMCS) opening night of Thoroughly Modern Millie. It was a well-deserved sell out and another great evening. Our next trip will be to Littlehampton Players Operatic Society to see their version of The Yeoman of the Guard. Then it’s the Christmas productions: Stage Door’s Peter Pan, Rustington Players’ A Christmas Carol and LMCS’ Jack and the Beanstalk. All are welcome; we’ve got both singles and couples in the group. We decide one show at a time and discuss the next one on the night; you can join us for all productions or just dip in and out. I get the tickets and we meet at the venue about 20 minutes prior to start time. All will be listed on the Events page on our website and advertised in our Weekly Bulletin.

5 Speaker Meetings Programme by Dianne Steadman As many of you will now know I have taken on the responsibility for organising the schedule of Speaker Meetings and I have had great fun finding what I hope will prove to be a series of entertaining, interesting and erudite speakers. On 18 September, you may have enjoyed our own Mike Cheeseman’s fascinating insight into his love of the 1st Cinque Ports Rifle Volunteer Corps of drums and the history of the military drum. 23 October – Lady Mary Teviot, a Burgess Hill based genealogist, has led a full and variable life. She has worked in TV – the most recognisable programmes being Heir Hunters and Who Do You Think You Are? She says that an interest in finding her family history led her to founding a professional genealogical research company undertaking all types of related research including family history, probate research and media research. She also began lecturing on those subjects and makes lecture tours in Canada and Australia, and has toured South Africa, USA and New Zealand. On frequent visits to Australia she has also spoken to the Australian Monarchists' League. 20 November Cheryl Berry will be providing an update on the work of Healthwatch West Sussex CIC Board, who have concentrated their activities into developing community partnerships which will help underpin the ambition of providing a truly integrated care system – health, social care, community and voluntary organisations working together in partnership to support individuals and family and friend carers. December has no speakers meeting as the Events team are organising a Christmas bash. Next Year dates for your diary. 15 January 2020, Dr Peter Venn : Why a good night’s sleep matters. 19 February 2020, Katy Bourne, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner. 18 March 2020, Russel Bowes: Say it with Poison. April has no Speakers due to the AGM. 20 May 2020 Tyndall Jones on Littlehampton Bonfire Society: a potted history of us and our costumes. June, July and August we are having a break – we need to consider the cost benefit of arranging for Speakers when many of us are on holiday! 16 September 2020, Rupert Matthews: Curlpower - Women at War. 21 October 2020, Gilly Halcrow: Whatever happened to Christopher Robin? 18 November 2020, Steve Roberts on Criminal Investigations, tales of a Scotland Yard Detective.

6 1st Cinque Ports Rifle Volunteer Corps of Drums Mike Cheeseman’s report on our September Speaker Meeting The beating of drums opened the September Speaker Meeting and made sure everyone was wide awake for the presentation on some history of the military drum and my small part in it. To assist me were my colleague from the Cinque Ports Rifle Volunteers Corps of Drums, Drummer Ian Forbes and U3A member Simon Jones acting as our time beat- er bass drummer and IT expert. We opened the proceedings with a traditional drum beating and the Drummers Call. We looked at some drums though the ages, Drake’s Drum perhaps our most famous, taken by the sailor on his historic voyages. On his death bed in 1596 he decreed the drum be returned to England and beaten to recall him from heaven to rescue the coun- try in times of peril, and the drum is now preserved by the National Trust. We saw that drummer boys who beat out orders on the battle field in around the time of the Battle of Waterloo were often as young as 12/13 years of age and we discovered how the military Corps of Drums were formed and about the instruments they played. I became a drummer as a young boy soldier and we looked at some of my notable exploits at the Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Tournament at Earls Court. Moving on to more recent times we heard about the Corps of Drums Society and the 1 st Cinque Ports Rifle Volunteers Corps of Drums, looking at the history of the Cinque Ports Confederation and formation of the 1st Cinque Ports Volunteers in 1869, attending events in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Malta and nearer to home the Lord Mayor’s show in London, the Worthing Carnival and Armed Forces Day events. With the help of my colleagues we demonstrated a drum beating display, I played my B flat flute then we played a popular Corps of Drums march, Children’s Love, and to round things off and make sure everyone was still awake we played a final drum beating to march everyone off for their well-deserved cup of tea. I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed Mike’s talk on the Rifle Volunteer Corps of Drums & the history of the Military drum at the speaker meeting this week. It was informative, humorous and the drum performances were very special. It was such a shame more people could not have attended a really interesting talk. Margaret White. Drumming’s a mysterious art to most of us but when you see, and hear, close up, what experts like Mike and his friends can do it’s quite amazing. Steve Twigg.

7 The Friday Forum by Sandy Lloyd

As Group Leader I am often asked by those interested in joining the Forum, whether we just argue all of the time! Well we don’t, although discussion does get heated and, as a group, we always have different views on whatever the topic. And I have also to say that No! we are not all retired teachers or lecturers. The joy of having diverse opinions, just like the morning newspapers, is that we always listen to all the views, regardless of what one may think. Yes, we do talk about BREXIT as it is impossible to keep away from the subject. Within the Fo- rum, I would think that half the members are in the REMAIN camp and the other half is for BREXIT. (Now that is a good starting point for discussion.) Some members have been attending the Friday Forum for more than ten years, such is the interest in discussion. However, one of our newest members is Helen and she says: Joining the Friday Forum has been an interesting experience as everyone has the opportunity to speak and others do listen. I have appreciated how organised the group is and the patience each member gives whosoever is speaking - regardless of the views! All listen carefully in a surprisingly very friendly atmosphere. Members of the Arts & Crafts Workshop have made these Teddies and pencil cases for donating to the Children of Mombassa Charity

8 Arts & Crafts Workshop by Margaret Burrow We meet on Fridays at the Quaker Meeting House at 14.00—16.00 on the first and third Fridays. Half of this smallish group concentrate on painting tech- niques whilst the other on half simple craft. Our main project prior to the August break was a commemoration of the Meeting House and garden before updating of the building began. This we did in applique work and sketching. We hope to display this work on the Quaker stall at the Town Show. We would love to welcome new members.

9 Writing for Pleasure by Jo Hollister This group formed about eighteen months ago and some of our members have been here the whole time, whilst others have joined later, and others found it was not their cup of tea. I hasten to say that we do actually have a nice cup of tea as well as coffee with biscuits during the morning. We write the stories at home and read them out to the group at the next meeting; the stories are approximately a thousand words long so that everyone gets a chance to read their story. The topics are very varied such as How to Poison your Nasty Neighbour and Refusing to Clean the Toilet because it is very small and painted green. At Christmas Alan gained a Gold Star as he achieved a one hundred percent attendance! Karen only gained a Silver Star as she missed one meeting; but that was because she took her father out for a birthday meal. I should have had a Gold Star too, as I was present at all the meetings; but I declined! We meet on the second Tuesday of each month at the Littlehampton Library at 10:30 until 12:30. If you are interested do come along and see if it is for you. We are a friendly group and don’t bite! A visit to Hughenden Manor by Julie Brockwell who writes of her recent visit organised by our neighbour, Arun East U3A It was a long journey for U3A members when they visited Hughenden Manor, near High Wycombe, but well worth it. In 1848, Hughenden was bought for Benjamin Disraeli and his wife by his ally, Lord George Bentinck, and other friends. Aged 44, Disraeli had just been selected as Conservative party leader. He was a novelist, a brilliant speaker, a flamboyant character and later our first and only Jewish prime minister. This magnificent Georgian manor house, later re-faced in red brick, is set in glorious gardens, surrounded by woodland in the heart of the Chilterns with wonderful far-reaching views. Inside, the rooms are mostly quite small with beautifully decorated ceilings and many portraits. Disraeli’s study is as he left it with his desk and his notepaper edged in black, used after his wife’s death. Their bedroom is larger and full of light. It is pale blue and white with replica yellow silk curtains and bed hangings. Disraeli was a great favourite of Queen Victoria and portraits of Victoria and Albert hang over the fireplace. Only 15 years ago, the National Trust came across old photographs stored in the basement and discovered that Hughenden had been a secret map-making base during WW2. Over 100 people worked there using reconnaissance photographs and preparing detailed maps of Germany and occupied Europe for Bomber Command at Naphill. Seeing the rooms where they worked and the photography and developing rooms added even more interest to an exciting and absorbing visit.

10 A visit to Penshurst Place by Julie Brockwell who writes of her recent visit organised by our neighbour, Arun East U3A

Not having seen Penshurst Place for over 45 years, I eagerly anticipated the June trip with other U3A members. It is one of the most beautiful of our stately homes. At its heart is the Baron’s Hall, described by the writer, John Julius Norwich, as “one of the grandest rooms in the world”. The Hall was built in 1341 by Sir John de Pulteney and has a magnificent roof of chestnut beams, a minstrels’ gallery and tall, arcaded windows flooding the space with light. First additions to the original house were made by the Duke of Bedford in the early 15th century. They were the Queen Elizabeth Room and the Tapestry Room and both are filled with beautiful furniture, paintings, embroidery and tapestries. The Long Gallery was added by Sir Robert Sidney who came to Penshurst in 1552 and the paintings there illustrate the history of both the house and of the Sidney family. Outside, the crenelated south- east frontage takes the breath away. The many windows of different shapes and sizes over- look the spectacular Italian garden. There are many more gardens to enjoy, separated by hedges and flower beds, one being the heraldic garden featuring painted poles topped by heraldic beasts and another unusual one is the Union Flag garden. There are eleven acres of gardens, Grade 1 listed, largely the same as they were in the reign of Elizabeth I. Penshurst is a glorious place and well worth a visit.

11 A Thought …..

Sometime when you’re feeling important Sometime when your ego’s in bloom Sometime when you take it for granted You’re the best qualified man in the room, Sometime when you feel that your going Would leave an unfillable hole, Just follow these simple instructions And see how they humble your soul.

Take a bucket and fill it with water. Put your hands in it up to your wrists. Pull them out, and the hole that remains Is the measure of how you’ll be missed. You may splash all you please when you enter, You may stir up the waters galore, But stop! You’ll find in a moment That it looks just the same as before.

The moral of this is quite simple. You must do the best that you can. Be proud of yourself, but remember: There is NO indispensable man. Saxon White Kessinger, 1959 More than a weekly group?

We all meet up once a week for Tai Chi, some of us have been doing this for more than two years. We chat at coffee break and during that time we get to know each other better. That’s why, last Friday a group of us went to The Empress for a “hen night” for one of our members. We had a great night and a chance for getting to know even more about each other. Other members have started going for coffee after group or on other days, the odd lunch date, or joining up for dog walking. What else do you get out of your group?

12 Jam of Jams 2019 Vicki Griffin has prepared the following collage of some of the song titles included in the an- nual Ukulele Jam of Jams on 28th July at the Littlehampton Stage by the Sea. As usual our own U3A Ukulele Group gave a rousing performance much enjoyed by the crowds. The Ukulele Jam of Jams in Littlehampton in July was a Runaway success but I Guess it Doesn’t Matter Anymore. Oh Boy! it was better than a Sea Cruise. You could Take it Easy and Rock Around the Clock. If you like Singing the Blues and are a Wild Rover, then check out the Ukulele group. We meet fortnightly on Tuesday mornings at the Vardar restaurant. Contact Frank Griffin via Littlehampton U3A website.

Coffee Morning Coffee morning is held on the second Monday of each month (except December) at the Vardar Restaurant, Selborne Road, Littlehampton, BN17 5NH beginning 10.30 to 12noon. Please do not arrive before 10.30. The cost is £2.50 each for coffee/tea and biscuits. Everyone is welcome to come along and meet up with friends, make new ones (catching up with all the gossip!) and finding out what’s happening in your U3A. For example: Any new groups starting? Who is the Speaker at the next Speaker Meeting and when? Meet members of the committee . What can you give back to your U3A? Looking forward to seeing & meeting you soon. Jim & Peter.

13 Pitch & Putt by Mike Cheeseman

Come rain or shine “Fore!” is a shout that is often heard on the par three golf course on Littlehampton seafront when enthusiastic U3A members take to the course in two groups, one on Tuesday afternoon and one on Wednesday morning. So keen are the members that the race to the first tee can sometimes be a bit little like the starting grid at Le Mans. Holes-in-one are rare but we have had a few in recent years although none, I believe, this year. We all try to lower our scores week by week but there are times when some hunting in the bushes is required. One has to be careful when hunting as it’s not always your ball that you find! What- ever the weather and no matter what your score, it’s always a very sociable hour and the session is finished off with a cuppa in the café Toast. Our thanks to group leaders Kevin Foley (Tuesday afternoons) and Sue & Richard Dainty (Wednesday mornings) for marshalling the players and collecting the green fees. Sue Dain- ty tells me there are now vacancies in the Wednesday morning group and currently, plenty of room on Tuesday afternoons. If you are interested in joining us please contact Kevin or Sue and Richard, details on the website.

Acoustic Guitar Group photos

14 Acoustic Guitar Group by Anne Quieti You can't always find what you want, when you want and where you want. Sometimes the answer is to create something yourself! In 2018 my New Year's Resolution was to learn the guitar more seriously: the guitar had adorned my wall, like a decorative item, for long enough! I wanted to learn in a group but could not find one, so what better way than to start one with the U3A. I have a certain amount of musical knowledge, gave myself a head-start for some months learning bits and pieces on the guitar and towards the back end of 2018 the AGG was born. Deciding to learn the guitar is one thing but then you have to think about what style of playing! Decisions, decisions, decisions. Within the group we have mixed abilities which is absolutely great. Everyone helps/gives tips to one another. We have one gentleman in particular who is a more experienced player, who, without taking over, leads us when we do songs which is great. The AGG has settled into a group where different styles of playing are introduced, a little musical theory is learnt, timing is concentrated on, chords are learnt and latterly the commencement of reading music! All of these give the members the tools to choose which style of playing they wish to concentrate on at home - maybe, like me, they stick to a little of everything. We have a great group of members, relaxed in each other's company, all of whom want to learn and improve. The group and group leader have all helped with my playing and confidence in playing. Still a long way to go but getting better every day. Barry Playing music with other people is a great way to improve. Ian I would like to say that the AGG has re-invigorated my interest in playing the guitar, which had stalled, and that it has inspired me to seek out tunes that are within my capability, giving me lots of pleasure. Playing in a group of like minded people is much more interesting. Norman I have recently retired and re-joined the U3A and am loving every minute of my retirement. On my “bucket list” for retirement was to learn, improve my guitar playing. My wife bought me a 3/4 size guitar so that we could take it with us on our Motorhome trips and I decided to join Anne’s guitar group. Well what an experience that has turned out to be! Met new friends and like minded people; all wanting to learn and improve in a hobby they love. Guided by Anne our leader / mentor who has the patience of a saint and is a fabulous teacher. Loving retirement and to quote an oft used phrase “I don’t know how I managed to fit in work”! Adrian What I have got out of the U3A and what it has done for me? I don't mind saying that is has opened up my life more, made new friends, enabled me to go forward with my interests and hobbies that were lying dormant. Stops my mind rusting up. I like to be busy and active. It great how many people are helping each other. I have 4 U3A groups going , Art, Graham’s guitar, S&P, and yours. Linda Although I have been playing the guitar for many years I still enjoy learning new songs along with fellow musicians who I can now call friends and our sessions are always fun. John Playing the guitar is fun! The group enjoy friendly sessions playing and singing some great 60s music as well as learning some basic theory. The resurgence in Beatles music started with us a year ago. Karl Having attempted to teach myself guitar for a couple of years I joined Anne's group and found it just what I needed. It's good fun to play with others instead of just on my own. They're a great bunch of people, always up for a laugh, but we get to learn some theory as well. Peter

15 Astronomy by Mike Cheeseman The Astronomy Group meet on the third Thursday of the month at 14.30 in the Windmill Theatre meeting room where group leader Simon always gives a heads up on the celestial highlights for the forthcoming month and gives us tips on observing the night sky. It’s been a fairly quiet period for us sky watchers since the last edition of the newsletter. The long light evenings prevent us from doing a lot of sky watching unless one is up very late! We have though in recent months held a couple of observation evenings. One was at Going Gap in July to view a partial eclipse of the moon. Fortunately we had a lovely clear evening and we were able to view not only the moon but some stunning images of Jupiter and Saturn. Next we had an evening in August at Climping beach to view the Persied meteor shower, but although we scanned the sky for some hours unfortunately there were very few meteors for us to view. All but the brightest of Perseids were washed out by the bright moonlight that night. In May a large group of us attended the Planetarium in Chichester which is where we like to go when there is a relevant subject being shown. This time we went to see What can be seen in the summer sky, which was extremely informative and well worth the trip. There will be more visits in the near future. Now the nights are drawing in and the sky is growing darker earlier it’s nearly time to get out to view our winter favourites. You don’t have to be an expert to join our group, just have an interest in the night sky, our solar system and beyond. Apart from the Thursday meetings we will be continuing our observation evenings at Climping beach as it’s nice and dark down there and we can get away from most of the local light pollution. Note, if you don’t have transport, we can usually organise a lift for you. If you are interested in joining us watch out for the notices in the bulletin or contact Simon Jones for further information via the website. Photo of the Orion Nebular by Simon Jones

16 Steady Walking by Ruth Vidler

This group meets every Saturday morning at 10.30, walking for approximately 45 minutes when we then have refreshments and a chat. We usually meet at Mewsbrook Park during the summer months and during winter, on alternate weeks, we meet at the Windmill. Our walks take us to various places of interest that you may have not seen before. We are a friendly group, so if you think this group is for you do come along, we will be very pleased to meet you. Barn Dancing by Monica Kotulla I haven’t laughed so much for years! That was my reaction after my first attempt at Barn Dancing two years ago. I have found it a most joyous activity ever since. It is hilarious when some or all of us get the sequence or the direction of steps wrong. But then there is the sense of achievement, even triumph, when we all get it right and give ourselves a well- deserved round of applause. I had occasion to e-mail group leader Ruth on a cold and gloomy Monday, the first in September and she reminded me that Barn Dancing was starting again that evening. I went along and immediately remembered that, although summer seemed to have left us, there was a reason to be jolly through the darker months. In case prospective dancers fear the difficulty or pain of sprightly skipping and sashaying, I can reassure you that we walk jauntily, rather than skip (with a few exceptions). So if you fancy a lively and friendly evening twice a month, do come along and join us.

17 Badminton by Steve Twigg Winter is on us again. Grey days what with all that rain, fog, and heaven help us, snow. Outdoor pursuits will be unattractive for the next six months so why not head indoors and get some exercise and company with one of the two badminton groups we have to offer. There aren't many of us who haven't whacked the little feathery thing over a net in the garden. There may even be a few who've actually played in a club in years gone by. Our groups cater for all levels of play. So why not take a look on the website under Groups for details of where we meet and when, and then get in touch. You can come along a few times as a guest, just to see how you get on. We can guar- antee you'll get some exercise, have some laughs and enjoy biscuits with your cuppa. Hope to see you on court soon. Steve Twigg and Joy Wyatt. Sing & Play by Barry & Ruth Vidler This group meets on the second and fourth Thursdays from 14.15 – 16.00. Everyone pays £2 each time and tea/coffee is included. We meet at Littlehampton United Church Hall. The door to the hall is in St Martin's car park. We play and sing a selection of Ukulele Songs and Margaret plays the piano. We also sing some songs with the piano. This is not a choir: we sing for fun and there are no solos. Do come and join us ~ you will be very welcome. We have the music for ukulele or guitar, but please contact the group leaders should you wish to bring another instrument, since we would like to make sure that we have what you need.

18 Tai Chi for Health Groups by Ruth Vidler Karen and I have been holding our Tai Chi Groups for a long time now and they are very popular. We have a few warming up exercises, a Tai Chi walk, a standing set of exercises, a sitting down set and a meditation. We have tea/coffee half way through. There are no floor exercises with our Tai Chi and you just wear loose comfortable cloth- ing, soft shoes or bare feet. Because our groups are very popular we have waiting lists, and we really need people to come forward to learn the routines and then to start up a Group of their own. Our thanks go to Mavis who started an Arun West Tai Chi Group. Unfortunately she is una- ble to continue for the present and our best wishes go to her. Two other members have joined forces to learn the routines and, hopefully this will prove a good solution to continuing the group. Please contact Karen or myself via the website if you would like to learn the routines in order to start a group of your own.

19 Dates to Remember Upcoming & Ongoing Arun West U3A Monthly Meetings, Yapton & Ford Village Hall BN18 0ET £1 for members of any U3A, £2 for non-member visitors. Wednesday 9 October Why a Good Night’s Sleep Matters by Dr Peter Venn Wednesday 13 November Celebratory History of Christmas by Andy Thomas Littlehampton U3A Speaker Meetings, at Littlehampton United Church, 1 High St. BN17 5EG £1 for members of any U3A, £2 for non-member visitors. Wednesday 23 October One Day I Will, Lady Mary Teviot talks about finding your ancestors. Wednesday 20 November Cheryl Berry will be providing an update on the work of Healthwatch West Sussex CIC Board. Wednesday 15 January Dr Peter Venn : Why a Good Night’s Sleep Matters. Wednesday 19 February Katy Bourne, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner. Wednesday 18 March Russel Bowes: Say it with Poison. For more details, keep an eye on the Events section of our website, the Bulletin and on leaflets distributed at monthly Coffee Mornings. Coffee Mornings on 2nd Monday of each month (except December) 10.30 am to 12 noon at the Vardar Restaurant, Selborne Road, Littlehampton BN17 5NH. Coffee/tea and biscuits £2.50, please do not arrive before 10.30am. SUN: Sussex U3A Network

Don’t forget to check the SUN webpage for workshops!

Newsletter Contact Details Get in touch with the Littlehampton U3A Committee members, group leaders or the editorial team by post at Littlehampton U3A, PO Box 3398, Littlehampton BN16 9JJ, phone 07538 783871 for information about groups, or 07538 784014 for membership enquiries or contact us via the Website: www.u3asites.org.uk/littlehampton Littlehampton U3A is a Registered Charity in England and Wales, number 1158275