Oswestry Borders University of the Third Age

Borders Bulletin Volume 5, Issue 1 Winter 2018

What makes our U3A tick?

When Oswestry Borders U3A started in 2013, a team of twelve volunteers formed a steering committee to get the ball rolling. In 2014 our first elected committee took on specific roles to ensure OBU3A had an effective support structure in place to guarantee the smooth running of membership, meeting venues, interest groups, and our monthly gatherings at Speaker and Members’ Meetings.

Fortunately, with each subsequent year, many of the early volunteers have enthusiastically continued in We recently joined members of their committee roles, joined by Oswestry U3A at the Qube for a one/two newly elected committee demonstration about Beacon, members. The current committee membership system software, of eleven is pictured opposite. which has the backing of the Third Age Trust. For more details 2018 brings with it some fresh see ICT item on page 9. challenges. With five of the original committee still in post, and with their six year time limit on committee drawing to a close, a big push is needed to draw in more committee members. It’s important to act now to ensure there’s a continuity of experienced committee members mentoring the newcomers. Public Relations 2 Interest Groups 3— 6 To raise awareness about different committee roles, the PR team has put together a presentation for our February Members’ Meeting, The current post Speaker Meetings 7 holders will lead small group discussions and posters summarising committee Members’ Meetings 8 tasks in simple, everyday language will be on display. Committee News 9-10

Amsterdam mini-break Interest Group Information 11 February Planner 12

In conjunction with Owen’s Coaches, Oswestry, we are pleased to offer our members and guests a spring mini-break to Holland with a mini-cruise and trips to Amsterdam and the famous Keukenhof Gardens. The mini-break is from April 8 - 12, 2018 and costs £375, or £355 if 25 people or more book. There’s a limited availability of single supplement at £70. Owen’s Coaches are willing to offer us a private coach tour if we have sufficient numbers. Trip organiser, Pat Evans, thinks Owen’s package offers a really good itinerary, representing excellent value. There will be several of us on our own, in addition to couples, so please join us if you are a single traveller. We had excellent feedback from our last two mini breaks, when everyone had a really enjoyable time.

We will need numbers as quickly as possible, so please email Pat Evans or Carole Greig to register your interest ASAP as we are opening this trip to Oswestry U3A too. Details will be available at our next meeting on February 7. Pat Evans Borders Bulletin Volume 5 Issue 1 Chairperson’s message

Finances I wish you all a happy New Year. Oswestry Borders U3A continues to give OBU3A finances for the 10 our members the opportunity to “Learn, Laugh and Live”. It has been a very months to the end of January, busy and successful 2017 and this has been because of all our members 2018 are as follows: who continue to give so much of their time.

Income totalled £6,272 The Third Age Trust continues to keep your Executive Committee on its toes, (Outings £3,268, Membership £1,851, Meeting charges £982, having over Christmas issued a pile of papers highlighting some changes in Equipment £57, Room hire £90 the way the Trust carries out its activities. Your Committee will be discussing and TAT mailing £23). this at the next meeting on January 23. If any of you are considering coming

Expenditure totalled £5,308 on the Committee, now would be a good time to let me know so you can be (Outings £3,133, Room Hire kept informed of the changes. We will be letting members know about the £935, Speaker fees £675, changes after the meeting. Refreshments £211, Stationery £198, Equipment £156). E-mail newsletters from the Third Age Trust are available to all members but

With an opening balance of you must sign up to receive them at u3a.org.uk/email. £2,993, and a closing balance The Trust has asked all Members to take care online as Scammers are send- of £3,957, the year’s gain to date stands at £964. ing false invoices to small organisations like us.

Pam Broomby, Chair, January 2018

Public Relations

The PR team considered several events and venues In addition, a Flickr photography Gallery was created, with to promote Oswestry Borders U3A during 2017. links from the OBU3A website to more than 1500 photos from Some, like Oswestry Show and Ellesmere’s MereFest, Speaker and Members’ meetings and our Interest Group proved too expensive to exhibit, given our limited activities. We have also refreshed new links to Oswestry funds. Others, like the varied programme of open-air U3A’s website and, whenever requested, added links like the markets in Oswestry, and our annual week-long laptop and projector setting up instructional video, located on promotion event in Oswestry library, were taken up as the Useful Links. To date, the website has had 52,429 hits. they involved no cost, other than for publicity material. We’ve been actively promoting guest speakers in advance of Whenever possible, we’ve maximised on attracting our monthly Speaker Meetings with the local press. This is new Borders U3A members among people attending working well, as we have had feedback of a steady trickle of events at our shared venue, Oswestry Senior Citizens’ new people attending as a result of seeing these articles. Club in Lorne Street. We now have a notice board in the entrance to the building, where we’re able to tell When OBU3A started, there was a specific role for the them about meetings, interest groups and various monthly, then quarterly, Borders Bulletin. Now, with the web- trips. Whenever possible, general invites to events site, Facebook page, Flickr Photo Gallery and regular Internal have been exchanged between the two committees. Communication emails, the format and frequency of the online publication needs to be reviewed and alternatives considered. We are still looking for volunteers to visit and film our interest group activities to put together a video that will With an ambitious U3A national target to achieve one million help explain what we do at events and group meet- members by 2020, we are developing goals to make PR work ings. better for our organisation. We will review the productivity of PR events, to research and understand local demographics Two new IT ventures were developed in 2017. With better. This will inform how we attract and maintain future new the help of Phil Pointon, we added to OBU3A’s web- membership through effective promotion strategies. site and our emailing by embracing social networking Jane Davies, PR Lead with a new group Facebook page. In the future, as we draw in new, younger generation, ICT-savvy mem- bers, there will be an expectation for organisations like OBU3A to have social network systems in place for effective communications. Our Facebook page posts encourage a community feel, keeping all members informed about both future and past events, bringing together members who attend both the speaker and members’ meetings with those members who don't.

Jane Davies promoting Oswestry Borders Page 2 U3A at the town library in September. Interest Groups Borders Bulletin Volume 5, Issue 1

It appears that January has been something of a catch-up month for many of our interest groups, The sudden fall of snow in December meant several planned Christmas get-togethers had to be cancelled. But our social networks are strong and a series of belated festive gatherings popped up throughout January. The New Year brought three new groups, two Welsh Learner groups and a second Book group was formed to accommodate the rising numbers.

New Welsh Learners Interest Groups

These two new groups held their first meeting on Wednesday, January 3, meeting in the Oswestry Senior Citizens’ Club premises in Lorne Street from 11.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in order to allow members to continue to stay on for the Speaker and Members’ Meetings that are held in the afternoon of the first and third Wednesday of the month. Around 12 members at- tended to discuss how to start the process of learning to speak a little Welsh and how to pronounce it correctly. With a lot of help from Glenys Lloyd we began to tackle the Welsh alphabet – a vital first step. We plan to look into a couple of online Welsh language sites and investigate what books are available to support our studies. The aim is not to be able to speak Welsh fluently but to pronounce local place names confidently and hopefully be able to greet someone appropriately.

Second Book Group

There’s been such a growing demand for the Book group that a second book group has formed. This new group called the Oswald Book group, will meet on the last Wednesday morning of the month at 10.30 a.m. at Table Table (by Mile End roundabout). The Group Leader, Jenny Wilbraham comments - ‘We are already approaching peak capacity but please contact me if you are interested.’. In January the group read The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2012. A variety of other novels has been suggested and we will be making our choice for the next two months at our first meeting. If the group wishes, we will read biographies, or perhaps other genres of non-fiction. One person will lead off the discussion of the book chosen for that month.

Other groups continue to develop. Scrabble’s leader, Beryl Davies, held two sessions at her home in Llanymynech on January 12 and 31. For further information please contact Lynn Rose email: [email protected] or call 01490 460554. Lynn Rose, Interest Groups Co-ordinator Amblers

Breakfast at the 1403 Café, December 2017 for members of OBU3A Amblers’ Group.

The Amblers’ Walking Group was set up in April 2017 following interest at the Group Leaders’ Meeting, and our first walk in April was along the Canal, with refreshments at Canal Central. That walk established three guiding principles for our walks  Refreshments are essential!  Walks should not be more than two miles long and, for the first walk in the month, on flat terrain. Slightly more hilly terrain is tackled in the second walk of the month.  Walks are led by members who know of a suitable walk, with Sally Barrett only co-ordinating the group.

The walks are held on the first and third Thursday of the month, meeting at Lloyd Street free car park to share lifts to whichever car park is convenient for the start of the walk. Mostly we meet at 10 a.m., but as in June, July and August we met at 6.30 p.m., for an evening walk, which was very successful.

Of the 18 walks we undertook in 2017 we have rarely repeated a walk, although all the walks undertaken so far will be repeated in 2018. Mostly there have been 6 – 8 people on the walks, although some walks were done by only 3 people and some walks had 12 or more. All members of OBU3A are welcome, you don’t have to ‘belong’ to the group!

And where have we walked? Different sections of the Montgomery Canal have been popular, but we’ve also walked from Chirk, Colemere, Erddig, the Horseshoe Falls, Lake Vyrnwy, Llanymynech Hill, Plassey and Shrewsbury Battlefield, where we had our seasonal meal, a delicious breakfast in the 1403 Farm Shop. Our first walk in 2018 took in the mere at Ellesmere as well as the canal and parts of the town, with refreshments at Meke, the Greek restaurant. Sally Barrett, Group Co-ordinator

Page 3 Borders Bulletin Volume 5, Issue 1 Organising Travel Coventry Trip

We started 2017 with a Bridgenorth trip. The next trip being organised by the xx The weather was terrible but we had a Travel Group will be to Coventry, very good carvery meal at the Punch recently announced as City of Culture Bowl . Then in April we visited Theatre for 2021. Clwyd, Mold, for a controversial, though thought-provoking musical. We were Coventry Cathedral is known all over plagued by the weather yet again for our the world as an icon of peace, and a trip to Joddrell Bank, with hail and a stunning venue. Designed by Sir gale. Everyone enjoyed the exhibits and Basil Spence following the bombing Art Appreciation learnt about the work they do there. of the city in 1940, the new Cathedral The Oxford overnight trip proved very was opened in 1962. In the last few months we have popular and we plan more of this type of studied the Scottish Artists, both trip in the future. September saw us at Coventry Motor Museum houses the the Glasgow Boys and the the Malvern Autumn Show where there largest publicly owned collection of Glasgow Girls. We are now was lots to see and do for everyone. The British vehicles in the world and is studying the work of John Piper National Library of Wales and Christmas now fully open after a £9.5 million who among other things designed trip to Tatton were both well attended by redevelopment programme. the windows of Coventry Cathedral. our regulars and newcomers. There is currently an exhibition of Our first event of 2018 was a subsidised The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum his work at the Tate Liverpool coach trip to Liverpool on January 18 is located in the City centre and is the which we visited in January and which proved so popular we have had to perfect place to learn about the then plan to follow up with a later book a larger coach. history of Coventry, and immerse visit to Coventry Cathedral. We have an exciting programme for yourself in some Art and Culture. 2018 including Coventry Cathedral and Earlier in the year we studied the Transport museum, Amsterdam mini All these places of interest are FREE. Pre-Raphaelite movement and break, National Memorial Arboretum and The Coventry trip will be Thursday, visited a wonderful collection at plant hunters fair, Lyme Park National March 22 and costs £17.50. Contact Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton. Trust, finishing the year with a trip to the Pat Broadhurst for more information. We visited the Mostyn Art Gallery theatre. Pam Broomby in Llandudno to view an exhibition of Modern Art. To close the year Book we had a lovely Xmas Lunch in The Orangery at The Derwen. The group met eleven times in 2017 to discuss a wide range of books. In hindsight, Events’ Programme: Jan to July the geographical and historical range of our books’ settings was remarkably broad, 2018 taking in Anglo-Saxon England, contemporary Botswana, USA and Ireland of the 1960s, and unintentionally, a couple of genres predominated this year. Many could January 18: John Piper Exhibition be called personal accounts of journeys, each with a different focus and intention, at Tate Liverpool set in contrasting historical periods and inevitably, much of the interest of the books arose from the cultures depicted, as much as their literary features. Settings February 14: Town trail to visit local included Czechoslovakia (Milan Kundera) and small-town Ireland in the 1960s exhibitions. 2 p.m. The Heritage (Colm Toibin), Glasgow to contemporary Nigeria (Jackie Kay) and USA (John Centre, then The Qube, finishing at Steinbeck). Our individual reading experiences varied enormously, too. The Willow Gallery. Patrick Fermor’s Time of Gifts is a vivid account of a young man’s wanderings, mainly on foot, through the Europe of 1933; its lyrical style made an interesting March 8: Terracotta Warriors contrast in tone and focus with Steinbeck’s equally personal account of travel Exhibition - U3A Liverpool trip around the States in the 1950s in an attempt to reconnect with his home country March 22: Coventry Cathedral trip. after years living in Europe in Travels with Charley. It highlighted many aspects of the 1950s after the McCarthy era and just before the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement. Simon Armitage’s Walking Home described his Pennine Way walk April 11: Welsh Artists Research. from Kirk Yetholm to Marsden, with the intention of giving poetry readings at every Also, Mystery Painting Challenge. overnight stop to fund his travels. The focus was on the weather, features of the landscape, fellow travellers and brief accounts of some of the poetry events. May 9: Hereford - by train to visit Jackie Kay’s journey in Red Dust Road was as much about her changing sense of the Cathedral to view the Mappa her identity as the places she visited and the people she encountered. Mundi and stained glass windows. At our recent January meeting in Sweeney Hall we discussed two books. Josephine Tey’s Daughter of Time explored some of the evidence against Richard June 13:Mystery PaintingChallenge 111 filtered through her fictional policeman protagonist, and goes on to question how “historical truth” about events comes to be established, sometimes despite inconvenient facts. How to be Both (Ali Smith) combines two stories, written in very July 11: Trip to London to view individual voices, of a Renaissance Italian painter and a spiky modern teenager Wallis collection or own choice or whose mother has recently died. The unusual structure of this novel illustrates Aberystwyth - The National Library some of the philosophical questions raised by the characters and sparked a lively and the Art Gallery. discussion, followed by a very enjoyable lunch. Sandra Harvey Pat Evans Page 4 Borders Bulletin Singing Play Reading Volume 5, Issue 1

The Singing Group paid In general, we have stayed with our usual formula of meeting monthly in members’ homes to a return visit to Meadow- read sets of plays borrowed from the wonderful Shropshire Music & Drama Library, although brook Social Club in members enjoyed reading several of the sketches from A Million Tiny Plays about Britain at our January to entertain interest group fair in September. residents at their th th We returned to classic plays in the main this year, firstly of the late 19 — early 20 century- Burns Night celebrations. Shaw, Ibsen, Chekhov and Wilde.

We then travelled forward to The Ghost Train (Arnold Ridley, 1923, unbelievably), Priestley’s Time and the Conways (1937), and then The Crucible and Osborne’s Hotel in Amsterdam.

We finished the year with a comedy, Technical Rehearsal, about an amateur dramatic society rehearsal providing the backdrop to the characters’ real-life domestic dramas and opened 2018 with a meaty Rattigan play (his last) Cause Celebre, based closely on a contemporary murder trial coupled with his reconstruction of the events leading up to it. A few singers enjoyed the Scottish fare—cock a We look forward to our February reading of another Ayckbourn classic, Ten Times Table leekie soup, chicken (1977), which apparently “follows the increasingly rancorous attempts of a committee to stuffed with haggis and organise a festival celebrating the 'Pendon Twelve' rebellion, culminating in a re-enactment that mirrors the original event all too closely.” served with cream whisky sauce, neeps, Sandra Harvey tatties and rumblede- thumps, rounded off with sticky toffee pudding, Beginners Plus French butterscotch sauce, all served with a wee dram. Language topics covered over the last few months, as we work our way through the BBC French Experience course book, have included travelling by public transport and dealing with minor problems with hotel accommodation – both very useful when holidaying in France. Next topic up will be leisure activities.

Meanwhile, we haven’t been neglecting the grammar side of things. We are currently grappling with revising the imperfect tense, using it to talk about the places where we grew up. We still begin most sessions with informal chats about what we’ve been up to in the previous fortnight and group members are becoming more confident in joining in. Recently, we’ve been making use of some authentic material, including supermarket promotion leaflets The programme of songs Catherine Evans offered to the guests as entertainment included some strong Scottish Aspiring Music Makers favourites —Eriskay In the early days of OBU3A in a committee In the last few years we have been a merry Love Lilt, Wee Cooper of discussion about possible new interest band of four. including Elizabeth, also an Fife, and Rowan Tree. groups, we were asking each other what we accomplished musician, who has already would like to learn. adapted a simple piece for us.

I said I was trying to learn the piano, thinking Jane had done an Open University music this is not really a group activity. However, theory course some time ago and each Jane Davies immediately said she’d like to do month, she took a topic and did a little talk that too. We put this on the list and initially for us. We discussed/learned the mysteries no-one else came. Jane and I met monthly, of music notation, its development through swapped primers, discussed what we’d done history and also started looking at other We all ‘dressed up’ and played bits for each other. instruments – recorder, guitar, ukulele. We appropriately, with a are not performers – we’re just an interest smattering of tartan here The main benefit was that we both did more group learning. and there to celebrate practising than we would otherwise have done and slowly found we were improving. Our meetings are very relaxed and include the occasion. non musical chat. We get more done in the Two or three people joined for a while and Winter months and none of us practice an later left. Glenys was a great help as she is an awful lot. However, we have achieved quite accomplished piano player, but she got busy a bit in a gentle unhurried way. Any new and moved on to other things. members would be most welcome. Anne Lynch

Page 5 Borders Bulletin xxAustralian Studies Volume 5, Issue 1

The group has reconfigured its progress into working on themed issues rather than following the historical timeline which has been the previous practice. Film Goers The group has shrunk to half its size and the next few months will determine if the We saw a range of films in group is still viable. A series of interruptions to scheduled meetings, including heavy snow, has thrown the group into some disarray and there is considerable 2017: five based on ‘real life work to be done to get the group back into effective working order. stories’, two were adaptations of novels and four were original More concrete information will be available about the group and its intended screen plays. activities after the next couple of meetings. We are open to new members and we continue to meet on the second Tuesday of each month. 2—3.30 p.m. at the The standout films for me were: home of Lyn O'Connor. For details about the meeting please contact the leader, ‘Hidden Figures’, the story of three black women working on Wendy Lodwick Lowdon. the space programme at Nasa; ‘The Sense of an Ending’, an adaptation of Julian Barnes Booker prize-winning novel and

‘Manchester by the Sea’, the The group met for lunch at Ye story of a father coming to terms Olde Boote Inn in Whittington with a family tragedy. in January to celebrate Australia Day.

Garden

2017 started off as usual with study sessions, where members presented their findings, covering the History of Cae Glas Park, presentations on Trees and on Poisonous Plants, all held in Trefonen Village Hall. We usually visit KinoKulture once a month, on a Friday In April we started our programme of visits, which included Rock Mill, evening, after meeting up for a Montgomery; Dorothy Clive Garden; Bryn y Llidiart, Llanrhaeadr; Abbeywood Gardens, Delamere; and The Dingle, Welshpool. In August we meal in one of the town centre’s had our Bring-A-Plate Lunch, at Colin’s lovely garden, and in September we pubs or restaurants. For further took part in OBU3A Travel Group’s trip to Malvern Autumn Flower Show. details call Jane Asterley on 661744. Sadly the start of our winter programme had to be postponed: Plants for Winter Colour presentations (due to ill-health) will run in Autumn 2018 and the seasonal Bring-A-Plate Lunch (due to icy conditions) was held at our January meeting when we planned our programme of visits for 2018 below.

All meetings start at 2 p.m. on the second Monday of the month, and new members are very welcome. Sally Barrett

Members to report on What Grows in The Soil in Their Own Garden: Feb 12 John, Blueberries; Ann B, Soil; Melva, Euphorbia; Pat E, Crinodendron The lovely Spring gardens at Continuation of Members to report on ‘What Rock Mill, Montgomery, one of the Mar 12 Grows in The Soil’ in Their Own Garden and/or manyxx visits for the Garden Group pictures from 2017 visits in 2017. TBO Possibly Oteley Hall, Ellesmere April 9 May 14 Visit to Cartref, Sarnau, Arddleen, Llanymynech, June 11 Visit to Sue Bossom’s garden, Llanfechain Saturday Visit to Cruckfield House, Shoothill, Ford, July 7 Shrewsbury, SY5 9NR Visit to Stretton Old Hall, Stretton, Tilston, Aug 13 Malpas, Cheshire, SY14 7JA. Sunday OBU3A Travel Group trip to Lyme Park, Sept 9 Stockport Page 6 Borders Bulletin Speaker Meetings Volume 5, Issue 1

2017 Speaker Meetings As Easter approached, Barry Fewster, Head Warden of Shropshire’s Hawstone began with a stir of the old Sarah Gathercole’s talk was Park, in May talked about the Park’s series of extraordinary grey matter after the New rich with examples of how monuments, built over 200 years ago, set in an historic Year celebrations as Dr different artists/times had woodland fantasy of cliffs, crags, caves, and deep woods. Peter Chevin, Senior portrayed the ‘Easter Story Lecturer at Keele University, in Art’ starting with the A masterpiece of 18th Century Romantic Garden introduced us to different 1300s Byzantine altarpiece Movement’s art, the Park was created by the Hill family to kinds of memory: conscious of Siena when art work overwhelm their guests’ visual and spiritual senses. After (facts and personal accompanied powerful years of neglect the magical landscape was lovingly memories), procedural sermons, bringing the restored and reopened in 1993, a wonderful backdrop for (motor skills and rote stories to life for a performances like A Midsummer Night’s Dream. learning) and special congregation unable to read. (words, objects, places, face In June and July we have great turnouts for Dr Rory Miller, recognition). Sarah tantalisingly took us Director of Studies, Football Industries at Liverpool through the examples, University, revealing exactly ‘Who Makes The Money Out The latter was put to good pointing to the strong Of Football?’ and award-winning writer and actor, Peter use at the February common messages– religion Read, with ‘The Ghost of Dylan Thomas’. meeting, when magician was for everyone, from Pete Turner, perplexed and Kings to paupers, noting Solicitor Vicky Wilson’s talk in August about ‘Long Term fascinated us with card survivors of eroding Care Planning – Legal Issues’ obviously ticked a lot of tricks, word games and environments and bombing boxes, judging by the very busy Q&A session that followed, bending coins. Great raids, like Da Vinci’s Last particularly about Power of Attorney. entertainment and many Supper. went home and tried out a In September Barbara Maitra described in ‘Passage to few newly acquired skills We were introduced to India – 1950’s Style’ her personal experience of living in and tricks on our families. artists like James Tessar, a Calcutta (Kolkata) India in the1950’s for 15 years, five of society painter who devoted which were in an extended family. the last 25 years of his life to We were treated to a 60 minute presentation on the 80 paintings illustrating the ‘Romance of Chopin’ in October, when popular musician bible, while others like Renai and pianist Andrew Crabtree explained some wonderful Cox put an African American contexts for each creation and then, like icing on the cake, slant on things, with performed the piece on his travelling stage piano. thoughts about Christ God in one’s own image.

The paint analogies were ever present; Giotto’s calming, wrapping of Christ in a yellow robe to contrast We kept our winter woolies the chaotic surroundings in on for the next speaker, his Kiss of Judas, and

Antarctic glaciologist and Mantegna’s elegant use of surveyor, Jonathan Walton. colour and perspective to In his talk ‘Science and help contemplate The Agony

Adventure in Antarctica’ in the Garden, compared to Jonathan described the Blake’s sweaty, bloody political background, the version, rarely put on There was genuine fascination from the audience when the science he was involved display. And so we stepped owner of one of Oswestry’s oldest buildings gave a brief with and current research. through the story like the history of Raven Cottage, the Grade II listed building in Stations of the Cross in an Lower Brook Street. This early C17 timber framed cottage Jonathan’s is the only Art Gallery, side tracking for with its cast iron latticed casement windows and gabled British family to have three a brief moment to discuss eaves is a familiar landmark. Since 2007, owners Melvin generations working in the the great relics like St and Carole Gough have continued to research its history, Antarctic.– both his father Veronica’s veil, then back on from when it was built in 1625. Workers’ initials engraved in and his son have spent a track again with the the glass panes of the windows created much interest. number of seasons there. Crucifixion, Deposition Entombment and In December Fine Arts expert and ‘Flog It’ television personality, Peter Ashburner, talked about the ‘World of He has travelled about Resurrection, for a bit more Antiques’ drawing from a tableful of stimulating objects, 8,000 km inside Antarctica paint pairing to symbolise challenging us to guess their value. No doubt it sent a few on Skidoos, living in tents piety and divinity, finishing of us rummaging in the loft afterwards. and carrying out scientific with relics yet again– this research for months at a time the controversial Turin Popular wildlife photographer, Keith Offord, talked about time. He has been awarded Shroud. "Geysers and Gyrs", in January illustrating the the Polar Medal for his wonderful scenery and bird species of Iceland. Antarctic work. Page 7 Borders Bulletin xxMembers’ Meetings - Events Gallery Volume 5, Issue 1

The Members’ Meetings programme continues to be well attended with a variety of activities. Each year we set aside three sessions for regular events. In April we held our AGM, with the Interest Group fair in September and our Festive session in December.

We welcomed guest talkers, Police Dog Handler, Mort Smith, with tales of his experiences training dogs in ‘nose and criminal work’, then members of Shropshire Fire Service with tips about fire prevention in the home and more recently Oswestry Library, staff, Debbie Marais, Louise Taylor-Kennett and new reader writer in residence, Dave Andrews, who talked about ‘A Library for the 21st Century’.

Several individuals were responsible for complete presentations: Member Charles Stiles took us through the ‘Final Footsteps’ of War hero and poet Wilfred Owen in March. David Stirling talked about ‘Peru and the Potato’ in August and Merfyn Lewis joined him to discuss ‘Yoghurt and the World’. Dennis Williams, a member of Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir, gave us a presentation about its history with some songs to boot.

Collaborative events included a presentation on ‘Poisonous Plants’ from the Garden Group, sharing Winter research work with the wider membership. Other small groups prepared for ‘Just How Well Do You Know Oswestry?’ in May, then ‘Smells, Scents and Stinks’ in July, and later in November members made their recommendations of local favourites in ‘Visit this Place’.

Page 8 New Committee ICT Borders Bulletin Members Volume 5, Issue 1 The ICT group has continued with its research into innovations and new technologies During the year three throughout the year. We’ve had a lot of fun exploring smart phones, and various new members joined our apps, in particular Active 10, an app which tracks your walking and encourages an Executive Committee. increase of pace, 10 minutes of brisk walking, to make a difference to your health. We also found out about ICE (In Case of Emergency), where essential contact and any medical emergency information could be displayed on the home page of mobile phones (it’s no good being hidden away, particularly if someone wanting to help you, doesn’t have access to your password).

There’s been no specific project focus but in January we sent representatives to a demonstration at the Qube in Oswestry to take a look at Beacon, a new membership system being used by 110 U3As, with the backing of the Third Age Trust.

What is a Membership System? Well, Beacon’s functions, described by other U3As as secure, user-friendly, customis- able and maintainable, include:

Membership data - all members’ personal records are stored on a database, allowing Hilary Slater easy grouping of members and export of data for membership cards/labels. There are standard and customisable email messages for groups/all members, plus facilities to allow members to join, renew and pay online, even to register and pay for events. Other online services include live groups list and live calendar.

Interest Group organisation – the system enables interest groups and waiting lists to be advertised and managed. Members can join groups online and find out about group organisation, details, schedules, leaders and members, venues, group accounts and calendars.

Book keeping for Treasurer – Beacon offers permission system tailoring for different U3A committee roles to the integrated user-defined financial accounts . It’s double- entry book-keeping with automatic entry of membership fees, simple reconciliation of bank statements, financial statement download and Gift Aid declaration.

The package is not a ‘commercial’ type of contract but is currently run by volunteers (many belonging to other U3As). An annual charge of 50p per member of participating U3As is currently being asked for a fall-back fund to cover additional technical support Geraint Pritchard that may be required in the future, should the current volunteers retire without replace- ments. If you want to find out more click on this Youtube link to view two videos about Beacon (1 Beacon overview and 2 Customising Beacon).

Group leader, Jane Davies, is away in Australia until the end of April. Meanwhile, members of the group will be having a look at the range of online resources, and different ways to download the ebooks and emagazines, available free to members from Oswestry library. Jane Davies

Local History

Two research representatives have been appointed to encourage and assist U3A groups to carry out research projects. Pat Evans will arrange for one of these researchers to visit an OBU3A’s Members’ Meeting.

Meanwhile, there’s a project being planned by Qube and Sarah Gathercole on the roles of local women during WW1. The information has been passed on to Anne Cherrie the Local History group who are interested in pursuing it. Page 9 Borders Bulletin Volume 5, Issue 1 Future Speaker and Members’ Meetings

Bulletin February 7 ‘Healthy Living in the Third Age’ – Miranda Ashwell, contact Speaker Public Health Programme Lead fpr Shropshire Council information

Jane Davies February 21 ‘What Makes our U3A Tick?’ OBU3A PR team Editor presentation and group discussions about the roles and Members’ work of OBU3A Executive Committee March 7 ‘An Afternoon of Black Country Poetry & Banter’ – David Book Club members enjoying Speaker Bartley a meal and get-together… and March 21 ‘Patterns in Numbers – the Fibonacci Series and Golden Mean’ – Richard Burgess Members’

April 4 ‘Treasurers of the National Gallery’ Sarah Gathercole Speaker

April 18 Annual General Meeting 2017-18 of course, the books and a Members’ discussion are never too far away from the group. May 2 Switch for My Bolivian Experience’ – Eleanor Knighton Members’ Meet

May 16 Switch Musicians from Whittington International Chamber Speaker Meet Music Festival

Committee News Membership

The Committee is proposing small The visitors’ book is to be made Our membership numbers currently changes to our Constitution’s wording available at Speaker and Members’ stand at 114 full members and 47 relating to Officer and non-Officer roles Meetings to allow visitors to enter their associate members. and to the maximum six year period. contact details. This will give useful While most renew their membership by information to the Membership The proposed changes have been the end of May, there are a few who Secretary for following up potential approved by the Third Age Trust and rejoin late. new members. will need approval at the Borders AGM The steady flow of new members has in April. The additional/revised phrases The committee thought that the PR been very encouraging, particularly as will give the Committee more flexibility group’s suggestion to involve members most have joined because they know should there is a shortfall of volunteers more by holding meetings similar to people already with us. This means for specific committee roles. Oswestry U3A’s Business Meetings you are all doing you bit to spread the was worth pursuing. To this end, two The committee has asked members word among your friends and sessions in the Members’ meeting Dave Stirling and John Barrett to look acquaintances that OBU3A is an programme will be allocated for this. into the purchase of better quality organisation worth joining, offering microphones for our Speaker and This year’s Interest Groups’ Fair will be many benefits. Members’ meetings . held in October instead of September. A few are new to the area and have This will give groups that don’t meet in It was decided to proceed with the taken the trouble to look at our website August more time to prepare their purchase of a headphone style and email a query which had led to stands for the fair. microphone at a cost of £54+VAT. In them joining us. In total 22 new the meantime, use of the lapel micro- The Amblers Group has agreed to members have joined this year. phone is to be encouraged. allow dogs on leads on their walks. Membership renewal forms for 2018- 19 are being revised so please do not Page 10 use old forms—wait for the new ones. Elizabeth Lewis, Membership Secretary Interest Group Information Borders Bulletin Volume 5, Issue 1

Subject LEADER DAY, FREQUENCY, LOCATION

Amblers A Sally Barrett Monthly, 1st Thursday, Meet at Lloyd Street free car park 10 a.m. for group lifts to various walk starting points Amblers B Sally Barrett Monthly, 3rd Thursday, Slightly longer than Ambler A routes. Meet at Lloyd Street free car park 10 a.m. for group lifts to various walk starting points Anti-ageing Aerobics Carol Raistrick Weekly, Thursday,10.20– 11.50 a.m. St Martins Community Centre

Art Appreciation Pat Evans Monthly, 2nd Wednesday, 2—4 p.m. Bobby Coleman’s home

Art/Collage Sue Townsend Monthly, 1st Monday, 2—4 p.m. at group leader’s home

Aspiring Music Makers Anne Lynch, Jane Davies Monthly, 4th Friday, 2—4 p.m. Anne Lynch’s home

Australian Studies Wendy Lodwick Lowdon Monthly, 2nd Tuesday, 2—4 p.m. at Lyn O’Connor’s home

Book 1 Sandra Harvey Monthly, 2nd Tuesday, 10.30am – 12.00 at group members’ homes

Oswald Book 2 Jenny Wilbraham Monthly, 4th Wedneday, 10.30am – 12.00 at Table Table

Bowls Pat Evans Mondays, Cae Glas Park, Oswestry, time and frequency tbd

Discussion Wendy Lodwick Lowdon Monthly, 4th Monday, 7.30 p.m. at group members’ homes

Film Goers Jane Asterley Visit to KinoKulture Community Cinema 7 p.m. usually preceeded by a supper meal in one of Oswestry town’s pubs. Discussion meet on 4th Wednesday each month at 1.30 to 3.30 p.m. at group leader’s home French for Beginners Catherine Evans 2nd and 4th Thursday, at group leader’s home Dudleston Heath Plus Garden Sally Barrett Monthly, 2nd Monday, 2 p.m. Group Visits, shared research on garden-related issues. Morda Village Hall Location and dates vary

Information Communica- Jane Davies Monthly, 4th Monday, 10.30 - 12.30 p.m., at group leader’s home tions Technology ICT Informal Coffee Get Anne Lynch 1st and 3rd Monday, 10.30 a.m. The Willow Gallery, Oswestry Together

Local History and David Stirling, John Scorer Monthly, 2nd Wednesday, 2—4 p.m. Oswestry Cricket Club. Archaeology Location varies Organising Travel Pam Broomby Monthly, 2nd Tuesday, 10 a.m. at Table Table

Photography Celia Todd Monthly, 4th Friday 2 p.m. at group leader’s home, various locations

Play Reading Sandra Harvey Monthly 1st Friday, 10. 30 a.m. at members’ homes

Poetry Reading & Dave Pass and Charles Monthly, 2nd Wednesday, 1.30 – 3.30 p.m. at members’ homes Appreciation Stiles

Scrabble for Fun Beryl Davies 3rd Friday, 2 p.m. group leader’s home

Singing David Ryan Twice Monthly, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 10.30 a.m.—12.15 Seion Chapel. Park Avenue

Welsh Learners Lynn Rose 1st and 3rd Wednesday 11.30—1 p.m. Oswestry Senior Citizens’ Club, Lorne Street Page 11 Borders Bulletin Volume 5, Issue 1 Monthly Planner - February 2018 February Morning Meetings Afternoon Meetings

Week 1 Feb 1-4 Anti-ageing Aerobics: Carol Raistrick, 1st Thursday 10.20 . - 11.50 a.m. St Martins Community Centre Amblers’ A Group, Sally Barrett. Meet at Lloyd Street frree car park at 10 a.m.

1st Friday Play Reading: Sandra Harvey, 10.30 – 12.30 group members’ homes

Week 2 Feb 5-11 Informal Coffee Get Together, Anne Lynch, 10.30 Art: Sue Townsend, 2—4 p.m. group leader’s home, Knockin 1st Monday a.m. The Willow Gallery, Oswestry

1st Tuesday

1st Wednesday Welsh Learners: Lynn Rose Oswestry Borders U3A Speaker Meeting, . ‘Healthy Living for Oswestry Senior Citizens' Club, Lorne Street, the Third Age’ Miranda Ashwell 2 – 4 p.m. 11:30am to 1:00pm Oswestry Senior Citizens’ Club premises, Lorne Street.

2nd Thursday Anti-ageing Aerobics: Carol Raistrick, French for Beginners Plus: Catherine Evans. Group Leader’s, 10.20 - 11.50 a.m. St Martins Community Centre Dudleston Heath

2nd Friday

Week 3 Feb 12-18

2nd Monday Garden: Sally Barrett, 2—4 p.m. Morda Village Hall

2nd Tuesday Book Group 1: Sandra Harvey 10.30 – 12 noon Australian Studies Wendy Lodwick Lowdon, 2 – 3.30 p.m. Lyn group members’ homes O’Connor’s home Organis. Travel: Pam Broomby, 10,30 Table Table 2nd Wednesday Singing: David Ryan, 10.30 a.m.– 12.15 p.m. Seion Poetry Reading and Appreciation: Dave Pass and Charles Chapel, Park Avenue, Oswestry Stiles, 1.30 – 3.30 p.m. group leader’s home Local History and Archaeology: Dave Stirling, and John Scorer, 2—4 p.m. Oswestry Cricket Club Art Appreciation: Pat Evans, 2—4 p.m. Bobby Coleman’s home

3rd Thursday Amblers Walking Group: Sally Barrett, B Walk: Slightly longer than A Walks, including some hills) Meet 10 a.m. at Lloyd St free car park to car- share and give lifts to non-drivers. All welcome. Anti-ageing Aerobics: Carol Raistrick, 10.20 - 11.50 a.m. St Martins Community Centre

3rd Friday Scrabble for Fun: Beryl Davies. 2.30 p.m. group leader’s home Week 4 Feb 19-25

3rd Monday Informal Coffee Get Together, Anne Lynch, 10.30 a.m. The Willow Gallery, Oswestry 3rd Tuesday

3rd Wednesday Welsh Learners: Lynn Rose Oswestry Borders U3A Members’ Meeting. ‘What Makes our Oswestry Senior Citizens' Club, Lorne Street, U3A tick?’ A presentation from the PR team with group discus- 11:30am to 1:00pm sions to understand the work and roles of our Committee 2 –4 p.m. Oswestry Senior Citizens’ Club premises, Lorne Street

4thThursday Anti-ageing Aerobics: Carol Raistrick, French for Beginners Plus: Catherine Evans. Group Leader’s, 10.20 - 11.50 a.m. St Martins Community Centre Dudleston Heath

4th Friday Photography: Celia Todd ,10.30am location tbc. Aspiring Music Makers: Jane Davies & Anne Lynch, Park Hall, 2 – 4 p.m.

Week 5 Feb 26-28

4th Monday ICT: Jane Davies, 10.30 – 12.30 a.m. Meetings in Discussion: Wendy Lodwick Lowdon 7:30 p.m. Members' homes Feb, March and April determined by group as leader will be away for this period.

4th Tuesday

4th Wednesday Singing: David Ryan, 10.30 a.m.– 12.15 p.m. Seion Film Goers: Jane Asterley.1.30 .– 3.30 p.m. Goup leader’s home Chapel, Park Avenue, Oswestry Book Group 2: Jenny Wilbraham, TableTable, 10:30 to 12:00 mid day. Page 12